The train leaves from a station right beneath the terminal and reaches Central Station in the heart of the city in around half an hour, and a ticket costs under 5 euros.

Bus 600 runs the same route around the clock, and a fixed-price taxi costs about 35 euros.

For most people the train is the obvious choice, but here you’ll find all the options with prices, journey times and how to buy tickets, so you can pick the one that suits your flight and your hotel. I’ll also explain how to get on to the ferries to Tallinn and Stockholm and to the night train to Lapland.

Quick overview

• The train (I and P lines): 4.50 euros in the HSL app or at the ticket machine, about 30 minutes to Central Station, with departures every few minutes for most of the day and night.
• Bus 600: the same ABC ticket as the train, about 40 minutes to Rautatientori by Central Station, and it runs all night.
• Taxi: a fixed price of 35 euros to the centre with Taksi Helsinki, otherwise about 40 to 45 euros. About 30 minutes.
• Uber and Bolt: pick-up in the P2 car park by the arrivals hall, and you’ll see the price in the app before you book.
• Private transfer: from about 145 euros for a car for up to eight people.
• Car hire: eight rental companies have desks in the arrivals hall. Unnecessary in the city itself, but handy for trips out into the country.

How to find transport from Helsinki Airport to the city centre

Helsinki Airport has two terminals, T1 and T2, which are in the same building, and you can walk between them indoors. When you come out into the arrivals hall, follow the signs with a train on them, and you’ll reach the lifts and the long escalators down to the railway station, which lies deep beneath the terminal. The ticket machines are down by the platforms.

The bus station for bus 600 and the long-distance coaches is just outside the arrivals hall in T2, and the taxi rank is also outside the arrivals hall. If you book an Uber, a Bolt or a pre-booked taxi, you’ll be picked up in the P2 car park, which you walk straight into from the arrivals hall. The car hire desks are in the arrivals hall itself. The airport operator Finavia has a full overview of transport from the airport if you’d like to see everything in one place.

1. The I and P trains from Helsinki Airport to the city centre

The train is the quickest and cheapest way into town. The airport sits on the Ring Rail Line, a circular railway on which the I train and the P train run in opposite directions, and both end at Helsinki Central Station in the middle of the city. The P train heads east from the airport via Tikkurila, while the I train heads west via Myyrmäki. HSL, which runs public transport in the Helsinki region, gives a journey time of 27 to 32 minutes depending on the direction, so in practice you just hop on whichever train leaves first.

Between them, the two lines run every few minutes for most of the day, but the trains stop in the middle of the night, when bus 600 takes over. Parts of the Ring Rail Line can also be closed for engineering works, so check the current departures in the HSL app or on HSL’s page about the airport train before a late arrival or an early flight.

Fares and tickets

The airport is in zone C and the city centre is in zone A, so you need an ABC ticket. An adult single costs €4.50 in the HSL app and at the ticket machines, and €4.80 if you pay contactless with your bank card or phone at the card reader. Children aged 7 to 17 pay €2.25 in the app, and children under 7 travel free. The ticket is valid for 90 minutes and also covers trams, the metro and buses, so you can change to a tram at Central Station without buying a new one. All the fares are listed in HSL’s overview of single ticket prices, and they are usually adjusted at the turn of the year.

If you’ll be using public transport in the city afterwards, an ABC day ticket is often the best deal. A 24-hour ticket costs €12.80 and covers both the journey from the airport and all trams, the metro and the ferry to Suomenlinna. You can buy multi-day tickets in the app, so you only need to buy once for your whole stay.

The biggest pitfall is that you can’t buy a ticket on the train. Buy it in the app, from the machine on the platform or with contactless payment before you board, because there are ticket inspections, and if you travel without a valid ticket you’ll be fined. Also be careful not to buy an AB ticket, which is only valid within Helsinki itself and doesn’t cover the airport.

Where should you get off?

Central Station: The terminus is right in the city centre, and this is where most people get off. From the station it’s a few minutes’ walk to Esplanadi and the shopping street Aleksanterinkatu, the metro runs from Rautatientori station beneath the building, and the trams stop just outside. Scandic Grand Central Helsinki is right next to the station, and if you’d like to walk straight from the train to your hotel, you can check prices for Scandic Grand Central Helsinki here.

Pasila: This large station north of the centre is handy if you’re staying in Pasila, or if you’re continuing on a long-distance train towards Turku, for example. For the city centre, it’s easier to stay on until the end of the line.

If you’re staying in Kamppi, it’s a 5 to 10-minute walk from Central Station, and for Kallio, Katajanokka, the Design District and Töölö you can take a tram or the metro onwards on the same ticket. If you’re not sure which neighbourhood suits you best, read my guide to where to stay in Helsinki, where I go through six areas and hotels in several price ranges.

2. Bus 600 to Rautatientori

Bus 600 is HSL’s trunk bus line between the airport and Rautatientori, the square right next to Central Station. It stops at the bus station outside the arrivals hall in T2, and according to Finavia the journey takes about 40 minutes. The big advantage is that the bus runs around the clock, so it’s the answer if you land in the middle of the night when the trains aren’t running.

You need the same ABC ticket as for the train, so it also costs €4.50 in the HSL app. Buy it in the app or from the machine at the bus station before the bus arrives, board through the front door and show your ticket to the card reader or the driver. During the day the train is faster and more comfortable with suitcases, so I’d only choose the bus if you’re staying along the route or arriving when the trains aren’t running.

What about the Finnair City Bus?

Many older guides mention the Finnair City Bus, which ran between the airport and Elielinaukio by Central Station. It no longer appears in the airport’s own transport overview, so don’t count on it. The train and bus 600 cover the same route, and both run on a standard HSL ticket.

3. Taxis from Helsinki Airport

The taxi rank is outside the arrivals hall and is divided into several lanes where the companies with an agreement with Finavia wait. Screens at the end of the lanes show each company’s prices, so you can compare before you get in. The journey to the city centre takes about 30 minutes without traffic.

The cheapest taxi is usually Taksi Helsinki, which charges a fixed price of €35 for 1 to 4 people from the airport to the city centre when you take a car from the company’s lane 2. The price applies to direct journeys to the central postcodes and is listed in Taksi Helsinki’s price list from the airport. For groups of five or more, the company charges by the meter.

With the other companies that have an agreement with the airport, you should expect to pay around €40 to €45 to the city centre, according to Helsinki’s official tourism site MyHelsinki. Taxis without an agreement are allowed to wait in P2 and set their own prices, and the journey can be much more expensive there. If the fare will be more than €40, the driver must tell you before you set off, so always ask the price to your address before you get in. If there are four adults, four train tickets cost €18, so the difference compared with a fixed-price taxi isn’t that big, and the taxi takes you right to the door.

