Finland is the most sparsely populated country in the European Union, so we headed to the country’s largest city and capital to find out what Finland is all about. Check out our 10 must see places in Helsinki: 
10 Must See Places in Helsinki
1. Helsinki Central Station
You will most likely end up here during your travel to or from Helsinki, but if not it is worth a look around the station. Our AirBnB host claimed it was the most beautiful building in the city. After checking it out for ourselves and doing a quick online search we learned the station was in fact voted the world’s most beautiful railway station in 2013. So there you have it!
2. Kamppi Chapel
The unique architecture of this building will catch your eye. The chapel is made from three different types of wood with the entire exterior made of spruce. The building is used a meeting place for people to appreciate peace and quiet in the middle of the city. It is free to go inside, so be sure to check it out!
3. Helsinki Cathedral
A landmark in the city and a gathering place that makes for excellent people watching. The Helsinki Cathedral has a long history as it was built in 1852. Today the church is visited mostly by tourists, but it does hold regular ceremonies and weddings.
4. Uspenski Cathedral
This cathedral overlooks the city and can be seen from many places in Helsinki. Construction was completed in 1868 and was designed by a Russian architect Aleksey Gornostayev. The cathedral is free to visit.
5. Market Square
A central location bordering the Baltic Sea. From Spring to Fall the square is busy with vendors and outdoor cafes. You can catch a ferry to Suomenlinna Island from here. We found it to be the perfect place to souvenir shop and grab some fresh (yet expensive) fruit.
6. Huvilakatu Street
Don’t miss this very “instagrammable” spot for sure! Huvilakatu Street is lined with colorful castle-style homes. There is no way you could live here and not be in a good mood every time you walked into your candy colored home. Take a look on AirBnB and you may get lucky enough to stay in one of these homes!
7. Finlandia Hall
This is an event venue in the center of Helsinki. Don’t confuse this Finlandia with the popular Finnish brand of vodka also named Finlandia!
8. Sibelius Monument
This monument is dedicated to the Finnish composer Jean Sibelius. The structure is made of 600 hollow steel pipes that create a wave like structure. The pipes form different tones and some say you can hear music playing as the wind moves through the pipes.
9. Regatta Cafe
A small cafe located right on the water. You can only imagine cozying up inside the tiny shop in the winter with snow falling outside. In the summer this shop has lots of small tables outside with amazing views of the water.
10. Travel by Ferry
Okay so our 10th must see place is to encourage you to see some of the many beautiful places near Helsinki. From Helsinki you have the option to take a ferry a few destinations. Locally, you can access several islands such as Suomenlinna Island, popular for hiking and nature walks. You can also take a ferry to another country. We took the ferry to Tallinn, Estonia and spent two days exploring Tallinn. You can also take a ferry to St. Petersburg Russia and stay for up to 48 hours without a visa!
While Helsinki has a lot to offer in the city and plenty of destinations to ferry to, it also has great day trip options via train or bus. Check out our Day Trip to Porvoo for details on this charming Finland town.
