Most people think we’re crazy when we announced we would visit Helsinki in winter – not once, but TWICE! If you’re wondering what to do in Helsinki in winter, this is the post for you – we’ll reveal 18 awesome things to do in and around Helsinki, and great places to stay in town without breaking your budget!
Check out these tours around Helsinki, ideal for Winter!
Our favourite tour provider is GetYourGuide, offering a variety of activities, flexible booking, and 24/7 support!
- Helsinki Panorama Coach Tour – escape the wintry weather and check out the main sights on a comfy bus!
- From Helsinki Hike and Sauna in Sipoonkorpi National Park – enjoy an authentic Finnish smoke sauna in nature!
- Helsinki and Suomenlinna Sightseeing Tour – explore the city and a UNESCO-listed fortress island
- National Park Hiking Tour from Helsinki – Nuuksio National Park is just amazing in winter!
Why Helsinki is Worth a Visit in Winter
I’ve never been the kind of person that refuses to visit a city I have been to before. I have visited some of my favourite cities time and time again – Berlin and Budapest three times last year alone, Rome and Florence perhaps twenty times each, and I can’t wait to return to London and Paris, cities I love deeply and I haven’t been to for a while now.
Another example of a city that deserves more than one visit is Helsinki. The capital of Finland is actually two cities in one. In summer, the town moves outdoors, between picnics, parties and weekends away on the islands around the city.
During our first visit, we had the chance to spend one night on Suomenlinna, the UNESCO-listed fortress island off the coast of Helsinki, and spent three days exploring the city, which – surprise surprise – was not as expensive as we imagined.
After that trip, we put together a guide of free things to do in Helsinki, and the visit left us yearning to explore the Finnish capital further.
Did you know Helsinki was also recently named the ‘New City of the Free’? Check out our post where we share two Helsinki Freedom stories to know more!
Weather in Helsinki in Winter
In winter, the atmosphere around Helsinki is just as magical as in summer.
The long Nordic days of summer become very short, as the sun rises above the horizon only for a few hours each day. To give you an idea, sunrise in December/January is around 9 am, and sunset is at about 3 pm.
Yes, it may be cold, but you get the benefit of sunrises without having to wake up at ungodly hours; and after sunset, the town is bathed in the blue light of the magical ‘blue hour’ between dusk and nightfall.
The sea freezes over and the town is covered in snow, making it look like a fairytale.
Now, to the question everybody asks – how cold does it actually get in Helsinki in winter? It does get cold, but not as cold as you may think. Average Helsinki temperatures in December are 0°C (32°F) maximum, and -4°C (24°F) minimum, dipping a little further in January and February to -3°C (26°F) maximum, and -9°C (15°F) minimum.
The coldest winter temperature EVER recorded in Helsinki was -34°C (-29°F), but that is definitely not an everyday occurrence. You may get blizzards and cold fronts, and we did have one -27°C (-16°F) day – after all, it’s all part of the Helsinki winter experience!
Looking for more Finnish winter content? Here’s our post about North Karelia in winter!
Where to Stay in Helsinki in Winter
Helsinki has some great boutique and design hotels, perfect to relax and warm up if you’re visiting Helsinki during December, January and February, when the weather dips to way below zero! Here are our six favourites, or check our post about Helsinki Design Hotels for a wider selection.
- Klaus K – design hotel inspired by the Finnish epic Kalevala
- Hotel F6 – a boutique hotel perfect to experience hygge when visiting Helsinki during December, January and February!
- GLO Hotel Art – for design lovers, located in an Art Nouveau castle within Helsinki’s design district
- Hotel Katanajokka – amazing for lovers of unusual locations, this is a luxury hotel in Helsinki’s former prison
- Scandic Paasi – great value for money in this circus-themed property
- Sokos Torni – classic hotel with wonderful views over Helsinki
Ok, so what are the best things to do in Helsinki in winter? This guide will include a mix of everything – some for the daytime, like outdoor activities (MAGICAL in the warm winter light), sauna and open-air swimming, as well as things to do to while away the long dark hours, like museums, churches and other indoor stuff. Here are some fun ideas to enjoy the best of what Helsinki has to offer in December, January and February!
