Interesting architecture in Helsinki

The Senate Square and its surroundings form a unique and cohesive example of Neoclassical architecture. The square is dominated by four buildings designed by Carl Ludvig Engel (1778-1840): Helsinki Cathedral, the Government Palace, the main building of the University of Helsinki and the National Library of Finland. A statue of Alexander II (1894) stands in the middle of the Senate Square. 
Helsinki Cathedral is arguably Finland's most famous and photographed building. The oldest stone building in Helsinki is the Sederholm House located on the southeast corner of the square. Today the building hosts the Helsinki City Museum. The Esplanade park and the Market Square are just a block away.
The Senate Square also hosts a sound installation called the Sound of the Senate Square. It is a modern version of the European glockenspiel and can be heard every day at 17.49 as it travels from one building to the next. The composition runs for 5 minutes 18 seconds and is composed by Harri Viitanen and Jyrki Alakuijala.

The Senate Square and its surroundings form a unique and cohesive example of Neoclassical architecture. The square is dominated by four buildings designed by Carl Ludvig Engel (1778-1840): Helsinki Cathedral, the Government Palace, the main building of the University of Helsinki and the National Library of Finland. A statue of Alexander II (1894) stands in the middle of the Senate Square. 

Helsinki Cathedral is arguably Finland's most famous and photographed building. The oldest stone building in Helsinki is the Sederholm House located on the southeast corner of the square. Today the building hosts the Helsinki City Museum. The Esplanade park and the Market Square are just a block away.

The Senate Square also hosts a sound installation called the Sound of the Senate Square. It is a modern version of the European glockenspiel and can be heard every day at 17.49 as it travels from one building to the next. The composition runs for 5 minutes 18 seconds and is composed by Harri Viitanen and Jyrki Alakuijala.

Senate Square

Oodi is Helsinki's new Central Library and a living meeting place in the city centre on the Kansalaistori Square. Oodi is a venue for events, a house of reading and a diverse urban experience. It will provide its users with knowledge, new skills and stories, and will be an easy place to access for learning, story immersion, work and relaxation. Oodi is a library of a new era, a living and functional meeting place open for all.

Oodi is Helsinki's new Central Library and a living meeting place in the city centre on the Kansalaistori Square. Oodi is a venue for events, a house of reading and a diverse urban experience. It will provide its users with knowledge, new skills and stories, and will be an easy place to access for learning, story immersion, work and relaxation. Oodi is a library of a new era, a living and functional meeting place open for all.

Oodi, Helsinki Central Library

Completed in 1868 in the Katajanokka district of Helsinki, the Uspenski Cathedral is the largest orthodox church in Western Europe. With its golden cupolas and redbrick facade, the church is one of the clearest symbols of the Russian impact on Finnish history.

Completed in 1868 in the Katajanokka district of Helsinki, the Uspenski Cathedral is the largest orthodox church in Western Europe. With its golden cupolas and redbrick facade, the church is one of the clearest symbols of the Russian impact on Finnish history.

Uspenski Cathedral

Amos Rex is an art museum where the past, present and future meet. Located within the functionalist landmark of Lasipalatsi, the newly built domed exhibition spaces lie under the distinctively undulating Lasipalatsi square. Amos Rex presents site-sensitive, experiential, and often technologically experimental exhibitions by contemporary artists and their Modernist predecessors. A permanent exhibition with Sigurd Frosterus's post-impressionist art collection is also on display. Amos Rex is owned by Föreningen Konstsamfundet.

Amos Rex is an art museum where the past, present and future meet.

Amos Rex

Excavated directly into solid rock, the Temppeliaukio church is situated in the heart of Helsinki, at the end of Fredrikinkatu. Because of its special architecture, the church, completed in 1969, is one of the main attractions in Helsinki. The church hall is covered with a dome, lined with copper and supported on the rock walls by reinforced concrete beams. The interior walls are of rugged rock and rubble wall. Before noon, the light spreads from the row of windows surrounding the roof periphery to the altar wall, where an ice-age crevice serves as the altarpiece. Due to its excellent acoustics the church is a popular venue for concerts.

Temppeliaukio Church is a major sight in Helsinki: an architectural gem, a world famous concert venue and an active Lutheran church.

Temppeliaukio Church

The Helsinki Central railway station, a pearl among Helsinki's art nouveau buildings, was designed by Eliel Saarinen and opened in 1919. The construction of the Central Station was however started already in 1905. The station is used by approximately 200,000 passengers daily, making it Finland's most-visited building. It is also estimated that over 400 000 persons check the time when passing from the 48,5m high clock tower daily.
The station is covered with Finnish granite, and its distinguishing features are its clock tower and the two pairs of statues, the "Lantern carriers" by sculptor Emil Wikström, holding the spherical lamps on both sides of the main entrance.

Designed by Eliel Saarinen, the Central Railway Station is a national pride and is considered one of the most beautiful railway stations in the world.

