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When it comes to the dress code for Helsinki's biggest Christmas market, you'd normally expect the advice to be simple: wear as many layers as possible. This year, however, there's an unexpected addition to the packing list – a swimsuit.
It was only a matter of time. Sooner or later, it was bound to happen. December 2026 will go down in history as the moment someone finally decided that Helsinki's Christmas Market needed a sauna.
Yes, you read that right. Visitors can now enjoy a proper wood-fired Finnish sauna on Senate Square, right at the foot of Helsinki's magnificent white Cathedral.
Christmas sauna is a Finnish tradition
Putting a sauna in the middle of a Christmas market might sound like a rather eccentric idea, but in Finland, it makes perfect sense.
After all, joulusauna, or Christmas sauna, is a centuries-old Finnish tradition. For many families, it's an essential part of Christmas Eve, offering a moment of peace and relaxation before the festive feast and Santa's arrival. Unlike his British counterpart, Finnish Santa turns up in person while the children are still awake.
What's new is combining this cherished tradition with the hustle and bustle of a Christmas market. So remember to bring your swimsuit. Not something you'd normally find on a Christmas shopping list – although perhaps one of the stalls will be selling Speedos adorned with Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer's face. Now there's a festive gift nobody knew they needed.
Who will make this year's hit porridge?
Opening in late November, Helsinki Christmas Market, known locally as Tuomaan Markkinat, is one of the city's most popular festive attractions. Wooden stalls sell Finnish handicrafts, Christmas decorations and gifts, while a traditional carousel adds a touch of old-fashioned charm.
But the market is also a foodie destination, with many stalls run by popular Helsinki restaurants experimenting with festive specials. And every year, an unofficial competition emerges: who will create the season's hittipuuro, or 'hit porridge'?
To foreign visitors, the Finnish enthusiasm for porridge might seem a little baffling. But don't knock it until you've tried it. Traditional Christmas rice porridge, usually served with cinnamon, sugar and butter, gets increasingly inventive makeovers, with previous creations featuring everything from browned butter to miso caramel.
Give it a try. You might just find yourself joining the porridge fan club.
A new ice rink at Market Square
And there's more festive fun just around the corner. Helsinki's city centre has another Christmas market, Mantan Joulutori, which made its debut last year.
Named after the famous Havis Amanda statue, affectionately known to locals as Manta, the market sits beside one of Helsinki's best-loved landmarks, just a short stroll from Senate Square.
This year's big addition is a covered ice rink beside the statue, where visitors can enjoy a spin on the ice with Helsinki's historic centre as the backdrop. Skates will be available to hire on site.
So there you have it: Christmas shopping, inventive porridge, ice skating and a proper Finnish sauna, all within a few minutes' walk.
Who needs Lapland?
Helsinki Christmas Market takes place on Senate Square from 27 November to 22 December 2026. The ice rink at Mantan Joulutori is open from 4 December 2026 to 6 January 2027. Entry to the markets is free. Sauna prices and booking details have yet to be confirmed.