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
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@shutterstock

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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 precise, I started at the railway station which has become quite an attraction in Helsinki. I went inside and thought it was nice, but if you are in a rush, you can skip it.

Train Station Helsinki
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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
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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
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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
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Lonna Island in Helsinki

Suomenlinna Sea Fortress Must see Place in Helsinki
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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?
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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-18th.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, I already knew that Helsinki was worth the trip.

Suomenlinna Sea Fortress in Helsinki
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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.

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

Helsinki Cathedral @shutterstock
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@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 had 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
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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
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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.

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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!

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