Choose from 44 Fun Things to Do in Helsinki
ShowingFilter 21-40 of 44 listings.
Gallen-Kallela Museum
Akseli Gallen-Kallela was a Finnish painter who is especially well known for his illustrations of the Finnish national epic, the Kalevala. The Gallen-Kallela Museum was once his private atelier and home, and was later converted to fit Gallen-Kallela's personal use perfectly. The studio is open, spacious and allows a lot of light to come in, but the outside of the building and the surrounding area fit in perfectly with the romantic style of the artist as well. What is today the Gallen-Kallela Museum looks a bit like a castle and sits in the midst of green gardens and quiet nature.
The Gallen-Kallela Museum presents both well-known and lesser known works of the artist and also includes works from his friends. Additionally, it features contemporary art that relates to the paintings of Gallen-Kallela. Exhibitions change frequently and the museum also hosts a variety of events, such as concerts, special guided visits and even tattoo showcases and sauna sessions.
Practical Info
From mid-May to the end of August, the museum can be visited daily from 11am to 6pm. The rest of the year, the exhibition opens from 11am to 4-5pm, depending on the day. The museum is located in Espoo and to get there, take tram number 4 to Munkkiniemi. From there, it's a 2-kilometer walk through Munkinpuisto Park.
Address: Gallen-Kallelan tie 27, Espoo, Finland
Hours: Vary
Admission: Adults: 8 €
From $ 56
HAM Helsinki Art Museum
HAM Helsinki Art Museum is one of the largest museums in all of Finland, featuring its main venue in Helsinki's historic Tennis Palace complex; a regional outpost in Uusimaa; the HAM Gallery (formerly known as the Kluuvi Gallery); and much of the city's public domain art. All in all, the art museum has a collection of nearly 9,000 pieces, most of which are of the modern Finnish variety.
Both contemporary and modern works are displayed at the museum, and pieces are often brought in on exchange from partners in the Americas, Asia, Africa, and elsewhere in Europe. The works cover a wide variety of regions, genres and history.
Practical Info
The Helsinki Art Museum can be found within the Tennis Palace (Tennispalatsi). The collection is open Tuesday to Sunday from 11am to 7pm and is easy to reach via the main city bus station or the metro station Kamppi. The railway station is also nearby.
Address: Salonmonkatu 15, Helsinki, Finland
Hours: Tues"“Sun 11am"“7pm
Admission: Varies
From $ 56
Cafe Ursula
Founded in 1952, Kaivopuisto Park's Cafe Ursula quickly grew from tiny kiosk to bustling cafe by the Baltic Sea. A summertime favorite among Helsinki locals, Cafe Ursula's outdoor terrace is a popular place to sit in the fresh air with a coffee, beer or glass of wine and watch the boats ply the glittering waves to Tallinn and St. Petersburg. Summertime evening events at Cafe Ursula include live jazz and full moon celebrations.
The self-service cafe has a popular salad buffet and also sells sandwiches, with the open-faced shrimp sandwich being especially noteworthy. Soups, cakes, pastries and ice cream are also on sale. When it's not warm enough to sit outside on a blanket with a drink, Cafe Ursula is a popular place for sitting cozily indoors, looking out to the islands across the sea.
Practical Info
Located at Ehrenstromintie 3, to get to Cafe Ursula, you can take the 3T tram to Kaivopuisto and then walk 400 meters toward the sea. The cafe is open from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. from Sunday to Tuesday, and from 9 a.m. until 10 p.m. from Wednesday to Saturday.
Address: Ehrenstromintie 3, Helsinki 00140, Finland
From $ 35
Museum of Finnish Architecture
Helsinki's Museum of Finnish Architecture dedicates three stories to design, with a special focus on Finnish architecture from 1900-1970 in its permanent collection on the second floor. The Finnish collection is especially interesting for those interested in Modernism and renowned Finnish architects like Alvar Aalto.
Located in Helsinki's design district, first floor temporary exhibits showcase both international and Finnish architecture.
As the second-oldest museum of architecture in the world, a visit to the small museum is an interesting way to learn about Finnish culture and Scandinavian style. Located in a beautiful neo-renaissance building dating back to 1899, the archives on the second floor are open to the public and feature over 50,000 drawings, many of which are originals. The archives also include an extensive selection of photographs, slides, and models. On the ground floor there's a bookshop and library.
