ODOS – What to do in Helsinki?

Janne’s top picks for Helsinki

Art and museums  🎨

Ateneum: The Finnish National Gallery, holds the most important finnish art. For under 18 years old the entry is free, for ages 18-24 it is 13€.

Kiasma: Museum of Modern art, holds exciting modern exhibitions. Right now they are holding an exhibition about the Sámi aboriginal people of Finland interpreted in a modern way and a collection exhibition.

Architecture & Design Museum Helsinki: Focuses on Finnish design, from furniture and fashion to industrial design. Great for understanding Finland’s global design influence. Entry is 3€ for under 17 and 6€ for 18-29 years old.

Food in Helsinki 

Hesburger: the staple of Finnish fast food, a burger chain originally from Turku, Finland's old capital. The burgers and meals are affordable, try it out.

Super Bowl: A new type of healthy fast food, with delicious salads and wraps.

Seoul Good: Delicious Korean fried chicken meals.

Second Hand Shopping 🛍️

In Finland second hand shopping for clothes is a big trend among young people to find affordable, unique vintage clothes and also it's a great way to support recycling.

Here are my tips for second hand shopping:

UFF: By far the biggest brand for second hand clothes shopping. 

On Friday 17.4 they have all clothes for 4€, Sat-Sun 18-19.4 everything is for 3€ and next week Mon-Tue 2€, and Wed 1€. I recommend going on 4-3€ days, so you can still find cool picks. After the sales the stores will return to normal prices.

My favorites are UFF Töölöntori, UFF Fredrikinkatu and UFF Hakaniemi.

FTA Vintage: Located in Kamppi FTA has a curated selection of Vintage clothing which can be more expensive, but usually in great style.

Almost New: is a unisex second hand streetwear store located near Hakaniemi, 25 minutes by tram from Töölö. The store has usually stylish streetwear picks, but prices are higher.

Sauna Culture ♨️

In Finland the sauna is a very important part of our culture, it is a place for relaxing, physical and mental cleansing and social bonding. 

The sauna is a small heated cabin that is traditionally heated by burning wood. It is good to remember to drink water when in the sauna and to not to stay too long in the heat. Usually you can take turns being in the sauna and then go outside, or swimming to cool down.

You can find public saunas for example in these places:

Löyly: Rated as one of the 100 greatest places on earth by Time Magazine in 2018. The building’s unique design and architecture makes it also a landmark in the Eira beach. 2 hour shift in the sauna costs 27€. The building also serves as a restaurant and cafe/bar if you just want to enjoy a sunny day and enjoy the view to the sea.

Allas Sea Pool: is located right in the centre of Helsinki and it has 5 saunas and multiple outdoor pools. The heated pool is now closed due to maintenance, but the sea water pool is still open. The single entrance ticket can only be bought on-site for 19€. 

Areas to visit in Helsinki 🌆

Kallio: is one of the most popular areas in Helsinki for students and young people. Kallio is best known for it’s bohemian vibes, trendy cafés, boutiques, restaurants, bars and more. Also the Kallio church is worth a visit.

Korkeasaari Zoo: Home to over 150 different species this island is Helsinki’s beloved zoo, which is open all year round. Entry is 15€ for under 18 and 22€ for adults.

Puu-Vallila and Vallila: was ranked the 9th coolest neighborhood in the world by Time Out magazine in 2025! Puu-Vallila is a cluster of early wooden houses from the 1900s, with cute cafés and restaurants, for sure worth a visit.

Linnanmäki Amusement Park 🎠🎡

The Linnanmäki amusement park opens at 1st of May, during your last week here in Finland. It is an iconic and modern amusement park with thrilling rides, and also some classic rides such as the old rollercoaster built in 1951. The ticket price is 53€ 

Vappu Celebration in Helsinki 30.4–1.5.2026

Vappu is celebrated yearly on April 30th–May 1st and it is the traditional celebration of the spring. This special celebration has two days: Vappuaatto (Vappu eve) and Vappupäivä (Vappu day). 

You can head to Esplanadi park on 30.4 at 18:00 to see the iconic ceremony of giving the Havis Amanda a student cap. There you can also see more people at the same time in Helsinki, than you could ever imagine. After you can head to Kaivopuisto park to see the wild celebration in action. 

On Vappupäivä 1.5, it is traditional to go to Kaivopuisto park to have a spring picnic with friends. You can try some of the special vappu treats, the drink Sima and a sweet sugar coated donut type pastry Vappumunkki, which you can find from most stores and cafes.

Nature in Helsinki:

Helsinki is very connected and near to the nature from all around with the sea and forests around us. Here are my suggestions what to visit if you love nature:

Lammassaari (Sheep Island): A true hidden gem in the northern part of Helsinki, Lammassaari is a small nature reserve island perfect for visitors who love the outdoors. It features a well-maintained 3.7 km boardwalk trail on top of water and winding through reeds and wetlands, There are also birdwatching towers with amazing views of the sea, and at the end is a peaceful small island ideal for picnics. The city skyline is visible in the distance, offering a beautiful contrast between urban Helsinki and untouched nature. The trails start is reachable from the Main Railway Station in about 20 minutes by bus. Be sure to also visit the beautiful Vanhankaupunginkoski while you are there.

Mustikkamaa (Blueberry Island): Just a short walk from Kalasatama metro station, Mustikkamaa is a forested island perfect for a short break in nature. There's a public beach, free outdoor gym, football and tennis fields, well-marked walking trails and cafés. A bridge connects the island directly to Korkeasaari Zoo, making it easy to combine both visits in one trip.

Kaisaniemi Botanic Garden: Located right in the heart of Helsinki at Kaisaniemi, this is one of the city's most beloved attractions. The garden is divided into two parts: a beautiful free outdoor garden packed with colourful flowerbeds, trees, and themed plant collections, and inside greenhouses transporting you to tropical rainforests and exotic climates from around the world. 

Churches ⛪️

Churches are an integral part of any European city’s architecture and heritage. You don’t have to believe in the religion, but the buildings and their details are something to admire. 

Just remember some basic rules in churches: be quiet, respectful, take off your hats, don’t arrive in the middle of a service, and don’t take pictures during a service. 

Here are 3 important churches in Helsinki:

Temppelinaukio church: It is a truly unique church built inside the solid rock in Töölö. Located under a 10 minute walk from Unihome it is a great place to visit. Entry is free for under 18, and 8€ for over 18. Note that sunday service is at 10-11:30am.

Uspenski Cathedral: The orthodox cathedral of Finland built in 1868, the church is also impressive from inside. Entry is free.

Helsinki Cathedral: The main cathedral of Helsinki, this white church is one of the most iconic landmarks in Helsinki and worth visiting inside. The entry is free during the winter season 1.11-31.5.