Curious to visit the happiest city in the whole world? Want to roam the colorful squares and cobblestone alleys of one of Northern Europe’s best-preserved medieval towns? In July, my daughter and I set out to sample the highlights of these two capital cities, making Helsinki our home base and day-tripping to Tallinn via ferry. Here are things to do in Helsinki and Tallinn on a 3-day itinerary.
We were impressed with Helsinki’s larger-than-life buildings, variety of attractions, natural beauty, evening entertainment options, and delicious Finnish cuisine. Helsinki, Finland’s cosmopolitan and innovative southern capital, is known as one of the safest and most high-tech countries with some of the happiest people on Earth.
We set out to see for ourselves—why are Finns so full of inner happiness? We think we have discovered at least part of the reason…read on to learn the secret!
Our brief time in magical Tallinn, the compact capital of the Baltic country of Estonia, revealed a city of dramatic contrasts. We found a fairytale Old Town, which transports you to the Middle Ages, to its rapidly modernizing city with chic boutiques, top-rated restaurants, and a global technology hub.
Below is my suggested itinerary for three action-packed summer days spent in Helsinki and Tallinn. During our July visit, we experienced blue skies, warm weather, and the locals’ excitement of spending nights outside listening to music and dining at cafés.
Note: Some listed attractions are only open in the warmer months, so check their websites before visiting.
Day 1: Welcome to Helsinki, Finland
Start your day with a strong cup of coffee at the spot to “see and be seen,” Kappeli Café. Then, stroll through the city’s happening green space of Esplanade Park, known to locals as Espa.
At the end of the park, you’ll run into Market Square. This is often full of stalls of fresh produce, local snacks, and plentiful locally crafted souvenirs.
You’ll also see a pier with a wide array of boat tours and ferries. For the best vantage point to experience Helsinki’s beautiful urban shoreline, board a Stromma Helsinki Sightseeing Highlights Cruise. From the upper deck, we relaxed with the wind blowing in our hair and the sun shining on our faces. We also enjoyed an audio recording about the city’s districts, unique architecture, busy harbors, and islands.
Next up, grab lunch at the Old Market Hall, which dates back to 1889. Popular options at this busy market include a heaping bowl of salmon soup, all kinds of sandwiches, every edible reindeer product imaginable (and then some!), gourmet cheeses, shellfish, scrumptious sweets, and more.
For the best evidence of Russia’s 100+ years spent controlling Helsinki, step into the grand Uspenski Cathedral with a red brick exterior dating from 1868 and an elaborate golden interior.
Time to make some difficult decisions! The town center offers so many options to fill your afternoon, ranging from world-class museums to shopping. Mix and match to your heart’s content.
Get Some Culture
Learn a few things at the eclectic and educational Design Museum Helsinki, which tells the history of Finnish design, featuring furniture, fashion, household items, jewelry, ceramics, and even AI-generated rugs (our favorite exhibit!).
Enter the quirky art world of Amos Rex. In addition to the experiential and technology-based contemporary artwork, we had fun climbing the playful Gaudi-like tiled dome displays outside. This picturesque scene is a top Instagram spot.
Check out Oodi, the city’s new central library. This modern architectural wonder includes indoor and outdoor play areas, 100,000 books available to read in an area called “Book Heaven,” reasonably-priced cafés, video game rooms, 3D printers, and best of all—a vast terrace where locals bask in the sun.
TIP: Take a relaxing break in Töölönlahti Park and Bay, an urban oasis of green space. Be sure to stroll the walking path.
Head next door to experience the mixed modern art displayed throughout Kiasma, Finland’s premier museum of contemporary art. TIP: Review the content of exhibits before taking young children to this museum; some can be racy.
Explore Senate Square
Make your way to the centerpiece of Helsinki, Senate Square, renowned for its four neoclassical buildings from the 19th century. These include the iconic Helsinki Cathedral, the Government Palace, the University of Helsinki, and the National Library of Finland.