4. Uber and Bolt

Both Uber and Bolt operate in Helsinki, and at the airport you’re picked up in the P2 car park, which you walk straight into from the arrivals hall. Follow the signs to the pick-up point, and only book the car once you’ve collected your luggage so the driver doesn’t have to wait.

You see the price in the app before you book, and it can be lower than a regular taxi, but it rises when demand is high, for example when several large flights land at the same time or when it’s snowing. So always compare it with Taksi Helsinki’s fixed price of €35 before you tap book. The fixed taxi fare is often just as good and involves no waiting in the car park.

5. Private transfer

A private transfer is a pre-booked car with a driver who waits for you with a name sign in the arrivals hall and takes you straight to your hotel. It’s a stress-free option, but in Helsinki it’s expensive compared with a fixed-price taxi. On GetYourGuide, prices start at around €145 for a minibus for up to eight people, so it only really makes sense for large groups, families with lots of luggage or if you want to be completely sure someone will be waiting for you after a late flight.

Book a private transfer from Helsinki Airport here.

Enter your flight number when you book so the driver can keep track of any delays, and check how many people and suitcases the price covers. The transfer must be booked at least 10 hours in advance, so it’s not something you can sort out while standing in the arrivals hall.

6. Car Hire from Helsinki Airport

Alamo, Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Europcar, Hertz, National and Sixt all have desks in the arrivals hall, and you collect the cars from the P3 car park, according to Finavia’s page on car hire. You can compare prices on car hire at Booking.com before you travel. Finland has no road tolls, and the motorway from the airport towards the city is easy to drive.

In Helsinki itself you don’t need a car: the centre is compact, the trams go everywhere, and parking in the centre is expensive and hard to find. A car makes sense if you want to head out to the small wooden town of Porvoo, Nuuksio National Park or the summer cottages by the lakes, and you’ll find many of those trips in my guide to things to do in Helsinki. In winter, winter tyres are compulsory in Finland, but the hire companies supply the cars with the right equipment. My advice is to take the train into the city and only pick up the car on the day you leave Helsinki.

Onwards to the Ferries to Tallinn and Stockholm

Lots of people fly to Helsinki and carry on by sea, and getting from the airport to the ferries is easy. Take the train to Helsinki Central Station and a tram onwards on the same ABC ticket, and allow just under an hour in total. The most important thing is to know which of the city’s terminals your ferry leaves from, as they’re in different parts of the harbour.

West Terminal 2 (Länsiterminaali) in Jätkäsaari: Tallink and Eckerö Line sail from here to Tallinn. Trams 7 and 9 run from Kaivokatu, right in front of the Central Station, out to the terminal, and Uber and Bolt have a dedicated pick-up point to the right of the exit from the arrivals hall. Clarion Hotel Helsinki is a few hundred metres from the terminal and has a rooftop pool, and if you’re catching an early ferry, you can see prices for Clarion Hotel Helsinki here.

Katajanokka Terminal: Viking Line sails from here to both Tallinn and Stockholm. Tram 5 runs directly from the Central Station to the terminal, and tram 4 stops at Vyökatu, about 400 metres away.

Olympia Terminal in the South Harbour: This is where Tallink Silja Line’s overnight ferries to Stockholm depart. Trams 2 and 3 stop at the terminal and run to the Central Station.

If you take a taxi from one of the terminals, a surcharge of 3.20 euros is added to the starting fare, and you can see all the connections to each terminal at Port of Helsinki. If you’re heading on to Estonia, you can read my guide to where to stay in Tallinn. If you’re sailing to Stockholm, I also have a guide to where to stay in Stockholm, and one on getting from Arlanda Airport to Stockholm if you’re flying home from there.

Onwards to Lapland by Plane or Night Train

If you’re heading on to Lapland, the quickest option is a domestic flight from the same airport. Finnair flies from Helsinki to destinations including Rovaniemi, Kittilä near Levi and Ivalo, and if you’re on the same ticket all the way, you simply stay in the airport and change planes.

The more atmospheric alternative is the night train. VR runs night trains from Helsinki to Rovaniemi, Kolari and Kemijärvi, and a private cabin costs from 59 euros, while a cabin with its own bathroom costs from 74 euros. You can also take your car on the train. From the airport, take the P train to Tikkurila and change to the night train there, so you don’t have to go all the way into the Central Station. You’ll find timetables and tickets at VR, which runs the Finnish trains, and in winter the cabins sell out well in advance. In my guide to where to stay in Lapland, you can see which town suits your trip.

Getting Back to the Airport

Both the I and P trains run from the Central Station to the airport, and the signs on the platforms clearly show which trains go there. Once again you’ll need an ABC ticket, and the journey takes around half an hour. Allow extra time for the long escalators up from the railway station to the terminal, and for walking between T1 and T2.

If you have a very early flight, check the first departures in the HSL app the evening before. If the trains aren’t running yet, you can take bus 600 from Rautatientori or book a taxi. The alternative is to spend your last night at the airport. Clarion Hotel Helsinki Airport is just a few steps from the terminal and has a very high guest rating, and you can see prices for Clarion Hotel Helsinki Airport here.

Which Option Should You Choose?

Here’s my recommendation based on where you’re going and how you’re travelling:

Kluuvi, Kamppi and the city centre: Take the train to the Central Station for 4.50 euros. You’ll be there in about 30 minutes and can walk to most hotels from there.

Kallio, Katajanokka, the Design District and Töölö: The train to the Central Station and a tram or the metro onwards on the same ticket. Buy an ABC day ticket if you’ll be using the trams for the rest of the day.

If you land in the middle of the night: Bus 600 runs all night to Rautatientori. If you’d rather go straight to the door, Taksi Helsinki’s fixed price of 35 euros is the safe choice.

3 to 4 adults with lots of luggage: A fixed-price taxi doesn’t cost much more than four train tickets, and it takes you right to your hotel.

Catching a ferry: The train to the Central Station and tram 7 or 9 to West Terminal 2, tram 5 to Katajanokka or tram 2 or 3 to the Olympia Terminal. Always check which terminal is printed on your ticket.

Onwards to Lapland: Change to a domestic flight at the airport, or take the P train to Tikkurila and the night train from there.

Trips out of the city: Pick up your hire car at the airport if you’re driving straight out into the countryside, and otherwise on the day you leave Helsinki, so you avoid paying for parking while you’re in the city.

The post Helsinki Airport to the City Centre – Transport Guide appeared first on Destination Well Known.

The centre sits on a peninsula, ferries leave Market Square for a UNESCO-listed island fortress, and right in between the 19th-century neoclassical churches you’ll find some of the most exciting new buildings in the Nordic countries.

