Helsinki travel guide

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Introduction to Helsinki

Helsinki is a destination known for attractions like Market Square, Suomenlinna, and Senate Square. Travelers who visit this capital and most populous city of Finland are often fascinated by the rich history and interesting culture it offers. We recommend taking the time to explore this city in Finland on foot and walk alongside the over 664.9 thousand locals who live in Helsinki. You’ll quickly discover you’re surrounded by endless numbers of things to see and do.

Easily accessible from Helsinki airport, Helsinki is the perfect base for a memorable and unique vacation in Finland any time of the year.

You'll learn more fascinating facts about Helsinki as you explore this spectacular city.

Traveling to Helsinki is especially rewarding for anyone eager to connect with locals and learn more about their unique culture and traditions.

Get ready to explore and learn more about the city of Helsinki below!

Top services in Helsinki

Here on this page, you'll find all the top travel services in Helsinki, Finland. Check out the cheapest and most popular flights offered by 397 airlines that fly to Finland. Browse the 230 top-rated tours available to you in Helsinki. Compare the rates and services of the 5 types of places to stay in Helsinki and the 5 car rental companies offering CDW insurance coverage. We make it easy for you to find and book the top services in Helsinki.

Enjoy the convenience of planning and booking every detail of your trip to Helsinki, including flights, accommodations, activities, and more, in one place. Book with Guide to Europe to get an expertly-curated and fully-customizable itinerary and experience the best of Helsinki on your vacation in Finland.

Get answers to questions about the routes and services offered in Helsinki from our free 24/7 customer support. Continue reading to learn how you can enjoy a stress-free and memorable vacation in the city of Helsinki!

Learn more about Finland

There are many reasons to visit the city of Helsinki, but a trip to Finland needs no explanation.

Exploring Finland, which spans 338,424 square kilometers, is an adventure of a lifetime. Finland offers an abundance of truly magical places to discover, including cultural, historic, and scenic sites of significant value to both locals and travelers.

As the home country of many world-famous attractions like the spectacular Market Square, Suomenlinna, and the Senate Square, you’re all set for a unique and memorable travel experience in Finland.

Click or tap the link below to discover more about Finland.

What to see in Helsinki

Photo of Helsinki Cathedral over city center in spring.

Helsinki has something for everyone. Regardless of age and interest, travelers have the best time exploring every corner of the city.

Read on to discover the best places to visit and find out what to expect from the city of Helsinki.

Top attractions in Helsinki

Home to plenty of top attractions, Helsinki is more than just a wonderful city in Finland. Helsinki is a travel hotspot and a great place to experience a mix of the traditional and modern culture of Finland.

One fascinating sight in Helsinki is the unforgettable Market Square. Considered one of the most well-known attractions in the city, a visit to this spectacular travel destination is something you shouldn’t miss on your trip to Helsinki. This remarkable attraction is located at Eteläranta, 00170 Helsinki, Finland and is open for visitors Monday - Sunday, between 08:00-17:00.

For more information about what you can expect during a vacation in Finland, check out our list of top attractions in Helsinki below. Discover the best places to visit in Helsinki, including the fascinating Market Square, Suomenlinna, Senate Square, Esplanadi, and Temppeliaukion Church.

Map of attractions

Use this map to find the location of all top attractions in Helsinki.

Things to do in Helsinki

Photo of Statue of JL Runeberg, the national poet of Finland, at Esplanadi park avenue in Helsinki.

Enrich your travel experience in Helsinki by joining tours and activities. Helsinki offers an exciting selection of top-rated tours and it's easy for every traveler to find something to their liking. Take the opportunity to catch the top attractions on a tour, stay active with an adventurous excursion, or learn something new about the local history or culture of the city.

Discover the most popular experiences in Helsinki below.

Most popular experiences in Helsinki

Traveling is all about gaining new experiences. You can have that and more in the city of Helsinki.

Helsinki offers numerous tours and activities for travelers to choose from. Bus Tours, Ports of Call Tours, and Half-day Tours are only a few of the many experiences you can book for your holiday in Finland.

Explore the most popular experiences you can join in Helsinki by clicking on one of the top-rated tour categories below.

Top tours & tickets starting in Helsinki

Travelers in Helsinki can choose from 19 categories of top-rated tours and tickets. If you're curious about what the most frequently recommended experiences in the city are, Activities is the answer.

The most popular tour in Helsinki is the fantastic Sightseeing Helicopter Tour in Helsinki. By joining this highly recommended tour, travelers get to learn more about what makes Helsinki one of the best travel destinations in Finland.

