Guide to Helsinki: 25 Surprises & Hidden Gems in Finland
Before visiting Helsinki, I thought I had a pretty good idea of what to expect: Nordic design, saunas, and maybe a few cold-weather stereotypes. What I discovered instead was a city full of surprises.
Whether you’re planning your first trip to Finland, or simply curious about what makes Helsinki different, these are the things I think will help plan your visit.
Key Things to Know Before You Go
Let’s go over a few things to help set the scene in Helsinki.
First, if it’s your first time to Helsinki, stay within walking distance from the harbor. You can plug your dates into this interactive map to see the best prices and rates in hotels:
The City Is Incredibly Quiet
Even in the city center, Helsinki often feels noticeably calmer and quieter than other European capitals.
You are never far from a park, shoreline, forest trail, or swimming spot. Nature feels woven into daily life rather than separated from the city.
Finns Speak Excellent English
Visitors are often surprised by how easily they can communicate throughout the city.
Personal Space Is a Real Thing
Finns have a reputation for valuing personal space, and visitors often notice how orderly and respectful public spaces feel.
The Weather & Daylight in Finland
The Baltic’s Cool Summer Days
While much of Europe now roasts in June and July, you can expect temperatures to remain in the lower 70s in Helsinki. Those are the highs!
Nighttime lows are still pretty mild, usually in the low 60s, so it’s great for walking around.
The Sun Never Sets in Summer
The sun sets around 11:00pm during the summer months, but on clear nights, there’s still a glow past midnight.
The sun rises around 4:00am!
The Short Winter Days
Winters are a different story. The sun doesn’t rise until 9:00am (or later), and it’s already setting by 3:00pm!
Finnish Food & Restaurants
The list of surprises in Finland continues with different dining experiences.
Reindeer: On the Menu
Reindeer are woven into the fabric of Finland. They’re featured in home decor, on tourist souvenirs, and … on menus.
They’re an important source of food and income for communities in Finland, especially in the Lapland region.
Reindeer thrive in Finland’s harsh northern environment, grazing naturally on lichens and other vegetation that most livestock cannot use.
Plus, rather than being raised on industrial farms, reindeer in Finland are typically free-ranging and raised over vast wilderness areas. Finns view reindeer meat as a natural, locally sourced food that’s high in protein and low in fat.
Drink the Cleanest Water in the World
Finland and Switzerland battle for the crown when it comes to having the world’s cleanest tap water.
Iceland’s famous Silfra snorkeling experience (in glacier water ‘between the continents’) also claims to have the world’s cleanest water, though it’s naturally flowing, rather than coming out of a tap.
Anyway, Helsinki’s tap water is sourced from Lake Paijanne, and travels through a long rock tunnel to reach the city, where it’s naturally filtered.
The waiters in restaurants don’t even bother asking if you want bottled or tap water.
Brace Yourself for High Taxes
Finland is expensive, in some respects. There’s a 13% tax on food, and a 25% tax on alcohol and other products.
Restaurant bills add up quickly!
Tips on Tipping
Tips aren’t expected in restaurants, and check the bill: it’s often included at restaurants.
Unexpected Architecture & Landmarks
The Helsinki Cathedral Isn’t That Old
The famous white cathedral that towers over the city is most impressive from the plaza outside.
While the Helsinki Cathedral looks centuries old, it was completed in the 1850s during Finland’s time under the Russian Empire.
The Crypt Under the Helsinki Cathedral
Make sure to go down into the Crypt. It was renovated in the 1980s, and opened up to host events and exhibitions.
In 2026, it hosted an art exhibition called “The Ice Horses of Ladoga.”
During a severe wartime winter in 1941, Finnish troops closed in on a Soviet army and its horses. The horses died from gunfire, flames, drowning in Lake Ladoga, and trampling each other. Nearly 1,000 horses wound up frozen, and became symbols of the horrors of war.
The artist Andre Prah used wood and branches to create the scene in a haunting display under the cathedral.
The Church Built into Solid Rock
Instead of being built on a hill, Helsinki’s famous “Rock Church” (Temppeliaukio) was carved into solid granite bedrock.
From the outside, it looks relatively low and modern, but inside, you’re suddenly standing in a dramatic circular space surrounded by raw rock walls. The church, built in the 1960s, is capped with a copper dome.
