Guidebook for Helsinki
Food Scene
Delish Oy
7 BulevardiA good Italian restaurant I can warmly recommend
A traditional Finnish restaurant that used to be popular among sailors from the nearby harbour. One of my favourites.
33 locals recommend
Salve
5 C HietalahdenrantaA traditional Finnish restaurant that used to be popular among sailors from the nearby harbour. One of my favourites.
A good restaurant in a building that was originally intended to be a temporary one. Now the building is considered as an important architectural land mark representing functionalism.
Restaurant Lasipalatsi
22-24 MannerheimintieA good restaurant in a building that was originally intended to be a temporary one. Now the building is considered as an important architectural land mark representing functionalism.
Mamma Rosa
55 RuneberginkatuA popular Italian restaurant in a residential area.
A cafe by the sea. Behind the cafe there is a pier for the boats to Pihlajasaari island. Pihlajasaari is a popular place for picnic and sunbaths. There is also a nudist area.
71 locals recommend
Cafe Carusel
10 MerisatamanrantaA cafe by the sea. Behind the cafe there is a pier for the boats to Pihlajasaari island. Pihlajasaari is a popular place for picnic and sunbaths. There is also a nudist area.
Café Ursula
3 EhrenströmintieThe oldest of the venues by the sea, in this area.
A the most traditional cafeteria in the city. Have your cup of coffee in style!
70 locals recommend
Ekberg 1852 Ltd
9 BulevardiA the most traditional cafeteria in the city. Have your cup of coffee in style!
I guess this is the oldest restaurant in Helsinki, in a beautiful old building otginally built for this purpose. Not that expensive.
27 locals recommend
Kappeli
1 EteläesplanadiI guess this is the oldest restaurant in Helsinki, in a beautiful old building otginally built for this purpose. Not that expensive.
They say this cafeteria serves the best salads, chiabattas and paninis. Also take away! Open Mon-Fri 8-20, Sat 10-18, Sun closed.
33 locals recommend
Gran Delicato, Kalevankatu
31 AlbertinkatuThey say this cafeteria serves the best salads, chiabattas and paninis. Also take away! Open Mon-Fri 8-20, Sat 10-18, Sun closed.
A Turkish restaurant serving salads, Mezes, soups, grilled meat, chicken, fish etc. Reasonable prices.
9 locals recommend
Ravintola Halikarnas
18 RuoholahdenkatuA Turkish restaurant serving salads, Mezes, soups, grilled meat, chicken, fish etc. Reasonable prices.
A very popular outdoor Coffee Kiosk with an exceptional city view. Open during the Summer season.
73 locals recommend
Sinisen Huvilan Kahvila
11 H LinnunlauluntieA very popular outdoor Coffee Kiosk with an exceptional city view. Open during the Summer season.
An atmosphere of local pub that also serves basic Finnish style meals that do not leave you hungry.
21 locals recommend
Ravintola Kannas
43 EerikinkatuAn atmosphere of local pub that also serves basic Finnish style meals that do not leave you hungry.
A popular and reasonably prices lunch buffet. Pizza and kebab till late in the evening.
Kampin Pippuri
4 RuneberginkatuA popular and reasonably prices lunch buffet. Pizza and kebab till late in the evening.
One of my favourite Finnish-style restaurants. Tasty food, reasonble prices, not fancy in any way. Often fully packed with theatre-goers, because there are several theaters nearby.
42 locals recommend
Juttutupa
6 SäästöpankinrantaOne of my favourite Finnish-style restaurants. Tasty food, reasonble prices, not fancy in any way. Often fully packed with theatre-goers, because there are several theaters nearby.
Drinks & Nightlife
A traditional restaurant that originally was one business of Primula Bakery. My choice for a nice dinner. And the night life is there as well. Many bars of Kalevankatu street.
O'Learys
12 MannerheimintieA traditional restaurant that originally was one business of Primula Bakery. My choice for a nice dinner. And the night life is there as well. Many bars of Kalevankatu street.
The best view of the city from the balconies of Ateljee Bar. Go inside the hotel lobby and take a lift to top floor. Climb the narrow stairs to the bar.
40 locals recommend
Ateljee Bar
26 YrjönkatuThe best view of the city from the balconies of Ateljee Bar. Go inside the hotel lobby and take a lift to top floor. Climb the narrow stairs to the bar.
A popular Summer bar with sea view. A place to see others and to be seen... Named after the pier where people wash their carpets.
70 locals recommend
Kaivopuiston Mattolaituri Oy
3 A EhrenströmintieA popular Summer bar with sea view. A place to see others and to be seen... Named after the pier where people wash their carpets.
Wanna try a different bar experience? A Soviet style little bar can be found here, behing the slightly transparent curtains and small sign in the window Kafe Moskba. Also Anthony Bourdain visited it!
Kino Andorra
11 EerikinkatuWanna try a different bar experience? A Soviet style little bar can be found here, behing the slightly transparent curtains and small sign in the window Kafe Moskba. Also Anthony Bourdain visited it!
An authentic pub experience - this how the a pub is practically anywhere in Finland.
Ravintola Wanha Kettu
22 MalminkatuAn authentic pub experience - this how the a pub is practically anywhere in Finland.
Sightseeing
This is a must for architecture lovers, known as "rock church" as well.
