Discover Helsinki presents our “Let’s Eat, Helsinki” series, where we highlight restaurants, bars and cafes which are located in the Helsinki area. We know that food is an important part of travel, and finding the right places to eat is an essential element of a great trip. We hope to help you accomplish exactly that, […]

When summer arrives, Helsinki’s street food scene comes alive. From food trucks and bikes to people opening their doors on Restaurant Day, there are an incredible amount of options if you know when and where to go! Here’s our guide to some of the best street food fare around town. Summer treats on-the-go Summer brings […]

While souvenir shopping is a universal standard for tourists, a knife as a souvenir may not be the first thing you think of when buying mementoes of your trip. But if you think that fridge magnets don’t quite cut it and prefer something that is authentic to Finnish culture, then consider the ‘puukko’, a traditional […]

Vanhankaupunginlahti means the “old city bay”. Helsinki was originally founded here in 1550 by King Gustav Vasa I, just a 20-minute tram drive away from the current city centre. An equally easy and rewarding way to get here is by cycling. Nowadays, the mouth of the Vantaa River serves nature lovers, tech freaks and culinary […]

Helsinki’s location makes it a great starting point for anyone who wants to explore the nearby cities. From Helsinki, you can visit neighbouring St. Petersburg and it is possible to do so without a visa. Finland borders Russia on the eastern coast and Helsinki is just under 400 kilometres away from St. Petersburg.  Perfectly located […]

The Ateneum Art museum appears on nearly every list of must-sees in Helsinki for good reason. Its grand halls and sculpture-adorned façade make it a sight worth seeing, but don’t stop at merely admiring the exterior.  Within its ornate walls is an unmissable experience for visitors; nowhere else can you enjoy such a thorough perspective of […]

Statues and sculptures abound throughout Helsinki, and these statues tell interesting stories that are often lost on passersby. Now, Helsinki has developed an innovative way of telling you the stories behind each statue – by letting the statue do the talking! Currently there are fifteen statues which have this feature. When you visit the statue […]

Helsinki’s new central library Oodi opened on December 5, the eve of Finland’s 101st Independence Day, a fitting celebration for one of the most literate nations in the world. Located at Kansalaistori Square in the heart of the city, Oodi is a transformative and multi-functional space, defying any notion of the library as a dated public institution. Viewed from […]

The Lapinlahti former psychiatric hospital stands poised on the edge of Lapinlahti Bay, a naturally beautiful site noted for its richness in biodiversity.  Much like the rare butterfly (Depressaria Chaerophylli) that can be found in the area, its future is uncertain, but its history certainly deserves preservation. The Lapinlahti estate is comprised of several structures, […]