Helsinki also offers plenty of budget-friendly tours and activities that promise travelers a unique experience in the city. The affordable Free Walking Tour in Helsinki (Tip-based) is the cheapest tour in the city, and is a popular Historical Tour. This experience costs around 3 EUR and allows travelers a great time in Helsinki. This Historical Tour is available in 1 language: English. Around 78 travelers have given this activity an average rating of 5 stars out of 5.

Secure an unforgettable experience for your upcoming trip to Helsinki and book a top-rated tour in the city. Discover the best tours, activities, and tickets in Helsinki below.

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Search for things to do in Helsinki

Discover the best things to do in Helsinki. Choose from 230 fantastic tours and activities available in the city.

Select your dates and number of travelers in the search bar below to receive the best recommendations for your vacation in Helsinki. Click the green button to view your options.

Vacation packages in Helsinki

Photo of view of a marina in the Kruununhaka district of Helsinki.

The best and easiest way to visit Helsinki is by booking a vacation package. A vacation package includes everything you need for a worry-free and perfectly planned holiday in Finland.

Booking a vacation package to Helsinki means spending less time planning and more time enjoying your vacation. A vacation package includes everything from flight tickets, accomodation, and a rental car, to 24/7 personal travel support and a carefully planned travel itinerary. You can also take your vacation in Helsinki to the next level by adding tours, tickets, and activities to each day of your trip.

Apart from providing you with everything you need to travel comfortably, your vacation package to Helsinki is also fully customizable. In other words, you can add or remove services at your own convenience, to create the perfect vacation for you and your travel companions.

On our website, you will find 176 unique vacation packages to Helsinki, including flight tickets, hotel reservations, and recommendations for the best sightseeing spots, restaurants, bars, and activities.

Continue to the next section to learn more about what types of vacations you can book in the city of Helsinki.

Popular types of vacations in Helsinki

The most popular way to experience Helsinki is by visiting the city as part of a road trip across multiple destinations in Finland. However, it is also common for travelers to go to Helsinki on both shorter and longer getaways, to get a break from everyday life, relax, and experience something new.

With Guide to Europe you can find road trips, city breaks, and weekend getaways in Finland, ranging from budget to luxury. Whether you’re planning a multi-day road trip across Finland, or you just want to enjoy a few days exploring Helsinki, there is a vacation package for you.

Discover the most popular vacation packages in Helsinki below.

Top vacation packages in Helsinki

Travelers have a great selection of vacation packages to choose from in Finland. In fact, you can choose from as many as 176 different top-rated vacation packages to take you to Helsinki, and even more if you expand your search to include a bigger area of Finland.

To help narrow your choices down, here are some of the best vacation packages for exploring the city of Helsinki.

For an epic vacation, discover Helsinki and other top destinations in Finland on a top-rated holiday like the Affordable 10-Day Relaxed Finland Road Trip Vacation from Helsinki to Hämeenlinna, Tampere, Pori, and Turku. This vacation package provides travelers with tons of opportunities to experience not only the most popular attractions in Helsinki, but also in other top places to visit in Finland. If Market Square, Sibelius Monument, Art Museum Ateneum, Korkeasaari Zoo, and Temppeliaukion Church are on your bucket list, this is the perfect vacation package for you.

If you would like to go on a budget vacation in Helsinki, book the popular Cheap 3-Day Finland City Break in Helsinki and spend as little as 360 EUR. This vacation will take you on a journey to experience some of the most incredible attractions and sights in Helsinki, including the fantastic Market Square, Sibelius Monument, Kaivopuisto, Temppeliaukion Church, and Helsinki Cathedral.

Get more Helsinki vacation ideas on this site and discover the greatest selection of vacation packages in Europe. Scroll down to find the best vacation packages in Finland that match your needs and budget.

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Find vacation packages in Helsinki

Discover and compare 176 vacation packages that take you to the wonderful city of Helsinki.

The best flights, hotels, and activities in Helsinki get fully booked quickly. Use the search tool below to find the best vacation packages in Finland. Your customized holiday package to Helsinki is only a few clicks away!

How to get to Helsinki

To get to the city of Helsinki the fastest way possible, travelers from outside Finland can travel by plane. International travelers can fly to Helsinki by booking flights with any of the 89 airlines that offer direct flights to Helsinki airport. Some airlines that operate flights to Helsinki airport are Finnair, Lufthansa, United Airlines, British Airways, and Ryanair. Go to this page to compare all flights to Helsinki.

To reach the city of Helsinki, travelers can choose from various airport transfer options available at Helsinki airport.

If you're looking for the best flight ticket deals to Helsinki, knowing the cheapest travel time and which airlines offer the most affordable flights is helpful. Luckily, we have this information for you. Discover more about the cheapest and most popular flights to Helsinki airport and Helsinki below.

