Guidebook Helsinki
Islands
Charming islands a short ferry ride away. Great scenery and picnic opportunities.
Stunning island 5 minutes away from shore by boat, which operates from Merisatamanranta (take some coins or add boat fee to your restaurant invoice ). Smooth rocks for a quiet picnic. My favorite picnic place. Two restaurants (HSS) and a casual open-air restaurant Skiffer with good pizzas. During wintertime you can reach the island via bridge walking through Uunisaari, where is a nice sandy beach and a cafe.
Liuskasaari
Stunning island 5 minutes away from shore by boat, which operates from Merisatamanranta (take some coins or add boat fee to your restaurant invoice ). Smooth rocks for a quiet picnic. My favorite picnic place. Two restaurants (HSS) and a casual open-air restaurant Skiffer with good pizzas. During wintertime you can reach the island via bridge walking through Uunisaari, where is a nice sandy beach and a cafe.
An interesting island for a day trip. UNESCO World Heritage Site. Lots to see and good restaurants. Crowded during tourist season (July) https://www.suomenlinna.fi
61 locals recommend
Sveaborg
An interesting island for a day trip. UNESCO World Heritage Site. Lots to see and good restaurants. Crowded during tourist season (July) https://www.suomenlinna.fi
Compact island with good facilities and a wonderful public sauna. The restaurant serves local food. Lots of program on the island during the summer. http://www.lonna.fi/en/
40 locals recommend
Lonnan sauna
Compact island with good facilities and a wonderful public sauna. The restaurant serves local food. Lots of program on the island during the summer. http://www.lonna.fi/en/
Outdoor pools and saunas
Sauna is the essential part of Finnish culture and luckily you are able to experience it in Helsinki. Here are some of my favorites.
Heated outdoor pool and saunas in the center of Helsinki. Open all year around. I prefer to swim outdoors during wintertime.
Restaurant and cafe in the same building. http://allasseapool.fi/
218 locals recommend
Allas Sea Pool
2a Katajanokanlaituri Heated outdoor pool and saunas in the center of Helsinki. Open all year around. I prefer to swim outdoors during wintertime.
Restaurant and cafe in the same building. http://allasseapool.fi/
This is actually a summer time substitute for swimming halls (which are often closed during summer). Very popular and often crowded.
62 locals recommend
Helsinki Swimming Stadium
5 HammarskjöldintieThis is actually a summer time substitute for swimming halls (which are often closed during summer). Very popular and often crowded.
Open sea views, good saunas and swimming opportunity. Restaurant and large terrace with lively spirit on weekend evenings. Great experience during wintertime also (actually better, storms are phenomenal and there is higher quality of food /menu during low season=winter)
Pre-booking for the sauna. https://www.loylyhelsinki.fi/
322 locals recommend
Löyly Helsinki
4 HernesaarenrantaOpen sea views, good saunas and swimming opportunity. Restaurant and large terrace with lively spirit on weekend evenings. Great experience during wintertime also (actually better, storms are phenomenal and there is higher quality of food /menu during low season=winter)
Pre-booking for the sauna. https://www.loylyhelsinki.fi/
A peaceful zen-inspired oasis for stressed souls. A rough sauna for those looking for peace. No groups, no alcohol. Hidden gem.
https://www.myhelsinki.fi/en/see-and-do/activities/kulttuurisauna
113 locals recommend
Kulttuurisauna
17 HakaniemenrantaA peaceful zen-inspired oasis for stressed souls. A rough sauna for those looking for peace. No groups, no alcohol. Hidden gem.
https://www.myhelsinki.fi/en/see-and-do/activities/kulttuurisauna
Terrific terraces
Nice cafe & bar with a great seaview and large terrace. Only open summertimes.
55 locals recommend
Birgitta
2 HernesaarenrantaNice cafe & bar with a great seaview and large terrace. Only open summertimes.
Hampton Bay
6 HietalahdenrantaLively terrace with evening sun.
Industrial style terrace and rooftop nearby. Handmade salads and good hamburgers. Sunny spot all day. https://morton.fi/konttiravintola/helsinki/
Konttiravintola Morton Helsinki
8 RuoholahdenrantaIndustrial style terrace and rooftop nearby. Handmade salads and good hamburgers. Sunny spot all day. https://morton.fi/konttiravintola/helsinki/
This is actually one of many places (bars, restaurants) at Kanavaranta. Nice evening sun and view to harbour. Lively spirit and lot of people especially on beutiful evenings. You may continue to Wallis, which is popular karaoke night bar. http://walliskaraokebar.fi/
42 locals recommend
Holiday Bar
7 KanavarantaThis is actually one of many places (bars, restaurants) at Kanavaranta. Nice evening sun and view to harbour. Lively spirit and lot of people especially on beutiful evenings. You may continue to Wallis, which is popular karaoke night bar. http://walliskaraokebar.fi/
Day (or two) trips
Take a day or two and spent some time outside Helsinki.
