Lotta's Guidebook for Helsinki
Saunas
Women: Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun / Men: Tue, Thu, Sat.
The oldest public swimming hall in Finland with beautiful classist architecture. Since there's no need to wear a bathing suit, men and women have separate days for swimming. The experience is all about buying ticket to the 2nd floor (opens in afternoon) - it includes access to the best saunas and you'll have your own restaurant table. The staff serves drinks and small traditional Finnish dishes.
69 locals recommend
Yrjönkatu Swimming Hall
21 B YrjönkatuWomen: Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun / Men: Tue, Thu, Sat.
The oldest public swimming hall in Finland with beautiful classist architecture. Since there's no need to wear a bathing suit, men and women have separate days for swimming. The experience is all about buying ticket to the 2nd floor (opens in afternoon) - it includes access to the best saunas and you'll have your own restaurant table. The staff serves drinks and small traditional Finnish dishes.
Wonderful minimalistic sauna by the sea, located next to a 70's brutalist neighborhood. You can also take a swim in the sea or just enjoy the soothing view from a big window.
113 locals recommend
Kulttuurisauna
17 HakaniemenrantaWonderful minimalistic sauna by the sea, located next to a 70's brutalist neighborhood. You can also take a swim in the sea or just enjoy the soothing view from a big window.
A Helsinki classic, Kotiharjun sauna offers the smoothest wood warmed sauna in a very traditional setting.
151 locals recommend
Kotiharjun Sauna
1 HarjutorinkatuA Helsinki classic, Kotiharjun sauna offers the smoothest wood warmed sauna in a very traditional setting.
Parks & Nature
Accessible via Kauppatori, Suomenlinna is the old maritime fortress of Helsinki. Lots of ruins, museums and a very nice atmosphere (especially in the summertime). A really nice daytrip for the price of a single tram ticket! Don't forget your swimsuit.
430 locals recommend
Suomenlinna
Accessible via Kauppatori, Suomenlinna is the old maritime fortress of Helsinki. Lots of ruins, museums and a very nice atmosphere (especially in the summertime). A really nice daytrip for the price of a single tram ticket! Don't forget your swimsuit.
Kaisaniemi Botanic Garden
2 KaisaniemenrantaA beautiful place to escape the cold winter darkness.
Nuuksio National Park
84 NuuksiontieScenic forest landscape for hiking and mushroom picking.
Former psychiatric hospital that is now a culturally vivid area with a beach, community garden, cafeterias and lots of nice picnic spots.
14 locals recommend
Lapinlahti Hospital
8 LapinlahdenpolkuFormer psychiatric hospital that is now a culturally vivid area with a beach, community garden, cafeterias and lots of nice picnic spots.
Arts & Culture
Lots of medieval art, crafts, costumes, weapons etc from the old days.
107 locals recommend
The National Museum of Finland
34 MannerheimintieLots of medieval art, crafts, costumes, weapons etc from the old days.
The national classical art museum. A good permanent exhibition with all the relevant Finnish classic artists as well as some quite nice changing exhibitions.
253 locals recommend
Ateneum
2 KaivokatuThe national classical art museum. A good permanent exhibition with all the relevant Finnish classic artists as well as some quite nice changing exhibitions.
Helsinki’s main contemporary art museum. No permanent exhibition.
384 locals recommend
Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma
2 MannerheiminaukioHelsinki’s main contemporary art museum. No permanent exhibition.
A permanent exhibition on Finnish design. Concentrating on classics.
149 locals recommend
Design Museum Helsinki
23 KorkeavuorenkatuA permanent exhibition on Finnish design. Concentrating on classics.
Artist-run gallery just across the street. See a list for other galleries in my "Helsinki art scene" guidebook!
7 locals recommend
Galleria Huuto
1 KalevankatuArtist-run gallery just across the street. See a list for other galleries in my "Helsinki art scene" guidebook!
A new theater building dedicated to contemporary dance. Part of Kaapelitehdas which is the biggest cultural center in Finland.
Dance House Helsinki
3 KaapeliaukioA new theater building dedicated to contemporary dance. Part of Kaapelitehdas which is the biggest cultural center in Finland.
The best library ever. Besides borrowing books, here anyone can use a wide variety of facilities for creative work for free. There's 3D printers, sewing machines, music studios, high quality printers etc. You only pay for the materials used.
Downstairs there's the movie theater showing old cinema from national film archive's collection.
93 locals recommend
Oodi Central Library
4 TöölönlahdenkatuThe best library ever. Besides borrowing books, here anyone can use a wide variety of facilities for creative work for free. There's 3D printers, sewing machines, music studios, high quality printers etc. You only pay for the materials used.
