HOW TO SPEND ONE DAY IN HELSINKI

Best Things to do in Helsinki in 1 Day

Are you planning your Helsinki itinerary and wondering about the best things to do in one day in Helsinki? Then read on – whether you visit as a day trip from Tallinn or Stockholm or any other city close by or do a Finland trip and plan to stop in Helsinki in 1 day – here is what you need to know.

When I visited Tallinn in September  (find out about my Tallinn trip here), I also decided to spend a day in Helsinki. It seems a day trip from Tallinn to Helsinki is a great idea since it is easy to get from one place to another.

While I admit that Finland, especially Helsinki, is not probably the first place to visit in Europe as an American, it is a fun place to see if you are in Europe for longer. Helsinki is a beautiful city, and I enjoyed my one day in Helsinki, but it hasn’t become my favorite place in Europe. However, one place has stolen my heart, and here are my top tips for what to do in Helsinki.

Scenic summer panorama of the Market Square (Kauppatori) at the Old Town pier in Helsinki, Finland
Shares
@shutterstock

Disclaimer: Tallinnk provided me with a ferry ticket, but, as always, opinions are my own. This post also contains affiliate links which means I might earn a small commission when you buy a product (at no extra cost to you) after clicking on my link. More about it here.

TRAVEL TIPS FOR 1 DAY IN HELSINKI

Before discussing your Helsinki itinerary, here is some info for your 1 day in Helsinki. I got to Helsinki from Tallinn, but if you get there from a mother place, scroll down a bit, and you’ll find the information you were looking for.

How to Get to Tallinn Harbor – Helsinki Harbor

The best way to get from Tallinn to Helsinki (or the other way around) is to take a ferry.

It takes about 10 minutes by bus from the old town of Tallinn to the Tallinn harbor. It takes about 15 minutes from Helsinki harbor to Helsinki city center by tram.

For the ferry ride, you can either check-in online or at the terminal. You definitely need to have your passport ready. I got my tickets in advance and checked in a few hours before my departure.

Tallinn Harbor- taking a ferry to Helsinki
Shares

I love ferry/boat rides. They are probably my most favorite transport mean. If I love something more than ferry rides, it is food.

Taking a ferry with the Estonian shipping line Tallink from Tallinn to Helsinki in the Business Class was a perfect choice for me, as it combined those two things. So it does not come as a surprise that I enjoyed my ferry ride.

If you are on a budget, you can check out the other categories as well. They should also be more than fine as the ferry left a very good impression. Business Class, however, comes with a good choice of drinks and a buffet. There is also free and fast wifi, newspapers and magazines, and clean toilets.

Tallink recommends arriving at least 30 minutes before departure. It really makes sense because after “check-in, “ it still takes some walking before actually arriving at the ferry.

WHAT TO DO IN HELSINKI IN 1 DAY 

This Helsinki itinerary will start straight away with finding its popular hotspots.

Railway Station

I had about 8 hours in Helsinki and zero ideas about what to do. This day was not planned or organized, so I started my Helsinki trip in the city center. To be more precious, I started at the railway station which has become quite an attraction in Helsinki. I went inside and think it is nice, but if you are in a rush, you can skip it.

Train Station Helsinki
Shares
Train Station Helsinki

Market Square

I headed to the market square next to the water. The market was busy and might be inviting for a nice stroll – I was overwhelmed by all the fur sold there and thus had to escape quickly.

Helsinki Harbor
Shares

Island Hopping

I was happy to spot an “Island Hopping“ tour which stops on three islands (JT-Line, ticket 7€). It was after lunchtime, and so I did not have time to visit all three islands.

Boat tour Helsinki
Shares

Suomenlinna Sea Fortress

The three islands are Suomenlinna Sea Fortress, Lonna Island and Vallisaari, and Kunninkaansaari Islands. I only visited Lonna Island and Suomenlinna Sea Fortress.

While the latter island was awesome and my travel highlight in Helsinki, I recommend skipping Loona Island. It was a little boring, and there was not much to see. Thus I ended up sitting in a cafe where I had some nice but overpriced waffles.

Lonna Island in Helsinki
Shares
Lonna Island in Helsinki

Suomenlinna Sea Fortress Must see Place in Helsinki
Shares

Suomenlinna Sea Fortress was more beautiful than the photos on the leaflet pictured. So green, so lush, so pretty, and full of history (and I should not forget to emphasize those little Hobbit houses). I really enjoyed the island, and I think visiting is one of the best things to do in Helsinki in 1 day.

Suomenlinna Sea Fortress how cute are these houses?
Shares
Suomenlinna Sea Fortress, how cute are these houses?

It is so picturesque, and I could have spent much more time if I had not been in a rush because I had to catch the last boat.

According to some information at the ticket center, visitors should plan in 2 hours to see all of the islands. I definitely agree that it is hard to see all within 1 hour. Though I often rush through places/attractions, this is definitely a place I would have liked to stay much longer at.

It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and not surprisingly one of Finland´s most popular tourist attractions.

It was built in the mid 18.th century to defend the country (back when Finland belonged to the Kingdom of Sweden) and was taken by Russia a few decades later.

After Finland´s independence from Russia in the 20.th century, Finland overtook the fortress again, and it is now open to the public without an extra entrance fee.

I really liked the island I discovered coincidentally and can highly recommend it if the weather is good. So when I left the island, and I already knew that Helsinki was worth the trip.

Suomenlinna Sea Fortress in Helsinki
Shares
Suomenlinna Sea Fortress in Helsinki

So, after this must-see in 1 day in Helsinki (according to me), it is time to head back to the mainland.

Senate Square

Back on the mainland, I got a ticket for the minibus tour at Senate Square. The tour itself was quite short (8€), but I saw some buildings on my way, which I then decided to check out again after the tour.

Shares

Helsinki in 1 day - Senate Square @shutterstock
Shares
Helsinki in 1 day – Senate Square @shutterstock
Helsinki Cathedral @shutterstock
Shares
@shutterstock

Since I did not know what to do, I left Helsinki about an hour earlier than planned and headed to the port to catch my ferry.

I am sure Helsinki has much more to offer, and if the weather had been warmer and I would have planned my day better, I would have seen much more. However, I think Helsinki makes a great day trip from cities like Tallinn or Stockholm and I can definitely recommend visiting Helsinki. I hope, though my day was not perfectly planned out, this Helsinki itinerary will help you for your one day in Helsinki.

Helsini in 1 day
Shares

Though I am sad I did not make the most of it, visiting the island was already a highlight and the whole trip was worth that alone.

I am looking forward to spending more time in Finland since the pictures of Evan Kristine convinced me to re-visit and spend more than 1 day in Finland (read more here).

Goodbye Helsinki
Shares

Book Tours in Helsinki

Since you are reading this post, you are already better prepared than I had ever been for my Helsinki trip if you want to be the best way to book tours in Helsinki in advance (unfortunately, the island hopping tour is not bookable online).

I use GetYourGuide for most of the tours that I book, and I strongly and honestly recommend them to you if you like to have a reliable website where you can book all kinds of tours throughout the world.

So check out different tours in Helsinki if you like to explore more of them.

—–

One day in Helsinki will allow you to get a good overview of the city – but, of course, you would need more time to see the real Helsinki, the hidden gems. But with 1 day in Helsinki, you have the above-outlined itinerary, which hopefully is helpful to you!

 

Safe Travels, Arzo
Shares

More pictures on Instagram. Follow my page on Facebook.

 

Pin It on Pinterest

Shares