We also have a really cool itinerary of the Bothnian Coastal Route in case you were looking to extend your trip!
What to do in Helsinki in Winter – Outdoors
1) Walk Around Frozen Suomenlinna
There are several islands off the coast of Helsinki, including many where locals have their summer homes. In summer, these islands are probably at their best – people often spend the entire season there, enjoying nature and time with friends and family. Unsurprisingly, in winter the islands are usually very quiet – but that is not to say they aren’t worth a visit!
The most famous of the islands just off Helsinki’s harbour is Suomenlinna, a fortress island with several museums, historic sights and a community of 800 residents.
In summer, Suomenlinna becomes a popular destination for young people, who take advantage of the 24 hour ferries and organise ‘secret’ parties on the meadows between one fortified tower and another – think cans of Karhu beer and music blaring from iPhone speakers.
The museums are wonderful year-round; wandering around Suomenlinna in winter, between snow-blanketed meadows and the frozen sea, was simply magical. There was barely a soul around, and no sound other than our boots crunching the snow. Don’t miss heading to Suomenlinna if you’re visiting Helsinki in winter!
Check out these Suomenlinna Tours!
2) Take a Helicopter Tour
During his first winter visit to Helsinki, Nick had the chance to take a helicopter tour over the city. You can imagine how envious I was, right? Flying over one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, on a helicopter (a kind of transport that, to date, I haven’t yet experienced!) at sunrise… Amazing, right? Well, take a look at these pictures and I’m sure you’ll agree!
The company that organised the tour is called Rotorway. Nick and the other bloggers were taken by bus to a park out of the city centre, where there’s a perfect place for a helicopter to take off and land. Tours last about 25 minutes and each helicopter can fit up to 6 people – a lucky one at the front right next to the pilot and others in the back.
Helsinki is a great place to enjoy from the air – especially in winter, when the city is covered in snow and the frozen sea doesn’t make it immediately clear where land ends and water begins.
To make things even better, tours at typically around ‘sunrise’ – and in winter, at these latitudes, sunrise means around 9.30 am, so there’s no need for an early wake up. Great for sleepy heads like us, and for anyone visiting Helsinki in winter!
3) Have Sauna Followed by Ice Swimming
If you have a Finnish friend or you’ve ever visited, you’ll be familiar with the country’s obsession with sauna – second only to their love for coffee. The Finns love relaxing with a sauna at the end of the day, and invite friends over for a sauna in the same way we invite people for dinner.
Most hotels and some apartment rentals will offer guests access to a sauna. Alternatively you can go to one of many public saunas in town, like Kaurila or Kotiharju, one of the last genuine wood-heated public saunas in Helsinki, open since 1928. If you prefer something more modern, opt for Kultuurisauna, an ecological design sauna heated with wood pellets and with separated areas for men and women.
Yet, the coolest place to have a sauna experience in Helsinki is definitely Löyly, located right on the waterfront in a super cool building – it was included in Time Magazine’s 100 Coolest Places in 2018.
Löyly is a great place to try ‘smoke sauna’, the traditional kind, heated for several hours with a wooden fire. The sauna has ventilation but much of the soot remains on the walls, turning them black. I must say that after having experienced a smoke sauna, the hotel’s electric sauna doesn’t quite hit the spot anymore – just remember not to lean against the walls, or your skin will be covered in soot.
There’s only one way to end your Helsinki sauna experience the Finnish way, with an icy dip in the Baltic sea. The experience can be invigorating or downright painful, but it’s definitely something to brag about at home.
Löyly has an outdoor walkway leading towards a hole in the frozen sea – make sure you walk (or run) in your socks or slippers, because if you do so in your bare feet, they may stick to the frozen walkway. And that hurts. A lot.