Downstairs there's the movie theater showing old cinema from national film archive's collection.
Coffee & sweets
Robert’s Coffee
4 KanavarantaSpecial art nouveau interior.
If you want to pet cats while enjoying coffee, this is your place. :3
Reservation needed beforehand.
8 locals recommend
Helkatti Cat Cafe
55 FredrikinkatuIf you want to pet cats while enjoying coffee, this is your place. :3
Reservation needed beforehand.
Maybe the best coffee in city? They also sell coffee and professional equipment.
25 locals recommend
Kaffecentralen
59 FredrikinkatuMaybe the best coffee in city? They also sell coffee and professional equipment.
Taikalamppu
Hidden gem in Kallio.
Good coffee and some nice sandwiches right around the corner.
33 locals recommend
Gran Delicato, Kalevankatu
31 AlbertinkatuGood coffee and some nice sandwiches right around the corner.
Nicest cheesecakes in the city. They have a cake buffet on the weekends.
18 locals recommend
Kakkugalleria
41 FredrikinkatuNicest cheesecakes in the city. They have a cake buffet on the weekends.
If it's a good weather in the summertime, I absolutely recommend this outdoor café with a beautiful scenery view over the bay.
73 locals recommend
Sinisen Huvilan Kahvila
11 H LinnunlauluntieIf it's a good weather in the summertime, I absolutely recommend this outdoor café with a beautiful scenery view over the bay.
Food scene
For the evening dinner, I always recommend making a table reservation beforehand. Some of these places are quite booked.
Putte's Bar and Pizza
6 KalevankatuGreat pizza nearby!
Sea Horse
11 KapteeninkatuSea Horse has served traditional Finnish dishes since 30's.
Yes Yes Yes
1 Iso RoobertinkatuNice vegan restaurant nearby.
A very good lunch from Wednesday to Friday. Serves a nice, New York style bistro thing during the evenings.
7 locals recommend
Penny
13 UudenmaankatuA very good lunch from Wednesday to Friday. Serves a nice, New York style bistro thing during the evenings.
Levant Bulevardi
15 BulevardiDelicious Lebanese fast food. The whole menu is vegetarian.
Bites Burgers Kamppi
3 LapinlahdenkatuVery good hamburgers.
A nice restaurant for a more special evening. Constantly varying menu from the freshest Finnish ingredients. Reservation needed.
43 locals recommend
Ravintola Muru
41 FredrikinkatuA nice restaurant for a more special evening. Constantly varying menu from the freshest Finnish ingredients. Reservation needed.
A Helsinki classic. This is the place where all the artists used to drink and eat.
31 locals recommend
Elite
22 Eteläinen HesperiankatuA Helsinki classic. This is the place where all the artists used to drink and eat.
A very short but tasty menu. Cozy atmosphere in an old building.
Table reservation needed.
38 locals recommend
Kuurna
6 MeritullinkatuA very short but tasty menu. Cozy atmosphere in an old building.
Table reservation needed.
Bars and clubs
Where young hipsters go to party. A varied and well thought program with internationally well known DJs and live acts every weekend. Gets crowded after midnight.
140 locals recommend
Kaiku
4 KaikukatuWhere young hipsters go to party. A varied and well thought program with internationally well known DJs and live acts every weekend. Gets crowded after midnight.
Post Bar
2 KaikukatuNewest club in the Kaikukatu's complex.
Ocassionally open for a more techno crowd. They have a open air party every summer Sunday.
68 locals recommend
Ääniwalli
13 PälkäneentieOcassionally open for a more techno crowd. They have a open air party every summer Sunday.
Musta Kissa Bar
15 Toinen linjaSmall living-room type of bar in Kallio.
Lovely wine bar in an old pharmacy stores premises. Just in the next block from home.
6 locals recommend
Viinibaari Apotek
1 LapinlahdenkatuLovely wine bar in an old pharmacy stores premises. Just in the next block from home.
Shopping
C. Hagelstam Antikvariaatti
35 FredrikinkatuOldest antikvariat in Helsinki selling beautiful books.
Lokal
9 AnnankatuCute desing and art shop.
Lovely Finnish brand selling ethically produced weavings made in Finland.
Lapuan Kankurit Store & Studio
2 KatariinankatuLovely Finnish brand selling ethically produced weavings made in Finland.
Fasaani Antiikki Helsinki
UFF Second Hand Store
36 Fredrikinkatu