Helsinki might not be on every traveller’s bucket list, and it wouldn’t have been on mine either if it hadn’t been for a great flight connection from Amsterdam, which I was visiting for work. This connection, which I discovered by accident, allowed me to visit not only Helsinki but also take a ferry ride to Tallinn and return to Amsterdam within a short period of four days without needing a wasteful layover anywhere. In any case, I’ve long abandoned the idea of travelling based on bucket lists, as I’ve been pleasantly surprised by seemingly mundane places. I now believe every place has something fresh and awesome to offer.

Best of all, Helsinki is an introvert’s dream. People keep a respectful distance; polite and quiet; but will help when needed. You can escape to a sauna or a library if the world outside gets too busy and noisy. Everyone, and indeed the city itself, is quiet, calm, and sedate. It’s also super safe, any time of the day.

Want to make the most of your two days in the city without breaking the bank? Read on for the perfect two-day Helsinki itinerary, ideal for solo travellers or families.


48 Hours in Helsinki solo itinerary | Suomenlinna greenery
Don’t be fooled. Helsinki has many green areas, including the beautiful Suomenlinna.

Essentials

About Helsinki

Helsinki, the capital city of Finland, is located in the southern part of the country, which itself is in northernmost Europe. The city was founded by King Gustav I of Sweden in 1550 and was part of Sweden until 1809. This was followed by a period of Russian control when the city prospered. In fact, Helsinki was created to look like a twin of Saint Petersburg in Russia, which is not far from Helsinki. But soon a nationalist fervour took over, “Swedes we are no more, Russians we cannot become, therefore Finns we must be,” leading to the country gaining independence in 1917 and self-governing since then.

Finland today functions as a social democracy. You might have heard of Sanna Marin, Finland’s prime minister from 2019 to 2023, whose viral video of her dancing in a pub drew international attention and criticism. She was much beloved, and everyone I spoke with in Helsinki was sad to see her lose the subsequent election. In Finland, government servants live and operate normally alongside citizens, and her actions were not seen as unusual by many, including me. However, the attention did her no favours, as she lost the election, and Petteri Orpo replaced her as prime minister.

Winters in Helsinki are cold and snowy, with temperatures often below freezing. Summers are mild and sometimes warm, with temperatures ranging from 15°C to 25°C. It rained 70-80% of the two days in July when I was there.

You can sometimes see the Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis, in Helsinki during winter, but better sightings are in Lapland, which is further north.

Fun fact: Helsinki has a single official Santa Claus who resides in Lapland and can be visited! Santa Claus Village is located in Rovaniemi, Lapland, on the Arctic Circle. This popular tourist destination allows visitors to meet Santa Claus year-round, send postcards from Santa’s official post office, and learn about Finnish Christmas traditions.

Around 6 million people live in Helsinki; the majority are Lutheran Christians.

48 Hours in Helsinki solo itinerary | Senate Square with Helsinki Cathedral and historic trams
Senate Square with the Helsinki Cathedral in the background and the world’s highest-altitude tram in the foreground

The Finnish language is Finno-Ugric and is considered among the hardest to learn for speakers of Indo-European languages due to its unique grammar and vocabulary. The only word I learned was kalsarikännit, the Finnish word for drinking at home in your underwear (Pantsdrunk). Oh, yes! I am not making this up.

All the Nordic countries have flags featuring a cross, known as the Nordic cross. However, each flag has a distinct design and colour scheme. Finland’s flag has a blue cross on a white background.

And now for some fun facts about the city and the country. Nokia (telecommunications) and Rovio (creator of Angry Birds) are headquartered here. Helsinki is also considered a mecca for design and architecture lovers; the buildings are a mixture of Nordic, art nouveau, and neoclassical design; Alvar Aalto is one of their most famous architects and many of the buildings in the city are designed by him.  The word sauna is Finnish and the practice is thought to have originated here. There are about 2 million saunas in Finland for 6 million people, so, you can see how important it is for local life. Every place has a sauna. Government buildings, universities, hotels, private homes, Airbnbs, Ferris wheels, and even prisons! Finland has around 188,000 lakes, which is why it’s called the “Land of a Thousand Lakes.” The tap water here is super clean and often thought better than bottled water. 78% of the country is green and there are 4,500 trees per Finn. And despite having the second highest taxes in the world (after Belgium), almost everything (such as education, healthcare, and childcare) is subsidized or free. I learned that traffic fines in Finland were based on the offender’s income, leading to some hefty penalties for the wealthy. In one notable case, in 2015, Reima Kuisla, a Finnish businessman, was fined €54,000 for speeding in Helsinki; his fine was calculated based on his annual income of €6.5 million.