Practical Info
On Kasarmikatu 24, the Museum of Finnish Architecture is open Tuesday to Sunday from 11am - 6pm, and on Wednesdays from 11 am - 8 pm. Admission costs 6 EUR for adults, though it's worth getting the 12 EUR combi-ticket which will also give you entry to Helsinki's Design Museum, two minutes' walk round the corner. On the first Friday of every month, there's free entry to the architecture museum. The museum is easily walkable from the city center, or you can take tram 10, which stops just in front of the Design Museum.
Address: Kasarmikatu 24, Helsinki 00130, Finland
Admission: 6 EUR
From $ 56
Ateneum Art Museum (Konstmuseet Ateneum)
The Ateneum Art Museum (or Konstmuseet Ateneum) houses Finnish paintings and sculptures from the 18 century to the 1950s. There's also a small, interesting collection of 19th and early-20th century foreign art, including a copy of Auguste Rodin's bronze The Thinker, and paintings by Van Gogh, Gaugin and Cezanne. The building itself dates from 1887. Downstairs is a cafe, good bookshop and reading room.
The list of painters at the Ateneum reads like a 'who's who' of Finnish art, housing paintings and sculptures by Albert Edelfelt, Akseli Gallen-Kallela, the Von Wright brothers and Pekka Halonen. Pride of place goes to the prolific Gallen-Kallela's triptych from the Kalevala depicting Väinämöinen's pursuit of the maiden Aino.
The Finnish National Gallery's other main museum, the Sinebrychoff, contains the largest collection of Italian, Dutch and Flemish paintings in Finland. The museum also features Russian and Karelian icons, silver, porcelain and furniture.
Practical Info
The museum is very easy to reach by public transport. It is located in the center of town, close to the Central Railway Station. By bus the stop is Railway Station Square.
Address: Kaivokatu 2, Helsinki 00100, Finland
Hours: Tue, Fri 10am "“ 6pm; Wed, Thu 10am "“ 8pm; weekends 11am "“ 5pm. Closed Mondays
Admission: Adults: € 9, Children (under 18yrs): Free
From $ 35
Hotel and Restaurant Museum
If you've ever wanted to know what goes on behind-the-scenes of your favorite hotels and restaurants, Finland's Hotel and Restaurant Museum offers a unique insight into the national hospitality industry. Learn about the history of tourism in Finland; discover the daily lives of restaurant and hotel staff; and admire furnishings, photographs, menus, and other items taken from restaurants, bars, diners, spas and hotels all around the country.
The museum also has plenty of fun interactive exhibitions and visitors can peek inside a 1950's-style hotel room, a 1970's-style bar, and a 1930's-style Alko store; play at being a receptionist; sing at a karaoke bar; and smell different cooking ingredients.
Practical Info
The Hotel and Restaurant Museum is located on Tallberginkatu in the Ruoholahti district of Helsinki. The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday from 11am to 6pm, and Wednesday from 11am to 8pm. Adult admission is 7€ or free with the Helsinki Card.
Address: Tallberginkatu 1, Helsinki 00180, Finland
Hours: Tues-Sun: 11am-6pm, Wed: 11am-8pm, Mon: closed
Admission: Adult 7€$36, Child 4€
From $ 56
Helsinki Music Centre (Musiikkitalo)
Home to both the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra and the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, the Helsinki Music Centre (Musiikkitalo) is the Finnish capital's main concert hall. Sitting opposite Parliament House in the prestigious Töölönlahti district, the building and its copper facade may look gargantuan from the outside, but actually, most of its rooms are underground.
Home to the Sibelius Academy as well as Finland's national orchestras, the center was unveiled in 2011. With a modern and understated design, the center's unusual interior layout features weaving hallways, as well as a unique main hall, where up to 1,704 visitors are seated in a full circle around the orchestra.
Designed to sit in harmony with the stately buildings that surround it, the Helsinki Music Centre and its design have been well-received. This was not without controversial beginnings, however; to make space for the structure, an area of grassroots art spaces (that had been converted from derelict warehouses) had to be pulled down.