When it comes to things to do in Helsinki, the city is small enough for you to walk between most of the sights, and the trams take care of the rest.

Here are the 18 sights in Helsinki I would prioritise, from Suomenlinna and the Cathedral to the new museums, a proper Finnish sauna and day trips to the forest, Porvoo and Tallinn. Prices are given in euros.

Several of the museums close on Mondays or Tuesdays, so check the days of the week before you make your plan. At the bottom I’ve gathered practical tips on tickets and transport.

1. Suomenlinna

Suomenlinna is Helsinki’s most important sight. The Swedes began building the sea fortress on a group of islands off the city in 1748 to keep the Russians out, and today it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You walk on cobblestones between bastions, the dry dock, the King’s Gate facing the water and around six kilometres of ramparts with roughly 100 cannons, and the blue route takes you through it all in a couple of hours. In summer you can also go aboard Vesikko, a Second World War submarine.

Visiting the islands is free. The Suomenlinna Museum costs 10 euros and is open every day, with the longest hours in summer. The ferry sails from the eastern side of Market Square all year round, the crossing takes about 15 minutes, and a standard HSL AB ticket is valid. In summer there are several departures an hour, and in winter at least one.

My tip is to catch an early ferry and walk out to Kustaanmiekka at the seaward tip before the day-trippers from the cruise ships arrive. Bring a packed lunch, as there are plenty of good spots to sit on the ramparts.

Book the official guided tour of Suomenlinna here.

2. Senate Square and Helsinki Cathedral

Senate Square is the classic image of Helsinki. The German-born architect Carl Ludvig Engel designed the square and the buildings around it after the Russians had made the city the capital of the Grand Duchy of Finland, and at the top of the wide steps stands the white Cathedral with its green domes. In front of the church is the statue of Tsar Alexander II, and around the square you’ll find the university, the Government Palace and some of the city’s oldest stone buildings.

Inside, the Cathedral is surprisingly plain, with white walls and little decoration. From June to October adults pay an entrance fee, which in the autumn months is 8 euros, while from November to May the amount is voluntary, and under-18s get in free. Opening hours can change because of church services, and the crypt is closed in winter. Trams stop at Senaatintori right by the square, and from the Central Station it’s a ten-minute walk.

Sit on the steps late in the afternoon, when the sun is on the façade, and take in the square from above. It’s also the obvious starting point for a walking tour, as Market Square and Uspenski Cathedral are just five minutes away.

Book a walking tour with a local guide from the Cathedral to Oodi here.

3. Uspenski Cathedral

On the rock at Katajanokka, just east of Market Square, stands Uspenski Cathedral in red brick with green roofs and golden onion domes. The Orthodox cathedral was consecrated in 1868, while Finland was part of the Russian Empire, and it is considered the largest Orthodox church in Western Europe. Inside it’s the complete opposite of Helsinki Cathedral, with icons, gold and chandeliers, and the iconostasis in front of the altar fills the entire wall.

Entry costs 5 euros for adults, while children under 18 get in free, and the cathedral is closed on Mondays. On other days it opens in the morning, but services can change the times, so check that week’s opening hours. Trams 4 and 5 run to Katajanokka, but from Market Square it’s only a couple of minutes’ walk over the bridge.

Walk all the way round the church on the rock, as from here there are views over the harbour, Market Square and the domes of Helsinki Cathedral. If you’d like the cathedral as your neighbour, Solo Sokos Hotel Pier 4 sits on the quayside just below, with a sauna and harbour views.

4. Market Square, the Old Market Hall and Esplanadi

Kauppatori, Market Square, faces the South Harbour and is the place to eat fried vendace, salmon soup and cinnamon buns in the orange tents while the seagulls keep an eye on your plate. In summer the stalls sell berries, peas and souvenirs, and from here both the ferry to Suomenlinna and the sightseeing boats head out into the archipelago. Right next door is the Old Market Hall, the city’s oldest market hall in red brick, with stalls selling fish, cheese, reindeer meat and small cafés.

Both the square and the hall are free, and the Old Market Hall is open Monday to Saturday from 8am to 6pm, though individual stalls may have shorter hours. Esplanadi starts at the square: the long park between the two boulevards, with the Kappeli café pavilion, the music stage and the Havis Amanda fountain at the end, where students put a cap on the statue every year on the eve of 1 May.

Have lunch in the Old Market Hall rather than in the tents if the weather is bad or the seagulls are too bold. If you fancy staying at the city’s smartest address, Hotel Kämp is on Esplanadi and has a spa, but it’s also one of the most expensive hotels in town.

Book a sightseeing cruise in the Helsinki archipelago here.

5. Ateneum

Ateneum, opposite the Central Station, is Finland’s national art museum and is housed in a palatial building from 1887. This is where you’ll find the Finnish Golden Age of the late 19th century, when painters such as Akseli Gallen-Kallela and Albert Edelfelt painted forests, lakes and scenes from the Kalevala, while Helene Schjerfbeck’s portraits are among the most beloved works in the country. The collection also includes foreign art, including Van Gogh’s Street in Auvers-sur-Oise from his last summer.

A ticket costs about 23 euros, and under-18s go free. The museum is closed on Mondays, open until 8pm on Wednesdays and Thursdays, and closes earlier at weekends. It’s right by Rautatientori metro station and the tram stops at the Central Station, so it’s easy to combine with Oodi and Kiasma.

If you only have an hour, head straight for the Finnish Golden Age galleries. Come on a Wednesday or Thursday evening, when there are fewer groups and more peace in front of the biggest paintings.

6. Oodi Library

Oodi is Helsinki’s central library, but it’s far more than books. The building with the undulating wooden facade opened in December 2018 as the city’s gift to itself on the 100th anniversary of Finnish independence, and it sits on Kansalaistori square opposite Parliament. On the ground floor there’s a café and a cinema, on the first floor you can borrow sewing machines, 3D printers and music studios, and the top floor is a bright book hall beneath a huge white ceiling.

Entry is free. Oodi is open from 8am to 9pm on weekdays and from 10am to 8pm at weekends, and you can get there in five minutes from the Central Station or by tram to the Kaivokatu stop.

Head out onto the balcony on the top floor. From here you look straight across to Parliament, the Musiikkitalo concert hall and Finlandia Hall. In winter, Oodi is also the best place in the centre to warm up, and the toilets are free.

7. Kiasma

Kiasma is Finland’s museum of contemporary art, housed in a curved building by the American architect Steven Holl that opened in 1998 just behind the equestrian statue of Marshal Mannerheim. The name comes from the point in the brain where the optic nerves cross, and the building is designed as two parts that intertwine. The exhibitions change constantly and range from Finnish artists to installations, video and performance.

