Helsinki boasts some amazing parks and boat trips, but that may not be the smartest idea if you’re visiting in the winter. We were there in January and those are some of the things we did in order to explore Helsinki but at the same time spend as little time as possible outside.
The most obvious choice of how to stay warm will probably be sauna, but there are other great places to visit and stay away from the cold and wind, too. All of them are in walking distance from the train station and are situated in the inner city with great transportation links.
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If you are planning on visiting a few of the museums listed above, and don’t want to walk so much, it might be a good idea to consider the Helsinki card. It gives you access to the public transportation network and free entry to many attractions.
For more info on the Helsinki card and when it is worth getting it, you can check this article out
Oodi central library
Address: Töölönlahdenkatu 4, Google Maps link 
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 8-21; Sat-Sun 10-20 (information correct as of Feb. 2023)
The new Helsinki central library, called Oodi (meaning ‘ode’) was built as part of the celebration of the 100th Finnish Independence Day. It is a modern building that is so much more than ‘just’ a library and is definitely a place you should visit when you are in Helsinki. You can easily kill off a few hours or even an afternoon in there and not fight with the weather conditions outside. Here is some more info on what you can actually do in there.
It is built on three floors, with the top floor being the actual library. On the first floor, there is an info stand, a restaurant and a few chess boards where you can test your skills against another passer-by or a friend you’re travelling with.
The second floor is probably my favourite. There are so many things on offer there, anything from a fully equipped kitchen you can rent, to music rooms with instruments, game rooms with the newest consoles and remote office rooms. For more information on the things offered and how to use them, visit the library’s official website. Some of the facilities need to be booked in advance and you can find their availability here.
On the third floor is where you find the library in the classical sense of the word. Here you will also find a café and a kids’ playground. There are thousands of books and magazines available, as well as a decent collection of board games. Note that you’ll need a library card if you want to play the board games, but you are free to browse any books and magazines and go through them in one of the very comfy chairs or sofas around the floor. There is a lot of material in English, as well as other languages (German, French, Spanish, Korean, Arabic to name a few), and also on a wide range of topics, so you’re bound to find something that interests you.
Helsinki City Museum
Address: Aleksanterinkatu 16, Google Maps link
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 11-19; Sat-Sun 11-17 (information correct as of Feb. 2023)
The museum is located near Helsinki’s cathedral and is close to the old market, which is a great place to have lunch (see below for more info).
It’s free entry, and it gives you some insight into the history of Helsinki. One floor is reserved for a temporary exhibition that is changed every 3–4 months. There is a whole section on the history of the sauna in Helsinki, as well as a time machine where you can see how the city has changed in the last 100 years. Although it is not the most interactive museum, there are some things you can get your hands on, most notably a quiz game using a model of the city where you need to locate stuff. Think of it as Where’s Waldo on a 3-D model. The museum’s been voted as the most popular museum in Finland for 2022 and is worth a visit if you have a couple of hours.
Helsinki flying cinema and/or SkyWheel
Address: Katajanokanlaituri 2 B, Google Maps link
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 11-19; Sat 10-19; Sun 11-18 (information correct as of Feb. 2023)
Very close to Helsinki city museum and the Old Market, you can find Helsinki’s flying cinema and SkyWheel, located directly on Helsinki’s tourist harbour.
The flying cinema is a 4-D cinema, and you can choose between two options (or you can watch both) – a tour of Finland or a tour of Helsinki. There are showings every 15 minutes and the films also last for about 15 minutes. You can buy your tickets directly there. There’s also an option of a combo ticket, where you select one film and get a ride on the SkyWheel. Now, the SkyWheel is your typical ferris wheel, but with heated cabins. It does 4 rotations, so you have enough time to take pictures and videos, as well as to just sit back, relax and enjoy the view. The ticket price varies depending on your choice (10 EUR for a single ticket or 22 for a combo with the SkyWheel).
Have lunch in the Old Market Hall
Address: Eteläranta, Google Maps link
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 8-18 (information correct as of Feb. 2023)
The old market hall is a great place to have lunch. There are different stalls and you can find everything there – from a traditional Finnish fish stew to more international options like burgers or Asian food. Here’s an overview of the shops that are located there.
Sauna – Allas urban SPA
Address: Katajanokanlaituri 2a, Google Maps link
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 6.30-21; Sat 08-21; Sun 09-21 (information correct as of Feb. 2023)
One thing you can always do in Finland if the weather is just not right for you, is to go to a sauna. We found this really beautiful place directly at the harbour, next to the SkyWheel. The place is opened all year round and is frequented by locals, even at the height of winter – we visited at the beginning of January and it was full. It boasts saunas, as well as two types of pools – a warm-water one (temperature is about 27 °C) and a sea pool (the temperature depends on the seawater, it was about 1 °C when we visited). You fill find people in both pools even in winter. The ticket is 18 EUR for an adult and can be bought either in advance on their website or on the spot from their shop. It gives you access for three hours, and you can rent a towel if you didn’t bring one for 8.50 EUR.
