Top places to visit around Helsinki

Heading south – island-hopping in the archipelago

The islands in the bay around Helsinki have come of age in recent years. The Helsinki archipelago consists of over 300 islands, many with public transit boat access. Whether you’re looking for nature, history or food – just jump on a taxi boat and head out across the water.

The old fortress islands of Suomenlinna are only 15 minutes by boat from the city. A UNESCO Word Heritage site, Suomenlinna is one of Helsinki’s most popular attractions. Visitors are drawn to more than 10 museums and art galleries, some 15 restaurants and cafés, a sheltered swimming bay, a summer theatre and more. There are also facilities for people with reduced mobility.

The island is also the home of many Helsinki residents so a ferry goes to Suomenlinna year-round. You can get to the island from the main market square on a ferry that’s part of the city’s transport network (HSL), so you don’t need to buy an extra ticket if you already have a HSL pass.

If you want to check out more islands in the bay, then head over to the JT-Line kiosk for a hop-on hop-off ticket that will get you to the islands of Lonna, Vallisaari and Kuninkaansaari too.

Lonna is a tiny island for people with big appetites; its restaurant is a great place to try traditional archipelago dishes made from local ingredients. There’s also a wood-burning public sauna (with separate sessions for men and women). The sauna, a great example of modern Finnish wooden architecture, was designed by OOPEEAA and completed in 2017.

Vallisaari was exclusively used by the Finnish military and closed to the public until May 2016. While access to some parts of the island is still prohibited, there’s a lot of nature and history to see by walking the 3-kilometre Alexander Tour (named after Russia’s Czar Alexander II). Walk across to adjoining Kuninkaansaari for another 2.5-kilometre circular route. The islands are hillier than they look, so pack a good pair of shoes.

JT-Line runs several boats per day to the islands between 1 May and 30 September. In the peak summer months, there’s a boat from Hakaniemi too.

If you want to try something truly characteristic to summer Helsinki and its archipelago, head to one of the iconic island restaurants, such as restaurant Saari, Pihlajasaari, Särkänlinna or Saaristo. The restaurant islands are located right outside of the Helsinki city center and Kaivopuisto park.

Can’t get enough of the Helsinki archipelago? Head west towards the city of Espoo and you’ll find even more islands to discover.

Pentala, located in Espoo’s Suvisaaristo district, is a large 130-hectare island full of archipelagic history. The museum located at Pentala provides a diverse account of both everyday life and holiday time in the archipelago – you can, for example, visit an authentic fisherman’s cottage. The island is also a place for nature lovers as approximately half of Pentala is a nature conservation area. In the middle of the island you can find Lake Pentalanjärvi with beautifully rugged shores.

Iso Vasikkasaari is the island to visit if you’re looking for a break from the city life in nature. With the exception of its northeastern corner, Iso Vasikkasaari is an outdoor recreation area. Delightful seashore meadows fringe the island’s shores, those in the southern parts being the most diverse. There is a one-time fisherman’s dwelling, now serving as a kiosk. The island also has a quaint summer restaurant called Gula Villan, which means Yellow Manor in Swedish.

There is a regular boat service to both of the islands in the summertime.

Heading west – arriving in Fiskars for a trip back in time

Fiskars, the village that gave the famous Finnish brand its name, is less than 100 kilometres west of Helsinki. But it’s like stepping into another world. Fiskars was first developed as an ironworks in the mid 1600s, and is today still an important place of design, art and craft. Trees planted centuries ago line the road that leads to the village, winding alongside the bubbling Fiskars river. It’s picture perfect in every direction.

You can reach Fiskars with a 55-minute train ride from the Helsinki Central Railway Station to Karjaa. From there it’s 20-minutes by bus into the village. Most of Finland’s trains run on renewable energy, but if you come in a car with an electrical engine there are two charging points in Fiskars.

Check out the museums and other exhibits about how the villagers used to live, or visit the many artisans who have set up shop in Fiskars. Woodwork, pottery, handbags, candles, jewellery – there’s a lot of handwork going on in the village. The Ägräs Distillery makes spirits from wild Finnish herbs, sharing space with the Fiskars Brewery and its selection of beers and ciders. You can try them all in the adjoining Tap Room.

