How Much Time Do You Need To Visit Helsinki?

Is the Helsinki card worth it?

Unless you’re able to visit more than 4 museums in 24 hours, the Helsinki card is not really worth the money. Although, it may have some benefits if you’re staying for longer. There are 24, 48 or 72 hour options and it gives you free entrance to a number of museums, free access to the public transport, as well as some small discounts in shops or restaurants. Included is also a ferry ticket to the Sea Fortress (more info below) and a guided tour once you’re there (you have to book that in advance). Priced at 54 EUR for 24 hours, it means that you will need to visit at least 3 attractions and use the public transport in that time to break-even. As you’ll read below, that’s already quite a challenge, considering there are a number of things to see in Helsinki which are either free or not included in the card.

If you’re spending more than 24 hours in the city, buying the card might make more sense. It costs 66 EUR for 48 hours, which might enable you to actually benefit from it. It would still mean that you have to visit 4-5 museum and use the public transport in the two days, though. Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide according to your travel style and budget, but just bear in mind that it’s not really a bargain.

Where to stay?

The city center of Helsinki is really compact, as you can walk almost anywhere. If you’re not spending a lot of time in the city, you want to opt for accommodation in downtown Helsinki (click for a map link to the central districts). In that way, you won’t waste any time actually travelling to the city itself, before starting your exploration. We stayed at the Scandic Helsinki Hub, as it was really centrally located, had good reviews and was affordable (we paid 115 EUR for a double room for one night incl. breakfast). Just be aware that Scandic is a big hotel chain with several hotels in Helsinki that vary in prices and quality. Depending on the season, hotels can get a bit pricy, so you might also check for a suitable AirBnB or hostel if you’re backpacking.

24 hours in Helsinki itinerary

This is an example itinerary with some of my favourite places to see.

Morning

Helsinki has a lot to offer when it comes to coffee, given that the Finns are some of the biggest coffee drinkers per capita in the world. So if you booked accommodation without breakfast, a great place to start your day is at Paulig Kulma. It’s located in one of the main streets of downtown Helsinki and is a great starting point for further exploration. They have a wide range of coffees and teas, as well as both sweet and savoury bites.

After breakfast at Paulig Kulma you can walk to the statue of Havis Amanda near the harbour area. That is the starting point for the free walking tour of Helsinki. I love free walking tours, and I try to do one in every city I visit. If you’re unfamiliar with the concept, it’s basically a tour of the major attractions in a city, given by a local with no fixed price. You tip your guide at the end, depending on your budget and how you liked the tour. Free walking tours are a great way to see a lot in a short amount of time, but also learn more about the place you’re visiting. The guides will also happily offer some suggestions and recommendations of what to do next. The free walking tour in Helsinki only operates daily between April and October. If you’re visiting at a different time, be sure to check their website for tour dates. The tour lasts approximately two hours, which means you can now jump to the section ‘Where to go for lunch‘ below.

Late morning/ Noon if you’re NOT doing the free walking tour

After you’ve finished your breakfast, you can continue down the main street (Aleksanterinkatu) to the Senate square. On your left side you’ll pass the University of Helsinki just before the square with the magnificent Helsinki cathedral. It’s a neoclassical building designed by famed German architect Carl Ludvig Engel, who also designed the surrounding buildings and the Senate square itself. It’s an active cathedral, which means there are regular services as well as weddings and other events that take place there. On the opposite side of the square, you’ll find the Helsinki city museum, which has been voted as the most popular museum in Finland. The museum focuses on the development of Helsinki as a city in the last couple of centuries. It’s a place that is worth visiting, but where you won’t spend a lot of time. I reckon you can be done in as little as an hour. It’s free to get in, provides you with a bit of background information about the city and gets you acquainted with the Finnish culture (they have a whole section on the Sauna in Helsinki).

After the museum, you can continue down on Aleksanterinkatu until you reach the end, at which point, you’ll be in front of the Orthodox church of Helsinki. It is an imposing building, built in the 19. Century, that you can visit for free and marvel at the ikons.

Where to go for lunch?

You’ll have a choice to make when it comes to lunch – whether to grab something quickly or sit down and enjoy something more substantial while recharging your batteries. Here are some recommendations for each option.

For a quick bite to eat, you should head to the old market hall (google maps link) in the harbour area and if you haven’t gone to the free walking tour, you can also see the Amanda Havis statute.

Another good option is the restaurant Helsinki. It’s in a courtyard just off of Senate square. They offer buffet lunches for as little as 13.70 EUR.

If you’re looking for a more fine dining experience at a place that also offers a lunch menu – Pompier is a good option.

Early Afternoon

After lunch, you want to head to the harbour of Helsinki and catch a ferry to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Suomenlinna (Castle of Finland). It is a sea fortress comprising 8 different islands and was built in the 18th century. The ferry to the fortress is part of the public transport network and you can buy a ticket either in the app or at the ticket machine. You need a ticket for zone A. Bear in mind that it’s not possible to buy a ticket on the ferry. The journey takes about 15 minutes. When you arrive there, I suggest you take ‘the Blue route’ which will give you a great overview of everything worth seeing. The route is about 1.5 kilometers (1 mile) long and there are five information boards along it, providing you with more details about the place. You can download a visitor’s map from here. You can also reserve a spot on a guided walking tour around the fortress where you will learn more about its history and life on the islands in the present day. It costs 13 EUR for an adult and you can book your place here.

Late Afternoon

Upon coming back to Helsinki in the afternoon, I recommend that you head to Oodi – Helsinki’s central library, which is so much more than just a library. It’s a modern building, only finished in 2018, that spans on three floors and houses many more things than books. It’s a great place to have afternoon tea or coffee and grab something sweet to go with that. Click here for more information on the library and what you can do there.

Evening

The evening can be a great time to take a stroll around the city. Some notable sights you might want to check out include the Svenska theater, Esplanadi park, Vanha Kirkkopuisto (the old church park) and the design district. There you’ll find some independent shops promoting Finnish goods and design. You can also visit the SkyWheel, close to the harbour, and enjoy the city from a different perspective.

Where to go for dinner?

I have a few restaurant suggestions for your dinner. It’s always a good idea to reserve a table in advance, especially if visiting on a weekend, or if you’re a big party.

Ravintola Savotta

This is a traditional rustic Finnish restaurant where the waiting staff will explain each and every dish they bring you in a lot of detail. You can try some Finnish staples here. Although the prices are a bit steep, the food is great if you can afford it.

If you’re looking for something more budget friendly, but still want to experience traditional Finnish cuisine there are two restaurants that are just next to each other, offer delicious food and a cozy atmosphere at more affordable prices:

Zetor or Viking Harald

If you’re looking for something different:

I can wholeheartedly recommend Everest. It’s a Nepalese restaurant just outside the harbour area. We went there on our first night in Finland and had an amazing time. The food is fantastic and the owner is very friendly and helpful.

Conclusion

Although you may not see absolutely everything in 24 hours, you can accomplish quite a lot in that time. For some alternative ideas on what to see and do, especially if you’re visiting in the middle of the winter like we did, you can check our article on 11 things to see and do in Helsinki and staying warm in the process. I hope I was able to give you a good idea of what’s possible in a short time in the city and wish you safe travels!