Temppeliaukion Church – The rock church
Address: Lutherinkatu 3, Google Maps link
Opening hours: Mon-Sun 10-17 (information correct as of Feb. 2023)
This is an active Lutheran church in the middle of Helsinki that was built directly into solid rock, which makes for interesting acoustics and an even more interesting visit. The ticket costs 5 EUR and you can buy it directly there. We also recommend that you check their events page for a guided tour. The tours take about 15 minutes and you receive information about the history and architecture of the church. The price of the tour is another 5 EUR.
Have coffee or kahvi in a cosy café
The Finns love their coffee, so much so that Finland tops the list of the biggest coffee consumers in Europe per capita, ahead of the Italians. Finns drink 7–8 cups a day, and coffee culture is a big thing in Finland. So you can’t go wrong if you decide to spend some time away from the cold in a neat café to warm yourself up with a cup and have some nice pastry to go with that, as well. A classic would be the Finnish cinnamon roll or the Runeberg’s torte (almond and rum flavoured pastry). When it comes to the kind of coffee, they have their own type – called Kahvi, which is basically filter coffee. You can find Kahvi almost everywhere and often you pay for a cup and get free refills. Most places have a good assortment of teas, too. Whatever your mood is, we bet you’ll be able to find something you like. If you’re looking for a more traditional beverage like espresso or cappuccino instead, we’ve got you covered, too. Here are a couple of our favourite places to have a cup in Helsinki.
Kaffecentralen
Address: Fredrikinkatu 59, Google Maps link
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 08-18; Sat 11-17 (information correct as of Feb. 2023)
A very small and cosy café, ideal for a short stop to recharge your batteries. Here you can get a little something sweet to go with your drink. And if you like your beverage, you can also get buy beans to take home.
Paulig Kulma
Address: Aleksanterinkatu 9, Google Maps link
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 7.30-20; Sat 10-20; Sun 11-18 (information correct as of Feb. 2023)
This coffee house is located in one of the main streets of Helsinki’s city centre. The place is bigger than Kaffecentralen and you get a few more options on the drinks’ menu. Ideal for a longer stop to wait out a storm, or if you would just like to take a breather while exploring the city.
Finnish Museum of Natural History
Address: Pohjoinen Rautatiekatu 13, Google Maps link
Opening hours: Tue-Fri 10-17; Sat 10-18; Sun 11-17 (information correct as of Feb. 2023)
We’ve always found natural history museums fascinating and have made it a goal of ours to visit them in the cities we go to. While the museum in Helsinki is not so big, compared to say the one in Vienna, we found its exhibitions well-structured and easy to follow. The ones on the Finnish nature and the history of life stood out in particular. An adult ticket will set you back 18 EUR, but I think it’s well worth the money if you’re interested in natural history. There are also days during the year with free entry and you can find an overview of them on the museum’s website.
Amos Rex museum of modern art
Address: Mannerheimintie 22-24, Google Maps link
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 11-20; Sat-Sun 11-17; closed on Tuesdays (information correct as of Feb. 2023)
If you’re interested in contemporary art and design, this is the place for you. Located a stone’s throw away from the central railway station and housing a slightly different experience than your normal tourist sights, it’s well worth the 20 EUR for a ticket. However, bear in mind that it’s quite popular and if you are not able to buy your tickets online in advance, it may be necessary to queue for a while, so dress accordingly.
The design museum
Address: Korkeavuorenkatu 23, Google Maps link
Opening hours: The musuem has different opening hours for the Summer and Winter seasons, check the current ones here
Scandinavian design is well-known around the globe for its simplicity. The museum has always changing exhibitions that span across different topics, from furniture design to an exhibition of an alternative future. There’s also a permanent exhibition on the story of Finnish design – think Nokia or Angry Birds (yes, it’s a Finnish studio that came up with the idea of shooting birds at pigs) and how that played a role in the development of the Finnish welfare state. An adult ticket costs 15 EUR, and you probably won’t need more than an hour and a half for your visit.
Visit some of Helsinki’s shopping centres
The last thing on our list of how to get away from the cold and wind in Helsinki. Visiting a shopping center has its advantages (it’s free to get in and be in a warm place) but it’s not really something you’ll probably want to spend too much time on. Nevertheless, if you have an hour or so to kill or can literally feel the cold in your bones and have already done everything else on the list, it’s a valid option. Helsinki has quite a few shopping malls spread across the city. We spent some time in the one directly opposite the main railway station called Citycenter mall. Here’s a list of some more notable shopping centers:
Citycenter mall
How to get there: Google maps link
Kluuvi shopping center
How to get there: Google maps link
Forum
How to get there: Google maps link
Kamppi Helsinki
How to get there: Google maps link
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