Practical Info
On Mannerheimintie 13A opposite the Finnish Parliament, Central Railway metro station is a 10-minute walk from the Helsinki Music Centre. You can visit the main hall and cafe for free, otherwise a ticket is necessary. It's a good idea to buy your performance tickets in advance, as they tend to sell out quickly.
Address: Mannerheimintie 13A, Helsinki 00100, Finland
From $ 35
Ehrensvärd Museum
Step back into 18th century Finland at the Ehrensvärd Museum, housed in the original Commander's House of the Suomenlinna fortress. Named after castle founder and former occupant, Augustin Ehrensvärd, the museum offers a fascinating insight into the era.
Inside, visitors can explore the many rooms, decorated in period style and adorned with historic art, personal items, and other curiosities. Highlights include oil paintings of Suomenlinna dating back to the 1760s; scale models of the archipelago's naval fleet; an impressive weapons collection; and some exquisite Gustavian furniture.
Practical Info
The Ehrensvärd Museum is located in the Suomenlinna fortress on Suomenlinna Island and is only accessible by water. Regular ferries and waterbuses run from the Market Square in Helsinki and take around 20 minutes.
The museum is open daily from 10am to 6pm, but opening hours can vary during the winter months "“ check the website for the full schedule. Adult admission is 5€ or free with the Helsinki Card.
Address: Komendantintalo, Suomenlinna, Helsinki 00190, Finland
Hours: Daily 10am-6pm (hours vary in the winter months)
Admission: Adult 5€, Child 2€
From $ 56
Cygnaeus Gallery
During his lifetime, Professor Fredrik Cygnaeus (1807-1881) was one of Finland's most renowned art collectors. He housed an impressive number of paintings and sculptures from mainly Finnish artists. Upon his death in 1881, Cygnaeus left his vast collection to the state in his will. Thus, in 1882 The Cygnaeus Gallery opened "“ a display of the professor's great collection and today, the gallery is heralded as the oldest art museum in all of Finland.
Of course, the number of art pieces in the Cygnaeus Gallery has risen fairly drastically since the death of the professor. Currently, the museum houses around 450 different pieces of art donated over the past century. Some of the most famous works are the creations of famous Finnish artists such as painter Helene Schjerfbeck and sculpture Walter Runeberg. There are both permanent and temporary exhibitions at the gallery and quite often, the gallery also hosts concerts. The museum is located within the grounds of the beautiful Kaivopuisto Park in a pretty old villa.
Practical Info
The Cygnaeus Gallery is only open in the summer months from May to September. On days it is open, the hours are 11am to 5pm. The nearest metro stop to the gallery is Kaivopuisto which is about a 200-meter walk away. It is also very near the Olympiaterminaali ferry station.
Address: Kalliolinnantie 8, Helsinki, Finland
Hours: Only open in the summer months from May to September. On days it is open, the hours are 11am to 5pm.
Admission: 5,00 EUR
From $ 56
Finnish Museum of Photography
Located in the Cable Factory building in Helsinki, the Finnish Museum of Photography is the largest collection of photographic art material in Finland. The museum, which is operated and maintained by The Foundation for the Finnish Museum of Photography, holds a collection of some 3.7 million photographs submitted by artists over several decades. Established in 1969, the museum has a floor space of 900 square meters and is constantly showcasing an array of photographer's works "“ past and present. The museum's oldest displayed images date back as far as the 1840s.
At any given time, at the Finnish Museum of Photography, there can be a variety of different exhibitions on display. There is no necessary genre that the museum focuses on and works come from both Finnish and international sources. There are exhibitions relating to fine art, photojournalism, as well as the history of photography. Moreover, the museum contains a massive collection of achieves that include newspaper clippings, videos, posters, and recordings. There is also a 350-plus piece collection of historical photography materials such as old cameras, film, and other photography instruments.
Practical Info
The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday from 11am to 6pm, although on Wednesdays the exhibitions are kept open until 8pm. It is located in the Cable Factory building which is best reached by the tram. The nearest tram station to the museum is Lansisatamankatu.
Address: Tallberginkatu 1, Helsinki, Finland
Hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 11am to 6pm, although on Wednesdays the exhibitions are kept open until 8pm.