Helsinki is quiet, comfortable, and almost…. boring. This, folks, might just be the key to happiness. It’s a quiet country where people avoid eye contact, but boy, do they love heavy metal music! When I visited, the summer parks were full of buskers playing heavy metal, and even the older generation swayed along. I guess you’ve got to express the dark bits of your soul somehow. A fun nugget: In Finland, there’s a unique trend called “heavy metal knitting,” where participants knit to the rhythm of live heavy metal music. This quirky subculture even has a World Heavy Metal Knitting Championship, held annually in Finland. Crazy. Crazy.

Finland has topped the World Happiness Report for several consecutive years and is considered the home of happy people. But no one was more surprised than the Finns themselves when their country was rated so. With most of the year bitterly cold and dark, and with among the highest suicide rates in the world, they wondered how. The sombre joke is that those who were unhappy were probably no longer around to answer the survey…

Overall, Helsinki is an easy, laid-back city. No one will talk to you unless you want them to, and their noses are buried in either a book or a phone. Works for me!


Transport

Getting to the City from the Airport

There are two airports in Helsinki. One is Helsinki-Vantaa Airport (HEL), the main international airport, located in Vantaa, approximately 17 kilometres north of Helsinki city centre, and Helsinki-Malmi Airport, a smaller airport primarily used for general aviation and pilot training, but some flights do land here.

Below are some ways to go to the city if you land in Helsinki-Vantaa Airport. Check connections in the HSL App. This app is a must-download; more on it later.

  • Public Transport: The Finnair City Bus operates between the airport and Helsinki Central Railway Station, even during late hours. Check the schedule for availability.
  • Airport Train: The Airport Train (I or P train) runs from the airport to Helsinki Central Railway Station.
  • Late at night: Bus number 600 operates through the night and takes you from the airport to Central Railway station. Frequency varies with season.

Getting Around in The City

Public transit in Helsinki is combined into a single ticket program that covers buses, trains, trams, metro, and the Suomenlinna ferry. Download the HSL app to buy day passes or single journey tickets. A single journey ticket covers the entire distance end to end for the fare which is valid for 90-120 minutes. For the AB zone, a day pass (preferable option) costs €9; the two-day pass costs €13.50; and a single ticket costs €2.95. For the ABC zone (C zone = Vaanta, the airport), a day pass (preferable option) costs €13; the two-day pass costs €16; and a single ticket costs €4.10. You cannot buy tickets on board.

More information here.

Remember the following:

  • When boarding buses, show your ticket on the HSL app to the driver as you board from the front. For trains, either scan your ticket at a reader or wait for a ticket checker to scan it on her rounds. On trams, I didn’t do anything. I had the day ticket anyway, and the trams were quite crowded as they usually ply between major city centre stops.
  • At some lesser-used bus stops, you must signal the bus with your hand to make it stop. I didn’t know this, and, as a result, missed a critical connection one time, causing me to wait late into the night for the next bus to arrive (damn you 623). As the night progresses, connections grow scarce, so keep that hand ready.
  • Additionally, be careful to board the tram or bus in the correct direction. I got this wrong several times, which added confusion to my journey. But perhaps, that’s just me. That’s why I always prefer a Day Pass. It allows for mistakes.

Taking the Ferry from Helsinki to Tallinn

Use Directferries to discover the best connections, and then purchase from the operator’s website. I used Tallink’s MyStar and Megastar to travel to Tallinn from Helsinki and was blown away, especially by MyStar. It seemed like a five-star hotel slash casino slash glitzy pub-cafe-mall on a ship. So much luxury for a mere two hours? Worth every cent of the €35 I paid.

