Do you enjoy fun activities, breathtaking views and cool places? If yes, then you have to check out this post and see all the best places to visit in Helsinki!
1. Listen to live music in the bars and clubs of Helsinki
There are several bars and clubs in Helsinki where you can listen to amazing live music. Whether you enjoy jazz, country or electronic music you will find a place that suits your music taste. Here I listed 3 of my favourite places to go to.
- Storyville is a legendary Jazz Club right next to Parliament House. During the summers this bar has an atmospheric Garden Terrace where the local and international musicians come to perform nearly every day. During other seasons the terrace is closed and the gigs are performed inside the Piano Bar. In this bar you can listen to jazz, blues, country and other genres! Fun fact – in 2016 Storyville was ranked as one of the best Jazz Clubs in the World!
- Where: Museokatu 8, Helsinki
- When: Live Music is performed almost every day on Monday-Saturday 19-22 and Sunday 15-18
- How much: Free entry
- Tenho Restobar is a bar/restaurant that is located in Kallio. Here you can usually listen to live music during Sundays at the SunJazz club. They also have Dildo Bingo and poetry nights.
- Where: Helsinginkatu 15, Helsinki
- When: every day Mon-Thu (16-23) Fri (16-01) Sat (16-01) Sun (14-23)
- How much: Free entry
- Harju 8 is a restaurant in Kallio that offers nice brunch, wine and lunch. During the summer the terrace is open and every Sunday you can come here to enjoy live Sunday Jazz Jams. You can find the information about the jazz jams on their instagram here.
- Where: Harjutori 8, Kallio
- When: Sunday Jazz Jams are every Sunday from June to August (18-22)
- How much: Free entry
You can find more live music bars and clubs here.
2. Try indoor Surfing inside a Shopping Mall
Surf House Helsinki is an indoors surfing spot inside the shopping Mall Tripla in Pasila. If Finland is too cold for you, don’t worry in this place the temperature will be of +27°C/+80.6°F. In addition to the surfing experience you can also enjoy sauna, food & drinks and events.
- Where: Mall of Tripla, Pasila, Helsinki
- When: Mon-Thu 12-22, Fri 12-24 Sat 9-24 Sun 11-19
- How much: Beginner 24-24e/h
3. Visit Public Saunas
There are various public saunas in Helsinki that you can visit every day of the week. Here are couple of examples:
- Löyly is an amazing and unique sauna located near the waterfront. Here you will have a chance to experience the traditional smoke sauna, continuously heated sauna and once heated sauna. In the same building you will also find a restaurant that serves food and drinks (you must try the iconic salmon soup). You can also enjoy a spectacular view from the terrace of the building.
- Where: Hernesaarenranta 4, Helsinki
- When: Check opening hours here
- How much: 21e/2 hours
- Sompasauna is a public self-service sauna that is heated with wood. The sauna is maintained by volunteers and the entrance to this sauna is free. At this sauna you won’t find any showers, staff or other service, but it provides a very unique experience.
- Where: Hermanninranta
- When: 24/7/365
- How much: Free
You can check more locations on My Helsinki website here.
4. Enjoy the views on Rooftop terraces of Helsinki
In Helsinki you will find nice roof terraces that offer spectacular views over the capital of Finland.
- Ateljee Bar is a rooftop bar that is located on the top of Torni hotel. This rooftop bar is occupying the top 2 flors of the building. The view is amazing and you can see almost entire city from the top.
- Where: Solo Sokos Hotel Torni, Yrjönkatu 26, 13. floor
- When: Mon-Tue (12-24) Wed-Fri (8-24) Sat (8-02) Sun (8-24)
- 10.Kerros is a restaurant on the 10th floor of hotel Vaakuna that was opened already in 1947. You can enjoy good food inside the top floor restaurant and order drinks on the terrace with beautiful view.
- Where: Original Sokos Hotel Vaakuna Kaivokatu 3, 00100 Helsinki
- When: (6.30-00) opening hours may vary
- Klaus K Sky Terrace is a rooftop terrace located on the top of Klaus K hotel.
- Where: Bulevardi 2, 00120 Helsinki
- When: During the summer June-August Thu-Sun (15-22)
Other rooftop terraces in Helsinki:
- Stockmann Roof by Ravintola Teatteri
- Clarion Skyroom
- Monkey Rooftop bar
- Alexis
- Lucy in the Sky (Espoo)
5. Visit atmospheric cinemas
Finnkino is the biggest cinema chain in Finland and there are many Finnkino movie theatres in Helsinki. However, there are also other smaller cinemas in the capital. Here are some examples:
- Cinema Orion is one of the oldest cinemas in Helsinki that was opened in 1927 and was originally built for silent film. Some movies are shown with English subtitles and you can check these movies here. According to their website seats have been called “the most comfortable in the city”. The normal price of the ticket is 11e.
- Where: Eerikinkatu 15, 00100 Helsinki.
- When: Check out the programme here.
- Riviera is a mix of a movie theatre and a restaurant that is located in Kallio. This is a small independent movie theatre with 55 seats. Here you can sit on comfy couches and drink beer, with nachos or order a cheese platter with red wine.
- Where: Harjukatu 2, 00500 Helsinki
- When: Check out the programme here.
Check more movie theatres here.
6. Play pool and other games in billiard bars
- BaribalBilliard Club is a cool billiard place in Punavuori where you can enjoy various alcoholic beverages while playing billiard, snooker, table curling or darts.
- Where: Perämiehenkatu 6-8, 00150 Helsinki
- Price: You pay 12e for one hour of billiard. Table curling is 8e/h and darts is free.
- Groovetown Jack Bar & Billiard is a a place where you can play pool, snooker, poker and board games.
- Where: Iso Roobertinkatu 4
More billiard places
- Bar Chaplin
- Biljardisali Ritz-Biljardi
7. Visit the best karaoke places in the capital
Helsinki offers plenty of places for those who want to sing karaoke and show off their singing talent.
- Karaokebar Erottaja is very popular karaoke bars in Helsinki. There you can dance, sing and enjoy fun night with your friends. The bar has a wide list of songs so you will definitely find a song to sing! This bar is always pretty crowded so if you want to visit a more quiet place this might not be your first choice.
- Where: Erottajankatu 15-17, 00100 Helsinki
- Wallis karaoke bar is a more fancy karaoke bar with amazing sound system. Here you can enjoy a night with friends either listening to other performers or going on the stage yourself!
- Where: Kanavaranta 7 E 22, 00160 Helsinki
- Populus is a karaoke bar that was opened already in 1937! It has two floors and drinks are very affordable.
- Where: Aleksis Kiven katu 22, 00500 Helsinki
Other Karaoke bars in Helsinki:
- Pataässä
- AnnaK
- Kuparikulma
- Restroom
- Yökyöpeli
- Jones
- Satumaa
I hope to hear your thoughts on this post. Please comment if you want more ideas on this topic! Don’t forget to check out more posts on my blog page.