The Best Things To Do In Helsinki This Winter

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Unless you’re going to visit Santa Claus up in Lapland, December doesn’t jump out to be the best time to visit Finland. But that’s exactly what I did. I had been exploring the Eastern Europe Baltic states of Latvia and Estonia and their Christmas markets. But the fact that Helsinki was just a 2 hour ferry ride from Tallinn was just too good an opportunity to pass up. I hadn’t really considered visiting Finland before. But always looking for somewhere new to visit I figured, why not?! Given my whirlwind trip around Europe I didn’t have too long to spend so I booked a 2 night stay in Helsinki. But there’s still a lot you can do in that time. So I thought I would share my guide to the best things to do in Helsinki, even in the winter.

Where is Helsinki?

Helsinki is the capital city of Finland. I always thought of Finland as a Scandinavian country. It always seems to get talked about along with Denmark, Sweden and Norway. But Finland is not actually part of Scandinavia. In fact, Finland used to be a part of the Russian Empire, it’s neighboring country. And before that it was a part of Sweden. Finland only gained full independence in 1917. Russian and Swedish influences can still be seen all around the Finnish capital. But as well as being a historic city, Helsinki is a progressive city with great transportation and access to green spaces and nature.

What is winter like in Helsinki?

If it wasn’t for the pull of the Christmas markets I don’t think I would have considered visiting three of the most notoriously cold European countries in December. That said, Helsinki is in the southern most part of Finland and as such gets nowhere near as cold as the rest of the country. In fact I was prepared with all my winter gear, ready to freeze my ass off every day, and instead I was quite comfortable.

I took a boat ride onto the water one day which was a little chilly, and the daylight hours are quite minimal in December but otherwise it was still very nice. We had a bit of light snow in Helsinki when I was there but there was also some nice winter sun. The temperature can get to around freezing in December but I was lucky and it was still a few degrees above.

Planning around daylight hours

Daylight hours in Finland in the winter are pretty low. The sunrise is around 9am and sunset is around 3pm. Generally less than 6 hours of sunlight per day. While that might sound a little bleak, it’s not too bad. Being December meant Christmas lights around the city made it beautiful even after the sun had gone. It was rather strange to see the sun beginning to set at around 2pm though. I took myself to Suomenlinna Island which wouldn’t have been too easy to navigate in the darkness so plan your activities accordingly. For many things to do in Helsinki such as shopping or museums you don’t need to worry about the sunlight. That said, I did notice that a lot of things close earlier in Helsinki that in other capital cities. That included the Christmas market.

How to get to Helsinki

Helsinki, as the capital of Finland, has a major international airport. There are flights from all across Europe with many direct flight options. If you’re coming from further afield you might end up with an indirect flight through a European hub city. I was flying home to Canada and had to change planes in London. Getting to Helsinki though was easy as I had just been in Tallinn, Estonia. There are multiple ferries each day that go back and forth between the two cities. The ticket was less than 30 EUR and took only about 2 hours. Read more about it here.

How to get around Helsinki

Helsinki has a wonderful public transportation system. There are buses as well as a tram system in the city center, which is also incredibly walkable. There is a metro and train system for further distances including getting to and from the airport. The city has taxis like any other major city, although they aren’t too cheap. I took one from the ferry terminal to my hotel, a 15 minute drive and it cost me over 30 EUR. To get to the airport I took Uber which is alive and well in Helsinki. It worked out cheaper and easier than the taxi also in my opinion. If you are staying in the city center then you should really be OK to just walk most places though.

Where to stay in Helsinki

If you don’t have much time in Helsinki I suggest staying as central as you can. The city center is small enough and walkable that this means you don’t really need to do much traveling. The best things to do in Helsinki are all close by. The Kamppi neighborhood is where you will find a lot of the nightlife, shopping and tourist attractions. It might be a little more expensive but if you like the livelier city vibe this a good area. Kaartinkaupunki is the more historic area near the waterfront. There are some nice markets around here and easy access to the ferries over to Suomenlinna.

I stayed in between the Kruununhaka and Kluuvi neighborhoods in a small economic hotel called Hotel Arthur. It wasn’t anything fancy but my single room was just what I needed and I was still able to walk everywhere, but the neighborhood was a little quieter. It was also a bit cheaper, as you will find that Helsinki is not too cheap. My two nights there cost the same as my 3 nights in Riga at a nicer hotel. But as long as you plan accordingly and factor in the additional costs you’ll be OK.

