Things to do
What’s on in Helsinki this month: the best things to do in November!
What to do in Helsinki this month? The greyest days of the year are here, but the city's event calendar is bringing some much-needed colour...
Things to do in Helsinki
Your essential guide to the best stuff on in Helsinki right now
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.
Things to do
Helsinki on a budget: the city’s best free attractions
The best things in life are free, right?
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Things to do
These are the best Christmas markets in Helsinki
Forget the stress, grab a mug of glögi, and let Helsinki’s Christmas markets sweep you into the season
Things to do
Don't forget your swimsuit! Helsinki's Christmas Market is getting a sauna
Competition between Helsinki's Christmas markets is getting hotter than ever this winter, as the city's biggest Christmas market turns up the heat with a proper Finnish sauna
Things to do
Halloween events in Helsinki: 30 October to 1 November
Ghost walks, traditional kekri celebrations, horror films and Halloween parties. We’ve rounded up Helsinki’s spookiest events for the weekend of 30 October to 1 November 2026!
Things to do
Father's Day in Helsinki – make it one to remember
This year, make Father’s Day one for the books. With these ideas, he might just discover his inner Superdad.
Things to do
What’s on in Helsinki this month: the best things to do in November!
November is known for its grey skies, but the month’s events calendar is anything but dull! We’ve rounded up the best events happening in Helsinki this November.
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
October events in Helsinki – see what’s on this month
Helsinki gets a little spooky in October, but there’s plenty more going on than pumpkin carving
Things to do
No barking fees – a restaurant for dogs and cats is opening in central Helsinki
Humans will be left empty-handed as cats and dogs get to feast at a pop-up restaurant in Kolmensepänaukio from September 9-13.
Things to do
Street dancers take over Senate Square this Saturday
Sixteen dancers, surprise tracks, one winner – and the crowd decides who takes it on Saturday 5 September
Things to do
Serious liquorice news: Kouvolan Lakritsi is opening a flagship store on Keskuskatu
1,000 kilos of liquorice up for grabs on opening day, Saturday 5 September
Book a hotel stay in Helsinki
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...
Hotels
24 hours in Hanaholmen hotel
When it comes to the ultimate iconic nature experience around Helsinki, three elements are essential: the sea, pine forests and the occasional whooper swan...
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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...
More tips for exploring Helsinki
Art
Kiasma’s top floor is turning into a prehistoric cave
Step inside a 15,000-year-old cave in British artist Oliver Beer’s extraordinary sound and video installation
Art
The best art galleries in Helsinki, according to artists
Looking for the best galleries in Helsinki? We asked artists and art world insiders which galleries they get most excited about
Shopping
Helsinki’s best thrift stores for vintage and second-hand finds
From vintage gems to bargain second-hand, here’s where to thrift your way through Helsinki's pre-loved scene.
Shopping
Paid content
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
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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
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