MUSEUMS

National Museum of Finland

Located next door to the Parliament House, every part of this museum seep with Finnish history. Attractions include Civil War-era bullet holes in the door to the ceiling murals of the Kalevela epic poem. As well as being a prime example of Helsinki’s architecture, this museum holds numerous artifacts, paintings, and antiques ranging from pre-history to the modern period which provide a snapshot of Finland’s history and cultural heritage.

Military Museum’s Manege

Fittingly located on the Suomenlinna island fortress, once an important military base, this compact museum is filled with military antiques. It covers all parts of Finland’s proud military heritage, ranging from World War Two to the lesser-known conflicts such as The Great Northern War. Of particular note are the fine displays of military uniforms.

The Finnish Museum of Photography

With the amount of beautiful landscapes have provided Finland with many well-regarded photographers, the over 3.7 million images in the Museum of Photography is the best place to see them all. It provides examples of both professional and amateur photography from every part of Finnish society, ranging from historical photos by famous photographers to recent photos taken by asylum seekers.

Design Museum

Located in the fashionable Design District of Southern Helsinki, The Design Museum displays some of the best examples of Finnish fashion, art, and even household objects that Scandinavia is well known for. The rotating exhibits provide commentary on modern society and often provide an opportunity for rising artists to display their work to the public. It is an essential stop for any lover of art and design.

Museum of Finnish Architecture

Helsinki’s distinct art-nouveau architecture provides another unique feature to the city. This museum, located in a neo-renaissance building, is an ideal place to learn more about the history of Finland’s architecture. It covers the modernisation of the country’s architecture from the classic wooden structures to the modern architecture seen today and also hosts numerous workshops and lectures.

Suomenlinna Museum

Suomenlinna is home to more than a half a dozen museums and multiple sights to see on the island. The Suomenlinna Museum offers the best place to learn the general history of all 260 years of the fortress. Located in the centre of Suomenlinna, visitors see photos of the fortress through different seasons and eras, see artifacts uncovered by excavations, and watch a short film which covers all of this history. Combined with the guided tour, guests can learn practically all there is to know about the fortress’s background.

Ateneum Art Museum

Finland’s state-owned National Gallery contains over 35,000 pieces spread across multiple buildings. But the most distinctive location is the palace-like Ateneum Art Museum, easily identifiable from opposite the central train station. As the oldest building of the gallery, it has a long history of developing new artists and preserving older works which persists to this day. Those unfamiliar with Finnish art can learn and see work created the country’s best artists.

Museum of Contemporary Art Museum Kiasma

For those who prefer contemporary art, the National Gallery’s Kiasma building combines a beautiful modern building that masterfully utelises natural light with powerful and thought-provoking work by some of Finland’s best modern artists. Located next to the statue of Mannerheim, it is also a family-friendly museum, offering multiple workshops, events, and live performances suitable for all ages.

Seurassari Open Air Museum

A little more out of the way and only open during the summer, the Seurassari Open Air Museum is still definitely worth a visit for a taste of old Finland. Spread across Seurassi Island in Western Helsinki, it still holds many old buildings saved from the modernisation of the mainland. The island provides a glimpse into how Finnish people used to live in previous centuries with water mills, churches, stables, and many other old buildings which all have a unique history of their own.

Finnish Museum of Natural History

Identifiable by its life-sized moose statue outside and two figures of giraffes having coffee on the balcony, this museum covers the biological side of Finland’s history and landscape and is a central location of Finland’s scientific research. The exhibits contain dinosaur bones, dioramas of Finnish and worldwide nature, and an immersive experience into the natural world that makes it particularly popular with children.

PARKS

Hesperian Puisto (Hesperia Park)

One of Helsinki’s most appealing parks, Hesperian Puisto lies close to the very city centre and next to the Finnish National Opera House. Large expanses of grass provide plenty of room for children to run around and let off steam. The park is at its most popular during the Night of the Arts (Taiteiden Yö), which takes place each year at the end of August, in the very middle of the Helsinki Festival, and includes an array of outdoor performances and theatrical events.

Kaivopuisto Park

Home to the Ursa observatory and loved by locals and visitors alike, the elevated Kaivopuisto Park dates back as far as the early part of the 19th century and boasts stunning vistas across the Helsinki cityscape. This park is perhaps the ultimate spot for a leisurely picnic and also regularly hosts many of the city’s leading events, including a number of the Helsinki-päivä concerts in June, and also the Kaivopuiston Kansanjuhla concerts in July and August. The park gained its name from a nearby spa that was once located close to the coast.

