Helsinki on a budget: things to see and do

Before my trip to Helsinki, the only things I knew about the city were that it probably had a bunch of saunas, and that Richard Ayoade went there for an episode of Travel Man once. It was the final Nordic capital that I hadn’t yet managed to tick off during my year abroad, but I finally completed this trip in May, close to the end of my time in Gothenburg. Luckily though, it was well worth the wait.

I arrived in Helsinki with no expectations whatsoever, and since I was also visiting my friend, I’d have been perfectly content just relaxing with her all weekend. So I was pleasantly surprised when I was met with a beautiful, sprawling city, sun-bathed thanks to much better weather than I’d expected, and lots of wonderful views. In this post I’ll take you through everything I did in three days in the city, as well as some tips to keep your costs down. If you want, you can jump straight to the mini public transport guide.

Some quick tips for Helsinki

• Most people in the city have a good level of English. You may also have some luck with Swedish or Russian, but obviously, don’t assume that anyone will be happy or able to communicate in anything other than Finnish
• Almost everywhere accepts cards. The local currency is the Euro
• There is a very good public transport system which includes ferries.
• Helsinki doesn’t have the uninterrupted bike paths of Amsterdam perhaps, but cycling around is a nice experience. We took a quick bike ride around a small park and found the hire bikes nice to use
• You’ll notice that street signs are often in both Finnish and (a dialect of) Swedish. Finland has not been an independent country for as long as you might think, and for a long time was part of the Kingdom of Sweden, before being Russian territory. The history is worth looking into so that you can understand some of what you see around the city, and perhaps some of the Finnish mentality.

Keeping costs down

I must admit that this trip was much easier to do on a budget thanks to visiting a friend, with whom I could stay. Paying for accommodation would, of course, add an expense! Luckily, it seems that there are some cheaper options on Booking.com, depending on your requirements and the time of year. Hostels exist for £30 per night, which is not bad for this part of the world.

City sightseeing

Visiting Helsinki’s churches

The first sight that I enjoyed on our walks around the city was that of Helsinki Cathedral, an imposing, dome-topped white church overlooking Senate Square (Senaatintori). It was built between 1830-1852 as a tribute to Tsar Nicholas I, who was also the Grand Duke of Finland. The steps outside it seem to be a fun place to gather when the weather is nice, to meet friends and relax. They were never deserted for the whole duration of my stay! Close by is the market square, on the water front, which hosts various events through the year and where there was a market selling food and gifts every day that I was there. The Cathedral’s admission fee ranged from 5€ in the winter to 8€ in the summer, and tickets can be bought on site.

On a small hill overlooking the city is a second church, standing tall, opposing the Cathedral. This is Uspenski Cathedral, designed by the Russian architect Aleksei Gornostaje and consecrated in 1869. It’s the largest Orthodox church in Western Europe, and it shouts its Russian heritage proudly – if you’re looking for a sign of the Russian impact on Finland, it doesn’t get more obvious than this! It’s a marvelous and imposing red brick building, and exquisite inside. You can visit for free.

On my final day, I paid the noble sum of 5€ to visit Temppeliaukio church. This unusual space is built directly into the stone surrounding it, resulting in a gentle dome rising out of the street. The rock inside is left rough, with machine marks still visible, and sometimes water trickles through cracks in the rock and collects in drains on the floor. Music specially composed for the church is played on speakers, and a huge coil of copper forms centre of the ceiling. It was a very striking, unusual, and peaceful place to be, and I found it well worth the visit. Staff or volunteers inside are friendly and happy to tell you about the past and present of the building.

Statues and monuments of Helsinki

We passed by the Haaviston Manta, also known simply as Manta, or Havis Amanda in Swedish. This statue and fountain was intended to symbolise the rebirth of Helsinki, but drew criticism initially for its portrayal of women. Nevertheless, today she’s a beloved staple of Helsinki art and every year on Walpurgis Night, or Vappu in Finnish, university students place a cap on her head. Celebrated on 30th April, Walpurgis Night, Vappu, or Varborg in Swedish is a big student celebration in various Nordic cities, and you’ll see student clubs out in force in their white lab coats or overalls and black and white caps. As of May 2023, the statue itself had been temporarily removed for some repair work.

The Sibelius Monument is a large steel monument is dedicated to Finnish composer Jean Sibelius and is located in Sibelius park, a lovely green area. The monument appears to depict organ pipes, although I don’t think Sibelius was known for his organ music. A steel impression of his face is also present. Either way, I personally like the monument. It has a certain flowing nature for me; I can almost imagine it hovering slightly above the ground and the “pipes” bobbing up and down separate to one another. Jean Sibelius is a hugely celebrated composer, especially around the time of Finland’s independence. The interwar and postwar years are an interesting part of Finland’s history and it’s interesting to read about Sibleius’s life and outlook during that time.

The central station is not a bad sightseeing location in itself, although I just missed the statues at the main entrance sporting their green jackets in honour of Finland’s Käärijä at the Eurovision. The building is a handsome and impressive one, and the interior is incredibly grand. I think it could put you in the mind of New York’s Grand Central.