The Tallink Ferries leave from West Terminal 2 in Helsinki. Helsinki has many ports and it’s possible that a journey starts from one port and returns to another, so check your ticket carefully. Tallinn has only one port; so easy, peasy.

Helsinki and Tallinn solo in 48 hours | Tallink's MyStar
Tallink’s MyStar

Boarding opens 40 minutes before departure and closes 20 minutes prior. Boarding times are strictly enforced. You can scan the barcode on your phone to board. Passports are not checked between Helsinki and Tallinn. Overall, the process is efficient and pleasant.

In Tallinn, the port is close to the city centre and is a 15-minute walk away. In Helsinki, however, the closest tram stop to West Terminal 2 is Länsiterminaali. It takes about 15 minutes by tram from the city centre to this stop, plus an additional 5 minutes to reach the departure point. Therefore, in Helsinki, if you plan to use public transport and want to board on time, start your journey an hour earlier from wherever you are to reach the ferry terminal.


Others Basics

  • Helsinki is in the European Union and uses the Euro as its currency. It is also part of the Schengen Area, which is important for travellers needing a Schengen Visa, such as those from India.
  • You may consider getting the Helsinki Card which provides access to the majority of the city’s top attractions and includes transportation (Cost for an adult: 24h/48h/72h: €48 / €58 / €68). I didn’t take it as I wasn’t going to do much museum hopping and found the HSL app good enough to cover transport costs.

Where to Stay

Public transport is decent in Helsinki, and it’s also quite safe to travel around late in the night. You can stay anywhere in the AB zone and reach the city centre in under an hour. I recommend Eurohostel for its affordability, good location, and suitability for solo travellers. It’s also close to the Katajanokka Sea Terminal, convenient for ferry trips to Tallinn. Note that the Katajanokka terminal is 30 minutes from West Terminal 2.

Another excellent accommodation option is the Yard Hostel.


Here are some tours I recommend based on my experience in Helsinki.


Now let’s go to what I did in my two days in Helsinki. It was July, so the days were long and most places were open, but it rained almost through the day, affecting my mood and limiting what I could do.


Day 1: City Tour

Walking Tour

Helsinki has some excellent walking tours. The meeting point is usually at the Alexander II Statue in Senate Square. Tours run at different times, starting at 9:45 AM until about 4:30 PM or so, depending on the time of the year.

48 Hours in Helsinki solo itinerary | Alexander II statue in Senate Square
The Alexander II statue with Helsinki Cathedral in Senate Square

I took the Finntastic Walking tour which covered

  • Senate Square: Located in Helsinki’s City Centre, the Square features the iconic Helsinki Cathedral, known as the “White Church.” When I visited, entry to Helsinki Cathedral cost €8, but it was free from 6 to 9 PM. Alexander II, whose statue adorns the centre of the Square is considered the “good Russian king” who granted Finland autonomy, although the noisy seagulls perched on his head couldn’t care less. Other landmarks and famous buildings surrounding the Square are the Government Palace, the main building of the University of Helsinki, and the Sederholm House, the oldest building in central Helsinki dating from 1757.
  • Helsinki City Museum: The city museum is a great place to understand the city’s history and culture through a variety of exhibits and interactive displays. Major exhibits include “Helsinki 24/7,” which presents the city’s everyday life, and “The City of Dreams,” focusing on Helsinki’s architectural evolution. The museum also features the “Helsinki City Museum Collection,” which includes artefacts and photographs from different eras. It is open Tuesday to Sunday, from 10 AM to 6 PM, and is closed on Mondays. Admission is free.
  • Allas Sea Pool: This is a marine spa that features three pools: a children’s pool, a warm pool, and a seawater pool. There’s also a sauna and a café. The main building was finished in spring 2017 and includes a roof terrace that spans the entire roof. With 1,500 seats, this terrace is the largest in Helsinki with killer views of the coast. It’s open all year round.
  • Market Square (Kauppatori): A great spot to experience local Finnish culture, cuisine, and maritime life. It has several stalls selling fresh produce, local delicacies, handicrafts, and souvenirs. The square also hosts seasonal events and festivals. Key nearby attractions include the historic Old Market Hall and the nearby Uspenski Cathedral.
Helsinki in 48 hours | Market Square
The busy Market Square on a cloudy day
  • Uspenski Cathedral: A Greek Orthodox or Eastern Orthodox cathedral in Helsinki, and the main Cathedral of the Orthodox Church of Finland. It is the largest Orthodox cathedral in Western Europe.
  • Esplanadi: Locally known as Helsinki’s Champs de Elysee, this park is home to Kappeli restaurant and Espa music stage. In the middle, stands Runeberg’s statue, the national poet of Finland. A rock concert was going on when I visited.
  • Oodi Library – Helsinki’s beloved central library.