Kaisaniemen Puisto (Kaisaniemi Park)

Known for its outstanding beauty and first laid out over 100 years ago, Kaisaniemi Park is based around the centrally located lake, where much of the best planting is to be found. Various statues and monuments are dotted around the Kaisaniemen Puisto, while other highlights include a popular coffee shop, the lively May Day celebrations, the University Botanical Gardens (Kasvitieteellinen Puutarha) and the views across Kaisaniemi Bay.

Kasvitieteellinen Puutarha (University Botanical Gardens)

If you have time to visit just one of the many gardens dotted around Helsinki, then be sure to pay a visit to the University Botanical Gardens, known locally in Finland as the Kasvitieteellinen Puutarha and first landscaped almost 200 years ago. Enjoying a parkland setting within Kaisaniemen Puisto, these beautiful botanical gardens are home to endless flowerbeds and seasonal displays, although they are perhaps best known for their historic and extremely stylish glasshouses.

Kaupungin Talvipuutarha (City Winter Gardens)

Known as the City Winter Gardens and brimming with horticultural interest, the Kaupungin Talvipuutarha can be found within Helsinki’s district of Töölö and has become a leading attraction. The glasshouses are filled with towering palm trees, succulents, cacti and alpine gardens, and allow visitors to enjoy a host of plants and flowers, even during the harshest of winters.

Meilahden Arboretum

Close to central Helsinki and also within walking distance of the popular Seurasaari Open-Air Museum, the Meilahden Arboretum is home to an impressive collection of mature trees and shrubs, many of which are Finnish in origin and linked by winding pathways. Seasonal attractions include springtime bulbs and fragrant rose borders, peaking during the summer.

Tähtitorninmäki Park (Observatory Hill)

For some of the best views across Helsinki, bring your camera to Tähtitorninmäki Park, stand back and appreciate the panorama. The park enjoys an elevated position atop Observatory Hill and from here it is possible to easily pick out many of the most eye-catching landmarks below, such as Market Square. Tähtitorninmäki is also home to a historic Observatory, which is almost 200 years old and in a state of good repair.

Uutelan Luontopolku Park

Lying on the far eastern outskirts of Helsinki, the Uutelan Luontopolku Park is known for its native Finnish flora and fauna, and features a long and extremely popular nature trail. Many points of interest lie along the trail itself and are always clearly labelled, including the magnificent Skatta mansion and a fortress complex dating back to the 1920s.

MARKETS

Market Square (Kauppatori)

Market Square is also known as Kauppatori in Finnish. It is Helsinki’s international, and its most famous, market and is located near the city centre, a very accessible location for tourists. The shops sell traditional Finnish treats as well as souvenirs, and you can enjoy music talents performing in the Market Square using instruments like the hydrophone and classic guitar. There are a number of cafés offering lihapiirakka, which are Finnish meat pastries. Market Square also has a long tradition which involves displaying an old American car on the first Friday every month, so don’t miss this spot and remember to take a snapshot of this landmark.

Old Market Hall

Situated in Eteläranta and next to Market Square, Old Market Hall houses a variety of local and international delicacies that will stimulate your taste buds. Established in 1889, this food hall gives a nostalgic vibe with its Scandinavian architectural style. There are 25 merchants in the food hall, with many of them running family businesses. They are all dedicated to preparing food for you using top notch local ingredients like cheese, fish, shellfish and reindeer meat. These dishes are prepared using the most traditional Finnish culinary techniques.

Hietalahti Flea Market

If you want to experience the uniqueness of Helsinki, visiting Hetalahti Flea Market gives a perfect sense of the area, and is one of Helsinki’s most popular marketplaces in the summer time. Located in the design district of the city, you can appreciate local artworks, including handicrafts, jewellery and ceramics.

Hakaniemi Sunday Flea Market

This Sunday flea market is situated in Hakaniemi Square and is home to over 200 vendors. Founded by two young entrepreneurs, Päivyt Toivonen and Orvokki Hyytinen, their vision was to make the market a place for artists, locals and tourists to meet. You may choose to take a break in the cafés which offer traditional Finnish outdoor market snacks like salmon soup and liquorice.

Abattoir (Teurastamo)

Abattoir, which is also locally known as Teurastamo, is a market which exhibits the food culture of Helsinki. The attractive and mouthwatering smell of grills is almost irresistible to many. Locals like to bring their own ingredients and grill together, and if you’re lucky you might get a taste of the delicacies that they are preparing. There are large food events every month, such as the Farmers’ Market that invites local farmers to sell their own organic crops.