There are two that I can think of and they were both marvelous sights to see!
Bus fares aside, there are a couple of places just outside of the center that I urge you to explore as one of the top free things to do in Helsinki because I guarantee you that you will never, ever regret it!
We didn’t expect such a small city like Helsinki to have so much energy and versatility! I was even amazed at how the ‘old’ and the ‘new’ blend in such perfect harmony, that I can absolutely agree with just about anyone who makes a statement that the architectural scene here is captivatingly impeccable.
So apart from parks, churches, cathedrals, museums, and shopping areas, (which I will be discussing below in other top free things to do in Helsinki), there are 3 other main attractions that you must absolutely see; and I bet that much like me, you’ll be amazed at Helsinki’s charming architecture. They are, after all, awarded as the World Design Capital last 2012 and that says a ton about the prevalence of design and art among many others.

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Free Things to Do in Finland

1. Explore the city on foot to see its famous landmarks

Hello: Moi (MOI), Hei (HAY), Terve (TEHR-veh)
Thank you: Kiitos. (KEE-tohss)
Yes: Kyllä (KUUL-la), Joo (yoh)
No: Ei. (ay)
Goodbye (formal): Näkemiin. (NAK-eh-meen)
Goodbye (informal): Hei hei (HAY-hay), Moi moi (MOI-moi)

Photo by: Jussi Hellsten / Visit Helsinki
Photo by: Paul Williams / Visit Helsinki

  • Senate Square: This place displays unique Neoclassical architecture filled with 4 domineering buildings: the Government Palace, the Helsinki Cathedral, the National Library of Finland, and the University of Helsinki. You could even find the Sederholm House here in the southeast part of the square which is said to be the oldest stone building in the city.

TRIVIA: Every 5:49PM, you will hear the “Sound of the Senate Square” which is a composition by Harri Viitanen and Jyrki Alakuijala and a moden version of the European glockenspiel (xylophone-like instrument).

  • Central Railway Station (Rautatieasema): Back in 2013, this station was called one of the world’s most beautiful railway stations by BBC — and it’s no wonder why. As you set foot here, you will be awed by its design and you will also see 2 distinguishing features: the clock tower and the pair of male statues that are holding spherical lamps. This is, by all means, the focal point of public transport in the area and with the number of passengers that come here every day, naturally, it became Finland’s most-visited building.

It’s a great way to acquaint yourself with the typical goods and fare that are unique to Helsinki and Finland as a whole — and who knows, you might find some cheap finds!

  • Olympic Stadium: In 1952, the Olympic Games were held here. Today, it hosts national and international sports and outdoor concert events. One of the cool things about this is its ‘Stadium Tower’ that rises 72 meters high. For a small fee (€5 for adults), you can go up to see a bird’s eye view of central Helsinki. Regrettably, January 2016 marks the renovation of the Olympic Stadium but it will open up again by 2019!

Photo by: Jussi Hellsten / Visit Helsinki

2. Enjoy the FREE museums!

Photo by: Jussi Hellsten / Visit Helsinki

TIP: Join a city tour of Helsinki here, or you can also join a hop-on hop-off tour bus here.
Most of Helsinki’s museums are paid, but they have certain days when entrance is free; therefore if you can time your stay well, you can definitely enjoy these perks as one of your top free things to do in Helsinki.
I was invited to Helsinki months ago by its tourism board in order to take part in their campaign named #HelsinkiSecret. Their simple yet exciting aim for this project was to introduce the city to travelers like me as they planned experiences that would give us an overview of how the locals live in this distinguished capital of Finland. (Free Things to Do in Helsinki)