Western Europe’s Largest Orthodox Church
Uspenski Cathedral is the largest Orthodox church in Western Europe and one of Helsinki’s most recognizable landmarks.
Around 700,000 red bricks used in the cathedral came from the ruins of a fortress destroyed during the Crimean War.
The cathedral has 13 golden onion domes. The largest dome represents Christ, while the other 12 symbolize the apostles.
Unusual Places to Visit in Helsinki
Stay in a Hotel Prison
Hotel Katajanokka, now an elegant boutique hotel, was once the Helsinki County Prison.
The oldest wing of the building dates to 1837. When the hotel opened in 2007 after a careful restoration, the team made sure to preserve what made the place special, like the grand central corridor and the weathered brick facade.
The former prison cells have been transformed into quiet guest rooms.
A Library Like No Other
Helsinki’s central library, Oodi, opened in 2018, and is less a place to borrow books ….and more of a civic living room.
You’ll find 3D printers, recording studios, a rooftop terrace, sewing machines, public workspaces, and a cinema.
It’s all free, and locals call it “a gift from the city to its citizens.”
You Can Visit an Island Zoo
Korkeasaari Zoo sits on its own island and is one of the world’s oldest zoos. Getting there is part of the experience, often involving a scenic ferry ride.
Sweat in a Sauna … on the Ferris Wheel
For something truly Helsinki, book a session at SkySauna. You’ll be in the ferris wheel, circling above the city with sweeping views of the harbor and skyline.
The gondola sauna fits one to five people, and the cost starts at 240E per hour.
The Sauna on the Harbor
The Allas Pool is a complex right at the port, where you’ll find five saunas and a couple pools.
For swimming, you can dive into fresh Baltic Sea water, or warmer pool water (about 80 degrees).
The Best Day Trip from Helsinki
Suomenlinna is a massive sea fortress on an island, that’s just a 15-minute ferry ride from Helsinki.
The ferry is only 3.50 each way, and it departs every 20 minutes.
Suomenlinna: A Fortress on the Sea
Built by Sweden in 1748 to defend against Russian expansion, Suomenlinna later served under Russian and Finnish rule before becoming one of Finland’s most visited attractions.
Today, this UNESCO World Heritage Site feels like a living neighborhood, with historic fortifications, tunnels, cannons, cafes and restaurants, and scenic walking paths overlooking the Baltic Sea.
Many visitors are surprised to learn that around 800 people still live on the islands year-round.
The Island’s Lilac Scent
During the summer months, the smell of lilac permeates the island air.
Hedges and full forests of lilacs grow on Soumenlinna, making the sea breezes even more refreshing.
A Pizzeria in a Bunker
Pizzeria Nikolai is a nice walk from the harbor on Suomenlinna.
It’s literally built in an old bunker.
The pizza isn’t amazing, and it’s quite pricey (50E for a pizza and 2 proseccos), but it’s definitely an interesting site to check out! Plus, if the weather’s nice, there’s a nice patio to sit on outside.
A Few Final Surprises in Helsinki
These last few things to know about visiting Helsinki don’t fit into any of the above categories, but I still wanted to pass them along.
Don’t Walk in the Cycling Lanes
I stuck out like a tourist because it took a day to realize: there are both cycling lanes and walking lanes on the sidewalks in Helsinki.
The Market at the Port
Don’t miss a walk through Helsinki’s Kauppatori Market. It’s right on the main port. You’ll find unique gifts and food.
Estonia is Just 2 Hours by Boat
The ferry ride across the Baltic Sea is quick enough to make Tallinn, Estonia, a day trip … OR … a multi-day trip on your visit to Finland.
🛥️ Click to Book Ferry Tickets
The World’s Nicest Ferry
Tallinn’s worth a trip on its own, but if you go, you’ll be riding the world’s fanciest ferry boat.
The Tallink Ferry between Tallinn and Helsinki is $50 each way, and it’s more of a cruise ship than a ferry, full of restaurants, bars, shopping, and lounges.
Helsinki: Home to the Happiest People on Earth
Finland has topped the UN’s World Happiness Report for several years running.
It’s a combination of a number of factors. Finland has universal and high-quality healthcare, social support, and education systems. Plus, there’s high trust in institutions, low corruption, and a strong social support system.
So, yes, the stereotype is true: the Finnish people are friendly and happy… which may be the most pleasant surprise of all.
