Helsinki itinerary — 3 days

Affectionately known as "Espa," the Esplanadi is a picturesque promenade park stretching through central Helsinki from Erottaja to Market Square. Lined with stately linden trees, lush flower beds, and public statues honoring national poets like Johan Ludvig Runeberg, it offers a beloved gathering spot for locals and travelers. The historic 1867 glass-walled restaurant Kappeli and the outdoor Espa stage host lively concerts throughout summer.

Operating beside Helsinki's South Harbour since 1889, the Old Market Hall (Vanha kauppahalli) is housed in a handsome red-and-yellow brick building designed by Gustaf Nyström. Wooden market stalls offer traditional Finnish culinary specialties, including hearty creamy salmon soup, smoked Baltic herring, cured reindeer, artisan cheeses, and freshly baked Karelian pastries.

Helsinki's historic waterside plaza situated on the edge of the South Harbour. Sheltered under cheerful orange canopies, market stalls bustle with local vendors selling hot smoked salmon soup, pan-fried Baltic vendace, freshly picked Nordic berries, and traditional handicraft souvenirs. The square serves as the primary ferry departure terminal for Suomenlinna fortress and features the beloved Havis Amanda fountain.

A unique floating marine spa and open-air bathing complex set directly on the South Harbour by Helsinki's Market Square. Built on floating pontoons, it features heated freshwater pools, an authentic pool filled with filtered Baltic seawater, and traditional Finnish saunas. Its sprawling wooden rooftop decks offer magnificent views across the busy harbor, passing passenger ferries, and the red-brick Uspenski Cathedral.

The red-brick Uspenski Cathedral on the Katajanokka headland is the largest Orthodox church in Western Europe. Built in 1868 to architect Alexey Gornostaev's design, its Byzantine silhouette with thirteen green domes and gilded crosses rises over Helsinki's waterfront. Inside are the carved altar canopy by Akseli Gallen-Kallela and icons brought from Russian monasteries. Admission is free; services are held in Finnish and Church Slavonic.

Founded in 1889, Korkeasaari Zoo occupies an entire rocky island in the Baltic archipelago just off Helsinki's coast. The historic sanctuary is dedicated to wildlife conservation, providing naturalistic habitats for around 150 animal species with a special focus on endangered cold-climate fauna like snow leopards and Amur tigers. Visitors can reach the island via a footbridge or take a delightful summer ferry ride from Market Square.

Finland's best-known art museum and the heart of the Finnish National Gallery, open since 1888 in a neoclassical building facing the Central Railway Station. The collection celebrates the Golden Age of Finnish painting — Gallen-Kallela, Edelfelt, Järnefelt — including the Kalevala-themed frescoes made for the 1900 Paris World Fair, alongside works by Van Gogh, Gauguin and Signac.

The architectural crown of Finnish rail transit, designed by Eliel Saarinen and completed in 1919. Built from rough-hewn Finnish red granite, this National Romantic landmark blends Art Nouveau sensibilities with streamlined early modernism. Its monumental entrance is flanked by the iconic "Lantern Bearers" (Lyhdynkantajat) — four colossal stone giants sculpted by Emil Wikström holding spherical glowing globes beside a clock tower.

The white neoclassical cathedral with a green dome is Helsinki's defining building, raised in 1830–1852 to Carl Ludvig Engel's design and completed after his death. Until 1917 it was known as St Nicholas' Church, honouring the Russian tsar. The roof ridge carries zinc figures of the twelve apostles, an unusual decoration for a cathedral. Entry is free; inside is a strict, light hall, and the crypt hosts exhibitions and concerts.

The heart of Helsinki: a white neoclassical cathedral with green domes above stately Senate Square. Carl Ludvig Engel shaped the ensemble in the early 19th century and the church was consecrated in 1852. Tsar Alexander II stands at the centre, flanked by the Government Palace and the university's main building. Festivals fill the square in summer; an ice rink takes over in winter.

A quintessential Finnish dining experience situated directly on Senate Square with views of Helsinki Cathedral. Built with centuries-old timber logs and authentic tools salvaged from historic logging camps, the restaurant immerses guests in Finland's forestry heritage. The menu features time-honored dishes such as roast reindeer, elk, bear, lake fish, and cloudberries, paired with rustic hospitality and Finnish spirits.

A public sauna on the Hernesaari waterfront shaped as a sculptural terrace of wooden slats, built by Avanto Architects in 2016. Three saunas wait inside - continuously heated, wood-fired and a traditional smoke sauna - with a restaurant and a terrace stepping down to the sea. The local ritual is to plunge into the Baltic after the heat, whatever the season. Sessions are sold in two-hour slots, towel and shower gel included.

An 18th-century sea fortress spread over six interconnected islands off Helsinki, recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Founded by Sweden in 1748 as Sveaborg to guard the Baltic approaches, it is now an open-air cultural park and residential community. Visitors can explore massive granite ramparts, historical artillery, mysterious underground tunnels, and the grand King's Gate.