Find cheap flights to Helsinki

Photo of panoramic aerial view of Helsinki in a beautiful summer day.

Over the years, more airlines have started offering flexible and direct flights to Helsinki, making it one of the most accessible travel destinations in Finland. However, it is usually cheaper to fly to Helsinki, Finland, in May.

The cheapest one-way flight to Helsinki costs around 22 EUR and is offered by the airline Ryanair. The flight leaves on May 11 at 2 and departs from Warsaw Modlin airport in Warsaw, Poland.

The cheapest round-trip flights to Helsinki cost approximately 53 EUR in total. The departure flight leaves on May 28 and the return flight is scheduled on May 11. The flight time is around 1 hour per way.

The return flight is operated by Kuopio.

Use the search tool below to find the cheapest flights to Finland and the city of Helsinki from your city of departure.

Popular flights to Helsinki

Travelers visiting Helsinki in Finland can fly to Helsinki airport directly from 2265 destinations worldwide.

The three most popular routes to Helsinki airport and the city of Helsinki in Finland depart from Helsinki airport in Helsinki, Finland, Albany airport in Albany, Australia, and Santa Rosa airport in Santa Rosa, Argentina.

Travelers can fly to Finland by choosing from from 1 weekly flight(s) from Helsinki; from 1 weekly flight(s) from Albany; and from 1 weekly flight(s) from Santa Rosa.

The airline that operates most flights to Finland is Qatar Airways. Qatar Airways offers 85 scheduled flight routes to Finland.

Discover the most popular flights to Helsinki below. Click to view flights to Helsinki, Finland from destinations all across the globe.

Where to stay in Helsinki

Photo of multicolored facades of buildings in Helsinki.

An essential factor to consider when traveling to a new place or country is accommodation. While visiting a city as fantastic as Helsinki is always exciting, any avid traveler knows that accommodations often make or break the vacation experience.

The best place to stay in Helsinki usually depends on travelers' needs and preferences. However, booking accommodation in downtown Helsinki offers a ton of benefits.

Staying at the heart of the city allows you to easily walk to many of the top sights and dining areas in Helsinki and cut down on your travel expenses. Centrally-located accommodations are also an excellent choice for travelers in Helsinki planning to go on a quick tour or drive to the neighboring regions.

In Helsinki, you'll find 5 different types of places to stay catering to every taste, budget, and reason for travel. For example, honeymooners or travelers on a romantic getaway in Finland can experience the ultimate relaxation at one of the 5-star or 4-star hotels in Helsinki. Travelers whose purpose is sightseeing can also find plenty of mid-range hotels to budget-friendly accommodations in the city, allowing access to many of the top attractions in Helsinki.

Learn more about the most popular places to stay and the top-rated hotels in Helsinki in the next sections.

Popular types of accommodation in Helsinki

A trip to the fascinating Helsinki, Finland, means opportunities to relax at any of the 5 different types of places to stay in the city. Overall, travelers can choose from the following: 412 vacation rental apartments, 211 hotels, 5 hostels, 2 cottages and 1 resort. While each type offers varying amenities and rates, there is no denying that Helsinki provides a great selection of lodging options ready to cater to every kind of guest.

Among all these choices available in the city, VALO Hotel & Work is one of the top picks of travelers in Helsinki.

The hotel is located at 109 Mannerheimintie and boasts many great utilities, including Air conditioning, Restaurant, and Free Wi-Fi.

Budget accommodations are also incredibly popular among travelers in Helsinki. Cheaper alternatives allow travelers to save on accommodation costs and have more to spend on other experiences.

In Helsinki, travelers looking for an economical yet top-rated place to stay usually choose CheapSleep Hostel Helsinki. For approximately 20 EUR, guests can book a comfortable Unknown at this popular hotel.

Below is a list of all 5 different types of places to stay in Helsinki. Select the type you prefer to compare options under each category and find the best accommodation.

Top hotels in Helsinki

Hotels are travelers' go-to accommodations in Helsinki for the unique experience they provide. So if you're the kind of traveler who prefers staying at hotels, you'll be glad to know that the city is home to around 631 hotels.

Besides offering basic amenities, many hotels in Helsinki provide meals and extras, such as shuttle services, spa facilities, tour desks, and other services. But because not all hotels in Helsinki are created equal, finding the best in the city often requires careful research. For your convenience, we've done all the research to make it easier for you to check out all the top hotels in Helsinki.

Hilton Helsinki Kalastajatorppa Hotel offers the most luxurious rooms and is perfect for travelers looking for the ultimate 5-star hotel experience in Helsinki. If comfort, convenience, and affordability are your non-negotiables, check out VALO Hotel & Work, the top 4-star hotel in the city. When all you need is a pleasant place to rest and sleep in between your activities in Helsinki, the highest-rated 3-star hotel, Hotel Arthur, is for you.