Another great place to try a winter sauna in Helsinki is the new Allas Sea Pool, with separate saunas for men and women plus floating pools, one of which is heated.
4) Wander the Christmas Market
Are you visiting Helsinki in December and you’re a Christmas market lover? You’re in for a treat – there’s a super cute market in Helsinki!
Helsinki Christmas Market is open from December 1st to 22nd in Senate Square, right opposite Helsinki Cathedral. You’ll find rows of cute wooden houses all lit up, selling Finnish handicrafts and warm winter street food, including plenty of glögi – the Finnish version of mulled wine!
5) Go Ice Skating
What says ‘winter’ in a city more than an ice-skating rink? Naturally, there’s one to be found in Helsinki as well! You can skate at the Jääpuisto Helsinki Ice Park in Railway Square, open from December to March.
Entrance is €6 for adult and €8 for children under 18, and you can either bring your own skates or rent some onsite. Before or after skating, you can warm up with some glögi or hot chocolate at the Ice Park Cafe. Definitely worth adding to your list if you are planning to visit Helsinki in winter!
6) Warm (or Cold?) Swim at Allas Sea Pool
If the idea of sauna followed by a cold swim is not for you, what about swimming in a heated open-air swimming pool surrounded by the frozen sea? You can do this at Allas Sea Pool, a floating pool suspended over Helsinki harbour.
At Allas, you’ll actually find two pools – one heated at a constant temperature of 27°, and another that is the same temperature as the sea, for a refreshing post-sauna dip. The heated pool is divided into lanes and it’s ideal for lap swimming, but it’s also possible to jump into one of the two external lanes and swim slowly or just admire the view of frozen Helsinki while staying submerged in the warm water.
The changing rooms are adjacent to male, female and mixed saunas, so you can also access them with the same ticket as the pool. Daytime tickets are €18 per person, valid for three hours. Visit the Allas website for more info on services, tickets and opening hours.
7) Walk around Hietaniemi Cemetery
There’s something extremely peaceful about walking around cemeteries, especially in winter. Helsinki has a really great cemetery, conveniently located a short walk from the city centre – Hietaniemi Cemetery, the Finnish capital’s ‘Pere Lachaise’ due to the high concentration of artists, celebrities and notable citizens.
Hietaniemi Cemetery is made up of different sections – a large military cemetery, with soldiers fallen during thw Winter War and other conflicts against the Nazis and Russia, areas dedicated to artists and statespeople, and adjacent cemeteries for Islamic Jewish and Orthodox people.
The only person I knew among those buried at Hietaniemi Cemetery was Alvar Aalto, so I spent some time looking for his grave. But to be honest, the quiet atmosphere and snow-covered funerary monuments were magical, so don’t miss a walk around this cemetery next time you’re in Helsinki in winter!
8) Visit Helsinki’s Unique Churches
Naturally, you can’t miss checking out the city centre if you’re visiting Helsinki in winter. Since it’s bound to get cold at some stage, you can seek refuge in one of the city’s unique churches!
Helsinki Cathedral – that’s a good one to start with! It’s one of the city’s best-known landmarks, sitting on top of a small hill in the heart of the city, just a couple of blocks from the harbour where you catch the Suomenlinna ferry.
The white building surrounded by the snow is very photogenic, but sadly my camera batteries were dead when we went past (more about it later…), so here’s a summer picture.
Kamppi Chapel of Silence – About 10 minutes walk from the Cathedral. It is built with Finnish wood, is right in the middle of the busy Kamppi neighbourhood, and it’s intended to provide a quiet place for contemplation and relaxation in the heart of the city.
Temppeliaukio Rock Church – A further 15 minutes walk from the Chapel of Silence, this church is built directly into solid rock, with a circular skylight surrounding a copper dome.