Fiskars is a popular mountain biking spot too; more than 60 kilometres of trails wind through the forests around the village. You can rent bikes at the Fiskars Village Trail Center. To spend the weekend or longer, check out the Hotel Tegel. It’s a beautiful building that once served as one of the village’s original workshops. The hotel is equipped with facilities for people with reduced mobility too.

For longer stays in the area of Raseborg, take a look at Mustion Linna (“Svarta Slott” in Swedish). This beautiful lake-side manor house has various accommodation options and a high-end restaurant serving local food. When exploring the surrounding area, be sure to check out the 700-year old Raseborg Castle Ruins.

On your way back into Helsinki, make a stop at Hvitträsk – studio home to the famous Finnish architects Gesellius, Lindgren and Saarinen. The trio designed many of the iconic national buildings, like the National Museum of Finland. Eliel Saarinen’s main works include the Central Railway Station in Helsinki. Eliel’s son Eero was also a famous architect. TWA Flight Center in New York City, recently converted into a luxury hotel, is one of Eero’s most celebrated works.

The Espoo Museum of Modern Art (EMMA) and the Helsinki home of Alvar Aalto (the Aalto House) are on the route too. You can also check out some of Aalto’s architecture work at the nearby University campus of Otaniemi.

Photo of Aalto House by Maija Holma, Alvar Aalto Foundation.

Heading north – Tuusula’s treasure of famous Finnish artists

Less than 20-kilometres north of Helsinki airport lies Lake Tuusula, where some of Finland’s most iconic artists, designers and composers had homes. If you want a window into the worlds of Alvar Aalto, Jean Sibelius, Aleksis Kivi and others, then Lake Tuusula is the place to visit.

Start at Villa Kokkonen, the home that architect and designer Alvar Aalto made for composer Joonas Kokkonen in 1969. Aalto took on the project late in his career, creating a house that would inspire Kokkonen to write his masterwork: The Last Temptations. One of the main features of the house is a room where Aalto paid attention to acoustic profile. Kokkonen’s grand piano and original manuscripts are still there for visitors to see.

Listed as one of the world’s most iconic houses, Villa Kokkonen today serves as a private home to classical musicians Antti Pesonen and Elina Viitala. They give guided tours of the property 365 days a year, also serving some of the finest cake, coffee and tea you’ll find anywhere in Helsinki. A piano and opera performance is part of the program too.

Villa Kokkonen is close to Ainola, the home of famous Finnish composer Jean Sibelius. Open to visitors during the summer months, Ainola has a beautiful garden of flowers, fruit trees and berry bushes. Within a walking distance from Ainola, located at the end of a beautiful Lake Tuusula cape, is Halossenniemi – a museum and the former home of Pekka Halonen who is one of the most beloved artists of the ‘Golden Era’ of Finnish art.

For a bite to eat or a place to stay, check out the old farmstead of Krapihovi. They also have a lakeside smoke sauna beside a golf course.

Heading east – for chocolate, cake and craft beer

The east side of the Helsinki region gives way to farmlands, hamlets and archipelago life. There is a lot to see if you know where to look.

As you head out the city, stock up on chocolate at the Fazer Visitor Centre in Vantaa. It’s a beautiful café, store and event space the chocolate brand built to celebrate its 125th birthday in 2016. Well worth a stop – also for those who are interested in modern architecture. If you are visiting during the weekend, book a table in advance as the famous Saturday and Sunday brunch is popular also with locals.

Continue your chocolate adventure in the town of Porvoo, a popular day-trip some 50 kilometres from Helsinki. Buses go each hour from Kamppi station. Once in Porvoo, cross over the main road to enter the old town. Here you can find all the chocolate, crafts and souvenirs you want. Visit Porvoon Paahtimo for food and beer in a cosy atmosphere next to the river.

Heading further east will get you to the wooden town of Loviisa and the Malmgård Brewery. Tours and beer tastings are organized by request. You can also buy food produced on the Malmgård estate. East of Loviisa, you can visit two other historical Finnish seaside towns – Kotka and Hamina. In Kotka, the modern Maritime Museum Vellamo is worth a visit. The museum draws well over 100 000 visitors annually.

Turn right towards the sea almost anywhere along this route eastwards to find a small archipelago harbour where you can buy ice cream and coffee.