What to do in Helsinki? Summer Programmes 2026

Top picks for Helsinki

Art and museums  🎨

Ateneum: The Finnish National Gallery, holds the most important Finnish art. For ages 18-24 entry 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.

Amos Rex: Is an extraordinary contemporary art museum in Helsinki center, built under a functionalist style building called Lasipalatsi (Glass Palace) straight across from Kiasma. They are featuring an exhibition from an emerging generation of creative young artists in June 2026. Tickets are 5€ both for students and for visitors under 30 years old.

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 6€ for 18-29 years old visitors.

Food & Drinks 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 fresh salads and wraps.

Seoul Good: Delicious Korean fried chicken meals.

Via Tribunali: Tasty Neapolitan style pizza, many locations throughout the city, try it out.

Hua Du: Asian buffet with Teppanyaki & Hotpot BBQ, although a little bit more pricy for a buffet it's totally worth to try the Hotpot & BBQ evening Buffet (28.90€) where you can make your meal in your own table, or try the Teppanyaki evening buffet for 18.90€.

Bistro Qulma: A restaurant in the Helsinki center district of Kruununhaka featuring a 10 course menu for only 35€. Totally worth a visit!

Wine Bar Klaava: A winebar also located in Kruununhaka, pricy but good drinks and amazing snacks to go with them. Great vibes also.

 Second Hand Shopping 🛍️

In Finland second hand shopping for clothes is a very popular to find affordable, unique vintage clothes and also it's a great way to support recycling.

Here are tips for second hand shopping in Helsinki:

UFF: By far the biggest brand for second hand clothes shopping. The best ones to visit are: 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 ♨️

The sauna is a very important part of Finnish 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, including a heated pool and a seawater pool. 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 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 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€.

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. As the name suggests the island is inhabited in the summer by a flock of sheep which can be petted. The walk to the island 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. Helsinki features some impressive churches of it's own.

Here are 3 important churches in Helsinki:

Temppelinaukio church: It is a truly unique church built inside the solid rock in Töölö. Just a 10-15 minute walk from Helsinki center it is a great place to visit. Entry is 8€ for adults. 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 costs 10€ during the summer season.