Itineraries for Your Trip to Helsinki
3 Days in Helsinki for First Timers
My late uncle moved to Finland long before I was born, so growing up with family in the Nordic country meant that I’d heard stories about its beautiful Arctic landscapes and unique culture long before I ever visited. With its laid-back café-and-sauna culture and creative heart—it's also a UNESCO City of Design—Helsinki doesn’t disappoint. In fact, it might even be one of Europe’s most underrated capital cities.
Three days in Helsinki is the perfect amount of time to enjoy city sightseeing, experience local culture, and escape to the surrounding countryside. This handpicked itinerary lays out exactly what to do in Helsinki for first-time visitors.
If you only have time for one thing, make it a traditional Finnish sauna.
The sun shines for up to 20 hours on summer days, so bring your sunglasses if you’re heading out for the evening.
Helsinki’s compact center is easy to explore on foot, and a walking tour provides extra insight into the city’s unique architecture, fascinating history, and quirky local traditions. Admire the grandiose landmarks of Senate Square, including Helsinki Cathedral; stroll through Esplanadi Park; and pass by the Central Railway Station, Finlandia Hall, and the Parliament House.
Once you’ve worked up an appetite, a food-tasting tour is one of the best things to do in Helsinki for first timers to immerse themselves in Finnish culture. With a local guide, head to popular foodie spots, such as the Market Square and the Old Market Hall, and try specialties including reindeer stew, salmon soup, and Fazer chocolates.
If it’s your first time in Helsinki, you can’t miss one of the city’s most fascinating historical sites, the UNESCO–listed Suomenlinna Fortress. Make the most of your time this morning by combining a ferry ride with a walking tour of the 18th-century sea fortress, and visit Helsinki landmarks, such as the Olympic Stadium and the Sibelius Monument, along the way.
Devote the rest of day two to museum-hopping. The Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma and the Ateneum Art Museum are must do’s for art lovers, while the National Museum of Finland is the country’s definitive history museum. Pick up a Helsinki Card for free admission to all three, along with countless other must-see attractions in Helsinki.
For the final leg of your 3-day Helsinki itinerary, it’s time to escape the city and explore some of Finland’s wild natural landscapes. Just a half-hour drive inland, Sipoonkorpi National Park is an idyllic spot for a guided hike through the forest, followed by a barbecue lunch by a lake and a traditional Finnish sauna.
Celebrate your first time in Helsinki with a night out in the atmospheric Kallio art district, which is home to some of the city’s coolest bars, restaurants, and nightclubs. For an authentic introduction to Finnish drinking culture, opt for a guided tasting of local spirits, made with unusual ingredients like rye gin, Arctic berries, or salted liquorice.
