A city in snow: 7 ways Helsinki winter warms you up
When the temperature dips below freezing, you might feel the call of the North, eager to discover the fuss about Lapland and Santa. But hold your reindeer and savor a frosty breath before packing up the sled – there’s a secret for you…
Consider this your 7-step Helsinki winter guide, crafted not just to survive the darkest, coldest times but to reveal why, in this season, the world’s happiest city quietly comes alive.
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| 6 min read
1. Glögi, lights, and winter nights: Christmas in the heart of Helsinki
Wandering through Helsinki’s snowy – or, sometimes, sleety! – streets, you find the world decked out in its holiday best. Here are three picks from Helsinki Christmas:
Go see the iconic Stockmann Christmas window. A little slice of wonder where toys dance and stories come to life, drawing locals and visitors alike to pause and lose themselves in the glow. A long tradition and small moment that makes everything slow down, as if the season itself is saying: breathe this in.
Helsinki Christmas lights. Follow the central Esplanade, its frosted trees stretching like a sparkling tunnel, lamps casting soft golden light through the chill. The path feels alive — part park, part stage, part invitation to just keep walking, one step at a time. Soon, there it is: the Senate Square.
Senate Square’s Christmas Market at its heart, humming quietly beneath the grandeur of Helsinki Cathedral, its snow-dusted neoclassical facade lending an air of peace. Here, the scent of glögi warms the air, handcrafted treasures line the stalls, and even reindeer sausage feels like a natural part of the rhythm. You may even hear the carols from the Cathedral!
This is Christmas in Helsinki: unhurried, unpolished, undeniably alive.
2. The Helsinki sauna symphony: sweat, freeze, repeat!
Winter in Helsinki isn’t just endured; it’s embraced – and nothing captures that better than our urban sauna culture. Step into the sauna, the wooden benches warm beneath you, the steam rising with every löyly thrown on the stones. It’s not about the warmth though – it’s about the moment after, the leap into the icy Baltic, or breathing under the crisp winter sky. Enjoy these three sauna picks in or near the city centre that also have Christmas sauna:
Allas Pool, just a short stroll away from Senate Square. Sea water pool or heated pool – both work wonders with the seaside views and hot sauna.
Löyly, the architectural wooden wonder, that seems to float on the frozen sea. Its award-winning design, modern and sleek, feels at one with the wild landscape, inviting you to feel the stark contrast. Dip in the sea is a must here!
Kotiharjun sauna, a cherished Helsinki tradition trailing back to 1928, stands as the last wood-heated public sauna in the city.
3. A frosty voyage through Helsinki by foot
As the sea turns to ice, many think to stick to land. Meanwhile, Helsinki’s archipelago is turning into a winter wonderland. A veil of frost may blanket the islands, but quiet trails emerge for those willing to explore. Here are three picks for those wanting more:
Board the ferry to Suomenlinna Island, where frost laces the ancient walls and paths twist between bastions and open courtyards. Grab a cup of cocoa from the many cafes open year-round and watch the frozen shoreline stretch out into quiet infinity.
Easy island-hopping. Just a stone’s throw from the mainland, Uunisaari turns into an idyllic winter haven once the season sets in. Make your way across the bridge found on the west side of Kaivopuisto to begin your journey. Pst! Uunisaari has also an amazing, bookable sauna by the sea.
Nature walks. Lammassaari invites you to step deeper within. Accessible via charming wooden boardwalks winding through snow-covered reeds, this island is perfect for winter walkers and nature lovers.
Cosy Season
Helsinki Winter
4. Snowy escapes: discover Helsinki’s wilderness within
If you’re longing for more time with Mother Nature, no worries, Helsinki’s outdoors are never far away. In wintertime, the city transforms into a snowy retreat, and here are the three best ways to feel it:
Try cross-country skiing. Glide through the serene trees of Central Park or explore the forest walking trails in Paloheinä. Helsinki offers up to 200 kilometers of ski trails, reminding you that winter here isn’t something to endure – it’s something to discover.
…or some ice-skating! However, if you prefer something more local, winter turns everything into a playground in Helsinki. For an easy, urban experience, head to city rinks like Brahenkenttä, where locals glide, spin, and stumble with equal joy. Or, grab a sled, and race down the slopes of Sinebrychoff Park for some classic winter fun. It’s simple, it’s social, and it’s open to everyone!
Don’t skate? No problem. Helsinki’s frozen waters welcome folks on foot too (and blades, if you’re into wild ice-skating!), creating paths that stretch across the icy canvas and let you soak in the calm. Winter here is all about finding your rhythm – whether on blades or boots.
5. When the streets freeze, the kitchens heat: Helsinki’s winter feast
After exploring Helsinki’s winter wonders, it’s time to warm up – and the city’s kitchens are ready. Back in the heart of Helsinki, streets glow with flickering candlelight escaping the windows of cozy cafés that pave the way, and the inviting scent of something delicious. Can’t choose? We’ve got you with these three tips:
Drinks by an outdoor fireplace. At Café Regatta, tucked by the frozen sea in Töölö neighbourhood, you can sip hot cocoa beside a roaring fire while overlooking the frozen seaside.
Iconic Finnish food with iconic views. For something heartier, the salmon soup at Savotta, just steps from Senate Square, is a comforting classic, served with views of the Cathedral.
Old-time bakery and cafe. Head to the legendary Ekberg, where the scent of fresh korvapuusti fills the air in Finland’s oldest bakery.
6. Winter’s chill, art’s thrill: Helsinki’s culture embraces the cold
When winter blankets Helsinki, the city’s cultural scene becomes a sanctuary inviting you to step inside and experience something special. Helsinki’s abundant array of museums take on a unique charm during the colder months. Here are three picks that embrace the connection this time brings:
At the Ateneum Art Museum, the cozy glow of winter light filtering through its grand windows adds a quiet elegance to the timeless works within.
Beneath snow-covered domes, Amos Rex offers a winter retreat where art glows brighter against the season’s shadows. Step underground, and enter a new world.
Meanwhile, the Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art offers not only bold and boundary-pushing exhibits but also a warm escape from the frost – winter lets you linger longer, savoring the art without the rush of summer crowds.
7. Illuminated nights: Helsinki’s glow in the dark
In Helsinki’s winter, darkness isn’t the absence of light – it’s a canvas for it. Three tips for finding light in the darkness:
Visit Helsinki cemeteries, like Hietaniemi Cemetery by the sea, around All Saints Day and Christmas. Thousands and thousands of candles will light your way.
Experience Lux Helsinki, the city’s annual light festival, that brings a magical burst of colour and joy to January’s dark evenings. Free and open to all, its installations transform Helsinki’s streets into a luminous outdoor gallery, sparkling wonder in every corner of the city.
See the stars on a wintery Helsinki night-sky. Hop on a ferry, travel to Suomenlinna, choose a route along the shore, and look up: It’s the Cassiopeia. It’s the Big Dipper. It’s Venus. It’s the North Star. It’s the cosmos. If lucky, even Aurora Borealis!