A ticket costs around 23 euros, and under-18s go free. Kiasma is closed on Mondays, open until 8pm on Tuesdays and Fridays and until 5pm at weekends. It’s on Mannerheiminaukio, a minute from Oodi and five minutes from the Central Station.

Check what’s on before you buy a ticket, as the experience depends entirely on the current exhibition. If contemporary art isn’t your thing, you can still enjoy the building from the ground-floor café and then carry on to Oodi.

8. Amos Rex

Amos Rex is the museum you see before you know you’ve seen it. The exhibition halls lie beneath the square behind Lasipalatsi, a functionalist building from 1936, and up above, the domes with their round skylights poke out of the cobblestones like little hills for children to clamber on. The museum opened in 2018 and shows large, often digital and immersive exhibitions where you step inside the works rather than just looking at them.

Tickets cost 22 euros at the door and 20 euros online, and under-18s go free. The museum opens at 11am and stays open until 8pm on weekdays and 5pm at weekends, while it’s closed on Tuesdays. It also closes for a few weeks when exhibitions change. Trams stop at Lasipalatsi right outside, and Kamppi metro station is a few minutes away.

The square with the domes is free and looks great after dark, when the light shines up through the windows. Buy your ticket online, both to save a couple of euros and to skip the weekend queue.

9. Kamppi Chapel

Right in the busiest corner of Helsinki, by Narinkkatori square and the Kamppi shopping centre, stands a round wooden box with no windows. This is Kamppi Chapel, also known as the Chapel of Silence, built from Finnish timber for Helsinki’s year as World Design Capital in 2012. Inside there’s only light from the ceiling, wooden benches and complete silence, and that’s exactly the point. The chapel isn’t a church with services, but a place where anyone can sit in peace for as long as they like.

The chapel is open Tuesday to Saturday from 11am to 6pm and is closed on Sundays and Mondays. Adult tourists pay 5 euros, while children under 18 and Helsinki Card holders get in free. Kamppi metro station is under the square, and it’s a five-minute walk from the Central Station.

Put your phone on silent before you go in and give it ten minutes. The contrast between the noise of the square and the silence inside is the whole experience.

10. Temppeliaukio Rock Church

Temppeliaukio Church in Töölö is blasted straight into the bedrock. The brothers Timo and Tuomo Suomalainen designed the church, which was completed in 1969, and from the street you see little more than a low stone wall and a flat copper dome. Inside, the walls are bare rock, and between the rock and the dome runs a ring of windows, so daylight streams down along the stone. The acoustics are so good that the church is often used for concerts.

Entry costs 8 euros for adults, while children under 18 and Helsinki Card holders get in free, and the church is closed to tourists during weddings, funerals and the Sunday service at 10am. Opening hours change from week to week, so check the church’s website on the day. From Kamppi it’s about a ten-minute walk.

Arrive right at opening time, before the tour coaches pull up. If you’re in town in the evening, look out for a concert in the church, where you get both the music and the space without the groups.

11. Sibelius Monument

Sibelius Park in Töölö is home to the city’s strangest monument. The sculptor Eila Hiltunen welded more than 600 steel pipes together into a sculpture meant to evoke the music of the composer Jean Sibelius, and it was unveiled in 1967. Many people thought it was too abstract, so Hiltunen added a face of Sibelius beside it. When the wind blows in from the sea, you can hear it in the pipes.

The monument is free and accessible around the clock. Bus 24 from the centre stops by the park, but you can also walk there from Temppeliaukio in a quarter of an hour. Tour coaches stop here, so around midday there can be plenty of people around the pipes.

Afterwards, wander down to the water, where the little red wooden hut Café Regatta serves cinnamon buns and coffee by the fire. It’s one of the cosiest spots in Helsinki, even in winter, and bus 24 continues on to Seurasaari.

Book a hop-on hop-off bus that also stops at the Sibelius Monument here.

12. Seurasaari Open-Air Museum

Seurasaari is a wooded island west of the centre, reached by a white wooden bridge. Out on the island is the open-air museum, with 89 old buildings moved here from all over Finland, from farmsteads and windmills to a manor house and the wooden Karuna Church from 1686. In summer, museum staff walk around in period dress and show you how people lived in the countryside in the 19th and 20th centuries, and at Midsummer huge bonfires are lit by the water.

The museum is open from mid-May to mid-September, and a ticket costs 14 euros, while under-18s go free. The rest of the year you can still wander freely around the island and see the buildings from the outside. Bus 24 from the centre runs all the way to the bridge in about 20 minutes.

Bring nuts for the squirrels, which will eat straight from your hand, and walk out to the rocks on the western side of the island. Even outside the museum season, Seurasaari is one of the best walks in Helsinki, and it pairs nicely with the Sibelius Monument on the same afternoon.

13. Design District

The Design District isn’t a neighbourhood as such, but a network of design shops, galleries, vintage stores, cafés and restaurants in the streets south and west of Esplanadi, particularly in Punavuori and Kaartinkaupunki. Here you’ll find everything from Marimekko and Iittala to small workshops selling ceramics and jewellery, and some of the city’s best cafés line Iso Roobertinkatu and Uudenmaankatu. The area’s landmark is the neo-Gothic St John’s Church, one of the largest churches in Finland.

It’s free to wander around, and most shops open from late morning until late afternoon, with shorter hours on Sundays. The Design Museum on Korkeavuorenkatu showcases Finnish design from Alvar Aalto to the Moomins, and a ticket costs around 23 euros. It’s a five-minute walk from Esplanadi.

Start on the pedestrianised Iso Roobertinkatu and carry on along the side streets, where the small shops are. The area is also one of the neighbourhoods I recommend in my guide to where to stay in Helsinki, and the boutique Hotel Lilla Roberts sits right in the middle of it.

14. Seaside Sauna: Löyly and Allas Sea Pool

You haven’t really been to Finland until you’ve been in a sauna, and in Helsinki you can do it by the sea. Löyly in Hernesaari is an angular timber building on the waterfront with a traditional smoke sauna and a wood-fired sauna, where you go straight from the heat down the ladder into the Baltic all year round. Allas Sea Pool is right in the city by the Market Square, with five saunas, a heated pool and a pool of ice-cold seawater.

At Löyly, two hours costs 29 euros including a towel, seat cover and shampoo, and because the saunas are mixed, you need to wear swimwear. Allas costs around 19 euros on weekdays and 24 euros at weekends for two hours. Löyly is about a 20-minute walk along the water from the Design District, while Allas is on Katajanokanlaituri just below Uspenski Cathedral.

Book Löyly in advance, especially at weekends and around sunset. Allas is the easiest choice if you just want to try a sauna and a sea dip between two sights.

Book entry to the saunas at Löyly here.