Temppeliaukio Church is known for its acoustics, and you’ll often find concerts or bands practicing – a wonderful way to spend a few minutes relaxing if you’re visiting Helsinki in winter!
What to do in Helsinki in Winter – Indoors
9) Enjoy Blinis in January
Russia and Finland have a complicated relationship – unsurprisingly, considering that Russia ruled Finland for over 100 years. During this time, Finnish national identity awakened, until the country finally became independent after the end of WW1. Finland then went on to lose part of its territories to Russia at the end of WW2 – if you’re interested to know more about this matter, check out our post about Salla in Finnish Lapland.
In the early days of Modern Finland, Russia was seen as the great oppressor next door, and anything Russian was perceived as ‘bad’. For instance, anyone who’s been to Finland will be familiar with the Finns’ love for coffee. Some say that the Finns drink so much coffee because tea is the quintessentially Russian drink, so of course the Finns had to opt for something else. Yet, both Finns and Russians love vodka. Go figure.
If you visit Finland during the winter season, you may be surprised to find blini on the menu. Blini are a version of pancakes originating from Russia. They are thick and fluffy, smaller than usual pancakes, and traditionally served with fish roe and sour cream.
Blini are offered during the dark winter period, especially in January, to lend a festive atmosphere to the beginning of the year – they are soft and buttery, and traditionally served as a starter. Blini became popular in the 1990s – nobody really knows why, but does it matter? They’re delicious!
We’ve tried blinis in two Helsinki restaurants – Merimakasiini, a seafood restaurant with a scenic seaside location, and Kappeli, one of Helsinki’s most traditional eateries. Both were excellent!
10) Visit one of Helsinki’s Museums
Another great way to while away a cold winter day in Helsinki is visit one of the city’s stunning museums. There are tons to choose from, based on your interests, but here are the three we liked best!
Design Museum – Located in the self-styled ‘Design District’ just south of Helsinki city centre, this museum is dedicated to Finnish design – including architecture, interior design, art, fashion (featuring the beloved Marimekko) , and even some everyday household objects. If you love minimalistic style, you’ll get your fix here!
Kiasma – Helsinki’s contemporary art museum combines a striking modern building with plenty of natural light, and artworks from the country’s prominent contemporary artists. The museum includes plenty of colorful, large-scale pieces, plus photography and multimedia art.
National Museum of Finland – Right next to the Finnish Parliament, this museum includes an array of Finnish exhibits of all sorts – from prehistorical tools to paintings, posters, sculpture and more, highlighting the development of Finnish culture from Prehistory to the present.
Don’t miss the stunning murals dedicated to the Kalevala, THE Finnish epic poem, found at the entrance.
11) Visit Helsinki’s Old Market Hall
If you’re not a fan of eating or drinking outside in the cold, fear not. There’s a foodie destination right in the city centre, opposite the Suomenlinna ferry dock and just 5 minutes walk from Helsinki Cathedral!
The Old Market Hall has been serving Finnish delicacies to happy customers ever since 1889. Inside, you’ll find both stalls selling products, including specialties like smoked reindeer and cloudberry jam, and cafés/restaurants serving lunch – I still dream of the creamy salmon soup we had there!
Old Market Hall is open Mon-Sat from 8 AM to 6 PM. Perfect to warm up with a bowl of soup or a hot drink while wandering around Helsinki in winter!
12) Have a Hot Drink in a Cafe
If you prefer cafés to market halls, once again Helsinki has got you covered. Finnish people love their coffee, and any time is a good time for coffee in the city! Here are our three favourite cafes in Helsinki, perfect for winter!
Fazer – Forget Switzerland and Belgium, the world’s best chocolate comes from Finland! The delicious Fazer chocolate brand also has a flagship café in the centre of Helsinki, serving all sort of chocolatey treats and some delectable hot chocolate. What else do you need to survive winter in Helsinki?
