1 day guide to explore helsinki, finland
Recently we had the opportunity to do a day trip to Helsinki, Finland while we were visiting Tallinn, Estonia. We had no idea what to expect from the Finnish capital, but as soon as we stepped out of the ferry we knew one day would not be enough and we would be longing for more time to explore this charming European Capital.
But don’t panic, you can visit most of Helsinki’s main attractions by foot and public transportation network is widely available and affordable. Even though you will most likely be dying to stay longer, you will still be able to have a real feel of Helsinki.
Here’s what you can’t miss during a day trip to the vibrant city of Helsinki, Finland!
How to Get to Helsinki, Finland
A ferry trip from Tallinn to Helsinki only takes, which makes a day trip to Finland extremely easy and affordable.
We chose to book tickets via the GetYourGuide app, as it was much cheaper than buying the tickets directly from the ferry company. The transfer company is called Tallink Silja Line and the tickets would have cost us 39€ each. With GetYourGuide we found a deal for only 26€ per person. Both these prices includes a roundtrip ticket.
HELPful tip 💡
The gates for the ferry close 30 minutes before departure, so just make sure to get there at least 45 minutes earlier!
You can also catch a flight from almost every European city, and because we’re here to make your life easier, if you prefer cheaper flights (who doest?!), you can go to SkyScanner.
What to do in helsinki, finland
Obviously there are endless things to do in Helsinki, but we hope this overview will give you a mix of highlights and top historical spots you can’t miss when in the Finnish capital. The best part? We did all of this in only one day!
St John’s Church
This beautiful church is a Lutheran Church built in the 19th century and one of the biggest stone churches (by seating capacity) in the whole country! Allow yourself to be amazed by its beauty!
ESPLAnadi
Esplanadi is an urban park right in the heart of Helsinki and it is a famous walking area, as well as a place where street performances usually take place. We dare say: it is even more beautiful covered in snow.
Senate Square
The Senate Square – house to Helsinki’s Christmas Market – is an important place in Helsinki’s culture. The square is bordered by 4 buildings designed by the same person, Carl Ludvig Engel: the Helsinki Cathedral, the Government Palace, the main building of Helsinki’s University and the National Library of Helsinki. Insane, right? And we struggle to build a single house nowadays!
Helsinki cathedral
Helsinki Cathedral is probably the most visited and well-known landmark in the amazing Finnish capital! Its construction dates back to the 19th Century and since then has become a symbol of the city! There is an admission fee of 5€ per person to walk through this magnificent church.
Market square
Located in the South Harbour, the Market Square is the most international and well-known market in the whole country. Here you can find traditional food, handicrafts, souvenirs and warm coffee to warm you up even during the coldest days of winter!
Uspenski cathedral
From the market square you will see this imposing cathedral. Built in 1868, this church is the largest Orthodox Church in Western Europe and it is one of the clearest symbols of Russian impact in Finland’s history. Its interior is simply as magnificent as the outdoors!
Sibelius Monument
This monument is nowadays one of the most visited statues of Helsinki and it intends to pay tribute to the World’s famous composer Jean Sibelius. Such a beauty covered in snow, right?
Cafe regatta
Welcome to the most beautiful and charismatic Cafe you will ever find! This little red cottage will make you feel you are in a fairy tale! Allow yourself to relax, enjoy a warm drink and grill your own sausages at the outside open fire! Your visit to Helsinki won’t be complete if you don’t pass by!
Allas Sea pool
This spa right in the heart of Helsinki was just the perfect way to end our visit! The complex has a heated outdoor swimming pool (27ºC - not warm enough for us!!!), a sea water pool (2ºC- of course we were not brave enough to try it) and saunas where you can enjoy true Finnish culture. Finnish people must have a superpower to endure such high temperatures and still be like “can we go warmer?”! We almost died in that sauna!!!! If you are only planning on staying in the sauna, don’t worry about buying swimwear, as most people go naked (only in the gender specific ones).
When to visit Helsinki, Finland
June to August seems to be the best time to visit Helsinki as the weather will definitely be more traveler friendly. If you are visiting around that time of the year, expect the prices to be higher when compared to off-season.
Also, let us tell you: Helsinki is a true winter wonderland! We visited the city in December and despite the cold, the city is really beautiful and magical covered in white - plus we had the opportunity to visit the beautiful and charismatic Christmas Market.
budget
Helsinki is quite expensive but there are a few strategies you could apply to make your trip to Finland more budget friendly:
You could reduce the amount of times you eat out in a restaurant and prepare something you buy from the supermarket (we found a lot of traditional products in supermarkets so you don’t need to compromise a local experience)
Sleep in dorms and hostels if you are spending the night
Use the cheapest and most convenient way of transportation (often this times includes walking!)
Be mindful that this budget is merely an estimation based on our travel style. You may need to tailor it to your own needs and expectations.
Breakfast: 19.30€ We stopped over at Paulig Kulma Specialty Coffee for breakfast and what a better way of starting our day in the Finnish Capital! Here, in the heart of Helsinki, the coffee is roasted on site and it is handmade! Are you a coffee lover? Look no further!
McDonald’s: 17.20€ We are not big fans of McDonald’s but as we were in a rush to get to see everything and the day was going really fast, we decided to grab something quick on our way to the next attraction.
Allas Sea Pool: 53€ Our Finnish friend said we would not experience Finnish Culture until we jumped in a sauna/outdoor pool and as good boys, we obeyed. What an experience! This price includes the ticket and towel rental.
Transport: 16€ for 2 A 24h ticket for public transportation in Helsinki costs 8€ and it seemed the most appropriate option for us as we only had 10h to explore the city!
Total: 105.5€ for 2 people
Don’t forget your travel insurance
You’re probably thinking “I don’t need a travel insurance. Finland is quite safe”. As much as the last part of that statement is true, accidents happen when we least expect and there is nothing more terrifying than getting hurt abroad, where we don’t always understand the health system neither the language. Also, there is this misconception that a travel insurance is really expensive, which couldn’t be far from the truth!
If you are looking for travel insurance for your trip to Finland, we would recommend IATI, which is the company we use when travelling. As our reader you will get 5% off your travel insurance!
Always remember: Better Safe Than Sorry!