258 locals recommend
Temppeliaukion Church
3 LutherinkatuThis is a must for architecture lovers, known as "rock church" as well.
This is where the locals are on a sunny Summer day: on the beach. Also a newly built cafeteria by the beach.
153 locals recommend
Hietaranta Beach
HiekkarannantieThis is where the locals are on a sunny Summer day: on the beach. Also a newly built cafeteria by the beach.
The busy Narinkkatori is in front of Kamppi shopping center. At one corner you will see a wooden chapel: the Chapel of Silence. Just go in! And in the Summer you'll find bike rental here as well!
Narinkka
NarinkkaThe busy Narinkkatori is in front of Kamppi shopping center. At one corner you will see a wooden chapel: the Chapel of Silence. Just go in! And in the Summer you'll find bike rental here as well!
An open air museum. Free entrance. Have a nice walk in the parks of this island and see old wooden buildings. My favourites here are the long rowing boats, so called "church boats". Bus 24 from CBD.
38 locals recommend
Seurasaari Open-Air Museum
An open air museum. Free entrance. Have a nice walk in the parks of this island and see old wooden buildings. My favourites here are the long rowing boats, so called "church boats". Bus 24 from CBD.
Otaniemi
The Campus of Aalto University. Red brick architecture by Alvar Aalto.
Essentials
One of the best supermarkets in the city center can be found inside Kamppi Shopping center
14 locals recommend
Kamppi
One of the best supermarkets in the city center can be found inside Kamppi Shopping center
The nearest large hypermarket store, where especially local families, but also other food enthusiasts do their shopping.
29 locals recommend
K-Citymarket Ruoholahti
21 ItämerenkatuThe nearest large hypermarket store, where especially local families, but also other food enthusiasts do their shopping.
Everything Else
A multiplex cinema, one of the biggest in town. And the movies are played in original language with Finnish and Swedish subtitles.
135 locals recommend
HAM - Helsinki Art Museum
8 Eteläinen RautatiekatuA multiplex cinema, one of the biggest in town. And the movies are played in original language with Finnish and Swedish subtitles.
Yrjönkatu swimming hall. A historic interior for swimmers. Separate times for men and women. Swimming suits optional.
69 locals recommend
Yrjönkatu Swimming Hall
21 B YrjönkatuYrjönkatu swimming hall. A historic interior for swimmers. Separate times for men and women. Swimming suits optional.
A must see traditional amusement park for all ages. Open on Summer months. Free entrance to the area.
11 locals recommend
Borgbacken (södra)
A must see traditional amusement park for all ages. Open on Summer months. Free entrance to the area.
Finnish National Opera
58 HelsinginkatuFinnish National Opera and Ballet
Home museum of three famous Finnish architects. My favourite place where I keep on returning. A cafe and restaurant.
19 locals recommend
Hvittrask
166 HvitträskintieHome museum of three famous Finnish architects. My favourite place where I keep on returning. A cafe and restaurant.
A traditional Fire Station with observation tower. It is still working 24/7. So you can only look at it from the street. No entry.
Erottaja Fire Station
26 KorkeavuorenkatuA traditional Fire Station with observation tower. It is still working 24/7. So you can only look at it from the street. No entry.
Tourist Information office operated by the city of Helsinki.
8 locals recommend
Helsingin kaupungin matkailu- ja kongressitoimisto
Tourist Information office operated by the city of Helsinki.
The best currency rates for currence exhange. Forex can be found in Central Railway Station next to Burger King.
FOREX Bank
1 KaivokatuThe best currency rates for currence exhange. Forex can be found in Central Railway Station next to Burger King.
Shopping
Traditional department store which is the best in Northern Europe, trust me. Grocery department is also excellent!
256 locals recommend
Stockmann Helsingin keskusta
52 AleksanterinkatuTraditional department store which is the best in Northern Europe, trust me. Grocery department is also excellent!
A multi floor electronics store. On the top of the store there is a roof terrace with nice views. And a MIG-21bis fighter. Take tram 9 to Länsiterminaali to get there.
29 locals recommend
Verkkokauppa.com
11 TyynenmerenkatuA multi floor electronics store. On the top of the store there is a roof terrace with nice views. And a MIG-21bis fighter. Take tram 9 to Länsiterminaali to get there.
Not the closest, but still my favourite large grocery store in the city center. Handy location next to Railway Station!
11 locals recommend
K-Supermarket Postitalo
2F ElielinaukioNot the closest, but still my favourite large grocery store in the city center. Handy location next to Railway Station!
Arts & Culture
One of the newest large public buildings in the city center. For architecture and classical music lovers.
29 locals recommend
Musiikkitalo
TöölönlahdenkatuOne of the newest large public buildings in the city center. For architecture and classical music lovers.
Ateneum
2 KaivokatuOne of my favourites. You will find masterpieces of Finnish Art.
Museum of contemporary art, designed by architect Steven Hall.
384 locals recommend
Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma
2 MannerheiminaukioMuseum of contemporary art, designed by architect Steven Hall.
Design Museum Helsinki
23 KorkeavuorenkatuLearn more about Finnish design classics here.