Cafè Regatta – This is probably Helsinki’s most famous café, worth visiting in every season not just for its cute looks, but also for the magical cinnamon rolls they serve. It’s located not far from the Sibelius Monument north of the centre, right on the edge of the (frozen) sea.
Andante – Are you a fan of hipster cafes? This one is for you. Specialty coffee, raw vegan cakes, and flower shop, all in one!
13) Visit Two of Helsinki’s Libraries
One thing the Finnish capital does very well is libraries! There are over 40 in the entire city, but we’d like to recommend two to visit next time you’re in Helsinki in winter – Oodi and the National Library of Finland.
These two libraries couldn’t be more different from one another, but they’re equally stunning.
Oodi is brand new, opened in 2018 in occasion of Finland’s 100th independence anniversary, not far from Kiasma and the Finnish Parliament. It’s not just a library, but a center dedicated to learning – besides a catalogue exceeding 100,000 books there is also a cinema, a coworking centre, a workshop with art supplies, 3D printers and laser cutters, recording studios and spaces that can be hired out to organize events.
It’s a fun place to head to if you need to work for a day, or just want to spend time in quiet surroundings, with clean, sleek design, large windows to let in the crisp winter light and an interior decorated with living trees.
The National Library of Finland is the largest and oldest university library in Finland, opened in 1840 not far from Senate Square. The architecture and feel are very different – expect big vaulted ceilings and Corinthian columns, plush leather chairs and shelf upon shelf of scholarly books.
The most striking spaces are the Cupola Hall and the Rotunda. Photography is allowed but please bear in mind that the library is a place aimed at study and research, so please be mindful and keep your phone and camera on silent.
14) Go to a Metal Concert
Did you know Finland has the highest concentration of metal bands per capita in the world? Yep, Finns LOVE heavy metal music! During our first visit in Helsinki in winter we went to see Hevisaurus, a heavy metal band aimed at children, with the performers dressed as dinosaurs.
If you’d like to see a gig during your next Helsinki visit, check the line up at Tavastia, one of the most legendary rock clubs in town, or head to Praha or Bar Loose, two bars near the city centre where rock or metal bands often play.
Another option is heading to Kallio, one of the liveliest neighbourhoods in Helsinki after dark. Start your evening at Bar Loosister – there’s a no live music but you’ll find a metal playlist great burgers and a sauna in the basement, then move on to Beaver Bar, Musta Kissa or Kuudes Linja for the rest of the night.
Day Trips from Helsinki in Winter
15) Take a Day Trip to Nuuksio National Park
Helsinki locals are lucky to have an awesome national park right next to the city. Technically, Nuuksio National Park is closer to Espoo, Finland’s second-largest city, but being only 30 km away from Helsinki it’s very easy to plan an outing from the capital.
The symbol of Nuuksio National Park is the flying squirrel – they are very rare though, let alone in winter, when they slow down their activity to make up for the scarcity of food. In winter you’ll be able to explore Nuuksio’s paths with snowshoes or cross-country skis, enjoying the beautiful winter light for as long as you can, before retreating to a kota (teepee) for a cup of hot tea or juice.
We visited Nuuksio National Park one afternoon when the temperature dipped to -27°. A variety of activities had been organised for us – snowshoeing, meditation in the forest, even a walk with ‘mood rings’ to measure the effect that nature has on our mood. We opted for a trip on Altai skis, shorter and wider than typical cross-country skis, that can be strapped onto your hiking boots.
We were only able to resist to the bitter cold for one hour, before the sun set and the temperature dropped even further. That afternoon was nothing short of magical – the cold made everything still and beautiful, as if the world had fallen under a spell.
Planning to Visit Nuuksio? Here are some cool tours!
16) Visit Haltia Nature Centre
When the cold became too much at Nuuksio, we sought some warmth at Haltia, a newly-built exhibition centre dedicated to Finnish nature.