Helsinki Central railway station

Suomenlinna sea fortress is a Unesco World Heritage Site located on the coast of Helsinki, and also a suburb of Helsinki with around 800 residents.
The fortress was shaped by three historic eras when it helped to defend first Sweden, then Russia and ultimately Finland. There are six kilometres of walls, 100 cannons, exciting tunnels, and beautiful parks. There are also museums, guided tours, events and restaurants in Suomenlinna.
Private guided tours of the fortress, in several languages, can be booked in advance (guidebooking@suomenlinnatours.com). Public guided tours in English are announced in the events calendar on the Suomenlinna webpages.
The fortress is easily accessed all year by public transport (HSL) ferry from the Market Square (daily) or the HSL maintenance ferry from Katajanokka (on weekdays). The travelling time is approx. 15minutes.

Suomenlinna sea fortress is a Unesco World Heritage Site located on the coast of Helsinki, and also a suburb of Helsinki with around 800 residents.

Suomenlinna Sea Fortress

The National Museum of Finland illustrates Finnish history from prehistoric times to the 19th century. The museum's unique exhibits tell of life from a period of over 10 000 years. Temporary exhibitions on current themes. 
The National Museum building was designed by the Finnish architects Herman Gesellius, Armas Lindgren and Eliel Saarinen. With its granite façade and steatite decoration, the building is one of Finland's most significant national-romantic works of architecture. The museum was opened to the public in 1916. 
A café and museum shop are also located in the museum.
The National Museum of Finland has closed its doors for the duration of the museum’s renovation and expansion project. The museum is estimated to reopen its doors to the public in spring 2027.

The National Museum of Finland illustrates Finnish history from prehistoric times to the 19th century. 

National Museum of Finland

The Helsinki Olympic Stadion, built in 1938, was designed in functionalistic style by the architects Yrjö Lindegren and Toivo Jäntti. The Olympic Games were held in 1952 in Helsinki. Today the Olympic Stadium hosts both national and international sporting events and outdoor concerts. The Stadium Tower is 72 meters (235 feet) high and at the top you can admire the urban landscape and central Helsinki. 
The Finnish Sportsmuseum is also located at the Olympic Stadium as well as the Bistro Stadion restaurant.
The Stadium visitor centre is located at the foot of the tower. Take a break in the Isku Lounge and let the unique Stadium atmosphere sink in.
The Visitor Centre is also the entry to the Stadium meeting and exercise premises, the Stadium tower and to the Bistro Stadion restaurant. This is also where the guided tours of the Stadium start.

The Helsinki Olympic Stadion, built in 1938, was designed in functionalistic style by the architects Yrjö Lindegren and Toivo Jäntti. The Olympic Games were held in 1952 in Helsinki. Today the Olympic Stadium hosts both national and international sporting events and outdoor concerts. The Stadium Tower is 72 meters (235 feet) high and at the top you can admire the urban landscape and central Helsinki. 

The Finnish Sportsmuseum is also located at the Olympic Stadium as well as the Bistro Stadion restaurant.

The Stadium visitor centre is located at the foot of the tower. Take a break in the Isku Lounge and let the unique Stadium atmosphere sink in.

The Visitor Centre is also the entry to the Stadium meeting and exercise premises, the Stadium tower and to the Bistro Stadion restaurant. This is also where the guided tours of the Stadium start.

Helsinki Olympic Stadium

Finland's 200-seat parliament gathers in this impressive building representing 1920s Classicism. The facade of the building is made of red granite from Kalvola. The main facade includes 14 Corinthian columns. 
It is possible to visit the parliament by booking a free guided tour. The Plenary sessions, Visitor's Centre, and Parliament Library are also open for public.

Finland's 200-seat parliament gathers in this impressive building representing 1920s Classicism. The facade of the building is made of red granite from Kalvola. The main facade includes 14 Corinthian columns. 

It is possible to visit the parliament by booking a free guided tour. The Plenary sessions, Visitor's Centre, and Parliament Library are also open for public.

Parliament

Lasipalatsi ("Glass Palace") is a functionalistic building from 1938 designed by at the time architecture students Viljo Revell, Niilo Kokko and Heimo Riihimäki. Originally it was built only to be a temporary building but became an attraction of its time by representing functionalistic architecture as its best with its restaurant and café, cinema with lobby, wintergarden, shops, big glass surfaces etc. As years passed in 1998 it was decided to renovate the building to its 1930's lustre.
In autumn 2013 Föreningen Konstsamfundet association suggested that a new art museum should be built in Lasipalatsi and beneath the Lasipalatsi square. The building of the museum and a renovation of the Lasipalatsi building began in the beginnig of year 2016.
Opened in autumn 2018 Amos Rex is now a meeting place for art and urban culture, consisting of new underground exhibition spaces, the old Lasipalatsi from 1936 and its cinema Bio Rex, as well as a vibrant event forum on Lasipalatsi Square, which serves as the roof of the exhibition hall.
In the building you'll also find eg. restaurant Lasipalatsi and Café Lasipalatsi.

Lasipalatsi ("Glass Palace") is a functionalistic building from 1938 designed by at the time architecture students Viljo Revell, Niilo Kokko and Heimo Riihimäki. Originally it was built only to be a temporary building but became an attraction of its time by representing functionalistic architecture as its best with its restaurant and café, cinema with lobby, wintergarden, shops, big glass surfaces etc. As years passed in 1998 it was decided to renovate the building to its 1930's lustre.