Finland is a book lover’s paradise. Finns hold the world record for library use, borrowing more books from libraries than any other nation. There are 800 libraries nationwide and 1.9 million library cards floating around (for 6 million people).

Hence, OODI.

The Oodi Library was the government’s gift to the people to celebrate Finland’s 100th year of independence. It opened to the public on December 5, 2018, the eve of Finland’s Independence Day. Both locals and visitors have embraced Oodi since; in 2019, the library had 3.1 million visitors and received the Public Library of the Year award. Oodi spans 10,000 square meters, houses 70,000 books, and attracts 2.5 million visitors annually.

The best thing about Oodi is its inclusivity and variety of activities. You can organize events, read books, make dresses, do 3D printing, use meeting rooms, watch movies, and attend lectures and concerts—all for free, except for material costs where applicable. The top floor is a book haven dedicated to relaxation, with books in 23 languages. Here, you can read under a cloud-like ceiling, stop for coffee, and admire the city from the citizens’ balcony.

Oodi is a wonderland. I could live here every waking moment of the day. And it looked to me like the locals did that.
What a gift to give your country folks.
48 Hours in Helsinki solo itinerary | Oodi Library
The beloved state-of-the-art Helsinki Central Library Oodi

Oodi is right opposite the parliament building and is open Mon to Fri 8 AM – 9 PM; Sat to Sun 10 AM – 8 PM.


After the walking tour, the other places you need to go to are the Rock Church and Sibelius Monument which are next to one another. These two can be reached on foot or by bus.

The Rock Church (Temppeliaukio Church) is a striking modern church that opened in 1969. Carved directly into solid granite, its unique design features a circular sanctuary with a copper dome that creates exceptional acoustics. Popular for its architectural innovation and excellent acoustics, the Rock Church hosts concerts and services, making it a notable attraction for visitors and a cherished place for locals. It’s worth going to admire the architectural marvel of it. Entry is €8 and it takes less than an hour to see. The church is about 25 minutes on foot from Senate Square.

48 Hours in Helsinki solo itinerary | Helsinki's Rock Church
Helsinki’s Rock Church

25 more minutes on foot away is the Sibelius Monument. Created by Eila Hiltunen, the monument is dedicated to the Finnish composer Jean Sibelius. It visually expresses how Sibelius’ music depicts nature and has become one of Helsinki’s most popular tourist attractions. It’s quite a walk away from the city centre (45 minutes), so you may choose to skip it while in Helsinki, but it’s close to the Baltic Seashore, fairly untouched by crowds, and the popular Cafe Regatta is close by.

48 Hours in Helsinki solo itinerary | Sibelius Monument
The impressive Sibelius Monument

The three churches in Helsinki are starkly different from one another. The Helsinki Cathedral is simple, elegant, and majestic. The inside is beautifully bare as well. The Uspenski Cathedral, like all Orthodox cathedrals, is ornate and impressive in another sense; it is mahogany to Helsinki Cathedral’s marble. And then there is the Rock Church, which appears to try not to make a grandiose statement but rather blend into nature, finding its way into the roots by being one with something God has given. It’s an innovative place of worship. I enjoyed my visit to all three, in different ways.


Hop-on-Hop-off Bus

48 Hours in Helsinki solo itinerary | Helsinki hop on hop off bus
The Helsinki hop-on-hop-off bus

(The following is based on research and conversations with tourists in the city.)

Basics

Note that there are two hop-on-hop-off bus services in Helsinki. City Sightseeing Helsinki is better rated and starts from Senate Square. The 24 hours ticket costs €29.34 for an adult and 48 hours costs €39.69 which includes a cruise. The hop-on-hop-off by Stromma starts from Senate Square but farther down, has a slightly different route, and is free if you have the Helsinki Card.