  • Suomenlinna Sea Fortress: this isn’t exactly a museum per se, however as one of the biggest sea fortresses in the world, its rich history is enough for it to be regarded as somewhat of a ‘museum’ in itself (rest assured, there are distinct museums in the island). Now, this is one of the most popular attractions not only in Helsinki but the whole of Finland; besides, it is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage since 1991 due to how it portrays unique European military architecture.
    • FREE entrance, but you’ll have to pay for the ferry to go to this island (which can be free with the Helsinki Card.
      .
  • Seurasaari Open-Air Museum: this is yet another island near Helsinki that’s worth looking into because it is in this place where you can see a tranquil oasis of Finnish buildings that are specially relocated here in order to perfectly portray the traditional Finnish way of life.
    • FREE entrance, but you’ll have to pay for the ferry to go to this island (which can be free with the Helsinki Card) or you can also go via a bridge from Meihlahti.
      .
  • Finnish Museum of Natural History: to see the diversity of Finnish nature (from south to north of Lapland) but also of the world as a whole.
    • FREE on the 1st Friday of the month
      .
  • Kiasma – Museum of Contemporary Art: as the name implies, Kiasma exhibits contemporary art collections of the Finnish Natural Gallery.
    • FREE on the 1st Friday of the month
      .
  • National Museum of Finland: to witness Finnish history from the Stone Age up to the present day.
    • FREE on the 1st Friday of the month

3. Venture out into Kallio

Like what you see in the photos above (the one on top of this number and the brown structure in the featured photo), these are not the typical churches that you would often see in cities; hence with their uniqueness, I recommend that you take the time to check them out as part of your free things to do in Helsinki!

Like what you see in the photos above (the one on top of this number and the brown structure in the featured photo), these are not the typical churches that you would often see in cities; hence with their uniqueness, I recommend that you take the time to check them out as part of your free things to do in Helsinki!
Like what you see in the photos above (the one on top of this number and the brown structure in the featured photo), these are not the typical churches that you would often see in cities; hence with their uniqueness, I recommend that you take the time to check them out as part of your free things to do in Helsinki!
Like what you see in the photos above (the one on top of this number and the brown structure in the featured photo), these are not the typical churches that you would often see in cities; hence with their uniqueness, I recommend that you take the time to check them out as part of your free things to do in Helsinki!
Like what you see in the photos above (the one on top of this number and the brown structure in the featured photo), these are not the typical churches that you would often see in cities; hence with their uniqueness, I recommend that you take the time to check them out as part of your free things to do in Helsinki!
In case you want to escape the city scene in search of green spaces to lounge in, I can assure you now that there are a lot of parks spread out across Helsinki. The best ones would be:

  • Nuuksio National Park: About a 40-minute bus ride away from the capital, you will be greeted by the vast setting of typical Finnish natural scenery. Now, Nuuksio offers guided tours and services but that doesn’t mean that you can’t do stuff on your own — because you can. For instance, with their well-marked trails, you can freely hike and bike on your own (and rest assured, it’s simply impossible to get lost here). Feel free to camp or do picnics here too!
    • TIP: Join a half-day trip to Nuuksio from Helsinki here.
      .
  • Porvoo: In just less than an hour, you can visit this 2nd oldest city in Finland and you will be absolutely charmed by its iconic red wooden shore houses and cobblestone streets. For sure, you shouldn’t miss out on visiting the Old Town which dates back to the Middle Ages, as well as the Old Railway Station.

For more free things to do in Helsinki, I have come to know of 2 places where you can have the chance to watch concerts at no charge:

Helsinki Travel Guide

For more free things to do in Helsinki, I have come to know of 2 places where you can have the chance to watch concerts at no charge:
For more free things to do in Helsinki, I have come to know of 2 places where you can have the chance to watch concerts at no charge:

– – –
By taxi. Taxis start at €5.90 on weekdays and €9 after 8 PM and Sundays, and an additional €1.52 is charged for every kilometer.
By tram, bus, or metro. All public transportation in Helsinki has a standardized charge:
Much like the cathedrals that I’ve listed, I have also discovered 2 churches that were very special — mostly because of how they were constructed.
“You don’t need money to have a good time!” — and that’s absolutely true! Below are a few of the major happenings all throughout the year that is a must on your free things to do in Helsinki list.

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