Helsinki

Helsinki is Finland's capital, known for the Suomenlinna sea fortress, public saunas by the water and modern design. It suits a short city break.

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Helsinki is the capital of Finland, on the Gulf of Finland. Most sights sit in a compact centre you can cover on foot, and trams and ferries reach the islands just offshore. The best-known is Suomenlinna, a fortress begun in the 1740s and spread over several islands, now a UNESCO World Heritage site. Travelers also come for the public saunas, some on the water, and for design, from the Design District to the Art Nouveau facades in older neighbourhoods.

Plan two or three days for the city, with one day for Suomenlinna and, if you have time, a ferry day trip to Tallinn in Estonia. Late spring to early autumn suits sightseeing, and June has very long days with light into the late evening. Winter days are short and dark, but saunas, cafés and indoor museums make it a good season for a slower trip. Expect wind off the sea in any season.

Helsinki in five

Buy an ABC ticket for the airportTrains to Helsinki Central take about 30 minutes. The airport is in zone C, so a ticket for zones A and B alone is not valid.
Take the ferry to SuomenlinnaThe public ferry from Market Square takes about 15 minutes and is included in a normal HSL ticket.
Try a public sauna by the seaSeveral public saunas on the waterfront rent swimwear and towels, and you can dip in the sea between rounds, even in winter.
Go to Tallinn by ferryFerries to Estonia's capital take about 2 hours, with many sailings a day. Carry your passport or ID card.

Things to do in Helsinki

See all attractions in Helsinki

Church · HelsinkiUspenski CathedralCheck the cathedral’s opening days before you go; it is not open every day and services or events can affect access.

Restaurant · HelsinkiKappeliBook a restaurant table ahead, particularly for a busy evening.

Museum · HelsinkiNatural History MuseumGo on a weekday for a quieter visit.

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to HelsinkiPut the places you like in Helsinki on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Airport: Helsinki (HEL), about 30 min to Central by train
Getting there: Ferry from Tallinn about 2 hours; overnight ferry from Stockholm
Getting around: Trams, metro, trains and ferries on HSL tickets
Best base: The center around the Esplanadi or Kamppi
Time needed: 2–3 days

Weather by month

Rainy days
Snowy days
Festival

Best
Mixed
Poor

JanuarySnow15 rainy days5 snowy daysHigh-1°Low-5°Dark, snow
FebruaryCloudy11 rainy days4 snowy daysHigh-1°Low-5°Coldest, sea ice
MarchPartly cloudy11 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh2°Low-3°Snow, brighter
AprilPartly cloudy10 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh7°Low1°Thaw
MayPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh13°Low6°Light returns
JunePartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh18°Low12°Midsummer light
JulyRain13 rainy daysHigh21°Low14°Warm, long days
AugustRain14 rainy daysHigh20°Low14°Warm, festivals
SeptemberPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh15°Low11°Cool, clear
OctoberRain14 rainy daysHigh9°Low5°Dark sets in
NovemberRain14 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh5°Low2°Dark, wet
DecemberSnow14 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh1°Low-2°Christmas market

Average daily high and low in Helsinki, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Festivals: Jun Tuska Open Air Metal Festival · Aug Helsinki Festival · Sep Helsinki Festival

Right now in Helsinki

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 2°
Humidity: 89%
Wind: 16 km/h
Chance of rain: 100%

Helsinki

11:58 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT+2

Today9°6°100%Monday: Rain. High 9°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 100%.
Tue8°2°5%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 8°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 5%.
Wed8°1°12%Wednesday: Drizzle. High 8°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 12%.
Thu8°2°0%Thursday: Cloudy. High 8°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 0%.
Fri5°0°0%Friday: Cloudy. High 5°, Low 0°. Chance of rain 0%.
Sat8°2°2%Saturday: Cloudy. High 8°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 2%.
Sun5°-1°2%Sunday: Cloudy. High 5°, Low -1°. Chance of rain 2%.

Updated 11:46 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 0.8961 EUR

Amount

Converted to

EUR · Euro

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

What's on in Helsinki

Concerts, festivals and big events in and around the city

Events calendar

Coming up

Every year

JunTuska Open Air Metal FestivalHelsinki
Aug–SepHelsinki FestivalHelsinki

Day trips by train

Tallinn, Estoniaabout 2 hours by ferryA walled medieval old town across the Gulf of Finland.Read the guide
Porvooabout 1 hour by busRed riverside warehouses and an old wooden town.
Nuuksio National Parkabout 1 hour by train and busForest lakes and marked trails west of the city.

Before you go to Helsinki

Helsinki and Porvoo toursArchipelago cruises and city walksCompare tours

Stays near the EsplanadiCentral hotels and Kamppi roomsCheck availability

eSIM for HelsinkiData for HSL tickets and ferry timesRead the guide

Travel insurance for FinlandCover for winter falls and ferry delaysRead the guide

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Rules for Helsinki, checked

Most non-EU visitors can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period in the Schengen area. Check entry rules with the Finnish Immigration Service first.Source
Dial 112 for police, fire or an ambulance anywhere in Finland.
Declare goods above the duty-free allowances on the customs form at arrival. Check current limits with Finnish Customs before you travel.Source
Spirits are sold only at Alko, the state retailer, not in supermarkets.

Plan around Helsinki

Lapland

Northern lights and snow, a short flight or night train north

Read the guide Tallinn and Estonia

The ferry across the Gulf of Finland

Read the guide Stockholm

The overnight ferry across the Baltic

Read the guide All of Finland

Regions, rail, money and entry rules

Read the guide How EES works

Border checks for short Schengen stays

Read the guide Rovaniemi

The Arctic Circle gateway, by night train or flight

Read the guide Tampere

Lakes, public saunas and the Moomin Museum

Read the guide Turku

A medieval castle and the archipelago gateway

Read the guide

Helsinki FAQ

How do I get from Helsinki Airport to the city center?

Trains on the ring line reach Central in about 30 minutes. Buy an HSL ticket that covers zones A, B and C.

Is Helsinki worth visiting in winter?

Yes, if you like snow, saunas and museums. Days are short, with about six hours of daylight in December.

Can I visit Tallinn from Helsinki in a day?

Yes. Ferries take about 2 hours and run from early morning, which leaves most of the day in Tallinn.

Do you go naked in a Helsinki public sauna?

It depends on the sauna. Some are mixed and require swimwear; others are separated by gender and expect none. Check each sauna's rules and what it rents before you go.

How long do you need at Suomenlinna?

Allow about 3 to 4 hours for the fortress islands, museums, cafés and walking paths. The ferry runs from Market Square and is covered by an HSL ticket.