The first bus starts at 10 AM and the last bus starts at 4 PM from stop 1 i.e. Senate Square, every 30 minutes (although, it’s more often 45 min – 50 min). The whole loop takes about 90 minutes if you don’t get off. Market Square is the point for cruises and operates from 10:30 AM to 3:30 PM – a 90-minute loop every 60 minutes.

The Sightseeing buses more or less halt at the following places along the way.

The Route

  1. Senate Square / Helsinki City Museum (covered by the walking tour. Worth a stop)
  2. Old Market Hall (covered by the walking tour. Worth a stop)
  3. Olympia Terminal (Silja Line) / Mannerheim Museum
  4. Café Ursula / Kaivopuisto Park
  5. Compass Square
  6. Eira
  7. Hernesaari Cruise Terminal
  8. Löyly (Not covered by the walking tour. Worth a stop)
  9. Flea Market / Bulevardi / Sinebrychoff Art Museum
  10. Swedish Theatre / Design Museum / Museum of Finnish Architecture
  11. Market Square (departure point for Canal Cruise) (covered by the walking tour. Worth a stop)
  12. Amos Rex / Kiasma / Helsinki Art Museum / Central Railway Station (Not covered by the walking tour. Worth a stop)
  13. Temppeliaukio Church (Rock Church) (Not covered by the walking tour. Worth a stop)
  14. Sibelius monument (Not covered by the walking tour. Worth a stop)
  15. Olympic Stadium (Not covered by the walking tour. Worth a stop)
  16. Linnanmaki Amusement Park / Sea Life Helsinki
  17. Linnunlaulu / Helsinki City Theatre
  18. Hakaniemi Market Square and Market Hall

I initially considered using the hop-on-hop-off as I had just come from Seven Days in South Africa where the hop-on-hop-off buses rocked. But I later abandoned the idea as online reviews mentioned subpar commentary, frequent crowding due to cruise-ship traffic, and delays in arrival at the stops, 30 minutes often turning into an hour. Also, I found that their working hours were quite limited (10 AM to 4 PM) and I realized I wouldn’t be making full use of the price, which was not cheap.

48 Hours in Helsinki solo itinerary | The Uspenski Cathedral
The Uspenski Cathedral

I also recommend that you visit the Tourist Information Centre close to Market Square at Lyypekinlaituri at the start of your visit. Open from the end of May until the end of August | Mon-Sun 9 AM – 4 PM. The centre had loads of good information regarding ongoing summer events, discounts and offers, and info on museum timings. See more here.

48 Hours in Helsinki solo itinerary
The Helsinki Tourist Information Centre

Day 2: Soumenlinna and a Sauna

Soumenlinna

About

Suomenlinna, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is an 18th-century sea fortress spread across six islands near Helsinki, Finland. Originally named Sveaborg, it was constructed by the Swedish to protect against Russian expansion. The fortress played a significant role during various conflicts, including the Russo-Swedish War and the Crimean War.

After Finland gained independence in 1917, Suomenlinna became part of the Finnish defence system. Today, it is a popular tourist destination and a vibrant community with around 800 residents. Visitors can explore its well-preserved fortifications, historical museums, and art galleries. Highlights include the Suomenlinna Museum, which offers insights into the fortress’s history, and the Vesikko submarine, used by the Finnish Navy during World War II. Accessible by a short ferry ride from Helsinki’s Market Square, Suomenlinna offers picturesque views, charming cafes, and scenic walking trails. It also hosts events throughout the year, such as concerts and theatre performances.

(From the website) To navigate the island easily, follow the Blue Route which runs from north to south and covers all the main sights. The route starts at the main quay in front of the Jetty Barracks and terminates at the King’s Gate. The length of the route is about 1.5 km (1 mile). It is marked with blue direction signs and is shown on the information maps as a solid blue line. Information boards along the route provide information about the sights and their history. There are five such information boards along the main route, providing information about the Russian merchants’ quarter, Church Park, Great Courtyard, Piper’s Park and the fortifications of Kustaanmiekka. Watch a video of the Blue route.