15. Kallio and Kotiharjun Sauna

Kallio, north of Hakaniemi, is the old working-class district where young Helsinki locals live and go out. Walk from Hakaniemi up towards Kallio Church, completed in 1912 to designs by Lars Sonck, and on past the cafés, vintage shops and cheap bars on Helsinginkatu and Vaasankatu. By the water you’ll find Hakaniemi Market Hall and the square, where locals shop for fish, berries and bread.

The most Finnish experience in the area is Kotiharjun Sauna from 1928, a public sauna with wood-fired stoves, open Tuesday to Sunday from 2pm to 8pm and costing 16 euros. The saunas are split into men’s and women’s sections, and bathing here is done naked. Afterwards, guests sit out on the pavement with a towel round their waist to cool off. Sörnäinen metro station is a few minutes’ walk away.

Kotiharju is closed on Mondays, so plan your visit for another day. Bring your own towel, and eat afterwards at one of the small restaurants around Helsinginkatu.

16. Nuuksio National Park

Less than an hour from the centre lies Nuuksio, a national park of pine forest, rocks covered in moss and lichen, and small lakes, where with a bit of luck you might spot a flying squirrel. Waymarked trails start from Haukkalampi and Haltia, ranging from a couple of kilometres to a full day’s hike, and there are campfire sites with firewood, so you can grill sausages by the water like the Finns do. At the entrance is the Haltia nature centre, with exhibitions about Finnish nature.

Entry to the park is free. Take the train from Helsinki Central Station to Espoon keskus, then bus 245 or 245A on to Haltia and the Punjonsuo stop by Haukkalampi, and the journey takes around an hour. Bought in the HSL app, the ticket usually covers zones ABC. Haltia is open daily from May to September and closed on Mondays the rest of the year.

Wear good shoes, as the paths are rocky and wet after rain, and bring a packed lunch. If you’d rather not find your own way, a guided tour can pick you up in the centre.

Book a half-day tour to Nuuksio with a biologist guide here.

17. Day Trip to Porvoo

Porvoo lies about 50 kilometres east of Helsinki and is Finland’s second-oldest town. The Old Town is made up of cobbled streets on a hill lined with colourful wooden houses, and down by the river stands the row of red warehouses that is one of the most photographed sights in the country. At the top is the medieval cathedral, where Tsar Alexander I opened the first Diet of the Grand Duchy of Finland in 1809.

Porvoo was also the home town of the national poet Johan Ludvig Runeberg, and the bakeries sell Runeberg tarts, small cakes with almond and raspberry jam. Buses from the Kamppi bus terminal run daily and take around an hour. It’s free to wander around the Old Town.

Cross the old bridge to the opposite bank of the river, as that’s where you get the best view of the red warehouses. Come on a weekday if you can, as lots of people come from Helsinki at weekends in summer.

Book a guided day trip from Helsinki to Porvoo here.

18. Day trip to Tallinn by ferry

Estonia’s capital lies just across the Gulf of Finland, and with the fast ferries Tallinn is one of the easiest day trips in Northern Europe. You get a medieval Old Town with city walls, towers and the Raekoja Plats town hall square, the viewpoints on Toompea and the Telliskivi district, where old factories are packed with cafés and shops. Food and drink are also cheaper than in Helsinki.

Tallink and Eckerö Line sail from West Terminal 2 in Jätkäsaari, served by trams 7 and 9, while Viking Line sails from Katajanokka. On the fastest ferries the crossing takes around two hours, giving you about eight hours in Tallinn, and a return ticket typically costs from around 40 euros.

Take the first ferry in the morning and the last one back, and remember your passport or ID card. If you’d rather stay a couple of nights, I’ve written about where to stay in Tallinn.

Book a return ferry ticket from Helsinki to Tallinn here.

Practical travel tips for Helsinki

The metro, trams, buses, local trains and the ferry to Suomenlinna all use the same HSL tickets. A single ticket for zone AB costs 3.30 euros in the HSL app and 3.50 euros with contactless payment, while zone ABC costs 4.50 euros. Zone AB covers all of Helsinki, while the train from the airport requires an ABC ticket. Day tickets for 1 to 7 days can be bought in the app and pay off if you take more than a couple of journeys a day.

The Helsinki Card gives free entry to most of the museums in this guide, including the Suomenlinna Museum, Ateneum, Kiasma, Amos Rex, the Design Museum, Temppeliaukio and Seurasaari. It’s worth it if you want to visit three or more museums in a couple of days, but with so many free sights most people manage perfectly well without it.

June to August is the best time, with light evenings, open cafés in the parks and Seurasaari in season. Winter is dark and cold, but the saunas, the Christmas market on Senate Square and Oodi make it cosy. If you need the full range of accommodation, you can see all hotels in Helsinki on Booking.com.

If you’re heading further north, the night train runs from Helsinki to Rovaniemi, and in my guide you can see where to stay in Lapland. If you’re continuing west by ferry, I’ve also rounded up the best things to do in Stockholm.

The post Things to Do in Helsinki – 18 Best Experiences from Suomenlinna to the Seaside Sauna appeared first on Destination Well Known.

The neighbourhoods are close together, but they feel very different. Kluuvi and Kamppi are central and practical, the Design District has shops and restaurants, Kallio is cheaper and livelier, and Töölö is green and quiet. Here are my recommendations for six areas, with hotels in several price ranges.

The Best Areas in Helsinki

• Kluuvi - best area for first-time visitors
• Kamppi - best area for transport and the ferry to Tallinn
• Design District - best area for design, shopping and restaurants
• Kallio - best area for budget travellers and nightlife
• Katajanokka - best area by the harbour and Viking Line
• Töölö - best area for families and peace and quiet

Below, I’ll take you through the six areas one by one, with hotels from luxury to budget, so you can find the base in Helsinki that suits both your trip and your wallet.

1. Kluuvi - best area for first-time visitors

• Distance from the centre: Kluuvi is the centre. The Central Station, the Esplanadi and the shopping street Aleksanterinkatu are all in or right next to the area.
• Transport: The metro and lots of tram lines stop at the Central Station, so it’s easy to get around the whole city.
• Time from Helsinki Airport: Around 30 minutes on the I or P train straight to the Central Station.
• Price range: €€ to €€€€. The three places below cost roughly £100 to £325 a night when I searched for a weekend in May.
• Safety: Helsinki is a very safe city. Around the Central Station and Kaisaniemi Park, you might see drunk people late in the evening, but it’s rarely a problem.

Kluuvi is my first choice if it’s your first time in Helsinki and you’ve only got a weekend. You’ll be staying right between the Central Station, the department stores and the long Esplanadi park, and most of the sights in the centre are within a 15-minute walk.