Admission: 8 / 5 €
From $ 56
Helsinki City Museum
One of the largest museums in all of Finland, the Helsinki Art Museum, is located within the Tennis Palace complex in central Helsinki. However, the museum also has a regional art museum in Uusimaa, keeps the Kluuvi Gallery, and also maintains much of the city's public domain art. The main museum itself has been located in the historic Tennis Palace space since 1999 and hosts one of the largest collections of art anywhere in all the Nordic countries. All in all, the art museum has a collection of nearly 9,000 pieces, most of which come from modern era Finland.
The vast majority of the museums exhibitions are temporary, and the works found within the museum are not necessarily locked into any particular region, history, or genre. Both contemporary and modern works are displayed at the museum and art is often brought in on exchange from partners in the Americas, Asia, Africa, and elsewhere in Europe.
Practical Info
The Helsinki Art Museum can be found within the Tennis Palace (Tennispalatsi). The collection can be visited Tuesday to Sunday from 11am to 7pm and it is easy to get there via the main city bus station or the metro station Kamppi. There is also the railway station, which is only 500 meters away.
Address: Salomonkatu 15, Helsinki, Finland
Hours: Museum closed until autumn 2015 for renovations
Admission: Varies
From $ 56
Sinebrychoff Art Museum
Specializing in European art from the 14th to the 19th century, Sinebrychoff Art Museum is the only museum of its kind in Finland. Part of the Finnish National Gallery together with Ateneum Art Museum and the Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma, Sinebrychoff displays an important collection of paintings by Old Masters including Rembrandt and Goyen.
Housed in a mansion dating back to 1842, much of the furnishings are original and give an insight into the lives of Finland's upper classes during the 19th century.
A popular place to spend a morning or an afternoon, Sinebrychoff has a good collection of Dutch and Flemish artworks from before 1830. Sinebrychoff also has a large display of miniatures, porcelains, and sculptures dating back to classical antiquity.
The museum hosts a rolling collection of temporary exhibitions, generally at no extra charge. Often, the temporary exhibitions are dedicated to modern art, providing an interesting juxtaposition of old and new in the 19th-century house.
Practical Info
Located on Bulevardi 40, Sinebrychoff Art Museum is close to Aleksanterin Teatteri railway station. Closed on Mondays, the museum is open from 10am-6pm on Tuesdays and Fridays, 10am - 8pm on Wednesdays and Thursdays, and from 10am-5pm on Saturdays and Sundays. Admission is 10 EUR, with free admission on the first Wednesday evening of each month.
Address: Bulevardi 40, Helsinki 00120, Finland
Admission: 10 EUR
From $ 56
Museum of Technology
Established in 1969, the Museum of Technology, also called Tekiniikan Museo, is the only technology museum in Finland. The museum is operated privately by the Museum Technology Foundation which was established by a variety of engineering and industrial organizations within the city. The Museum of Technology focuses on the history of invention and innovation within the technology sector in Finland. It seeks to preserve the history of industrialization in Finland, and creates a historical lineage of industrialization in Finland dating back to its days as an agrarian society.
The museum is located on a small island in the middle of the Vantaanjoki River. The island itself is incredibly important historically. It was here that the Swedish King Gustav Vasa built an administrative center and established the city of Helsinki itself in the 1500s. As the city industrialized, the shores of the river became the life-blood of the various factories and industries in the city. Thus, the riverfront location makes great sense as the host of the Museum of Technology.
Practical Info
The Museum of Technology is located about 20 minutes from the center of Helsinki. Buses 68 and 71 depart the city's railway station for the museum. Also, both trams 6 and 8 have stops within a reasonable walking distance of the museum. If you have a car, there is parking on the museum grounds.
Address: Viikintie 1, Helsinki, Finland
From $ 56
Sederholm House (Sederholmin Talo)
Sederholm House (or Sederholmin Talo) dates from 1757 and was the house of Helsinki's then-richest merchant, Johan Sederholm. A two-story stone building with a mustard-colored roof, it was the most luxurious house in the city. Business was done on the ground floor, with storage cellars below, and the family lived in the apartments on the floor above. Apart from the windows, which were enlarged in 1866, the house is as it was when built.