During warmer months, you’ll find locals in the evening at pop-up bars lining the square. TIP: Early morning and late day visits to Senate Square are less crowded, leading to better photo opportunities and a more relaxing feel.
Try a traditional Finnish Restaurant
For a perfect introduction to Finnish cuisine, request a table at Ravintola Savotta. This traditional Finnish restaurant in a historic building with a spectacular view of Senate Square immerses you in an authentic old-world setting.
Savotta prides itself on cooking with locally sourced and sustainable ingredients, plating each dish on antique china, and channeling Finland’s logging history with century-old floorboards. Accompanied by impeccable service by staff donning period dress, Savotta’s menu tempts foodies with regional hearty game, such as bear, moose, reindeer, and elk, as well as vegetarian options demonstrating the chef’s culinary artistry.
Creative desserts like whipped black currant semolina pudding and velvety lingonberry panna cotta will delight your taste buds. Toasting with Savotta’s signature cocktails while watching the sun set on Senate Square is spellbinding.
After dinner, choose your evening entertainment.
- Fun at the Pier: Take a spin on SkyWheel Helsinki, a Ferris wheel with panoramic views of the city and the sea. If you’re into all things luxe, there’s even a sauna gondola ride complete with a break in a hot tub or a VIP experience with custom leather seats, a bottle of champagne, and a glass floor. Steps away, you’ll find a choice of two 4D theater-style adventures at Flying Cinema that whisk you away on a virtual flight high above the streets of Helsinki or the countryside of Finland.
- Rock It Out: Join Helsinki’s music scene by rocking out to a live waterfront performance at the architecturally-impressive Allas Sea Pool, a concert venue, which also houses a pool, sauna, and restaurants. We loved the energy of the audience singing and dancing along to the tunes of Finnish pop star ABREU.
Day 2: Local Haunts and Helsinki’s Secret to Happiness
Explore Suomenlinna Sea Fortress
Join the locals on a quick fifteen-minute ferry and travel back several hundred years to the Suomenlinna Sea Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, whose storied past includes being controlled by Swedes, Russians, and Finns. As you wander Suomenlinna, you will encounter gorgeous seafront views, dark tunnels, quaint museums, 100 cannons, art centers, verdant parks, and a visitor center.
It’s easy to envision the battles this fortress witnessed over the years. As you stroll the six islands connected by bridges that comprise Suomenlinna, you will do a lot of walking, so wear sturdy shoes.
Depending on your passion for history and nature, you can easily spend a few hours or all day. Wrap up your visit with lunch and a sweet treat at one of Suomenlinna’s many cozy and colorful cafes. TIP: Follow the blue tourist route to hit the highlights, such as the King’s Gate and a World War II submarine that you can board.
Get More Helsinki Culture
Alternate start for the day: Prefer to visit an island dedicated to art? Hop on a ferry to Vallisaari Island and explore a seasonal international contemporary art event, the Helsinki Biennial, produced by the Helsinki Art Museum. Check the dates of the upcoming 2024 production.
Next up, marvel at the one-of-a-kind Temppeliaukio Church (The Rock Church). Built into solid bedrock, this magical space boasts a stunning circular ceiling covered with copper stripping and 180-degree windows inviting sunlight to pour in.
While this active Lutheran church draws close to one million visitors a year, if you are lucky, your visit will coincide with a service. We were fortunate to hear the church’s beautiful organ tunes reverberate through this unique house of prayer.
Join locals enjoying a beautiful day at the well-manicured Sibelius Park, home to the famous Sibelius Monument, honoring the prolific Finnish composer Jean Sibelius. This popular sculpture is intended to represent how Sibelius’ music depicts nature.
Try the Sauna Life
Make sure to get yourself a taste of sauna life. Taking a sauna in Finland is a daily ritual that provides locals with a break from life’s pressures.
While Finland has a relatively small population of 5.4 million people, Finland has over….get ready for it….three million saunas! I booked a sauna reservation at the Löyly Sauna, an upscale, seaside sauna restaurant that Time Magazine named one of the greatest places to visit in the world! Löyly’s light wood and glass design is sleek and luxurious, and blends with the sights and sounds of the Baltic Sea.
