- Morning swim (at Allas or in the sea)
- Summer day trip to Suomenlinna
- Barbecue at Seurasaari Open-Air Museum
- Soaking up summer vibes in an allotment garden area (Kumpula, Tali, Herttoniemi)
- Beach day at Hietsu, Munkkiniemi, Aurinkolahti or Kallahdenniemi
- Ice cream treats from a kiosk on the Esplanade or in Kaivopuisto
- Flea market day in Helsinki (Hietsu flea market, Freda and Aleksis Kivi Street flea market on Sundays)
- Go see the cows in Viikki
- Breakfast at the Market Square (or Kahvisiskot in Hakaniemi Market)
- Explore the rapids and lush woodland at Pitkäkoski
- Flower picking in late summer (wildflowers or sunflowers)
- Open-air cinema night in August, when the summer evenings grow darker but are still warm.
- A long dinner (or just a very long evening) on a terrace
- Bar-hopping until the summer sun rises again in the early hours of the morning
- City festivals (Tuska, Weekend, Jytäkesä Go-Go, Flow)
- Aimless bike ride along the endless Helsinki waterfront
- Hopping between Helsinki’s iconic lippakioski kiosks, which double as street food spots and bars
- Swimming in an outdoor pool (Stadion Swimming Pool or Kumpula Outdoor Swimming Pool)
- Boat trip to the islands (Pihlajasaari, Mustasaari or Vallisaari, for example)
- Walk or cycle to an island (Lammassaari, Seurasaari, Mustikkamaa)
- Kayaking in the archipelago just outside city centre
- Laxy breakfast outdoors
- Picnic in the nearby park
- Sauna session followed by cooling off outside (Lonna, Sompasauna, Kotiharju Sauna, Lapinlahti Source sauna)
- Full-day park outing (Juhani Aho Park, Lenin Park, Sibelius Park, Haaga Rhododendron Park, Lapinlahti, Töölönlahti Summer Park)
- Seaside staycation (Nolla Cabin, Rantapuisto, Hanaholmen)
- Visit Heureka (and bounce around in the rock park outside the science centre)
- Hangin on at Helsinki’s seaside rocks with friends and a few beers (from Uspenski Cathedral to Kruunuvuorenranta and the cliffs of Herttoniemi)
- Head across the bridge to Laajasalo for an adventure, and steal a kiss at the Lagoon of Love
Every summer, it’s the same story: as soon as the temperature creeps past 20 degrees and the sun hangs around late into the evening, a mental checklist starts forming of all the things you absolutely have to do this summer. It’s full of those summer moments you’ll end up reminiscing about longingly in the depths of winter: huge unforgettable nights out and tiny, perfectly simple moments alike – in other words, all the things that make Helsinki in summer feel at its very best.
This summer, we’re helping out by putting the list together for you. This isn’t some stressful to-do list to power through, but more of an easy little reminder for those days when you suddenly feel like doing something spontaneous.
So here it is: Time Out’s Helsinki summer list, packed with iconic experiences that simply belong to this time of year.
If you really want to make the most of the city, save these in your phone notes, add your own favourites to the mix and tell us too: what’s still missing?
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