Breathtaking Helsinki libraries

One thing I loved about Helsinki was the number of beautiful libraries. I first visited one of the university libraries, which had a striking atrium and large windows. The university libraries are open to the public, so you can explore at your leisure. I especially liked the Oodi Library, a huge orange brassy building, not just for its looks but because it seems to work as a fantastic community centre. There are craft stations inside with sewing machines, games rooms with consoles, music instruments, and more. It’s far more than your average town library! The outside of the building has a shape like the bottom of a huge ship, and I love it.

Nothing could compare, though, to the beauty of the National Library of Finland. After leaving our coats and bags in the lockers in the cloakroom, we spent some time exploring this fantastic building. Inside is shelf upon shelf upon shelf of ancient tomes, with intricately painted ceilings and grand pillars. I would have loved to spend the afternoon studying or reading there, pretending I’m in Harry Potter…well, no. It was far too bright and airy to be Hogwarts. But there was something magical about it. You can visit the National Library for free, though for security reasons, large bags, coats and umbrellas must be left in the cloakroom. You can take in small bags and your laptop, but no food or drink.

The great outdoors

I really enjoyed taking the time to explore in Roihuvuori public park and admire the last of the cherry blossoms, as it was late spring. As it happens, there was a Hanami festival happening in the park, so tons of families were having picnics and taking pictures – some in traditional Japanese dress. This was the perfect spot to eat our food!

Similarly, other attractions such as Suomenlinna (below) and the Sibelius Monument are situated in lovely outdoor spaces, making Helsinki an easy place to get fresh air.

A day out at Suomenlinna World Heritage Site

This UNESCO World Heritage Site was once a great island fortress tasked with defending the then Kingdon of Sweden. It was named Sveaborg (Castle of the Swedes) upon its construction in 1750, and known as Viapori in Finnish. In 1808, the fortress was surrendered to Russian forces and became a Russian military base, as Finland became a Grand Duchy of Russia. In the First World War it was part of a number of defences intended to defend the Russian capital St Petersburg. Then, after Finland’s independence in 1918, the fortress was taken over by the new Finnish government and renamed Suomenlinna – Castle of Finland. Since the 1960s, it has been under civilian management. It is now home to around 800 people and a workplace for 400, as well as being a popular tourist attraction and picnic site.

On the island, you can wander around what was once a large fortress, exploring the remains of barracks and artillery weapons. There’s a dry dock, a gift shop, some galleries, and several museums – including a WWII submarine. Entry to the submarine was combined with entry to two of the military museums on the island, and cost 7€, or 4€ for students.

I liked this island because it can be whatever kind of day you want. You can enjoy a free day out, a walk in the ruins, and perhaps a picnic, or you can hit all of the museums and make it a day of learning. You reach the island by ferry – see below for information on public transport in Helsinki.

Sauna – you’re in Finland, after all

Since we were in Finland, it only seemed right to head to a sauna, especially because my friend had to say goodbye to her Erasmus friends who were heading home, so it was the perfect relaxing activity for an emotional day. We tried Sompasauna, since it was on my friend’s bucket list.

Now, a note about Sompasauna: it’s not your average spa. You’re heading down a derelict gravel road, with construction on either side; you’re not expecting to find this colourful outdoor space, overlooking a lake and run by locals. There were two wooden saunas when we visited, with a third under construction. By which I mean, volunteers were busy sawing wood, so much nicer than your usual construction site!

There are benches, hooks and lockers in the middle (uncovered) for changing, and lots of seating dotted around. If you go, you’re invited to do your bit by perhaps chopping or restocking logs in the sauna. Of you visit only once, it’s not such a big deal, but do ask someone if you feel able what you can do to help! It was a super friendly atmosphere and felt very authentic. There was even a guitar and a piano so you could sometimes hear some music as you sat around. It seems like a lovely community, and something I might have done regularly if I stayed there. If you prefer a more “polished” sauna, you’ll find dozens of other options in the city, and I’ve listed a few below. But if you’re prepared to embrace a bit of local (and DIY) culture with respect, I highly recommend giving it a visit. A thing suits optional!

Other saunas in Helsinki

The Allas Sea Pool is a large complex of waterfront saunas close to the Market Square, with picturesque views and enclosed pools. Löyly is another waterfront sauna, complete with restaurant. In Kuusijärvi park, there are saunas available as well as various outdoor activities. And finally, Lonna, an island situated between the city and Suomenlinna, has a sauna on it for optimum relaxation away from the bustle of the city. Although I have not visited these ones, they all look stunning. And, of course, they are only a few of the saunas on offer in Helsinki.

