Guidebook for Helsinki
Food Scene
Great value for money! Delicious meals, steamy windows and relaxed environment buzzing with locals around lunch time and for an early dinner.
67 locals recommend
Café Bar No 9
9 UudenmaankatuGreat value for money! Delicious meals, steamy windows and relaxed environment buzzing with locals around lunch time and for an early dinner.
Modern Finnish/Scandinavian fine dining. A little over 50 € will get you a 3-course menu with modern takes on traditional Scandinavian tastes (drinks not included). Meals are a delicious discovery into the food scene in Helsinki, but don't go there with full-on empty stomach or you might leave hungry. If that happens head to: "Fafa's" just 2 blocks away. They will help you relief your hunger in a delicious manner.
80 locals recommend
Ravintola Juuri
27 KorkeavuorenkatuModern Finnish/Scandinavian fine dining. A little over 50 € will get you a 3-course menu with modern takes on traditional Scandinavian tastes (drinks not included). Meals are a delicious discovery into the food scene in Helsinki, but don't go there with full-on empty stomach or you might leave hungry. If that happens head to: "Fafa's" just 2 blocks away. They will help you relief your hunger in a delicious manner.
They brew a few of their own beers and have a few nice meals on offer for when you feel hungry. There's also coffee and other drinks on offer. Nice chill out spot if you need wifi, a few moments to read your book and take in the surrounding at this iconic street at Punavuori.
6 locals recommend
Il Birrificio
22 FredrikinkatuThey brew a few of their own beers and have a few nice meals on offer for when you feel hungry. There's also coffee and other drinks on offer. Nice chill out spot if you need wifi, a few moments to read your book and take in the surrounding at this iconic street at Punavuori.
Best Thai food in Helsinki. They only offer lunch (prices around 9 euros), which is why this small place is always full. They only have a few small tables, but the wait is worth it since this is the best lunch place around this side of the town.
9 locals recommend
Twisted Street Kitchen
58 FredrikinkatuBest Thai food in Helsinki. They only offer lunch (prices around 9 euros), which is why this small place is always full. They only have a few small tables, but the wait is worth it since this is the best lunch place around this side of the town.
Best sea side coffee place/hangout if you ask us. Coffee, traditional pastries, salty bites, lunch salads and soups, drinks... All their profits go to charity. Amazing views, plenty of space.
56 locals recommend
Café Ursula
3 EhrenströmintieBest sea side coffee place/hangout if you ask us. Coffee, traditional pastries, salty bites, lunch salads and soups, drinks... All their profits go to charity. Amazing views, plenty of space.
Great pizzas. Popular among a younger crowd you might need to book in advance for a larger crowd.
24 locals recommend
Skiffer Erottaja
11 ErottajankatuGreat pizzas. Popular among a younger crowd you might need to book in advance for a larger crowd.
If you are looking for a lunch/dinner while visiting the island of Suomenlinna this is the place. The brewery of the island offers some great plates of traditional Finnish flavours. Note that they do not serve small snacks, but rather whole meals. Nice historic surroundings.
7 locals recommend
Suomenlinna Brewery
If you are looking for a lunch/dinner while visiting the island of Suomenlinna this is the place. The brewery of the island offers some great plates of traditional Finnish flavours. Note that they do not serve small snacks, but rather whole meals. Nice historic surroundings.
The upper bar at Torni is great for rooftop views. Make sure you visit their toilet for the best iconic rooftop views of Helsinki. It's pricy and owned by a larger chain, so I wouldn't recommend eating there, but a few drinks or coffee is nice while you take in the views. NOTE: it's cold since the place is outside!
35 locals recommend
Restaurant Torni
5 KalevankatuThe upper bar at Torni is great for rooftop views. Make sure you visit their toilet for the best iconic rooftop views of Helsinki. It's pricy and owned by a larger chain, so I wouldn't recommend eating there, but a few drinks or coffee is nice while you take in the views. NOTE: it's cold since the place is outside!
Great lunch place! Little known to anyone one else but locals, you get a great tasty buffet lunch for around 10 euros. The place is owner by the volunteer firefighters association in Helsinki. Worth the visit!
13 locals recommend
Pompier
29 AlbertinkatuGreat lunch place! Little known to anyone one else but locals, you get a great tasty buffet lunch for around 10 euros. The place is owner by the volunteer firefighters association in Helsinki. Worth the visit!
Drinks & Nightlife
Best drink place around town. Excellent service and great bar tenders. Great place for a late night hangout for conversation and calm lounging.
39 locals recommend
Liberty or Death
5 ErottajankatuBest drink place around town. Excellent service and great bar tenders. Great place for a late night hangout for conversation and calm lounging.
The new place in the live music scene in Helsinki. Small, intimate space for live music, lounging and a few drinks. Amazing interiors. Find their gig schedule online!
