Finland attractions

The National Library of Finland is a cultural institution, as well as an architectural highlight of Helsinki. Established in 1640, it’s known for being one of Finland’s largest and oldest scholarly libraries, where visitors can explore rare manuscripts, maps, and a vast collection of over three million books. It also boasts impressive interiors, with its ceiling murals, marble pillars, and grand reading halls.

Helsinki Central Library Oodi—also known as Oodi—is a modern architectural gem in the heart of the city. Visitors flock here not only to explore its extensive collection of books, but also to take photos of its incredible architecture, which includes a wooden facade and double helix staircase. The building also has a café, event spaces, and even a library robot to transport books.

A circle of latitude and the southern boundary of the Arctic, the Arctic Circle is the gateway to one of Finland’s most scenic regions: Lapland. In winter, shred the slopes at Suomu resort or use Rovaniemi as home base for snow sports, tours, and a visit to Santa Claus Village to see the circle’s exact location marked on the ground.

Nowhere is the magic of Christmas more real than the Santa Claus Office, where the Jolly Old Elf himself welcomes visitors from across the globe. Kids (and the young-at-heart) can have a chat with Santa and hand-deliver their wish list, while cheery elves snap memento photos and videos. Afterwards, visit Santa Claus’ Main Post Office and other attractions in Santa Claus Village.

Adventure awaits at Urho Kekkonen National Park, above the Arctic Circle in Finnish Lapland. Spanning 985 square miles (2,550 square kilometers), it features a variety of landscapes, from rolling round-topped fells to dense forests, ravines, gorges, and crystal-clear streams. The park is one of Western Europe’s last wilderness areas and a pristine setting for multiple activities, including hiking, canoeing, biking, and cross-country skiing.

Once just a small fishing port, Helsinki is now the capital of Finland. Today, the Port of Helsinki welcomes more than 300 cruise ships carrying nearly half a million passengers annually and serves as a departure point for ferries to Tallinn, Estonia; Stockholm, Sweden; and St. Petersburg, Russia.

With 63 slopes covering more than 200 miles (330 kilometers, 28 lifts, as well as hundreds of miles of snowmobile, snowshoeing, and hiking and biking routes, Ylläs is a winter sports paradise. Finland’s largest ski and snowboard area, Ylläs is also renowned for scenic hiking and mountain biking during the summer months.

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.

Helsinki’s Uspenski Cathedral is considered the largest Orthodox church in Western Europe and is the city’s most important vestige of Russian influence on Finland’s culture and architecture. Built in the 19th century, the church impresses with its intricate brick exteriors, soaring spires, and a clutch of precious icons, including the Kozelshchyna icon of the Mother of God—stolen in 2010 but recovered a year later.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.