Outdoors · Helsinki · Finland
6 best outdoor things to do in Helsinki
Parks, viewpoints and open-air sights for the dry, bright days.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Simbe, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Start with Suomenlinna sea fortress, Sibelius Monument and Esplanadi park. Together the 6 picks below take roughly 10–13 hours across 6 areas; 3 are free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 6
- Free entry
- 3
- Time to see them all
- 10–13 hours
- Areas
- Suomenlinna, Töölö and Kaartinkaupunki
Outdoors in Helsinki
Historic site · Suomenlinna
1.Suomenlinna sea fortress
Take the HSL ferry from Market Square on a regular public-transport ticket and walk the blue route from the main quay to the King's Gate on the far side.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- History
- Outdoors
- Kids
- Views
- Photo spot
Landmark · Töölö
2.Sibelius Monument
Walk the shoreline from the monument to the café and on towards Seurasaari for a 1-hour loop.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Art
- Iconic
- Outdoors
Park · Kaartinkaupunki
3.Esplanadi park
Buy a coffee and pastry and join the locals on the lawns on a sunny afternoon.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Shopping
- Couples
Museum · Seurasaari
4.Seurasaari Open-Air Museum
Bring nuts for the squirrels and walk the coastal path around the island.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Outdoors
- Kids
- Nature
Zoo · Korkeasaari
5.Korkeasaari Zoo
Take the summer waterbus from Market Square one way and walk back over the bridges via Mustikkamaa.
- Time needed
- 3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Nature
Park · Ullanlinna
6.Kaivopuisto park and seafront
Walk the shore from Kaivopuisto west to Eira and Hernesaari, ending with a sauna at Löyly.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Views
- Couples
- Kids
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Suomenlinna | Suomenlinna sea fortress | Half a day |
| Töölö | Sibelius Monument | 30 minutes |
| Kaartinkaupunki | Esplanadi park | 45 minutes |
| Seurasaari | Seurasaari Open-Air Museum | 2–3 hours |
| Korkeasaari | Korkeasaari Zoo | 3 hours |
| Ullanlinna | Kaivopuisto park and seafront | 1–2 hours |
Booking and timing
Of these 6, 3 free, 2 low cost, 1 mid-priced. None needs booking far in advance. The longest visit is Suomenlinna sea fortress; group the rest by area to save travel time.
How to fit them into 3 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Suomenlinna and Töölö): Suomenlinna sea fortress → Sibelius Monument, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Kaartinkaupunki and Seurasaari): Esplanadi park → Seurasaari Open-Air Museum, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 3 (Korkeasaari and Ullanlinna): Korkeasaari Zoo → Kaivopuisto park and seafront, at least 4 hours.
The best months to be outside
- July: highs of 22°C (72°F), about 8 rainy days, very busy crowds. Warmest month and Finland's main holiday period; some restaurants close for a few weeks while terraces and beaches are full.
- May: highs of 15°C (59°F), about 6 rainy days, moderate crowds. One of the driest, brightest months, with leaves arriving mid-month and outdoor cafés filling up.
- June: highs of 19°C (66°F), about 8 rainy days, busy crowds. Long white nights and island boats running; the city empties over Midsummer weekend when locals head to cottages.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Töölö — Leafy residential district of parks, Sibelius Monument, the Rock Church and a city beach
More of Helsinki
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Helsinki?
Suomenlinna sea fortress. Built by the Swedish crown from 1748 across six linked islands, Suomenlinna is a UNESCO-listed sea fortress with bastions, tunnels, cannons, a dry dock and about 800 year-round residents.
+Which of these are free in Helsinki?
Sibelius Monument, Esplanadi park and Kaivopuisto park and seafront.