48 Hours in Helsinki solo itinerary | Scenes from Suomenlinna
Scenes from Suomenlinna

How to Go

The ferry service to Suomenlinna is operated by the Helsinki Region Transport Authority (HSL) and is covered in the day pass. You can buy a ticket using the HSL app. Suomenlinna is in the HSL ticket zone A. Tickets must be purchased before boarding as they are not sold on board.

Depending on the season and the time of day, ferries run 1 to 4 times per hour from the morning until the night throughout the year. The journey to Suomenlinna takes approximately 15 minutes. The ferry departs from the east side of the Market Square, opposite the Presidential Palace.

Season and Opening Hours

Suomenlinna is open all year round however not all of the museums, cafes and restaurants are open during the winter. Opening hours.

Guided tours

Joining a guided tour is a good way to explore Suomenlinna. These tours cover the fortress islands, highlighting main sights and key historical events, and offering insights into Finnish and Northern European history. The tours take you through the historic Susisaari and Kustaanmiekka areas, featuring landmarks like the Great Courtyard and the former world’s largest dry dock. Guided by authorized Suomenlinna guides from the Ehrensvärd Society, the tours start at the Suomenlinna Museum and last about an hour.

Guided tours are offered June 1st – August 31st: every day at 10:30 AM and 2 PM in English. The tours start from the Suomenlinna Museum. The price for an adult is €14. The guided tour is free with a Helsinki Card. Entrance to Ehrensvärd Museum is included in the price. Buy tickets here.


Sauna

48 Hours in Helsinki solo itinerary | sauna
The sauna I did

About

I researched this and decided to create a section for beginners like me.

The word “sauna” is Finnish, and boy, do they love it. Instead of saying, “Meet me for coffee or a drink,” they say, “Meet me for a sauna.” There are more saunas here than cars! I can get on board with that.

Traditionally, Saturday was sauna day because Sunday was for being clean and purified. But now, there’s no strict rule. Some people hit the sauna almost every day, usually in the evening, to unwind before bed. It’s a great way to chill with friends and family. This is one of the places, like the library, where the introverted locals connect and engage.

Saunas are common in Finland and found in homes, hotels, apartment buildings, and even offices. In ancient times, saunas were used to stay warm in winter inside heated caves or pits. Finland is also home to the world’s deepest sauna, in the Pyhäsalmi Mine, 1,410 meters below the surface.

I did a traditional wood-fired Finnish sauna in a family home. I was warned that it might get too hot and that I needed to come out to cool myself from time to time. Was I sure I wanted to do it? As I sat in the sauna, I had deja vu, but I couldn’t place it. It wasn’t the horrible humid summers in Mumbai or Kolkata. The feeling was almost that, but not quite. Then what was it?

Two days later, as I was waiting to take the Uber back home at Mumbai International Airport, I realized this was the feeling I was having in the sauna. You get in the Uber in the T2 airport in the basement, where it’s excruciatingly hot and sweaty, and you’ve got to wait a long time for the cab because of the long queues outside. And you’re already quite exhausted.

But you wait for the minutes to pass, the minutes to hurry up, because the cab is just here, just here… I can take the heat for a few more seconds…

Therefore, I am convinced now that the sauna has no health benefits. But hey, it was fun!
48 Hours in Helsinki solo itinerary | A sauna scene at the Helsinki City Museum
A sauna scene at the Helsinki City Museum

Some tips

  • Hydrate yourself beforehand by drinking 1-2 glasses of water
  • Shower before entering the sauna
  • You can sit in the sauna wearing a towel, naked, or in a swimsuit. In a private sauna, sitting in a towel is common
  • Saunas have benches along the walls: top benches are the hottest, and lower benches are the coolest. Start on a middle bench
  • Ladle water onto the hot stones to create steam and raise the temperature. The sauna should be moist, not dry. In a public sauna, the person on the hottest bench decides when to add more water
  • Sit in the sauna for about 10-15 minutes. You can come out to cool off and then go back in. Repeat this cycle for about an hour
  • In traditional saunas, you may be offered a bunch of birch leaves (vihta). Use it to pat yourself over the shoulders to improve circulation

Saunas can be wood-fired, smoke-based, or electric. They usually cost about €15-25 for two hours.