Our two-hour public sauna session lived up to the hype. We mingled with tourists and locals alike while heating up in a smoke sauna, followed by a wooden sauna, and then finally an electric sauna with seaside views.
Once sufficiently steamy (and dripping with sweat!), we cooled off on the gorgeous wooden terrace. Next, we bravely jumped (in the case of my daughter) or slowly descended a ladder (me!) into the refreshingly chilly Baltic Sea (this activity is possible year-round).
Revitalizing! Memorable! A highlight of our vacation! Saunas clearly are the secret to the Finnish people’s happiness.
TIP: Löyly’s sauna is unisex and requires guests to wear a swimsuit, which is available to rent. Bring along flip flops. The admission price includes a well-stocked, same-sex changing room with shampoo, conditioner, hair dryers, towel, and a mat to sit on while in the saunas.
After Sauna Dining
After working up an appetite, get dressed and join the buzzy dining scene (both indoor and outdoor) at the Löyly Restaurant, which serves up Finnish fare with a seasonally-inspired menu. For those of legal drinking age (18 or over), the traditional post-sauna celebration is imbibing an icy beer among friends, which you can order from the fully-stocked bar.
If you prefer to leave Löyly for dinner, Helsinki offers every type of cuisine. From Michelin-star fine dining to casual cafés, you can easily find a gastronomic treat in this cosmopolitan city.
Not yet ready to call it a night? Then head to a popular Finnish spot known for thrills and family-friendly fun—Linnanmäki Amusement Park (open seasonally). Play carnival games, dig into some ice cream, and scream on rides, including a famous wooden roller coaster.
Day 3: A Perfect Day Trip to Tallinn
Bright and early, we boarded a modern Tallink Silja Line ferry, and in just two short hours, we crossed the Gulf of Finland, arriving in Tallinn, the Baltic capital of Estonia. The ferry impressed us with its many floors of restaurants, retail stores, outdoor spaces, bars, cabins, and more.
TIP: Book in advance to secure the best voyage times for your plans. Upgrade to the Business Lounge for a truly luxurious journey with excellent wifi, an open bar, a lavish buffet, comfortable seating, and a classy, zen-like ambiance.
Do a Sightseeing and Food Tour
For an expert introduction to Tallinn and its distinctive culinary scene, we booked Paul Toot’s Food Sightseeing Estonia Tour. Paul guided us around Tallinn’s pastel-colored buildings of Old Town, a UNESCO Heritage Site, and the up-and-coming Telliskivi Creative City with its bold street art and trendy boutiques.
All the while, he regaled us with entertaining stories blending history, art, legends, contemporary events, and Estonian cuisine. Paul made sure to hit Old Town’s highlights. This included stops around the perimeter of the defensive wall, the Town Hall Square, and even Europe’s oldest operating apothecary.
Culinary standouts of this well-curated tour included sampling traditional delicately-prepared lamb ravioli, hearty elk soup, gourmet chocolates, fluffy mini pancakes, a fresh fish sandwich, and organic ice cream.
Paul complemented our food tour with a variety of memorable local specialty drinks. We had a blast meeting fellow travelers on our tour, while Paul led us to various atmospheric cafés, markets, independent shops, and even a medieval tavern.
Explore the Main Attractions
With bellies full, it’s time to decide which of Tallinn’s attractions most interest your crew.
- Want a peek into the days of Soviet-occupied Estonia? Look at the exterior of the shuttered, graffitied, and overgrown Linnahall (Tallinn’s City Hall). This was built for the 1980 Moscow Olympics and overlooks the sea. This site was one of several Tallinn filming locations in Christopher Nolan’s time-bending 2020 movie Tenet. TIP: This area is not well-maintained and not child-friendly. Be sure to wear closed-toe shoes and explore with care.
- Pair strolling the formal grounds of the Baroque Kadriorg Palace with walking the many floors of the Kumu Art Museum, full of Estonian art dating from the 18th century to today.