Charming little town by the river just 45 km from Helsinki. Medieval church and picturescue old town. Nice restaurants and bars. https://www.visitporvoo.fi/nahtavyydet/vanha-porvoo/
50 locals recommend
Porvoo
Charming little town by the river just 45 km from Helsinki. Medieval church and picturescue old town. Nice restaurants and bars. https://www.visitporvoo.fi/nahtavyydet/vanha-porvoo/
National park for those who want to hike, see lakes and forests, but don’t have time to travel far. Easy to reach by bus. We used to go here with kids fir a daytrip. https://www.nationalparks.fi/nuuksionp
150 locals recommend
Nuuksio National Park
84 NuuksiontieNational park for those who want to hike, see lakes and forests, but don’t have time to travel far. Easy to reach by bus. We used to go here with kids fir a daytrip. https://www.nationalparks.fi/nuuksionp
This beutiful coastal city is located on south coast only 1 hour away from Helsinki (by train, bus or car). Charming old town, nice beach and lively restaurants and cafes. If you want to stay for night, I can offer nice loft in the middle of old town.
34 locals recommend
Ekenäs
This beutiful coastal city is located on south coast only 1 hour away from Helsinki (by train, bus or car). Charming old town, nice beach and lively restaurants and cafes. If you want to stay for night, I can offer nice loft in the middle of old town.
Walking and bicycling
Some walking and bicycling routes.
You can walk around (or through) the old Hietaniemi cemetary to Hietaniemi beach. The most popular and largest sandy beach in Helsinki. It is my regular evening walk (round trip 3 km)
153 locals recommend
Hietaranta Beach
HiekkarannantieYou can walk around (or through) the old Hietaniemi cemetary to Hietaniemi beach. The most popular and largest sandy beach in Helsinki. It is my regular evening walk (round trip 3 km)
It is called Helsinki central park, but it is actually more like forest. Rent a bike and take a tour. https://www.myhelsinki.fi/en/see-and-do/nature/cycling-in-helsinki%E2%80%99s-central-park
111 locals recommend
Central Park
It is called Helsinki central park, but it is actually more like forest. Rent a bike and take a tour. https://www.myhelsinki.fi/en/see-and-do/nature/cycling-in-helsinki%E2%80%99s-central-park
Great walk (3,5 kilometers) from Hernesaarenranta along the waterfront promenade to Market Square (or vice versa). The last kilometer is a bit dull, so when you reach Olympic terminal in Eteläsatama, take a hike to Tähtitorninmäki (park with a great hilltop view to Helsinki). The stairs leading to park are opposite to terminal.
This is city promenade, plenty of restaurants, bars, cafes, ferry stops to nearby islands and places to sit and enjoy. Two saunas (Löyly and Uunisaari), two beaches and great views.
Best during summer time, during winter quite empty, chilly and windy. Althought saunas operates also during winter and ice swimming (dipping into hole in the ice) is a must do experience.
Merisatamanranta
MerisatamanrantaGreat walk (3,5 kilometers) from Hernesaarenranta along the waterfront promenade to Market Square (or vice versa). The last kilometer is a bit dull, so when you reach Olympic terminal in Eteläsatama, take a hike to Tähtitorninmäki (park with a great hilltop view to Helsinki). The stairs leading to park are opposite to terminal.
This is city promenade, plenty of restaurants, bars, cafes, ferry stops to nearby islands and places to sit and enjoy. Two saunas (Löyly and Uunisaari), two beaches and great views.
Best during summer time, during winter quite empty, chilly and windy. Althought saunas operates also during winter and ice swimming (dipping into hole in the ice) is a must do experience.
A tiny bay in the middle of Helsinki is surrounded by park. You may walk/bike around it and have a cup of coffee or wine on the top of the hill (Cafe Taideterassi or Sininen kahvila). It is popular route among joggers and dog owners. Along the route, there is restaurant Töölönranta, where you can eat also outdoors.
At the bottom of the bay there is a cute botanical winter garden, a haven during wintertime, take your picnic basket and enjoy the tropical sensation.
https://www.hel.fi/helsinki/en/culture/leisure/experience/winter-garden
58 locals recommend
Töölö bay
A tiny bay in the middle of Helsinki is surrounded by park. You may walk/bike around it and have a cup of coffee or wine on the top of the hill (Cafe Taideterassi or Sininen kahvila). It is popular route among joggers and dog owners. Along the route, there is restaurant Töölönranta, where you can eat also outdoors.
At the bottom of the bay there is a cute botanical winter garden, a haven during wintertime, take your picnic basket and enjoy the tropical sensation.
https://www.hel.fi/helsinki/en/culture/leisure/experience/winter-garden
Ravintolatarjonta
There are huge variety of restaurants in Helsinki. However many best restaurants are closed during holiday season (July, December). On the other hand, there are great summer restaurants, which are
Open only June-August.
Great wine bar and bistro especially when its a rainy day. Good food, and they have better restaurant upstairs. https://basbas.fi/bistro/
31 locals recommend
BasBas & Staff Wine Bar
27-29 TehtaankatuGreat wine bar and bistro especially when its a rainy day. Good food, and they have better restaurant upstairs. https://basbas.fi/bistro/
Madonna
5 B HaapaniemenkatuPlayful Italian restaurant with a modern twist
I am the fan of french cuisine and this is brasserie with a Nordic twist and very good food.
Restaurant Alexanderplats
22 EteläesplanadiI am the fan of french cuisine and this is brasserie with a Nordic twist and very good food.
I love italian food, and this place has their own relaxed version of it. No reservations.
Goose Pastabar
44 EerikinkatuI love italian food, and this place has their own relaxed version of it. No reservations.
This is a place for tasty food and elegant service. If you are looking for something better.
18 locals recommend
Ravintola Vinkkeli
8 Pieni RoobertinkatuThis is a place for tasty food and elegant service. If you are looking for something better.