The best things in Helsinki in 48 hours

Now you know a little more about Helsinki I wanted to share my itinerary and some of the amazing places you can check out if you only have 48 hours in Helsinki. Before you travel make sure to research the opening times of whatever you want to visit as the winter can mean that some places close earlier.

Day One: Afternoon

I took a mid morning ferry from Tallinn and arrived into Helsinki at lunch time. I had my lunch on the ferry and took a taxi to the Hotel Arthur to drop off my bags.

Time to explore Helsinki. Start by wandering over to Senate Square. This is where you will find the main Helsinki Christmas market from early to late December. If you are there at this time then it’s the perfect place to grab a quick snack to keep you going until dinner time. Climb the steps at the edge of the square to go inside Helsinki Cathedral. The incredible all white building stands looming over Helsinki and is really worth a look around. The top of the steps at the front of the cathedral is a great place to get a photo of Senate Square or the Christmas market.

After spending some time admiring one of Helsinki’s best known buildings take a 5 minute walk over toward Ateneum, part of the Finnish National Gallery and check out some Finnish art. The National Gallery building is also just amazingly impressive that it’s worth seeing even if you don’t want to go in to see the art. After spending about an hour here you still have time to walk to The National Museum of Finland, 15 minutes away. The museum is open late on Wednesdays so that might give you extra time. But it’s a great place for your first day in Finland to learn how the country began and all about its complicated and long history.

Day One: Evening

After absorbing a wealth of Finnish culture and history, it’s time to re-energize. Head back towards the Kamppi neighborhood for some food. Try some local Finnish food if you can. Finnish food is a lot of fish and meat including reindeer as a specialty. As a vegetarian I had to search a little harder for some places I could eat, but if you do want some traditional Finnish food then a high end meal at Restaurant Olo or Finnjavel is about as good as you can get. I went with a much more affordable but extremely delicious Italian meal at Leonardo Cafe and Bistro.

After dinner, consider a night at the Finnish National Theatre or if you’re really looking for a fun and healthy Finnish activity then try a sauna. Of all the things to do in Helsinki, a sauna visit should be top of the list. Sauna’s are one of the most popular things in Finland. The country has more saunas per capita than cars! With over 3 million saunas you will always find one nearby.

Why not try the Allas Sea Pool by the waterfront with an amazing outdoor swimming pool and sauna area too. Want something even more unique? Try the SkySauna which is a sauna combined with a ferris wheel. Although note this is not open as late so you’ll either need an early dinner or go during the day. Also check your hotel to see if they have a sauna. That will be an easy option that you can reserve with the front desk.

Day Two: Morning

It’s going to be a full day in Helsinki so start with a good breakfast. Today we’re going to head down to the waterfront area but first make a stop at Cafe Engel at Senate Square. Have a delicious breakfast with a view of Helsinki Cathedral then continue to the ferry terminal at Market Square. I would plan to get on a ferry by 10am to Suomenlinna, one of my favorite things to do in Helsinki. Suomenlinna is a fortress on an island just off the shore from Helsinki. The ferry takes approximately 15 minutes and on a nice day you can take some photos of the harbor as you leave. Ferries leave approximately hourly from 6am until late.

Spend the rest of the morning exploring Suomenlinna taking the Blue Route around the island. This route hits all the major places you will want to see there beginning with Suomenlinna church (closed Monday and Tuesday in the winter months). Make sure to visit Suomenlinna Museum if you only see one of the museums. Many of the other museums are seasonal so best to look at that when planning your trip. At the tip of the Blue Route is the King’s Gate, and some rather impressive views. Head back to the main dock for a late lunch.

Day Two: Afternoon

I would recommend eating at one of these lovely small cafes on Suomenlinna. They have a great selection of sandwiches and cakes as well as hot foods. Then take the ferry back to the mainland. If you didn’t already go on the Sky Wheel at the harbor then this is a great time to visit when you get off the ferry. Take a ride on the large ferris wheel and see all the way back to Suomenlinna as well as over the rest of Helsinki and the President’s Palace, the pale yellow building across from the ferries. Occasionally there are opportunities to tour the palace or events are held there so check in advance if you’d like to take a peek inside.