- Feel like a kid at the Seaplane Harbour Museum, which houses an extensive maritime collection with many life-sized exhibits. (Closed until May 2024).
- Check out the new pop art museum, Poco.
Tour Old Town Tallinn
We returned to Old Town before sunset to walk around a bit more without the crowds. Tallinn’s imposing ancient city walls include twenty-six watchtowers of different heights and girth, each punctuated by a deep red roof.
Be sure to climb to at least one observation terrace located on the city walls, such as the Patkul viewing platform. This provides expansive views of the city streets, other towers, and even the harbor. Consider visiting the KGB Prison Cells, the Kiek in de Kök Fortification Museum, the Niguliste Museum and Steeple, and the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral.
With your appetite restored, it’s time for the Grand Chef’s Feast of twenty courses at Old Hansa. This restaurant expertly recreates dining during medieval times in Tallinn with costumed servers who even speak with the lingo of the times, a menu utilizing freshly sourced produce featuring 700-year-old recipes from documented texts, a richly-decorated interior, and a band of convivial musicians that add to the authentic vibe.
Our favorite dishes included the flavorful flamed salmon in a hearty forest mushroom sauce, the grand leg of Venice duck in an aromatic saffron sauce, and the extensive seemingly, never-ending selection of tasty appetizers. Dining at Old Hansa is a rewarding, immersive culinary experience that caps off a memorable day in Tallinn.
TIP: You can also order a la carte, and we found the staff very willing to accommodate my vegetarian daughter.
Where to Stay in and How to Get around Helsinki
For a home base, I suggest the waterfront Hilton Helsinki Strand. Reach the hotel from the airport via a taxi or take a bus that lets you off a short five-minute walk to the front door.
With a large, airy atrium, friendly staff, indoor pool, sauna, and extensive breakfast buffet, this Hilton was a safe, well-located, and comfortable option for our stay in Helsinki. Don’t miss the on-site, Italian-themed restaurant called Pizzorante BRO which serves cocktails, Roman-style pizzas, and salads.
We found a combination of public transportation, walking, and Stromma’s Hop On-Hop Off Bus covered all of our transportation needs while navigating the city. Helsinki’s public transport is convenient and efficient. Also, the Hop on-Hop Off Bus dropped us off directly in front of Helsinki’s major highlights. This makes visiting popular but further afield locations easy.
Where to Stay in and How to Get around Tallinn
It’s easy to take a ferry back to Helsinki at the end of your day trip to Tallinn. Another option is to spend the night at the well-located Hilton Tallinn Park. We enjoyed our stay at this modern Hilton with The Able Butcher steak house, casino, expansive breakfast buffet, eforea Spa and Health Club, spacious suites, beautiful pool area, and outdoor lounge.
TIP: This Hilton is just a 10-minute taxi ride from the ferry and super close to Old Town. During our visit, the public transportation system was under construction, so we used the popular ride-share app, Bolt.
Future Plans
Our three summer days in Helsinki and Tallinn rewarded us with priceless memories of culinary delights, world-class museums, natural beauty, musical experiences, good times on the water, and so much more. Both cities are easy additions to a longer itinerary to Scandinavia, the Baltics, or other areas of Europe.
We can’t wait to visit Finland in winter so that we can explore the snowy wonders of Lapland, visit charming Christmas markets, chase the whimsical Northern lights, and explore more of this country full of lakes and forests.
DISCLAIMER
The author was provided with discounted and/or complimentary tours, admissions, and meals so that she could try them and review them for your information. All opinions are her own. Most images courtesy of Lisa Grabelle unless otherwise noted.
About the Author
This guest post was written by Lisa Grabelle. Lisa, a freelance travel writer, has been traveling all her life…40 countries and loving it! Originally from the sunny skies of Miami, Lisa, a former big firm lawyer, lives near Philadelphia. Travel is her passion. As soon as one vacation ends, Lisa busily plans her next adventure for her non-stop family of adventurers. Lisa’s motto is “don’t just visit the destination…live it!” You can follow Lisa on X (formerly Twitter) or Instagram.
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