Below is our hand-picked list of the best hotels in the Helsinki. Travelers are encouraged to book early as these hotels quickly reach capacity.

Click the arrows or swipe the list to see each hotel's ratings, reviews, locations, rates, and more. You can read detailed descriptions of each hotel by clicking the cards.

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Search for accommodation in Helsinki

Use the Accommodation Search tool below to find available stays in the city of Helsinki on specific dates. This handy feature also allows you to compare prices and amenities.

Enter the preferred check-in and check-out dates. Then, select the number of guests and rooms. Click the Search button to find all the available hotels and places to stay in the city of Helsinki that match the information provided.

Car rental in Helsinki

Photo of Assumption Cathedral in Helsinki.

Experience the freedom and convenience of a self-drive vacation by renting a car for your adventures in Helsinki. Helsinki has 5 car rental companies ready to provide you with the perfect vehicle for your travels.

Automatic cars for rent in Helsinki start from 38.81 EUR per day or 271.69 EUR per week. The cheapest automatic rental car is a Volkswagen Polo 1.0 Auto.

If you prefer driving a manual car, you’ll find multiple options for rent in Helsinki, starting from 32.81 EUR per day or 229.64 EUR per week. The cheapest manual rental car is a Kia Picanto 5 Doors.

Learn more about the different types of cars you can rent in Helsinki, Finland, below.

Popular types of car rental in Helsinki

Discover and choose from our broad range of popular car rental options in the city of Helsinki to find the best car for your travel plans. Travelers in Helsinki can choose from small cars, medium cars, large cars, estate cars, mini vans, SUVs, convertibles, premium cars, camper vans, mini campers, vans, cars. All car rentals come with CDW insurance for added protection throughout your trip.

Renting a car is a popular choice among travelers who want to explore Finland at their own pace. The most popular type of car rental among small groups of travelers in Helsinki is a TopLevel.

Another very popular type of car to rent in Helsinki is a TopLevel. This car is particularly popular among couples and solo travelers touring the city of Helsinki.

Check out all options available in Helsinki and book the car rental for your upcoming adventures in Finland below.

Search for car rental in Helsinki

Get ready to hit the road and explore the beautiful city of Helsinki. Find the best deals on a variety of popular car rentals in Helsinki, Finland, or any other destination in Europe by using the search tool below.

Enter your pick-up and drop-off location, driver's age, and dates. Click the green button to view your options.

Popular destinations to visit after Helsinki

Photo of scenic summer aerial panorama of the Old Town architecture in Helsinki.

The city of Helsinki is just one of the many unique and scenic destinations you can visit in Finland. So if you're itching for another cultural adventure, a relaxing road trip, an action-filled city break, or a memorable weekend getaway, know that Finland has it all.

Finland is calling, and the country is asking you to experience its culture and diversity to the fullest! Take the opportunity to visit other captivating places in Finland that are as magical as the city of Helsinki. The most popular travel destinations in Finland are listed below. Click on the name of the place you want to explore next to learn more about it.

All the best destinations in Finland

When unsure of where to go next, use the map below. This map shows the locations of all the best destinations in Finland. Use the map to plan your trip and find the best routes.

Domestic flights from Helsinki

Photo of Helsinki cityscape with Helsinki Cathedral and port.

A taste of Finland through a visit to Helsinki can often reignite a traveler's passion for adventure. When this happens, the best way to satisfy this wanderlust is to book a domestic flight from Helsinki to another remarkable destination in Finland.

To begin your search for the best or cheapest flights from the city of Helsinki to other spectacular locations in Finland, jump to the last section of this travel guide.

Popular domestic flights from Helsinki

Travelers in Finland can catch flights to domestic airports in Joensuu, Ivalo, Kajaani, Vaasa, and Turku. Domestic flights in Finland are operated by 4 airlines: Finnair, Norwegian International, airBaltic, and Transaviabaltika. There are around 17 scheduled flight routes operating to Helsinki on a weekly basis.

From Helsinki, travelers can book scheduled flights to 16 domestic destinations. The most popular flights from Helsinki depart to many top-rated destinations in Finland and are offered by Finnair, Norwegian International, and airBaltic.

Search domestic flights from Helsinki

Traveling to another city or region in Finland? Use the flight search tool below to quickly find the cheapest one-way or round-trip flights from Helsinki to different local destinations.

Enter all the necessary information and click or tap on the Search button to see a list of the available domestic flights in Finland on the selected dates.

Most popular countries in Europe

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