Some popular ones are the Löyly public sauna, Sauna Hermanni, Sompasauna (Helsinki’s public sauna and free to use), and Allas Sea Pool.


Optional: Seurasaari

About

Imagine stepping off a bridge and into another era. That’s exactly what awaits you at Seurasaari, a charming island transformed into an open-air museum, just a short distance from the heart of Helsinki. Here, amidst the tranquil beauty of a Finnish forest, you’ll find a remarkable collection of over 80 wooden buildings, meticulously transported from all corners of the country. The island is home to structures dating to the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries. Wander through an 18th-century food storage building and marvel at its ingenious design for keeping provisions fresh. Step inside a water sawmill powered by a rushing stream and envision the spirit of bygone eras. Immerse yourself in the grandeur of a stately Manor House or a more modest vicar’s dwelling, each showcasing the lives and customs of different social classes.

However, if you want to delve deeper into the stories these buildings hold, consider going on a guided tour. For those seeking a dose of exercise along with their history lesson, Seurasaari offers routes for a stroll or a more energetic hike along a scenic wooden trail that winds through the island’s shoreline forest. Just outside the museum grounds, you can also visit the house of Urho Kaleva Kekkonen, one of Finland’s most influential and long-serving presidents.

Season and Opening Hours

Seurasaari Island Park is open all year around but the open-air museum and the guided tours inside buildings are usually only available during summer, typically from May 15th to September 15th and Monday – Sunday 11 AM – 5 PM. Check the official website for more. Admission Fees to the park itself is free. A museum ticket (€12) includes a guided tour and is covered by the Helsinki Card. The tours depart from the ticket kiosk of the museum. The duration of the tours is around 45–60 min. Tours in English take place at 3 PM daily.


Where to Eat

48 Hours in Helsinki solo itinerary | Market Hall
I had the Lohikeitto or salmon soup at Market Hall. It was delicious!
  • Market Hall for Lunch: This is a foodie paradise, although it can get very crowded during lunchtime. It offers a wide range of Finnish delicacies, including “Karjalanpiirakka” (Karelian pie), “Kalakukko” (fish pie), “Lohikeitto” (salmon soup), “Poronkäristys” (sautéed reindeer), and “Mustikkapiirakka” (blueberry pie). Market Hall is a quick walk from Market Square and Senate Square, so do not miss it.
  • Ekberg 1852: Start your day with a delicious pastry and coffee at the oldest and most popular bakery in the city.
  • Fazer Café: There are several branches in Helsinki but there is one right next to Ekberg in Bulevardi. This café offers a variety of delectable chocolates, pastries, and light meals.
  • Herkku Market Bistro in Stockmann: Enjoy a variety of fresh and high-quality dishes in this bistro located within the famous Stockmann department store in the city centre.
  • Café Regatta: A charming café near the Sibelius Monument, perfect for enjoying coffee and traditional Finnish pastries.

Go to Kamppi or Stockmann for shopping and Alepa or K-Market for your grocery needs.

A visit to Porvoo can be taken as a side trip from Helsinki. It’s a historic old town, 50 kilometres east of Helsinki. Regular buses run from Helsinki’s Kamppi bus station to Porvoo. The journey takes about 1 hour.

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Here’s a 2-day itinerary for Copenhagen, another fun Nordic city, a short flight away.

My Recommended Travel Sites
This is how I plan all my trips quickly, efficiently, and economically. Below are my go-to recommended travel planning sites.
  • First, I go to TripAdvisor and check out top things to do, top places, and experiences. I use this to make a rough itinerary.
  • From TripAdvisor I often go to Viator to book day tours. I love their user friendly platform and flexible cancellation policies. Compare their offers with GetYourGuide, which is great too.
  • I book my accommodations in Booking because of their flexibility and that the bookings are easily cancellable. The mobile app is great and the genius discounts are on point.
  • I recommend getting the Priority Pass. It gives you access to airport lounges and has helped me through many long waits. It’s definitely well worth the money.
  • And I am literally always on Skyscanner. I get to see the best airfares, and the airline / third party providers offering them. Try the “From: origin city” to “To: Everywhere” option to ignite your imagination on where to travel to next.

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