pinterest pin The Christmas Markets of Helsinki

Prologue

During the Christmas of 2019, we decided to set off for a marathon road run, A Baltic and Scandinavian Christmas | A 7000 km Cruise and Road Trip across Germany, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Finland, and Sweden from the Netherlands | Travel Itinerary, Tips, and Tricks, that turned out to be one of the most memorable trips of our lifetime. So based on our experience, today I’m going to take you along with me on a ride across the top 6 things to see and do during Christmas in Helsinki, the capital of Finland. Let the journey begin!

About Finland

Finland is among the northernmost and remotest countries in the world. Finland is the most densely forested country in Europe, with around 70% of the land being blanketed by thick woodlands, making it the most densely forested country in Europe. Finland also serves as a symbolic northern border between western and eastern Europe, with extensive wilderness and Russia to the east, the Gulf of Bothnia to the west, and Sweden in the middle. Finland was a part of Swedish territory from the 12th century until 1809, when it became a Russian grand duchy. Finland declared its independence on December 6, 1917, following the Russian Revolution.

Welcome to Helsinki

Helsinki is the capital city of Finland, home to more than 1.4 million people. Despite being in the northernmost corner of Europe, it is highly accessible by a network of flights from East to West or by ferry over the Baltic Sea from St. Petersburg, Estonia, and Sweden, sailing through 300 mesmerizing islands of the Helsinki archipelago.

Helsinki dates back to the year 1550, but until the early nineteenth century, Helsinki remained an unimportant coastal town. That changed when the Russians moved the capital from Turku to Helsinki in 1812. From then on, Helsinki grew rapidly. Today, the Finns are ahead of the rest of Europe in many areas, including technology, education, medical care, and legislation, making Helsinki a city with high standards as well as a high cost of living.

Top 6 Things to See and Do during Christmas in Helsinki

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1. Visit the Christmas Markets at the Helsinki Cathedral Square and Market Square

In the Finnish capital, the first significant snowfall usually falls in time for Christmas, blanketing the city in white and creating a joyous atmosphere. The encouraging warmth emanates from the city's main street, Aleksanterinkatu, and the throng of shoppers visiting the Helsinki Christmas Market.

While the sun may be reluctant to rise as winter settles in on Helsinki, the aroma of mulled wine, or glögi, and shop window decorations warm the heart as the holiday season approaches. People take advantage of pikkujoulu, or "little Christmas," when they celebrate in pubs and restaurants, because Christmas is normally a quiet family affair. Despite the fact that the temperature drops below minus 10 degrees Celsius at this time of the year, the atmosphere still remains one of warm conviviality. Even when the temperature drops, shops and restaurants gleam with a warm glow, and Finnish structures are known for their ability to withstand the worst frost. When you add carol concerts in churches to the mix, it's hard to believe Helsinki wasn't built for the sole purpose of celebrating Christmas.

There are a couple of beautiful Christmas Markets in Helsinki. The primary one is in front of the grand Helsinki Cathedral where the main Christmas Tree is put up. A smaller Christmas Market is set up at the Market Square, 500 m away from the Helsinki Cathedral.

giant christmas tree at Christmas Markets at the Helsinki Cathedral Square and Market Square finland

2. Enjoy the Christmas Decors

Across the Old Town, you can find Christmas decors - big and small, Christmas street lightings, and various other decorations.

christmas decors at Christmas Markets at the Helsinki Cathedral Square and Market Square finland

Christmas Markets at the Helsinki Cathedral Square and Market Square finland

3. Marvel at the Helsinki Cathedral

The Cathedral, designed by Carl Ludvig Engel and towering on the northern side of the Senate Square, is a major tourist attraction and the site of national and academic celebratory services. The chapel is a landmark for tourists arriving by sea and is part of Helsinki's Empire-era center. It has become a symbol for Helsinki as a whole. The current major church of the Helsinki Diocese was completed in 1852 and was previously known as St. Nicholas Church and Great Cathedral. The city is guarded by sculptures of the twelve apostles on the church's top. Exhibitions at the Crypt (Kirkkokatu 18), as well as a souvenir shop called the Cathedral Shop in the summer.

christmas tree at Helsinki Cathedral finland

4. Visit the Uspensky Cathedral

The Uspenski Cathedral, which opened in 1868, serves as the site of worship for the Orthodox Parish of Helsinki and the Diocese of Helsinki. It is also one of Helsinki's most important attractions, hosting a number of concerts each year. Every year, roughly half a million people visit the cathedral.

