Best things to do in Helsinki: a local’s guide for 2025

What is it: Visiting a public sauna isn’t just something to try in Finland – it’s the thing to do. Step into the heat and you’ll be closer to the Finnish state of mind than anywhere else. At traditional spots like Kotiharjun sauna, the rule is simple: swimsuits stay at the door. Men and women bathe separately.

Why go? This is a sauna in its purest form: steam, heat, and humanity. No one’s staring; everyone’s sweating. You slip into a rhythm of heating up, cooling down, and heading back in again. It’s both social and deeply relaxing—and you may even find yourself sharing life stories with strangers. For reasons no one quite understands, Finns—usually reserved to the point of silence—become surprisingly chatty when sweating naked with strangers. Friendships have been forged, deals struck, and life stories spilled on those wooden benches. 

Don’t miss: On Thursdays and Fridays, a traditional washer is in attendance. In her care, it feels as though time has slipped back to childhood and you are once again being gently bathed by your parents. You emerge with a refreshed body and a heart at ease.

Address: Harjutorinkatu 1, 00500 Helsinki

Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday 2pm–8pm (bathtime until 9:30pm)

Nearest metro: Sörnäinen

Price: €16, professional washing €14 

What is it? Not ready to strip? Head to Löyly, a modern sauna complex that looks straight out of the pages of Architectural Digest. Here, swimsuits are expected in the mixed saunas, and the vibe is more chic spa than gritty tradition.

Why go? You get the essential Finnish cycle of hot steam and icy plunge to the sea, but in a more accessible package than in the traditional saunas. You won’t feel out of place, as many of the visitors here are international guests just like you. It’s the easy way to tick 'Finnish sauna' off your list without baring it all.

Don’t miss: After a few sauna rounds and icy dips, head to Löyly’s restaurant for seasonal Nordic flavours with a sustainable edge. Or just grab a cocktail and sprawl on the terrace, feeling like a film star – until you remember you’re fresh out of the shower and without the make-up.

Address: Hernesaarenranta, 400150 Helsinki

Opening hours: Monday to Thrusday 12am-10pm, Friday 1pm-11pm, Saturday 9am-11am & 1pm-11pm, Sunday 11am-9pm

Nearest public transportation: Tram station Eiranranta, tram 6T

Price: €26, the price includes a towel, seat cover, plus shampoo and shower gel

What is it? Forget the image of dusty shelves and 'silence, please' signs. Helsinki’s Central Library Oodi isn’t just a temple of books, it’s a futuristic spaceship of knowledge, boldly taking libraries where no library has gone before.

Why go? Oodi feels more like a cultural hub than a library. The shelves are just the beginning. Inside you’ll find a cinema, music studios, 3D printers, gaming rooms, sewing machines, and even a kitchen for cooking classes. In the lobby you can also borrow a basketball to shoot hoops on the courts right outside. Because why not? Here, slam dunks and crime novels both count as culture.

Don’t miss: At Oodi’s makerspace you can print your own Helsinki-themed tote bag for a fraction of the price souvenir shops charge. Just pick a design from the library’s catalogue and have it pressed onto fabric—prices start from as little as 50 cents. One of the city’s most creative (and cheapest) souvenirs, guaranteed.

Adress: Töölönlahdenkatu 4, 00100 Helsinki

Opening hours: Monday to Friday 8am-9pm, Friday to Sunday 10am-8pm

Closest metro: Central Railway Station (Rautatientori)

Price: Free

What is it? For decades, Finlandia Hall—architectural legend Alvar Aalto’s final masterpiece—was something you could only admire from the outside, unless you had a ticket to a conference or concert inside. After a major renovation, it now hosts the Finlandia exhibition, bringing Aalto’s architecture, life, and ideas up close for visitors.

Why go? The exhibition is broad and revealing, offering a different angle on Aalto than the Aalto Museum in Jyväskylä. Together they complement each other. At Finlandia Hall, Aalto’s architecture is tied directly to the idea of Finnish identity. The show makes it clear just how deeply Aalto shaped what the world (and Finns themselves) consider “Finnish design.”  

Don’t miss: After the exhibition, drop by the new Finlandia Café & Wine, naturally furnished with Aalto’s own chairs and lamps. And if you really want to immerse yourself, a handful of Aalto-designed rooms—originally built as living quarters for janitors and staff—can now be booked for an overnight stay.