Food & drink in Helsinki

Finnish salmon soup

There are two dishes I think you shouldn’t miss in Finland: sauteed reindeer, and salmon soup. Having tried reindeer on my trip to Lapland, the salmon soup was my priority. We headed to Restaurant Kappeli’s cafe to try some, and my goodness, it was delicious. Kappeli has a long history serving top notch food in the city, and to this day take great pride in preserving Finnish art and food culture. The soup of the day changes through the week, but on weekends it’s always salmon soup! Creamy, salty, and filling, it was the perfect lunch. After paying, we picked up a bowl and served ourselves from the huge vat of soup, and also grabbed some slices of Finnish rye bread and various butters.

At the time I though this was pretty good value for money, as a nice helping of soup and as much bread as you want (within reason) came to something in the region of 13€. Not incredibly cheap, but doable. Upon checking in September 2024 however, prices are now at 15,90€, which is a bit less reasonable. Still very highly recommended if it fails within your budget though! And of course, you can visit this grand restaurant and cafe for a different meal altogether; it is a beautiful space with echoes of a time gone by, where ladies and gentlemen would come together in their skirts and hats for coffee or tea. But, if money is tight, perhaps an cheaper soup can be found elsewhere.

Cheap & cosy eats

I also enjoyed Cafe regatta, which is nothing groundbreaking, but a cosy waterside place for a coffee or hot chocolate! We went after looking at the Sibelius Monument, as it’s located nearby. It’s mostly a hut, decorated with old pictures and copper kitchenware inside, and with a large seating area inside. It was lovely to watch the sun slowly dip lower over the water as we sipped our drinks.

With access to my friend’s kitchen, we largely cooked at home, but there are some ways of sourcing cheap food whilst out and about. Just like in Stockholm, we were able to buy from a food waste app which always gives you a great deal. In the UK I tend to use Too Good To Go, a fantastic app which allows shops and restaurants to list unsold food at the end of the day for you to buy and pick up. In Helsinki you’ll want the ResQ Club app, which I actually prefer to Too Good to Go, because you can see what you’re getting, rather than buying “surprise bags”. We enjoyed a large portion of noodles and sushi in this way!

Museums in Helsinki

Helsinki tram museum

I’ve spoken before about my weird interest in trams (I don’t know why), and all my friends know about it, so my friend made sure to make time for this! We hit the tram museum – a great way to spend an hour or so, kid friendly and free! With information in several languages about the history of the public transport network in Helsinki, as well as a few old tram carriages, it was a really interesting and informative visit.

Free admission to Helsinki museums & the Helsinki City Card

Other museums tend to be more expensive, but they do come highly recommended, and they look amazing. If you’d like to save money, you should check the websites of your chosen museum to see if you can take advantage of any free admission days. This is a really cool way, I think, of making museums accessible to more people and encouraging young people to visit. Whilst they’re mostly useful to locals, as they’re dotted throughout the year, they’re frequent enough that you might be able to make use of them during your stay.

If you’re a history buff, art connoisseur or a lover of museums in any form, and want to check out multiple of Helsinki’s many museums, perhaps a Helsinki Card or a Museums Card is for you. The Helsinki card gives you access to a huge range of attractions for a 24-, 48- or 72-hour period, while the Museum Card gives you access to 370 museums around Finland for a whole year. Note that the Helsinki Card also gives you access to public transport; see more below.

Booking.com

Seurasaari open air museum

This is an island connected by a footbridge and populated original buildings from around Finland – yes, literally a bunch of buildings from various periods of time and with certain historical significance, transported to this island and made into an open air museum. The island itself is also very beautiful, with lots of greenery and nature. The museum showcases how life has looked in the past, and in summer you can go inside the buildings as well as admiring them from the outside. The museum itself opens around mid-May and costs 10 Euros for adults, but outside of that period you can explore the island for free and admire the buildings from the outside, often with small information plaques. So, even though we didn’t go inside, we still learned a lot and had a good time.

Mini guide to Helsinki public transport

For all your public transport needs, I recommend the HSL app or website.

Helsinki boasts a fantastic public transport system, including buses, trams, metro, and even ferries, which you’ll need to get to Suomenlinna. The Helsinki Card also offers free use of public transport, so do check that out!

The city is zoned, so first you’ll need to figure out which zones you need to travel to, using this map. You can purchase a single journey ticket which is valid for 80-110 minutes and costs 2,95€. A day ticket for an adult costs 9€, and you can purchase a day ticket for any number of days up to 13. Ticket types and prices can be found here.

You can also find a map of sales points here, should you wish to buy a ticket in person.

NOTE: if you’re using a paper ticket, it must be validated by holding it up to the reader on the platform or at the entrance of the station. This is confusing, because a paper ticket doesn’t feel like it’s got anything inside to read! But it’s absolutely vital otherwise you risk a fine.

Here is some information about each type of ticket and their validity.

Wrapping up

I do hope this post has given you some inspiration, information, and a starting point for planning your time in Helsinki. It’s a fantastic city and I very much enjoyed my visit.

If you enjoyed this post, find me on Instagram @onthefly.blog, where I share all my travel tips, tails and fails. There will be photos that didn’t make it into the blog, some more detailed stories, and updates about where I’m traveling to.

Don’t hesitate to leave a comment if you have any questions, or if this post was helpful to you!

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