The Uspenski Cathedral is regarded as Northern and Western Europe's largest Orthodox temple. The cathedral's size is underlined by its location on the Katajanokka district's tallest hill. The cathedral's central cupola stands 33 meters tall. The church, with its golden cupolas and redbrick exterior, is one of the most visible markers of Russian influence on Finnish history.

5. Get amazed by the Sibelius Monument

Finnish composer Jean Sibelius once exclaimed, “Pay no attention to what the critics say. A statue has never been erected in honor of a critic.” The Sibelius Monument in Helsinki is putting his words into practice.

The abstract monument, created by Finnish sculptor Eila Hiltunen in 1967, resembles a soundwave made out of clusters of organ pipes. Almost 600 steel pipes are haphazardly placed together at varying heights, with the highest pipe reaching over 27 feet in the air.

The monument was created to represent the spirit of Sibelius' music, but because of its abstract nature, many critics said that it did not directly honor the composer. To this aim, a big bust of Sibelius was erected at the foot of the monument to avoid any confusion among visitors.

6. Wonder at the architecture of the Temppeliaukio Church

The Temppeliaukio church is located in the center of Helsinki, at the end of Fredrikinkatu, and was excavated directly into solid rock. The church, which was finished in 1969, is one of Helsinki's biggest attractions due to its unique style. A copper-lined dome covers the church hall, which is supported on the rock walls by reinforced concrete beams. Rugged rock and rubble make up the inside walls. The light from the series of windows that surround the roof periphery reaches the altar wall, where an ice-age crevice serves as the altarpiece, just before midday. The church is a famous musical venue due to its superb acoustics.

Temppeliaukio rock Church with copper dome helsinki finland

Visiting Helsinki

Best Time to Visit: Normally, the tour brochures say that the best season to visit Helsinki is summer (June to August) due to warm weather, outdoor events, and extended daylight hours thanks to the Midnight Sun, or early autumn (September) due to cooler temperatures and beautiful fall foliage. That’s true. But what they don’t say is that another great time to visit Helsinki is during Christmas when quaint Christmas Markets and decorations adorn the city. The downside could be that the days are quite short but the Christmas Marlet lights bring the city to life even after sunset. So nothing to worry about! We visited Helsinki during Christmas.

Number of Days to Stay: Two to three days are perfect for sightseeing in Helsinki. During this time, you can see the main attractions, and take in the local cuisine and culture.

Best Place to Stay: According to us, the City Center (Keskusta) is the best place to stay. If you stay here, you'll be close to many of Helsinki's main attractions, such as Helsinki Cathedral, and the Market Square. It's handy for dining, shopping, and public transportation. The bustling district of Kampp is another option to stay. It is well-known for its eateries, shopping scene, and transportation hubs. If you're looking to stay in a more bohemian and creative zone, Punavuori or Kallio are excellent options because of their trendy vibe, boutique shops, pubs, cafes, and exciting nightlife. We stayed in the City Center.

Best Way to Arrive: Helsinki-Vantaa Airport, which is roughly 17 km north of the city center, offers flights to a number of foreign locations. Helsinki also has good ferry links to Tallinn (Estonia), Stockholm (Sweden), and St. Petersburg (Russia). Travelers may find the ferry terminals to be a convenient option because they are close to the city center. Helsinki has excellent rail connections to major cities in both Finland and Russia, including St. Petersburg via the Allegro train. Numerous bus companies provide trips from different places in Finland and surrounding countries to Helsinki. Kamppi is home to Helsingin Linja-Autoasema, the main bus terminal. You can also choose to drive to Helsinki, particularly if you want to explore the neighboring area. We sailed over the Baltic Sea into Helsinki from Tallinn along with our car on the ferry.

Best Local Mode of Conveyance: Helsinki's public transportation system, run by the Helsinki Regional Transport Authority (HSL), is extensive, including buses, trams, metro, and ferries among its offerings. Ridesharing services such as Uber are operational and taxis are easily accessible. Helsinki is also a bike-friendly city with designated bike lanes and rental services. Helsinki is also an extremely walkable city, particularly in the central area. It's easy to explore on foot because many attractions are close to one another. And if you wish to take side trips to surrounding islands or other coastal regions, regular ferry services are provided by Helsinki City Transport or other private companies.

Epilogue

So that brings us to the end of our journey across the top 6 things to see and do in Helsinki during Christmas. Please let us know in the comments below if you enjoyed reading this article.

And if you wish to read the day-by-day account of our complete 7000 km road run across the Baltics and Scandinavia during Christmas 2019, please visit our article A Baltic and Scandinavian Christmas | A 7000 km Cruise and Road Trip across Germany, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Finland, and Sweden from the Netherlands | Travel Itinerary, Tips, and Tricks. Until then, merry traveling and happy shooting!