Nearest metro: Central Railway Station (Rautatientori)

Price: €20 for the exhibition. Entry to the lobby and café of Finlandia Hall is free.

What is it? Café Engel is a Helsinki classic, sitting in prime position on Senate Square, directly opposite the gleaming white Cathedral. Senate Square itself is the city’s historical heart: built from scratch in the early 19th century, when Helsinki became Finland’s capital.

Why go? Few cafés in the city are more atmospheric. Candlelit tables, windows that look onto Finland’s most beautiful square, and a setting that feels made for romance. If Cupid’s arrows don’t fly here on a date, you’re probably with the wrong person. Despite the postcard-perfect location, Café Engel has resisted turning into a tourist trap—it’s still a place locals genuinely love.

Don’t miss: The café takes its name from architect C. L. Engel, who designed the entire square. Fun fact: Engel himself thought his best building wasn’t the Cathedral but the National Library tucked on its corner. Step inside to admire its domed reading room. As for the Cathedral—honestly, it looks better from the outside, where it soars in snowy-white majesty. Inside it’s Lutheran plainness all the way.

Address: Aleksanterinkatu 26, 00170 Helsinki

Opening hours: Monday to Friday 8am-9pm, Saturday 9am-9pm, Sunday 10am-7pm

Closest metro: Helsingin yliopisto

What is it: ​​Right on the city centre’s waterfront, where ferries come and go and seagulls patrol like feathered pickpockets, you’ll find the city’s main Market Square (Kauppatori). These days it’s less about groceries and more about souvenirs — from reindeer pelts to furry hats — but it’s still a must-visit. You’ll know why the moment you catch the unmistakable smell of fish frying in butter. That’s muikku, tiny vendace from Finland’s lakes, served straight from the pan with a wedge of lemon and a sprinkle of salt.

Why go: The small fish are eaten whole, head and all, the way Finns have been doing for generations. Crisp, savoury, and dangerously moreish, they’re the kind of snack that turns “I’ll just try one” into “I’ve accidentally eaten the whole box.” Just watch out for the gulls—they’ve mastered the art of airborne fish theft.

Don’t miss: The tented old-fashioned coffee stalls along the square, where strong Finnish filter coffee is poured into paper mugs. It’s a timeless Market Square ritual — warming your hands on a steaming cup while the Baltic wind whips through the harbor.

Address: Eteläranta

Opening hours: Monday to Friday 6:30am-6pm, Friday 6:30am-4pm, Sunday 10am-5pm

What is it? Completed in 1868, Uspenski Cathedral is the largest Orthodox church in Western Europe. Its red-brick bulk and golden onion domes rise dramatically above the Market Square, a constant reminder of the era when Finland was part of the Russian Empire. The bricks themselves have a story: they were salvaged from the ruined Bomarsund Fortress in Åland, destroyed during the Crimean War.

Why go? Step inside and the atmosphere shifts instantly—incense, candlelight, and glittering icons fill the lofty interior. The cathedral’s most revered treasure is the Kozelshchyn Mother of God icon, said to be miracle-working. You’ll know it by the jewellery and crosses left in gratitude by worshippers. Watching the faithful sink into fervent prayer before it adds a powerful, human layer to the building’s grandeur.

Don’t miss: The icon comes with a dramatic backstory: it was stolen in 2010 but recovered when the thief—hardly Arsène Lupin material—got greedy, returned to see what else he could swipe, and was promptly caught. As a bonus tip, circle the cathedral hill in the evening; with the city lights flickering below and the harbour stretching out, Uspenski looks just as impressive outside as it does within.

Address: Pormestarinrinne 1, 00160 Helsinki

Opening hours: Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 9:30am-4pm, Saturday 10am-12:30pm; closed on Sunday, Monday and Wednesday

Price: Free

What is it? Helsinki is home to more than 600 art nouveau (or jugend style) buildings – second only to Riga in sheer numbers. They’re like storybooks turned into stone and brick, brimming with castle towers, arched gateways, and playful reliefs featuring owls, trolls, and even dragons.

