Helsinki tours and tickets
Helsinki is the easiest of the Nordic capitals to visit without a plan. The sights are close together, most museums sell tickets at the door, and Suomenlinna is a short ferry ride. What needs a booking is a public sauna or sea pool slot in summer, a good dinner table and the ferry to Tallinn. Porvoo is an easy day trip.
Book these first
- Sauna and sea pool slots
- a few days ahead in summer. Popular saunas fill their evening sessions at weekends.
- Popular restaurants
- 1 to 3 weeks ahead. Dinner tables go quickly on Fridays and Saturdays.
- Ferry to Tallinn
- a few weeks ahead in summer. Cabins and cars sell out on summer weekends, and fares rise close to departure.
Nobody pays to be on this page. The Viator buttons are partner links: if you book through one, Viator may pay us a commission, at no cost to you. Where the official site sells the ticket, we link it too. How we rank
Churches and palaces
Helsinki Cathedral and Senate Square
A white neoclassical cathedral above a square of government buildings. Entry is free, and the crypt and some events are separate. The steps are a popular place to sit.
Which to pick. Walk up in the morning and go inside for free. Visit again at dusk for the lit square.
Not needed, entry is freeTours and tickets on ViatorTemppeliaukio Church
A church carved into solid rock, with a copper dome and natural stone walls. It sells tickets at the door and closes for services and concerts. The acoustics are very good.
Which to pick. Check the opening hours the same day, since it closes for events. A short visit is enough.
On the day is fineVisitor guideOfficial siteTours and tickets on ViatorSuomenlinna
A sea fortress spread across several islands, a UNESCO site, reached by a ferry of about 15 minutes. Guided walks, a museum and a submarine are sold separately. Allow half a day.
Which to pick. Take the public ferry and walk the islands. Join a guided walk if you want the history of the fortress.
On the day is fineVisitor guideOfficial siteTours and tickets on Viator
Museums and galleries
Ateneum and Kiasma
Two art museums near the railway station: the Ateneum for Finnish classic painting, and Kiasma for contemporary art. Tickets are sold at the door, and a combined card is available.
Which to pick. Choose one. The Ateneum suits first-time visitors, and Kiasma suits a wet day. Buy tickets on the day.
On the day is fineVisitor guideOfficial siteTours and tickets on ViatorOodi central library
A library with a wooden curved facade, a rooftop terrace, a cinema and workshops. Entry is free, and it is a social hub as much as a library. Allow an hour.
Which to pick. Walk in, take the stairs to the top and look at the view. No ticket is needed.
Not needed, entry is freeOfficial siteTours and tickets on Viator
Experiences and nights out
Public sauna
A public sauna on the waterfront, either a restaurant with a sauna and sea terrace or a long-running public one. Many sell timed sessions, in mixed or separate hours, with a swimsuit or towel.
Which to pick. Book a session a few days ahead in summer, and bring a swimsuit and a towel. Go in the evening for the best atmosphere.
A few days ahead in summerOfficial siteTours and tickets on ViatorSea pool
A waterfront pool complex with heated sea water pools and saunas beside the harbor. Entry is by timed ticket, with an extra charge for the sauna. Summer evenings are busy.
Which to pick. Book a slot the day before in summer. Go in the late afternoon for the view over the harbor.
A day ahead in summerOfficial siteTours and tickets on Viator
Day trips
Tallinn
A medieval capital across the gulf, about two hours by ferry. Day returns and overnight trips are sold. Several ferry lines run, and cabins and day tickets sell early in summer.
Which to pick. Book the ferry a few weeks ahead for a Friday or Saturday in summer. A day is enough for the old town.
A few weeks ahead in summerOfficial siteTours and tickets on ViatorPorvoo
A small town of wooden houses and a medieval cathedral on a river, about an hour by bus. A summer boat trip also runs from the city center. It suits a quiet day.
Which to pick. Take the bus and walk the old town in the morning. Book the boat a few days ahead in summer.
On the day is fineOfficial siteTours and tickets on Viator
City and museum passes in Helsinki
- Helsinki CardA card with free public transport and entry to many museums, with a ferry to Suomenlinna included. It pays off with several paid visits in one or two days. It does not cover sauna sessions. Official page
Booking tours and tickets in Helsinki
Do I need to book Suomenlinna?
No. The ferry runs often, and entry to the islands is free. Only the guided walks, the museum and the submarine have tickets, which are sold on the spot.
What is a public sauna like?
A public sauna is a hot room, a cold plunge and a terrace, often in mixed hours with swimwear or in single-sex hours without. Rules differ by venue, so read them before you go.
Is the Helsinki Card worth it?
It suits a stay with transport and three or more paid museums. For free sights such as the cathedral and Oodi, single tickets are cheaper. Compare before you buy.
Can I do Tallinn as a day trip?
Yes, with a morning ferry and an evening return. It leaves about six hours in the old town. A night in Tallinn is more relaxed if you have the time.
Is Helsinki open on Mondays?
Many museums keep short hours or close on Mondays, so check before you plan. The cathedral, the harbor, Oodi and the markets are open.
What can wait until I arrive?
The cathedral, the museums, Oodi and Suomenlinna can all be done on the day. Book a sauna slot, a good dinner and the Tallinn ferry first.