13 locals recommend
G Livelab
3 YrjönkatuThe new place in the live music scene in Helsinki. Small, intimate space for live music, lounging and a few drinks. Amazing interiors. Find their gig schedule online!
The most trendy alternative scene in the night of Helsinki. Siltanen is one of three famous night clubs located on this street.
119 locals recommend
Onda
13 b HämeentieThe most trendy alternative scene in the night of Helsinki. Siltanen is one of three famous night clubs located on this street.
Nice hangout during the day and night. Small snacks, healthy smoothies, coffee and drinks and an occasitional DJ gig at night.
6 locals recommend
Why join the navy when you can be a pirate
28 AnnankatuNice hangout during the day and night. Small snacks, healthy smoothies, coffee and drinks and an occasitional DJ gig at night.
Parks & Nature
Kaivopuisto is to Helsinki what Central park is to New York. Locals love strolling around the park. Make sure you climb to the hill with the star gazing tower to check out the views.
189 locals recommend
Kaivopuisto
Kaivopuisto is to Helsinki what Central park is to New York. Locals love strolling around the park. Make sure you climb to the hill with the star gazing tower to check out the views.
Unesco World Heritage site. Suomenlinna has tons of hidden spots, great trails to wonder around and historic sites. Pack a picnic and go! Note that making a fire is not allowed due to the Unesco status of the island. There are a few unique coffee places around the island. There's one grocery store if you become hungry while exploring. In the winter time sunset is amazing form this island. On rare occasions you may watch the Aurora Borealis dance on the sky above Helsinki from here, as its the only place dark enough in Helsinki to see them. The ferry ride costs 3.50euros and leaves from a ferry terminal at Kauppatori (market square).
430 locals recommend
Suomenlinna
Unesco World Heritage site. Suomenlinna has tons of hidden spots, great trails to wonder around and historic sites. Pack a picnic and go! Note that making a fire is not allowed due to the Unesco status of the island. There are a few unique coffee places around the island. There's one grocery store if you become hungry while exploring. In the winter time sunset is amazing form this island. On rare occasions you may watch the Aurora Borealis dance on the sky above Helsinki from here, as its the only place dark enough in Helsinki to see them. The ferry ride costs 3.50euros and leaves from a ferry terminal at Kauppatori (market square).
Seurasaari houses relocated historic Finnish buildings from different historic and prehistoric times. The houses are now on exhibition to locals and foreigners. The entrance is free. There's trails around the island, and exploring the whole island is around 3 hours walk. In the middle of the island there's a marked place where you are allowed to make fire, and they provide you with the firewood. So bring your camping gear if you are looking for a mini adventure.
174 locals recommend
Seurasaari
15 SeurasaarentieSeurasaari houses relocated historic Finnish buildings from different historic and prehistoric times. The houses are now on exhibition to locals and foreigners. The entrance is free. There's trails around the island, and exploring the whole island is around 3 hours walk. In the middle of the island there's a marked place where you are allowed to make fire, and they provide you with the firewood. So bring your camping gear if you are looking for a mini adventure.
Arts & Culture
Ateneum
2 KaivokatuSome of the most famous Finnish paintings are located in Ateneum.
Shopping
This street in Punavuori is a concentration of small design stores from furniture to clothing to curiosities.
11 locals recommend
Fredrikinkatu
FredrikinkatuThis street in Punavuori is a concentration of small design stores from furniture to clothing to curiosities.
Biggest department store in Helsinki. Find everything you could possibly think of here.
256 locals recommend
Stockmann Helsingin keskusta
52 AleksanterinkatuBiggest department store in Helsinki. Find everything you could possibly think of here.
Famous Finnish lifestyle brand Marimekko has numerous stores around Helsinki.
13 locals recommend
Marimekko Mikonkatu
33 PohjoisesplanadiFamous Finnish lifestyle brand Marimekko has numerous stores around Helsinki.
Essentials
S-market Sokos Helsinki
9 MannerheimintieOnly 24h grocery store in central Helsinki.
Lidl Kamppi
2 KampinkujaWhere locals do their shopping. Less variety but cheap prices.
Getting Around
Tram stops + metro stop. Walking in the centre is pretty convenient so if you aren't going far you may well survive on foot.
Kaisaniemenkatu
KaisaniemenkatuTram stops + metro stop. Walking in the centre is pretty convenient so if you aren't going far you may well survive on foot.
Local (HSL) as well as long distance trains (VR) leave from this station. It also has a metro stop downstairs. Busses leave from all sides of the station so if you need to take a bus make sure you are on the right side of the station!
67 locals recommend
Helsingin päärautatieasema
1 KaivokatuLocal (HSL) as well as long distance trains (VR) leave from this station. It also has a metro stop downstairs. Busses leave from all sides of the station so if you need to take a bus make sure you are on the right side of the station!