A very tall building sitting on top of a hill
A white ferry boat sailing on the water.
photo showing spiral staircase
white and blue dome building with pillars during daytime
white concrete spiral staircase

Holiday in Helsinki

City in Finland — tips, highlights & best time to visit 🇫🇮

Country

Finland

Type

City

Best time to travel

June to August — White nights with up to 19 hours of light, warm temperatures. December/January for a chance to see the Northern Lights.

Budget/day

Getting there from Germany

Direct flight from many German cities to Helsinki-Vantaa (HEL), about 2.5 hours. Also ferry from Tallinn (2h).

About Helsinki

Helsinki, Finland's capital, is located on a peninsula by the Baltic Sea and embodies Nordic design, sauna culture, and the unique connection between city and nature. The compact city center delights with the white Cathedral above Senate Square, the Design District featuring Finnish brands like Marimekko and Iittala, and the avant-garde Oodi Library — one of the most modern public buildings in the world. Helsinki is the sauna capital: over 3 million saunas for 5.5 million residents — the public Löyly Sauna by the sea is an architectural highlight. The Suomenlinna sea fortress on the nearby islands is a UNESCO World Heritage site and perfect for a half-day trip. The Temppeliaukio Church, hewn into bare granite, is an acoustic and architectural wonder. Helsinki combines functional design with wild nature — forests and the sea are just minutes away from the city center.

Safety
93
Urban
85
Culture
80
Winter
75
Relaxation
70

Top 5 highlights in Helsinki

The places you absolutely must not miss.

1

Suomenlinna

UNESCO sea fortress on six islands — reachable by ferry in 15 minutes, with museums, tunnels, and picnic areas.

2

Helsinki Cathedral

The radiant white neoclassical cathedral above Senate Square — the city's landmark.

3

Oodi Library

Finland's flagship project: library, makerspace, gaming, 3D printers, and city terrace in a futuristic building.

4

Temppeliaukio (Rock Church)

Church hewn into bare rock with a copper dome — spectacular acoustics and unique light.

5

Löyly Sauna

Public design sauna by the sea — sweat, jump into the Baltic Sea, relax on the terrace.

Hotels in Helsinki

Vergleiche tausende Hotels, Apartments und Resorts auf Expedia – mit Bestpreis-Garantie, kostenloser Stornierung und Bonuspunkten.

Über 700.000 Hotels
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Hotels in Helsinki vergleichen

* Weiterleitung zu Expedia.de. Es gelten die dortigen Nutzungsbedingungen.

Reise-SIM für Helsinki

Günstig surfen im Urlaub mit travSIM

Pauschalreisen & Rundreisen

Berge & Meer – 170 Tage Cookie

Best time to travel for Helsinki

Recommended travel time

June to August — White nights with up to 19 hours of light, warm temperatures. December/January for a chance to see the Northern Lights.

Summer

15-25°C, almost 19 hours of daylight

Winter

-5 to -1°C, only 6 hours of light, snow

How much does a holiday in Helsinki cost?

Average costs per person per day

🎒

Budget

55-85 €

Hostel, Street food, Public transport

🏨

Mid-range

Hotel, Restaurant, Excursions

🌟

Luxury

190-450 €

Boutique hotel, Fine dining

Book a package holiday to Helsinki

Compare thousands of package holidays to Helsinki and find the best deals with flight & hotel.

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4 travel tips for Helsinki

Insider knowledge that makes your holiday better.

Helsinki Card: Includes public transport, Suomenlinna ferry, and many museums — worth it for 2-3 days.

Sauna etiquette: Nudity is normal, swimsuit optional. Shower beforehand. Löyly offers mixed and separate times.

Ferry to Tallinn: Only 2 hours by ferry — perfect for a day trip across the Baltic Sea.

Design District: Over 200 shops, galleries, and studios in a compact area — Marimekko, Iittala, Arabia, Artek.

Food & drink in Helsinki

These specialties you must try!

Karjalanpiirakka — Karelian pasties made from rye dough filled with rice porridge — spread with egg butter, the perfect breakfast.
Kalakukko — Fish bread — whole fish baked in rye dough, a unique Finnish specialty from Kuopio.
Lohikeitto — Creamy salmon soup with potatoes and dill — Finland's warming soul food, especially by the harbor.
Poronkäristys — Sautéed reindeer meat with mashed potatoes and lingonberries — Lapland's contribution to Finnish cuisine.
Salmiakki — Salty licorice — Finland's controversial delicacy that visitors either love or hate.
Suitable for:SaunaDesignBaltic SeaNatureArchitectureNordicCompact

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