These days Sederholm House is part of the Helsinki City Museum which traces the history of the city. The historic Sederholm House is used for special exhibitions. The museum has a number of other sites also including the main location at Sofiankatu 4, the Tram Museum, the Power Station Museum, the School Museum, Hakasalmi Villa, the Burgher's House and the Worker Housing Museum. Each hosts exhibitions and together they form an excellent picture of life in Helsinki over the centuries.
Practical Info
Reach the Sederholm House on trams 1, 3B, 3T and 4.
Address: Aleksanterinkatu 16-18, Helsinki, Finland
Hours: Wed, Fri - Sun 11am - 5pm, Thurs 11am - 7pm. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays
Admission: Free
From $ 56
Tennis Palace (Tennispalatsi)
Originally built as an automobile showroom for various local car dealerships (as well as an auto service center) the Tennis Palace (Tennispalatsi) was designed by student architect Helge Lundstrom. Its current name was derived from the fact that during the 1940s and ‘50s, the venue was used mostly for tennis. It held 4 courts and the design, with large windows at each end, allowed a lot of light into the building without blinding the players during the matches. During the 1952 Helsinki Summer Olympics, the Tennispalatsi was used as the main venue for basketball.
After the Olympics, however, the building started to become neglected. The main auto dealer tenants began moving outside the center of Helsinki and the city had no choice but to buy the building and condemned it. As such, the building quickly began to deteriorate as a result of the neglect. However, the lack of modernization managed to leave the Tennispalatsi in a preserved state which eventually led it to become one of the historic buildings in downtown Helsinki. Today, the building is home to the Helsinki City Museum, the Museum of Cultures, and a movie theater.
Practical Info
The Tennispalatsi is open Tuesday to Sunday from 11am to 7pm. The building is next to the main city bus station, and about 500 meters from the railway station. The nearest metro station is Kamppi.
Address: Salomonsgatan 15, Helsinki, Finland
Hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 11am to 7pm
Admission: Pricing varies
From $ 34
Amos Anderson Art Museum
The Amos Anderson Art Museum is the largest private exhibition in Finland. It was founded in 1965 by Amos Anderson, who was then editor of the local newspaper Hufvudstadsbladet and also a determined businessman and patron of the arts. Today, it is maintained by the arts foundation, Föreningen Konstsamfundet. The museum specializes in Finnish art from the 20th and 21st centuries and the collection includes paintings, drawings, prints and photographs, as well as textiles, furniture, glass and ceramic objects. While some of the earlier works date back to the personal collection of Amos Anderson, today the museum focuses on acquiring modern and contemporary art.
Some of the most beloved paintings in the museum include Adoration of the Magi by Francesco Bassano, View of Fiesöle by Alfred Finch and Fantasy by Tove Jansson. They are all housed in Amos Anderson's erstwhile private home, which was converted into a museum after his death. The display includes several rooms of Amos Anderson's home and his private chapel and there is also a small cafe and museum shop located on the ground floor. However, the museum has announced that it plans to move to a new location at Lasipalatsi plaza around 2018.
Practical Info
The museum opens Monday, Thursday and Friday from 10am to 6pm, on the weekend from 11am to 5pm, on Wednesdays from 10am to 8pm and is closed on Tuesdays. Amos Anderson Art Museum is located in the center of Helsinki and the closest tram stations are Ylioppilastalo and Simonkatu.
Address: Yrjönkatu 27, Helsinki, Finland
Hours: Vary
Admission: Adults: 10 €
From $ 56
Arabia Center
Once one of the biggest ceramics factories in Europe, dating back to 1874, Helsinki's Arabia Center is a unique spot for lovers of art, design, and handicrafts. Part shop, part gallery, part museum, the center is at the heart of Helsinki's Arabianranta design district, and sells an impressive array of Arabia, Iittala and Hackman products.
Visitors can shop for hand-crafted porcelain, earthenware, and ceramics at the factory shop; learn more about Finland's fascinating glass and pottery making heritage at the Design Museum Arabia; admire the exquisite creations on display in the showroom; or enjoy the temporary exhibitions and events held in the Design Lab event space.