Haltia houses several exhibitions – combined with Nuuksio, it makes for the perfect Helsinki day trip in winter. We were taken for a guided tour that explained the link between Haltia’s architecture and the Kalevala, the epic tale of Finland. In one room, we were surrounded by 360° videos of how Finnish nature changes during the year – from Northern lights to midnight sun, through the colours of winter and the blooms of spring.
Haltia also organizes nature-themed concerts and events – we were treated to a concert of a 12 year old musician who played a traditional Finnish instrument that seemed to resemble the sounds of nature.
In case you get hungry, Haltia also has an excellent restaurant offering the best of modern Finnish cuisine.
17) Take a Day Trip to Porvoo
Porvoo is another place that looks like a true winter wonderland between December and February, making for a fun day out from Helsinki. It’s only an hour away by bus, but it’s an entirely different city from Helsinki, with a mellow vibe and a ‘village’ feel.
In winter, it’s super fun to wander around Porvoo’s historic centre, full of interesting examples of wooden architecture, and some very picturesque corners. If you want to know more about Porvoo sights and attractions, check out our Porvoo post – we visited twice, in summer and winter, and loved it both times.
Planning to Visit Porvoo? Here are some cool tours!
18) Take a Day Trip to Tallinn
The Estonian capital is also within day-tripping destination from Helsinki! Travelling to Tallinn by ferry from Helsinki takes only two hours, and you’ll land in one of the most magical towns in Europe, especially at wintertime.
On a day trip, you’ll have enough time to visit the Medieval historic centre, climb up to Toompea Hill for views over the city, and maybe visit one or two unusual locations, like the submarines in the Maritime Museum or artsy Telliskivi Creative City.
Naturally, with one day you’ll barely have enough time to scratch the surface of what Tallinn has to offer – if you decide to stay longer, make sure you check out our Tallinn Day Trips post, with plenty of natural and historical places to see not far from the city!
Looking for more Finland in winter ideas? Here are 8 reasons to visit Arctic Lakeland!
Helsinki in Winter Practical Tips
Yes, Helsinki is chilly in winter. We thought the cold temperatures lent an air of otherworldly magic to Helsinki, but if you’re not prepared or ready for it, it can indeed be difficult to bear.
So here’s our first tip – dress warm, and choose warm and comfortable shoes. We wore a ski jacket, fleece, a merino wool jumper, thermal underwear and tights, and cross-country ski pants. Forget glamour – you want warmth and practicality. The streets of Helsinki are often icy, so stilettos and anything with a smooth sole will send you flying on your booty. Opt for trekking shoes with a rugged sole.
If you’re heading to a meeting, a trade fair or anywhere where formal wear may be required, bring some extra shoes and change your outdoor shoes when you enter. There’s often a ‘shoe room’ in addition to the cloak room.
Second tip – batteries. The cold can seriously drain your batteries. That means that even if you have 90% battery left, if your device sits in the cold for too long, it will switch off out of the blue. And that can be seriously annoying, especially if you are relying on your phone for important info like your door code!
Solutions? Try to keep your phone next to your body, and keep other electronic devices out of the cold as much as possible. Always make sure you have a battery pack charged up to give your devices an ’emergency boost’ – you’ll often find that a few minutes charge is enough to restore power.
Do you have any other tips on what to do in Helsinki in winter? Let us know!
We visited Helsinki in winter as part of the Nordic Bloggers Experience project. As always, all opinions are our own.
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You’re right, it does seem crazy to go there in the winter! The pictures look amazing though, and I bet the snow makes everything looks like a postcard from a helicopter. Thanks for sharing!
I think Finland in winter really gives its best! Stunning place! Thanks for your comment Annie!
Thanks a lot!! Very nice to read and a lot of usefull tips and info 🙂 Great sharing, thanks again!
Thanks so much! Glad you liked it.
National Museum of Finland – please note that the museum is closed for renovations (January 2024)
https://www.kansallismuseo.fi/en/articles/construction-and-renovation-of-the-national-museum-begins
Thanks for your thoughts, Reading this made me happy..