The Central Station was designed by Eliel Saarinen and is a sight in its own right. Close by are the large Oodi library, the Kiasma museum of contemporary art and the Ateneum with classic Finnish art, so you can fill a rainy day without walking far.

If you follow the Esplanadi towards the harbour, you’ll reach Market Square with its stalls and views over the water. From here, the ferry sails to the Suomenlinna fortress, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and according to HSL the ferry crossing takes around 15 minutes. Helsinki Cathedral on Senate Square is also just a few minutes’ walk from the hotels.

See hotels in Kluuvi here.

The train from the airport runs straight into the Central Station, and the journey takes around 30 minutes with an ABC ticket. That makes Kluuvi the easiest place to stay if you land late or have to leave early.

The downside is that Kluuvi is the most expensive area in the city, and the streets around the station are busy and full of chains. If you’d like more of a local atmosphere in the evening, the Design District or Kallio is better, but for a short trip, the location is hard to beat.

Places to Stay in Kluuvi

Hotel Kämp - best luxury hotel on the Esplanadi

Hotel Kämp is on Pohjoisesplanadi facing the park and is a five-star hotel with a spa, a restaurant and a bar. It’s the most expensive hotel in this guide, but you get one of the finest addresses in the city and a very high guest rating. The price is steep, so it makes most sense for a special occasion.

One guest writes on Booking.com: “A fantastic hotel. The service is exceptional, and the rooms were beautiful.”

See photos and book Hotel Kämp here.

Hobo Helsinki - best mid-range hotel with design and atmosphere

Hobo Helsinki is on Kluuvikatu between the Esplanadi and Aleksanterinkatu and is a design hotel with a bar, a restaurant and a very high rating from several thousand guests. It suits couples and friends who want to stay centrally in a hotel with a buzz. Guests do mention that the rooms are a little small, though.

One guest sums up their stay on Booking.com: “Perfect! Room, location, design, service, everything.”

See photos and book Hobo Helsinki here.

Bob W Helsinki Kluuvi - cheapest option with a shared kitchen

Bob W Helsinki Kluuvi is on Vuorikatu, a few minutes’ walk from the Central Station, and was the cheapest of my three picks in Kluuvi. There’s a shared kitchen and a gym, and check-in is digital. There’s no reception, which some guests find a little strange.

One guest describes the place on Booking.com: “Clean, well equipped, super cool design and details, climate neutral.”

See photos and book Bob W Helsinki Kluuvi here.

2. Kamppi - best area for transport and the ferry to Tallinn

• Distance from the centre: Kamppi is just west of the Central Station, around 5 to 10 minutes’ walk from the Esplanadi.
• Transport: Below the Kamppi shopping centre, there’s a metro station and the city’s bus terminal, and trams 7 and 9 continue to the ferries at West Terminal 2.
• Time from Helsinki Airport: Around 40 minutes on the train to the Central Station and a short walk.
• Price range: €€ to €€€€. The three places below cost roughly £95 to £235 a night when I searched for a weekend in May.
• Safety: Kamppi is safe. There are lots of people around the shopping centre and the bus terminal, in the evening too, so just keep an eye on your bag when it’s busy.

Kamppi is the most practical area in Helsinki if you want to be close to everything. It lies between the Central Station and the western harbour, and you can walk to both the Esplanadi and the Design District in a few minutes.

In the middle of the area is the Kamppi shopping centre with shops, a supermarket and places to eat, and right next to it stands the round wooden Kamppi Chapel, where you can sit in complete silence in the middle of the city. The Temppeliaukio rock church is around 10 minutes’ walk from Kamppi, so you’re close to Töölö as well.

See hotels in Kamppi here.

If you’re planning a day trip to Tallinn, Kamppi is a really good choice. Tallink and Eckerö Line sail from West Terminal 2 in Jätkäsaari, and trams 7 and 9 stop in Kamppi on the way to the terminal. On the fast ferries, the crossing takes around two hours, so you can get a full day in the Estonian capital. If you’d rather stay a couple of nights, I’ve written about where to stay in Tallinn.

The downside is that Kamppi is mostly a shopping and transport hub. There are lots of chain hotels and chain restaurants, and in the evening it feels less cosy than the Design District just to the south.

Places to Stay in Kamppi

Hotel St. George Helsinki - best luxury hotel with a pool and spa

Hotel St. George is on Yrjönkatu, a couple of minutes’ walk from the Esplanadi, and is a five-star hotel with an indoor pool, a spa and a restaurant. It was the most expensive of my three picks in Kamppi, but cheaper than Hotel Kämp when I searched. It has fewer reviews than the big chain hotels, but the rating is high.

One guest writes on Booking.com: “Everything, and especially the reception staff. They were all very helpful.”

See photos and book Hotel St. George Helsinki here.

Scandic Helsinki Hub - best mid-range hotel with a sauna

Scandic Helsinki Hub is on Annankatu between Kamppi and the Design District and has more than 11,000 reviews on Booking.com with a high rating. There’s a sauna, a gym and a restaurant, and the breakfast gets lots of praise. It’s a big chain hotel, so don’t expect the personal feel of a small boutique hotel.

One guest highlights the breakfast on Booking.com: “Very helpful staff, the design was lovely, good lighting, and the breakfast was excellent.”

See photos and book Scandic Helsinki Hub here.

Omena Hotel Helsinki Lönnrotinkatu - cheapest option with self-service

Omena Hotel on Lönnrotinkatu was the cheapest of my three picks in Kamppi. The concept is simple, with digital check-in and no reception, so you get a room in the middle of the city without any extra service. Guests mention that there’s no luggage room, which is impractical if you need to store your suitcase before check-in.

One guest keeps it short on Booking.com: “Very clean hotel.”

See photos and book Omena Hotel Helsinki Lönnrotinkatu here.

3. Design District - best area for design, shopping and restaurants

• Distance from the centre: The Design District starts just south of the Esplanadi, and from Punavuori it’s around 10 to 15 minutes’ walk to the Central Station.
• Transport: Trams run through the area, but most people walk, because the distances are short.
• Time from Helsinki Airport: Around 45 minutes on the train to the Central Station, then a tram or a walk.
• Price range: € to €€€. The three places below cost roughly £65 to £145 a night when I searched for a weekend in May.
• Safety: The area is calm and safe, in the evening too. The noisiest thing is the bars at weekends, so ask for a room away from the street if you’re a light sleeper.

The Design District isn’t an official neighbourhood but a network of design shops, galleries, restaurants and hotels in the streets south and west of the Esplanadi. According to Helsinki’s official tourism site, it stretches across four neighbourhoods and at least 25 streets, and its heart is in Punavuori and Kaartinkaupunki.

