Things to do
Best things to do in Helsinki: a local’s guide for 2026
Forget bucket lists and 'must-see' sights (we don’t have many, honestly). Helsinki is its own beast. It’s moody and minimalist one minute, playful...
Things to do in Helsinki
Your essential guide to the best stuff on in Helsinki right now
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Things to do
Helsinki gets a pop-up bar that’s completely free and serves only water
An international water giant’s marketing campaign is bringing a free water bar to Helsinki.
Things to do
Helsinki’s best spas – places where you can simply unwind
Relaxing in Helsinki is surprisingly easy – we’ve already done the legwork and rounded up the city’s best spas for you
Things to do
Let’s Talk About Richard – why the king of kitsch is suddenly relevant again
At Teatteri Takomo in Helsinki, a new play on Richard Clayderman explores art and taste, with two English-subtitled shows.
Things to do
What to do this month in Helsinki – April 2026
In April, spring starts to make itself known: the snow is gone, terraces reopen and Easter marks a reliable milestone on the road to summer.
Things to do
Domestic Techno Review – a mini festival in Helsinki this Friday
What does Finnish techno look and sound like right now? On Friday 27 March Kuudes Linja turns into a showcase for electronic art.
Things to do
The architects of androgyny return: Placebo bring their 30th anniversary tour to Helsinki
On their anniversary tour, the band have promised to play tracks which haven’t been heard live in over 20 years.
Things to do
Hanaholmen unveils ten new junior suites – with archipelago views from the window
The new suites look out over the Espoo archipelago and are filled with Nordic design
Things to do
Massive Attack return to Helsinki in May 2026
‘Teardrop’ icons Massive Attack headline Veikkaus Arena on 27 May 2026 as part of their European tour
Things to do
Helsinki Distilling Company – visit the city’s finest distillery
Visit Helsinki’s very own distillery to sample its world-class spirits and enjoy expertly crafted gin and tonics
Things to do
Valentine’s Day in Helsinki: 10 ways to make it unforgettable
These tips work just as well for a best mate as they do for the love of your life.
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Hotels
The best hotels in Helsinki in 2026
Helsinki’s hotels are much like the city itself: stylish, surprising and full of stories. The city’s diversity shines through the windows of its...
Hotels
Helsinki’s Best Budget Hotels – 10 places where you can find a room for under €100
Looking for a place to stay in Helsinki that leaves you with money to spare for everything else?
We Finns often say that travelling in our own country is...
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Give your budget a break
Shopping
The best shops in Helsinki
Shopping might not be the hottest thing right now, but let’s be honest – sometimes there’s nothing better than treating yourself to a new (or...
Shopping
Helsinki's best thrift stores
Forget fast fashion and the same old high-street chains. In Helsinki, the best shopping happens in second-hand stores. These places are full of genuine...
Shopping
The best bookshops in Helsinki
Helsinki takes its bookshop culture seriously – and you’ll notice how quickly locals speak up to defend it. Residents are fiercely loyal to their...
Try something new
Things to do
Helsinki Distilling Company – visit the city’s finest distillery
What would a city be without its own distillery? Helsinki’s very own, The Helsinki Distilling Company, sits in the trendy Teurastamo district –...
Things to do
Let Arctic Helsinki surprise you – these experiences will make you forget you’re in the city
Planning a couple of days in wintery Helsinki? Many travellers heading to Lapland via the capital don’t realise that Finland’s biggest city also...
Things to do
Best day trips from Helsinki that even locals swear by
Want to experience Helsinki in an unexpected way? To see more than the usual sights, even if you’ve only got one day? You can – even without...
More tips for exploring Helsinki
Shopping
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Forget your average shopping trip – 7 reasons Helsinki Outlet comes out on top
At Helsinki Outlet, the whole family can enjoy a relaxed day out filled with shopping, good food, and a range of services and events
LGBTQ+
The best LGBTQ+ events in Helsinki this spring
Spring is bringing a rainbow of things to do in Helsinki, from drag and crafts to comedy and erotic bingo – pick your favourites and get them in the diary now
Art
Eero Nelimarkka exhibition opens at the Ateneum this March
A sweeping new show at Helsinki’s Ateneum re-introduces the versatile Finnish painter whose evocative landscapes and portraits reveal unexpected depths
Nightlife
Hi-Hat Bar brims with theatrical flair
You could easily imagine you’ve stumbled into the Roaring Twenties at this new bar on Iso Roobertinkatu’s pedestrian street
Art
Move over, Avatar: the GENESIS multimedia spectacle lights up Kallio Church in Helsinki
The grand, granite architecture of Kallio church becomes a vast, living canvas in this multimedia show
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Kids
Best things to do in Helsinki with kids
Get ready for an unforgettable family adventure – because when you experience Helsinki with children, the city becomes one big playground: the trams rattle,...
Art
A new art event arrives in Torikorttelit: free and open around the clock
The outdoor art event brings works by young artists to windows, balconies and courtyards
Nightlife
The Grand Comeback of Kämp Bar
The bar of Helsinki’s most legendary hotel, Hotel Kämp, has reopened in a renewed form, showcasing theatrically smoking dishes and a cocktail served from a...
Shopping
The best bookshops in Helsinki
From sprawling literary emporiums to tiny, cult-favourite kiosks adored by writers and publishers alike – here’s where to find the best bookshops in Helsinki.