Top 10 Things to Do in Helsinki in 2025 — Travel Top 10 List

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Top 10 Things to Do in Helsinki in 2025

Discover the top things to do in Helsinki, from iconic landmarks like Helsinki Cathedral to hidden design gems and sauna culture. Be the 1st to vote for your favorite!

202688 viewsMar 16, 2026 Updated Oct 3, 2026

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#1
Helsinki Cathedral
Helsinki Cathedral (Helsingin tuomiokirkko) is the city's defining landmark, a magnificent neoclassical Lutheran church with a gleaming white facade and green copper dome that dominates Senate Square in the heart of the city. Designed by Carl Ludwig Engel and completed in 1852, the cathedral's broad steps serve as Helsinki's most popular outdoor gathering place. The interior is deliberately austere and calm, with the zinc statues of the twelve apostles on the roof being its most distinctive feature.
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#2
Suomenlinna Fortress
Suomenlinna is an 18th-century sea fortress built on a cluster of six islands just off the Helsinki coast, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Finland's most popular tourist destinations. Construction began in 1748 under Swedish rule to defend the country's southern coast; it later fell to Russia and served as a Russian military base until Finnish independence in 1917. Today around 800 people live on the islands year-round, and it is accessible by a 15-minute ferry from the Market Square.
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#3
Market Square Helsinki
The Market Square (Kauppatori) is Helsinki's historic open-air marketplace on the South Harbour waterfront, where vendors have sold fresh produce, fish, handicrafts, and local delicacies since the 18th century. In summer the square bustles with red-and-white-striped market stalls selling freshly caught Baltic herring, Finnish strawberries, reindeer sausages, and handicrafts, while ferries depart for Suomenlinna and the islands. The famous Havis Amanda fountain — a bronze statue of a sea nymph — stands at the square's centre and is a beloved symbol of Helsinki.
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#4
Temppeliaukio Church
Temppeliaukio Church (Rock Church) is one of Helsinki's most extraordinary buildings, excavated directly into solid bedrock in the Töölö district and completed in 1969 to the designs of brothers Timo and Tuomo Suomalainen. The circular copper-domed interior, with its rough-hewn stone walls and natural light flooding in through 180 skylights set into the copper rim, creates a remarkably spiritual and acoustically excellent space. It is one of Finland's most visited tourist attractions, drawing around 500,000 visitors per year.
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#5
Kiasma Museum
Kiasma is Finland's national museum of contemporary art, housed in a striking curvilinear building designed by American architect Steven Holl and opened in 1998 near the heart of Helsinki. The building's unusual interlocking geometry creates a series of naturally lit, organically shaped gallery spaces over five floors, housing rotating exhibitions of Finnish and international contemporary art from the 1960s to the present. Unlike the Ateneum Art Museum's traditional collection, Kiasma pushes boundaries with its architecture and programming, attracting over 200,000 visitors annually. The museum's name refers to the concept of chiasm — a philosophical term for the intertwining of body and environment.
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#6
Esplanadi Park
Esplanadi is Helsinki's elegant central promenade, a tree-lined boulevard with two parallel parks flanking a central walkway running from the Swedish Theatre down to the Market Square and South Harbour. Opened in the 1810s as part of Carl Ludwig Engel's urban design for the new Russian capital of Finland, it has always been the city's social hub, lined with outdoor café terraces, boutiques, and department stores.
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#7
Old Market Hall Helsinki
The Old Market Hall (Vanha kauppahalli) is a stunning 19th-century cast-iron and red-brick market hall on the South Harbour waterfront, built in 1888 and one of Finland's most beautiful historic buildings. Meticulously restored and reopened in 2014, it now houses specialist food stalls, artisan producers, and restaurants selling the finest Finnish ingredients including smoked salmon, reindeer, local cheeses, and freshly baked bread.
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#8
Ateneum Art Museum
The Ateneum is Finland's national gallery, housing the country's most extensive collection of Finnish art from the 18th century to the 1960s, including important works by Akseli Gallen-Kallela, Albert Edelfelt, Helene Schjerfbeck, and Hugo Simberg. The museum building, opened in 1887, is a grand neoclassical palace opposite Helsinki Central Railway Station and is one of the city's most recognisable landmarks.
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#9
Senate Square Helsinki
Senate Square (Senaatintori) is Helsinki's most important civic space, flanked by four of the city's most impressive neoclassical buildings: Helsinki Cathedral, the Government Palace, the University of Helsinki, and the Helsinki City Hall, all designed by the German architect Carl Ludwig Engel. The square was built in the early 19th century to serve as the administrative centre of the Grand Duchy of Finland under Russian rule and is centred on a statue of Tsar Alexander II. It remains the venue for major national celebrations including Finnish Independence Day on 6 December.
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#10
Linnanmäki Amusement Park
Linnanmäki is Helsinki's beloved amusement park, open since 1950 and maintained by the child welfare charity Lasten Päivän Säätiö, which donates all profits to the care of Finnish children. The park sits on a forested hill north of the city centre and features over 40 rides, including the historic wooden roller coaster Ukko, built in 1951 and still running today.
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Frequently asked questions

What is the best time of year to visit Helsinki?

The best time to visit Helsinki is during the summer months from June to August when the weather is warm and many outdoor festivals and events take place.

What are the must-see attractions in Helsinki?

Must-see attractions include the Suomenlinna Sea Fortress, Helsinki Cathedral, the Temppeliaukio Church (Rock Church), and the Design District.

Are there free things to do in Helsinki?

Yes, you can explore the outdoor markets like Market Square, walk through the Esplanadi Park, visit the Kamppi Chapel of Silence, and enjoy free entry to many churches.

What day trips can I take from Helsinki?

Popular day trips include a ferry to the Suomenlinna fortress, a visit to Porvoo’s old town, or a train ride to the historical city of Turku.

How do I get around Helsinki as a tourist?

Helsinki has an efficient public transport system including trams, buses, and the metro; a single Helsinki Card offers unlimited travel and free entry to many attractions.