Did you know that the capital city of Finland is famous for its incredible glassware? It’s not uncommon for traditionally made Finnish glassware to be passed down to younger generations and the pieces are kept within the same family for years!
Helsinki’s glassware fame is just one of the reasons to visit the city; it’s also known for its beautiful churches and cathedrals, vast public parks and over 30 beaches next to the sea and along the river!
If you’re planning a trip to Helsinki (we don’t blame you; it’s a fabulous place!), then we’ve got just the guide for you!
Below, you can find our list of the top 10 free attractions in Helsinki, as well as the 10 best paid activities and attractions in the city too.
The towering ornate red-bricked Uspenski Cathedral is one of Helsinki’s most famous and beautiful free attractions.
Overlooking the harbour, the cathedral makes for a great addition to the city’s skyline and is a real delight to photograph! The green and gold onion-style domes that sit atop the cathedral reflect the influence that Russia had on the making of the church.
Uspenski Cathedral is actually the largest...
Throughout this guide of the top 10 free attractions in Helsinki, you’ll soon realise that there’s a common theme amongst things to do and see in the city and that’s notably Helsinki’s abundance of churches and cathedrals!
If you arrive in the city by sea, then undoubtedly the first thing you’ll see upon your arrival is Helsinki Church.
While it might have not have as an extravagant name as the...
Named after the famous Finnish composer, Jean Sibelius on his 80th birthday in 1945, the Sibelius Park and Monument is one of the top free attractions in Helsinki.
The Sibelius Monument consists of 600 steel tubes that capture the wind and play a soft, gentle tune as the breeze blows, as well as a bust of Jean Sibelius’ head to complete the Monument.
Even if you’re never heard of the Finnish composer, the...
What you need to know:
Without a doubt one of the most beautifully picturesque areas in the city, and therefore one of the top free attractions in Helsinki is Töölönlahti Bay.
Töölönlahti Bay resides right in the heart of Helsinki and is surrounded by numerous parks, woodland areas and popular walking paths.
The entire Bay looks and feels completely different depending on...
Often referred to as the ‘Rock Church’, Temppeliaukio Church is yet another one of Helsinki’s most famous landmarks and a top free attraction in the city.
The church is teeming with a rich historical past, which you can spend time learning about from the frequent churchgoers at Temppeliaukio, or you can just spend some time wandering around inside and admiring the ornate structure.
It’s a place...
Not just a popular tourist attraction in Helsinki, but one of the top things to see and do in the whole of Finland, the Suomenlinna Sea Fortress is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most fascinating places in the city.
You’ll have to take a short ferry ride across to the fortress where you’ll be greeted by the impressive fort that sits atop six islets connected by bridges and houses some of Finland’s most...