The network started in 2005 around the small Dianapuisto park, and today you’ll find Finnish design, vintage shops and some of the best cafés and restaurants in the city, especially on and around Iso Roobertinkatu and Uudenmaankatu. The Museum of Architecture and Design is in the area too.

See hotels in the Design District here.

If you head south, you’ll come to the beautiful Art Nouveau houses in Eira and Kaivopuisto park by the water, which is a lovely place for a stroll on a light summer evening. The Esplanadi and Market Square are still only around 10 minutes away on foot.

I’d choose the Design District if you’re a couple or a group of friends who want to eat out and shop, and you’d like to stay somewhere with a bit more atmosphere than by the station.

The downside is that there are fewer big hotels here than in Kluuvi and Kamppi, and lots of the places to stay are apartments. The good boutique hotels get booked up quickly at weekends in summer, so book well ahead.

Places to Stay in the Design District

Hotel Lilla Roberts - best luxury hotel in the heart of the Design District

Hotel Lilla Roberts is on Pieni Roobertinkatu in the middle of the Design District and is a five-star boutique hotel with a restaurant and a bar. It was the most expensive of my three picks in the area, but cheaper than Hotel Kämp when I searched. Guests mention that the breakfast room is separate from the rest of the hotel.

One guest writes on Booking.com: “Absolutely fantastic. Everything, the breakfast was excellent, the room is clean and comfortable, and the staff were genuinely nice people.”

See photos and book Hotel Lilla Roberts here.

Hotel Indigo Helsinki-Boulevard - best mid-range hotel on Bulevardi

Hotel Indigo is on Bulevardi in the western part of the Design District and has a restaurant, a bar, a sauna and a steam room. It’s a good choice for couples who want to stay somewhere modern and central at a reasonable price. Guests mention that the choice of hot dishes at breakfast is a little limited.

One guest sums it up on Booking.com: “Clean, modern and well located.”

See photos and book Hotel Indigo Helsinki-Boulevard here.

Hostel Diana Park - cheapest option by Dianapuisto

Hostel Diana Park is on Uudenmaankatu right by the Dianapuisto park, where the Design District started, and was by far the cheapest of my three picks in the area. There’s a shared kitchen and lockers for your luggage, so it suits you if you want to stay centrally for little money. The hostel is on the third floor and there are only stairs, so it’s not a good choice with a heavy suitcase.

One guest writes on Booking.com: “Very well organised for the guests.”

See photos and book Hostel Diana Park here.

4. Kallio - best area for budget travellers and nightlife

• Distance from the centre: Kallio is north of Hakaniemi, around 15 to 20 minutes’ walk from the Central Station.
• Transport: The metro runs from Hakaniemi and Sörnäinen to the Central Station in a few minutes, and several trams go into the centre.
• Time from Helsinki Airport: Around 45 minutes on the train to the Central Station, then onwards by metro or tram.
• Price range: € to €€€. The three places below cost roughly £90 to £110 a night when I searched for a weekend in May.
• Safety: Kallio is generally safe, but around the bars on Helsinginkatu and Vaasankatu, there can be drunk and noisy people late at weekends.

Kallio is a former working-class district and today the place where lots of young Helsinki locals live and go out. Helsinki’s tourism site calls the area the cultural heart of the city, and you’ll notice it in the many cafés, vintage shops and cheap bars.

Kallio Church from 1912 was designed by Lars Sonck and can be seen from large parts of the city. Down by the water, Hakaniemi Market Hall sits next to the market square, where you can buy fish, cheese and Finnish specialities, and the green hill of Torkkelinmäki, with its houses from the 1920s, is known as Helsinki’s little Paris.

See hotels in Kallio here.

If you’d like to try a traditional Finnish sauna, the public wood-fired Kotiharjun Sauna is also in Kallio. It’s a completely different experience from the hotel sauna, and here you’ll sit side by side with the locals.

I’d choose Kallio if you’re travelling on a budget, want nightlife or would like to see a more everyday side of Helsinki. The hotels are close to the metro, so you’re in the centre in no time.

The downside is that Kallio isn’t particularly pretty in the classic sense, and most of the sights are a long way away on foot. If you’re a light sleeper, avoid rooms facing the busiest bar streets at weekends.

Places to Stay in Kallio

Hilton Helsinki Strand - best luxury hotel by the water

Hilton Helsinki Strand is by the water at Hakaniemi at the southern end of Kallio and is a five-star hotel with an indoor pool, a sauna and a gym. It was the most expensive of my three picks in Kallio, but cheap for a five-star hotel in Helsinki when I searched. Some guests feel, though, that the standard doesn’t quite live up to the Hilton name.

One guest writes on Booking.com: “Fabulous hotel. The staff were extremely helpful. The room was exceptional.”

See photos and book Hilton Helsinki Strand here.

Scandic Paasi - best mid-range hotel close to the metro

Scandic Paasi is on Paasivuorenkatu close to Hakaniemi and has a restaurant, a bar and a gym. The breakfast gets lots of praise, and it’s a good base if you want to be close to both Kallio and the centre. Some guests mention wear and tear in a few of the rooms.

One guest highlights the breakfast on Booking.com: “The location was excellent! The room was good and clean. The breakfast was wonderful, so many choices.”

See photos and book Scandic Paasi here.

Citybox Helsinki - cheapest option with a high rating

Citybox Helsinki is on Kolmas Linja in the middle of Kallio and was the cheapest of my three picks in the area. It has a very high rating from more than 11,000 reviews, self-service check-in and a shared kitchen. There’s no TV in the rooms, which some guests miss.

One guest describes the hotel on Booking.com: “Fantastic and modern hotel, self check-in, lovely room, very clean, close to the centre.”

See photos and book Citybox Helsinki here.

5. Katajanokka - best area by the harbour and Viking Line

• Distance from the centre: Katajanokka is just east of Market Square, around 15 minutes’ walk from the Central Station.
• Transport: Trams 4 and 5 run to Katajanokka, and line 5 goes all the way to the Viking Line terminal.
• Time from Helsinki Airport: Around 45 minutes on the train to the Central Station, then onwards on tram 5.
• Price range: € to €€€. The three places below cost roughly £60 to £175 a night when I searched for a weekend in May.
• Safety: Katajanokka is one of the quietest areas in the centre. It’s busy around the ferry terminal when the ships come in, but otherwise it’s calm in the evening.

Katajanokka is a small peninsula just east of Market Square, and it’s my pick if you want to stay by the water and still be able to walk to the centre. As you cross the bridge from Market Square, the first thing you’ll see is Uspenski Cathedral with its red brick and golden domes. It was completed in 1868 and, according to Helsinki’s tourism site, it’s the largest Orthodox church in Western Europe.

