I visited Finland for the first time on a quick daytrip to Helsinki from Tallinn, Estonia during my most recent trip around the Baltics!

While most people do it the other way around (visit Tallinn on a daytrip from Helsinki), I love traveling Eastern Europe far too much to give myself just one day in Tallinn. Helsinki is a big city, but one with a smattering of attractions. Only have one day? Here’s what to do with one day in Helsinki!

Helsinki Cathedral

This is Helsinki’s main cathedral, and the city’s main tourist spot. While the interior isn’t ornate, in practice with other Lutheran churches, the exterior is stunning. I love the contrast of the green domes with the blue sky! Entrance to the cathedral is free.

Bonus points if you can get a picture of the statue of Tsar Alexander II outside the cathedral with a seagull on its head!

Uspenski Cathedral

Not to be overshadowed by the main cathedral, the Uspenski Cathedral was definitely my favorite of the two. Built in the 1860s, it is actually an Eastern Orthodox Church! It’s supposedly the largest Orthodox church in Western Europe. The interior is stunning and the exterior is definitely eye-catching. There is a plaque commemorating Tsar Alexander II (of Russia) inside the cathedral—Tsar Alexander II was ruler of the Grand Duchy of Finland during the time of the cathedral’s construction. It’s also free to visit.

Market Hall

One of the most charming little corners of Helsinki is the Market Hall. You can find loads of local treats to munch on as you browse the stalls! You can also buy gifts and souvenirs in addition to food. I visited in the late morning on a weekday and it was fairly quiet. Be extra careful of pickpockets here.

City of Helsinki Museum

I only went to one museum during my short time in Helsinki. The City of Helsinki Museum has some really interesting features: a recreation of a house from the 1970s, information on the city’s history from the industrial to modern, and a cool temporary exhibit on clubbing in Helsinki! Best yet, the museum is free to visit.

Helsinki Central Station

I may have arrived in the city by ferry, but I knew I had to see the train station during my visit! The current station building was built in 1919 in a very modern (at the time) style. It is certainly be an entrance to Finnish architecture—and was listed on the BBC’s list of the most beautiful train stations in the world in 2013.

Suomenlinna Fortress

My favorite thing during my one day in Helsinki? Suomenlinna, the sea fortress made up of different islands, located just a short ferry ride from the mainland! Suomenlinna was used as a military fortress, and is one of the best remaining examples of military fort architecture. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage site, and people still live on the island today!! Make sure to visit the Suomenlinna Church, the beach (which reminded me SO much of Northern Minnesota!), the Kustaanmiekka artillery (although the main path is closed in summer), and the King’s Gate Quay at the end of the island.

There is a museum on one of the main islands of the fortress if you’re interested in learning more about the history. Suomenlinna also has a well-signposted suggested tourist path to see the main sights across the fortress. Make sure you stop and explore the tunnels! The ferry to Suomenlinna takes about 15-20 minutes, and runs hourly up to every 15 minutes. It costs 5€ for a day ticket for the ferry, which needs to be purchased before boarding. The ferry leaves from the main port area, and is clearly marked. The fortress islands are free to wander—there’s only a charge for the various museums. While Suomenlinna itself is open year-round, many museums are closed during the winter months—and some parts of the islands might be off-limits.

Suomenlinna was my favorite thing that I did in Helsinki so I really recommend visiting!

I visited Helsinki on a daytrip from Tallinn, Estonia. For my visit, I took the Tallink ferry, which cost 32€ for my day return. Definitely book this in advance as it can be even cheaper—as low as 24€! The ferry takes between 2 hours and 3.5 hours, depending on which ship you take. I took the Megastar to Helsinki, which took 2 hours, and the Europa back to Tallinn, which took 3.5 hours. Note that Tallink uses the West Terminal in Helsinki, which is a 45-minute walk to the main port! Silja and Viking ferries use the main ferry terminal area in the center.

The Basics

Helsinki is the capital of Finland, which is a Nordic country but not geographically part of Scandinavia. The population of Helsinki is roughly 1.4 million, while the population of Finland is about 5.5 million. While the official language is Finnish (which is not related to Swedish or Norwegian, but more closely related to Estonian and Hungarian), nearly everyone will speak exceptional English. The official currency is the Euro. Finland is a member of the European Union and the Schengen Zone.

Overall, I had just about 9 hours in Helsinki. There are lots more things to do in the city if you have more time: act like a Finn and drink loads of coffee, enjoy the design museums and fun boutiques, and take a sauna! I’m happy with what I got to see in a day, and especially glad that I had time to explore Suomenlinna. These are my top suggestions for what to see with one day in Helsinki!

Have you ever been to Helsinki? What things did you like or dislike about the city?

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