Why go? For the most enchanting cluster, head to Katajanokka, just behind Uspenski Cathedral. Here, art nouveau blocks form a remarkably unified whole. Look out for Luotsikatu 4, childhood home of artist Tove Jansson, and Luotsikatu 1, whose turrets are said to have inspired her Moomin tales. The prettiest art nouveau street? Huvilakatu in Eira, with its pastel façades and toy-like charm. And for sheer decorative extravagance, nothing beats the Pohjola Insurance building on Aleksanterinkatu 44, its façade crawling with fantastical creatures (fitting, perhaps, for a company selling protection against every imaginable threat).

Don’t miss: The interiors of most the buildings aren’t open to the public, but you can peek inside one at Robert’s Coffee Jugend on the Esplanade. The exterior is empire style, but step through the doors and it’s pure art nouveau fantasy – a soaring space of curves, carvings, and stained glass that feels almost too grand for a latte.

Address: Robert's Coffee Jugend, Pohjois-Esplanadi 19, 00100

Opening hours: Monday to Saturday 10am-7p, Sunday 10am-6pm

Nearest metro: Helsingin yliopisto

What is it? The museum of contemporary art Kiasma looms over central Helsinki like a giant steel whale. Inside, staircases jut out in unexpected directions and sliding metal doors open on their own, creating the feel of an Escher-like art labyrinth where space seems to fold endlessly back on itself.

Why go? Kiasma is Finland’s leading stage for wild, provocative, and thought-provoking art – the kind that sometimes makes you wonder, 'is that art or just a mop bucket?' Rotating exhibitions showcase both Finnish and international names, and the museum hasn’t shied away from controversy. Case in point: the Tom of Finland exhibition, which filled its galleries with the world’s most famous Finnish gay icon’s unapologetic leather fantasies.

Don’t miss: Downstairs, Kiasma Theatre stages live performances that are current, experimental, and often wonderfully odd. Many shows are in English too.

Address: Mannerheiminaukio 2

Opening hours: Tuesday 10am-8pm, Wednesday and Thursday 10am-6pm, Friday 10am-8pm, Saturday and Sunday 10am-5pm

Nearest metro: Kamppi and Central Railway Station

Price: €22

What is it? Forget the polished (and pricey) cocktail dens of downtown – when it comes to bar-hopping, Kallio is where Helsinki really lets its hair down. This is the city’s bohemian heart, crammed with quirky bars that are as unpretentious as they are original.

Why go? There’s no gloomy autumn day that a Kallio bar crawl can’t fix. Start at the pocket-sized Kuuttila Bar, where chili-spiked shots and cocktails are guaranteed to shake off the chill. Next, play a round of ping-pong at Limbo Bar and soak up the theatrical atmosphere at Struts. End the night in techno territory at Post Bar – or, if the line’s too long, head next door to Club Kaiku, a retro-futurist industrial haunt for heavy techno.

Don’t miss: Kallio’s cult classic is Sirdie, a tiny pub that’s been pulling pints since 1966. The décor hasn’t changed much since those days, and yes, the old-school jukebox is still there, loaded with Finnish hits ready to soundtrack your beer.

What is it? Wedged between Kallio and Pasila, Vallila is staking its claim as Helsinki’s hippest quarter. The neighbourhood’s DNA is pure working-class: tram depots, machine shops, textile factories. Today those same brick halls echo with DJs, espresso machines, and the clink of wine glasses, while still keeping just enough grit to feel real.

Why go? On the surface, Vallila is all concrete and industry. But peel it back and you’ll discover a softer, almost storybook side. Puu-Vallila, a cluster of early-1900s wooden houses, hides behind the traffic of Mäkelänkatu. Here pastel walls, picket fences, and winding lanes create an urban village atmosphere. And tucked right into it sits Pikku-Vallila, a pocket-sized bar with a cult following – some say the cosiest spot in the city.

Don’t miss: Plot out your day like a local: linger over breakfast at The Folks Hotel before wandering through Puu-Vallila’s crooked lanes toward Helsingin kahvipaahtimo for a perfect cup of cappuccino. Refuel with a Portuguese lunch at Wave of Flavors, then lose an afternoon at Super Bario, where cocktails meet arcade nostalgia inside the old Konepaja foundry. For dinner, book a table at Plein, a Bib Gourmand darling, and slide next door for natural wine at Bar Petiit. When the night refuses to end, there’s only one destination: Ääniwalli, still the raw and roaring heart of Helsinki’s underground.