A short walk away from the waterfront is Uspenski Cathedral, an Eastern Orthodox cathedral on a hill overlooking the water. In complete contrast to the bright white Helsinki Cathedral, Uspenski is a more ominous looking red brick building with a Russian influential style. It’s free to go in and the inside is just beautiful. Then make your way back towards the waterfront to the Market Square Christmas Market. This is open late November to early January. It is smaller but has traditional Christmas market snacks, decorations and gifts. There are typically other market stalls open in Market Square year round. I was able to find some nice souvenirs.

Day Two: Evening

Across from Market Square is Helsinki’s City Hall, a palatial looking light blue building. Fun fact: this was actually built as a hotel in the early 1800s and became City Hall in the 1930s after Finland’s independence. To the left of City Hall is a narrow street called Sofiankatu. Start walking up here and you’ll find Bryggeri Helsinki a great little brewery with some fantastic craft beer. Sit and enjoy a glass of beer, buy some to take away, or stay for dinner in the restaurant attached. In the summer there is a beer garden out back.

If it’s still Christmas market season then I suggest going to the market at Senate Square for dinner. Find some delicious food at one of the many stalls of the Christmas market and just go nuts. Definitely one of the top things to do in Helsinki in December. I had too many things I couldn’t pronounce but it was fun to find new foods. My new favorite thing: Karjalanpiirakat (see what I mean about pronouncing things?). It’s essentiallt a pie made with rye bread and an open filling of either rice, barley or potato. Usually very creamy and delicious and brushed with hot butter. I had the potato one and I should have gone back for more!

Day Three: Morning

Last morning in Helsinki. For breakfast try a fun and fresh breakfast bowl from the Green Hippo Cafe with great vegetarian options too. After breakfast spend some time looking around the shops in the Kamppi neighborhood. There are department stores and big name brands, but also some local shops and crafts. When I was there in December the event hall Vanha Ylioppilastalo was open with some craft stalls. Plus it’s an impressive building as much on the inside as outside. Across the street there is a shopping mall with some affordable items and in this area you can also find the Moomin shop. The famous Finnish cartoon has its own shop where you can buy anything you want with the Moomin family on it. If you grew up in Europe, you’ll know what I’m talking about.

After some shopping here, it’s time to think about some last food items you might want to experience. Take a walk back through the city center and to the waterfront where the ferry to Suomenlinna leaves from. Around the corner, along the water is Vanha Kauppahalli, the Old Market.

This beautiful building has stood here as a market hall since 1889 and has some fantastic foods to buy. The market hall stalls are filled with interesting looking traditional Finnish food as well as more modern items. This is the place to buy some food-related gifts, and even grab a light lunch for yourself before you leave.

Day Three: Afternoon

End your time in Helsinki with a slow walk back to your hotel, admiring the ornate architectural style of the city. Pass churches and regal looking stores as well as modern city art.

However you choose to get to the airport, make sure you have plenty of time to get there as the city center of Helsinki is full of one way streets. Between those and the trams that dominate the roads you can find yourself taking longer to get through than you expected. At the airport why not visit the Moomin Cafe for a kitschy lunch where the drinks and food are just as adorable as the lovable cartoon characters themselves. A truly Finnish way to end your trip to Helsinki.

Two days in Helsinki

My couple of nights in Helsinki was enough for me at that time of year. I would love to go back in the warmer months. The lack of daylight played a big factor in how I spent my day. However winter was a magical time to be there. I had gone for a Christmas markets of Europe tour and Helsinki provided a great additional stop. The people were friendly, I had no issues with people speaking English, and there were plenty of things to do in Helsinki. But it is a city. And not fully indicative of what the rest of Finland is like. Next time I visit I would like to get out of Helsinki and explore some more of this beautiful country.

Two days in the city is enough for anyone, maybe one more night would have allowed me to see a few more things. But Helsinki’s proximity to mainland Europe and the Baltic States means it’s worth adding on to your Eastern European itinerary. Take the ferry, visit Suomenlinna, get some good food and admire the beautiful architecture. Create the trip of a lifetime for your family and head up to Lapland after your time in Helsinki. But whatever happens, don’t let the thought of winter in Finland put you off.

If you’ve enjoyed this post leave a comment or share using the social media buttons below. How would you spend 48 hours here? Tell me your favorite things to do in Helsinki if you’ve already been!