Behind the cathedral is a quiet residential area with beautiful Art Nouveau buildings, and along the quay, you’ll find hotels and restaurants with views over the harbour. Market Square and the ferry to Suomenlinna are only a couple of minutes’ walk away.

See hotels in Katajanokka here.

Katajanokka is also home to Viking Line, which sails from the Katajanokka Terminal to both Tallinn and Stockholm. If you’re taking Viking Line to Tallinn, you can walk to the ferry from your hotel, and the crossing takes around two and a half hours. If you’re carrying on to Sweden, you can read my guide to where to stay in Stockholm.

I’d choose Katajanokka for couples and for you if you want peace and quiet in the evening. The downside is that there are few restaurants and shops in the area itself, so you’ll need to allow for a walk or the tram every time you head into the centre or on to the Design District.

Places to Stay in Katajanokka

Home Hotel Katajanokka - best choice in a former prison

Home Hotel Katajanokka is in the former Helsinki County Prison, where the oldest part dates from 1837, and the old cells have been turned into hotel rooms. It was the most expensive of my three picks in Katajanokka and has a very high guest rating. Guests mention that the windows can’t be opened, so the rooms can get a little warm.

One guest writes on Booking.com: “The staff were so helpful and cheerful.”

See photos and book Home Hotel Katajanokka here.

Solo Sokos Hotel Pier 4 - best mid-range hotel on the quay

Solo Sokos Hotel Pier 4 is on Katajanokanlaituri facing the harbour, close to Uspenski Cathedral, and has a restaurant, a bar and a sauna. It had the highest guest rating of the hotels in Katajanokka in my search, but some guests feel the rooms are a little small.

One guest highlights the location on Booking.com: “What a lovely hotel, beautifully decorated, excellent location.”

See photos and book Solo Sokos Hotel Pier 4 here.

Eurohostel - cheapest option with a sauna

Eurohostel is on Linnankatu in the eastern part of Katajanokka, close to the Viking Line terminal, and was by far the cheapest of the three. There’s a sauna, a shared kitchen and a 24-hour reception. A few guests complain about a smell from the carpet in the corridors.

One guest writes on Booking.com: “Excellent location. Walking distance to beautiful places.”

See photos and book Eurohostel here.

6. Töölö - best area for families and peace and quiet

• Distance from the centre: Etu-Töölö starts north-west of the Central Station, and from the hotels on Mannerheimintie, it’s around 2 kilometres to the Esplanadi.
• Transport: The trams run along Mannerheimintie into the centre in 5 to 10 minutes.
• Time from Helsinki Airport: Around 45 minutes on the train to the Central Station, then onwards by tram.
• Price range: € to €€. The three places below cost roughly £65 to £100 a night when I searched for a weekend in May.
• Safety: Töölö is a quiet and safe residential area, and it’s the one I’d choose with children.

Töölö is Helsinki’s green and quiet side. The area is split into Etu-Töölö closest to the centre and Taka-Töölö further north, and here you’ll be staying among parks, cultural venues and the water of Töölönlahti Bay.

The best-known sight is Temppeliaukio Church, which is built into the rock, and you can visit it for an entrance fee. A little further away are the Finlandia concert hall, designed by Alvar Aalto, the Olympic Stadium and Sibelius Park with the large monument to the composer Jean Sibelius.

See hotels in Töölö here.

In summer, the path around Töölönlahti is popular with runners and families, and at Hietaniemi there’s a sandy beach where you can swim on warm days.

I’d choose Töölö for families and for you if you’d rather sleep in peace than stay in the middle of the nightlife. The hotels along Mannerheimintie are often a little cheaper than in the centre, and two of them have an indoor pool, which is a bonus with children.

The downside is that you’ll need to take the tram or walk 20 to 30 minutes to get to Market Square and the harbour, and it’s further to the ferries to Tallinn and Suomenlinna. It’s quiet in the evening, so if you want to eat out in lots of different places, the Design District is better.

Places to Stay in Töölö

Crowne Plaza Helsinki Hesperia - best hotel with a pool and spa

The Crowne Plaza is on Mannerheimintie close to Töölönlahti Bay and has an indoor pool, a spa and a sauna. It was the most expensive of my three picks in Töölö and a good choice for families who want a pool. Some guests feel the service is hit and miss.

One guest writes on Booking.com: “The breakfast was very good as always.”

See photos and book Crowne Plaza Helsinki Hesperia here.

Scandic Park Helsinki - best mid-range hotel with a pool

Scandic Park Helsinki is a few hundred metres from the Crowne Plaza on Mannerheimintie and also has an indoor pool, a hot tub and a sauna at a slightly lower price. It’s a good fit for families who want a pool without paying for a luxury hotel. Guests mention that the breakfast restaurant can get crowded.

One guest highlights the breakfast on Booking.com: “A lovely, clean and comfortable hotel with a great breakfast.”

See photos and book Scandic Park Helsinki here.

Stylish two-room apartment with balcony & great views - cheapest option with a balcony

This two-room apartment with a balcony is on Humalistonkatu in Taka-Töölö and was the cheapest of my three picks in the area. It’s a private apartment and not a hotel, so you won’t get the same service as in a hotel. It has fewer reviews than the hotels, but the rating is high.

One guest writes on Booking.com: “Good location, welcoming host, cosy and clean apartment, everything is there.”

See photos and book Stylish two-room apartment with balcony & great views here.

Where should you avoid staying in Helsinki?

I wouldn’t stay by the airport in Vantaa unless you have a very early flight. The train gets you into the city quickly, so you rarely save anything by staying out there, and there’s not much to do in the evening.

Be careful with the cheap hotels in Espoo, Vantaa or far out along the metro line, which can look tempting in the search results. On a weekend trip, you’ll spend a lot of time on transport, and you’ll miss out on the evenings in the centre.

Pasila, north of Töölö, is a big transport and office area with good train connections, but there’s not much that’s pleasant to wander around. If you want to stay cheaply, Kallio is a better choice.

If it’s your first time in Helsinki, I’d stay in Kluuvi, or in Kamppi if you’re also taking the ferry to Tallinn. The Design District suits couples who want to eat well and shop, Kallio is the best choice on a budget and for nightlife, Katajanokka is perfect by the harbour and Viking Line, and Töölö is the quietest base for families.

If you’ve got more days, you can combine Helsinki with a trip across the Baltic Sea. As well as Tallinn and Stockholm, I’ve written about where to stay in Riga and Oslo, if you’d like to do a longer tour of the Nordics and the Baltics. And if you’d like to carry on north, the Santa Claus Express night train runs from Helsinki to Rovaniemi, and my guide to where to stay in Lapland covers Rovaniemi, Levi and the other best towns.

The post Where to Stay in Helsinki? The 6 Best Areas & Places to Stay appeared first on Destination Well Known.