Finland attractions

One of six museums in Helsinki’s Suomenlinna Fortress, the Ehrensvärd Museum occupies the Commander’s House in the fort’s main bastion. It's named after Augustin Ehrensvärd, a Swedish admiral who founded the fortress, and it recreates an 18th-century upper-class home, with period dress, furniture, portraits, weapons, and model ships.

Housed in a 19th-century building, the Museum of Finnish Architecture (Arkkitehtuurimuseo has less of a cutting-edge feel than you’d expect in Helsinki’s Design District. But the exhibits are fascinating, whether covering Finnish architecture’s journey to its heyday in the 1970s or exploring the work of modernist icons such as Alvar Aalto.

Found within the island fortress of Suomenlinna in Helsinki, the Military Museum of Helsinki is an entry point for travelers into Finland’s military history. The museum, also known in Finnish as Sotamuseo, is the central museum of the Finnish Defence Forces, and its collection details the country’s eventful history of war and weaponry.

One of Finland’s quirkier museums, the Hotel and Restaurant Museum features exactly what you’d think: Museum displays cover the arrival of restaurants in Finland, the evolution of Finnish food, and the country’s complicated relationship with alcohol, which includes a long period of Prohibition in the 1920s. More modern elements include an interactive model kitchen, piped scents, film screenings, and workshops.

Part of the Suomenlinna Fortress UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Military Museum’s Manege is a former horse training school that's now a military museum. Displays and mockups cover the four wars Finland has fought since gaining independence from Russia. Head to the Artillery Manege next door to learn about the Finnish Defence Forces after WWII.

Helsinki’s Urho Kekkonen Museum Tamminiemi was the home of three Finnish presidents, including President Urho Kekkonen for 25 years. Today, the former residence is a museum dedicated to Finnish political history, and explores the lives of the presidents who lived here. You can take guided tours and see temporary exhibits.

The oldest photography museum in Europe, the Finnish Museum of Photography has focused on supporting the culture and specialized art of photography in Finland since its opening in 1969. Its work is supported by the City of Helsinki and the Finnish Ministry of Education, and the museum’s collection holds roughly 2.5 million pictures.

Hakaniemi Market Hall has been a beloved foodie hub for locals since 1914. This two-story space showcases an enticing variety of local produce, baked goods, fish, and meat. It also sells artisanal gifts, textiles, jewelry, and flowers. Along with shopping, locals come here to eat, as there are cafés and restaurants on-site that make perfect breakfast and lunch stops.

Set in the arctic wilderness of Finnish Lapland near Rovaniemi, SantaPark Arctic World may be as close as you can get to actually visiting Santa at the North Pole. This quintessential Christmas theme park offers Yuletide experiences like Elf School, visits with Santa Claus, and Santa’s Post Office where you can mail your holiday greetings.

Kamppi Chapel, or the Chapel of Silence, provides a serene escape in Helsinki's busy city center. Its minimalist and modern curved wooden design is a big draw for architecture enthusiasts. Open to all, regardless of faith, the Lutheran chapel hosts no traditional religious ceremonies like Sunday services or weddings. Instead, it offers a peaceful haven for anyone seeking tranquility when exploring the city.

A Tampere landmark, the Pyynikki Observation Tower is perched on top of the world's largest gravel ridge, which towers 500 feet (150 meters)) above sea level. The 85-foot (26-meter) red granite tower promises excellent views across Tampere and two lakes.

Esplanadi Park—known by locals as Espa—is the vibrant green heart of Helsinki. This pretty outdoor space links the city center to the market square, making it a favorite gathering place and meeting spot for locals. Perfect for picnics, romantic strolls, or catching live concerts, it offers year-round charm, providing a serene escape from the city's hustle and bustle.

Reopened beneath Lasipalatsi Plaza in 2018, Amos Rex is one of Helsinki’s most notable art museums. Specializing in Finnish art from the 20th and 21st century, the museum is renowned for its boundary-pushing contemporary art and unique architecture, which features futuristic dome-like portals.

For a ski break not far from Rovaniemi, the Suomu Ski Resort (Suomutunturi offers 10 slopes for skiers and snowboarders of all levels, as well as cross country skiing and snowshoeing excursions, snowmobile adventures, reindeer and husky sled rides, and ice fishing. During the summer, explore the fells and pine forests on foot or by bike.

The Iittala & Arabia Design Centre showcases two top Finnish design brands, Arabia, known for ceramics and particularly its Moomin range, and Iittala, famed for its timeless Nordic homewares. The center comprises a brand museum, a gallery with regularly changing exhibitions, and a store. Both brands, which date back to the 19th century, are now owned by the same group, Fiskars.

In a pastel-colored wooden villa on Iso Mustasaari, part of Helsinki’s Suomenlinna island group, the Suomenlinna Toy Museum (Suomenlinnan Lelumuseo is Instagram heaven. Vintage toys, including a myriad of teddy bears, deck the shelves; the café dishes up colorful cakes, ice cream, and candy; and the gift shop sells bears, cards, and more.

Explore the former home of Johan Sederholm, the richest merchant in Helsinki during the 1750s, at Sederholm House (or Sederholmin Talo). The two-story stone building dates from 1757, and at the time was the most luxurious house in the city. Today, it is part of the Helsinki City Museum, which traces the history of the city and is home to an interactive children’s museum.

Located at Tarvaspää in Espoo, the Gallen-Kallela Museum is dedicated to Finnish painter Akseli Gallen-Kallela. The museum is housed within the artist’s former residence and studio, a castle-like building that he designed. Exhibits tell the life story of Gallen-Kallela and showcase his artwork and that of his contemporaries.

Housed in Helsinki's Olympic Stadium, the TAHTO Center, formerly the Sports Museum of Finland, offers a deep dive into the nation's sporting legacy. Its interactive exhibits and audiovisuals celebrate Finland’s diverse athletic achievements, from Olympic successes to extreme sports. Here, visitors can connect emotionally with the stories and legacies of Finnish sports icons across different sports.

Helsinki’s Tennis Palace (Tennispalatsi), named for its former courts, has served many purposes since its construction in 1937. The building has been a car showroom, an Olympic venue, and a museum. Today it is a recreational center home to the Helsinki Art Museum, Finland’s largest cinema complex, and a range of restaurants and bars.

A 1930s villa set on a Helsinki island, Villa Gyllenberg hosts one of the greatest private collections of Finnish art, including a wealth of works by modernist painter Helene Schjerfbeck. The gallery extension offers regular special exhibitions, while the house, formerly home to collectors Signe and Ane Gyllenberg, showcases artistic and design treasures of its own.

Helsinki’s most-Instagrammed café is a local institution, with roots stretching back to 1952. Perched right on the seafront at the southern end of Kaivopuisto Park, the café serves up sweeping views across the Helsinki archipelago—along with a range of sweet and savory treats.