Practical Info
The Arabia Center is located around 5km north of downtown Helsinki and is open Monday to Friday from 10am-8pm, and Saturday and Sunday from 10am-4pm. Entrance to the Design Museum Arabia is €4.
Address: Hämeentie 111, Helsinki 00550, Finland
Hours: Mon"“Fri 10am-8pm, Sat-Sun 10am-4pm
Admission: Free; museum entrance €4
From $ 56
Military Museum's Manege
Take a tour of Finland's military history from the 17th century to the present day at the Military Museum's Manege, housed in a former artillery storehouse at Suomenlinna fortress. Inside, the main exhibition "˜From Autonomy to Atalanta' offers a fascinating insight into the Finnish defense forces, Finland's WWI history, and the life of a Finnish soldier.
Highlights include an impressive collection of military uniforms, historic weapons and other equipment; artillery including 16th-century field canyons and a modern army tank; and some more unusual exhibits including a Soviet T-46 torpedo, a Somali pirate boat, and a torpedo tube from a Finnish S2-torpedo boat.
Practical Info
The Military Museum's Manege is located in the Suomenlinna fortress on Suomenlinna island and is only accessible by water. Regular ferries and waterbuses run from the Market Square in Helsinki and take around 20 minutes.
The museum is open daily from 10am to 6pm, but opening hours can vary during the winter months "“ check the website for the full schedule. Adult admission is 7€ or free with the Helsinki Card.
Address: Komendantintalo, Suomenlinna, Helsinki, Finland
Hours: Daily 10am-6pm (hours vary in the winter months)
Admission: Adult 7€, Child 4€
From $ 56
Sports Museum of Finland
Located in a wing of the 1952 Olympic Stadium in Helsinki, the Sports Museum of Finland is an extensive collection of historical artifacts, memorabilia, posters, and photos documenting the country's sport history. The museum itself was founded in 1938 as a simple collection of historic skis. The original plan was to place the museum in the Olympic Stadium during the 1940 Olympics which had been awarded to Helsinki. However, the games were canceled due to The Second World War, and plans for the museum were also put on hold. Despite the war, the museum was still opened in 1943. And, eventually, the world got a glimpse when the games finally came to Helsinki in 1952.
Today, there are both permanent and temporary exhibitions at the museum. The permanent exhibitions focus on Finnish sports history and culture. There are exhibitions documenting people like Matti Nykanen, who was one of the world's most successful ski jumpers. There is also a section documenting some of Finland's more obscure sports such as Pesapallo. The temporary exhibits are more interactive in nature and focus on getting children involved.
Practical Info
The Sports Museum of Finland is located in the Olympic Stadium. It is open Monday to Friday from 11am to 5pm and on Saturdays and Sundays from 12pm to 4pm. The nearest metro stop is Toolon Halli.
Address: Olympiastadion Paavo Nurmen tie 1, Helsinki, Finland
Hours: Monday to Friday from 11am to 5pm and on Saturdays and Sundays from 12pm to 4pm.
Admission: Adults €5,00; Children under 18 are free
From $ 56
Military Museum
Finland has plenty of wartime history and it's the job of the Military Museum in Helsinki to preserve the collection of over 200,000 artifacts, including equipment, medals, flags, uniforms, photographs and more. The red brick building, which was used as barracks in the 1880s, not only honors the defense forces of Finland, but is also part of the Finnish National Defence University.
While the museum's permanent exhibition displays military history from the 15th century to the present day, the focus lies on the 19th century. During that time, just after a bloody war between Sweden and Russia over control of the Baltic, Finland ended up as a Grand Duchy of the Russian Empire. Other interesting parts of the exhibition are the occupation by Sweden, the war of independence as well as Finland's involvement in the Second World War. Apart from the main museum in Helsinki, the Military Museum also supervises the operation of a number of smaller special arms museums throughout Finland, such as the Tank Museum, the Aviation Museum or the Infantry Museum.
Practical Info
The Military Museum in Helsinki opens Tuesday to Thursday from 11am to 5pm and Friday to Sunday from 11am to 4pm. It is closed on Mondays. The closest bus stop is Liisanpuistikko, which is located right in front of the building and is serviced by bus number 16.
Address: Elisabetsgatan 1, Helsinki, Finland
Admission: Varies
From $ 56