In autumn 2013 Föreningen Konstsamfundet association suggested that a new art museum should be built in Lasipalatsi and beneath the Lasipalatsi square. The building of the museum and a renovation of the Lasipalatsi building began in the beginnig of year 2016.

Opened in autumn 2018 Amos Rex is now a meeting place for art and urban culture, consisting of new underground exhibition spaces, the old Lasipalatsi from 1936 and its cinema Bio Rex, as well as a vibrant event forum on Lasipalatsi Square, which serves as the roof of the exhibition hall.

In the building you'll also find eg. restaurant Lasipalatsi and Café Lasipalatsi.

Lasipalatsi

Löyly is a public sauna and restaurant complex in Hernesaari district on the southern tip of Helsinki. The complex includes a traditional Finnish smoke sauna and two other wood-heated saunas, a year-round terrace and a restaurant. The saunas offer direct access to the outdoor seating area and the sea, where it is possible to enjoy a refreshing swim, all year round. There are separate changing rooms and shower facilities for men and women but as the saunas and other public areas are mixed, it means that customers are respectfully asked to wear swimming costumes at all times.
The restaurant, favoring ecological and locally produced ingredients, offers lunch, dinner and brunch on Saturdays.

Löyly is a public sauna and restaurant complex in Hernesaari district on the southern tip of Helsinki. The complex includes a traditional Finnish smoke sauna and two other wood-heated saunas, a year-round terrace and a restaurant. The saunas offer direct access to the outdoor seating area and the sea, where it is possible to enjoy a refreshing swim, all year round. There are separate changing rooms and shower facilities for men and women but as the saunas and other public areas are mixed, it means that customers are respectfully asked to wear swimming costumes at all times.

The restaurant, favoring ecological and locally produced ingredients, offers lunch, dinner and brunch on Saturdays.

Löyly

Kamppi Chapel is located in a corner of the Narinkkatori square in Helsinki, at the entrance of the Kamppi shopping center. The Chapel offers an opportunity to calm down in the middle of perhaps the busiest area in Finland. The curved shape of the small-scale Chapel building allows the space and views to flow in the urban surroundings. At the same time, the soft shape of the inside of the Chapel embraces the visitor in its safety. Exhibitions are being displayed at the entrance area. 
Short prayers are offered in the chapel but there is no church service on Sundays. Concerts are occasionally arranged in the chapel.
The chapel, from 2012, was designed by architects Mikko Summanen, Niko Sirola and Kimmo Lintula from the Helsinki-based practice K2S Architects.

Kamppi Chapel is located in a corner of the Narinkkatori square in Helsinki, at the entrance of the Kamppi shopping center. The Chapel offers an opportunity to calm down in the middle of perhaps the busiest area in Finland. The curved shape of the small-scale Chapel building allows the space and views to flow in the urban surroundings. At the same time, the soft shape of the inside of the Chapel embraces the visitor in its safety. Exhibitions are being displayed at the entrance area. 

Short prayers are offered in the chapel but there is no church service on Sundays. Concerts are occasionally arranged in the chapel.

The chapel, from 2012, was designed by architects Mikko Summanen, Niko Sirola and Kimmo Lintula from the Helsinki-based practice K2S Architects.

Kamppi Chapel

Kiasma is a museum of contemporary art under the umbrella of the Finnish National Gallery. The basic functions of the museum are organising changing exhibitions and augmenting its collection, along with research and presentation of the works. The primary focus in the museum collection is on Finnish contemporary art. The collection is also supplemented by commissioning new work. The collection is presented to the public in annually changing thematic exhibitions. 
Kiasma was designed by the American architect Steven Holl and opened to the public in 1998. At Kiasma there's also a museum shop and café.

Kiasma is a museum of contemporary art in the centre of Helsinki. It is a place where people meet art and where everyone is welcome.

Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma

Finlandia Hall is a unique centre for domestic and international conferences, concerts and other events. It is a popular architectural sight in Helsinki and one of the most beautiful places to visit in the city. Finlandia Hall is one of the most iconic buildings designed by world-renowned Finnish architect, Alvar Aalto, and was planned from the ground up for visitors and a wide range of events. 
If not attending an event, the building can be visited by attending a guided tour open to public, please see webpages for dates. 
A café, FINLANDIA CAFÉ, is open to public as well as a gallery, both situated on the Töölönlahti bay side.

Finlandia Hall is a unique centre for domestic and international conferences, concerts and other events. It is a popular architectural sight in Helsinki and one of the most beautiful places to visit in the city. Finlandia Hall is one of the most iconic buildings designed by world-renowned Finnish architect, Alvar Aalto, and was planned from the ground up for visitors and a wide range of events. 

If not attending an event, the building can be visited by attending a guided tour open to public, please see webpages for dates. 

A café, FINLANDIA CAFÉ, is open to public as well as a gallery, both situated on the Töölönlahti bay side.

Finlandia Hall

The Kaisa House functions as the Main Library of Helsinki University. The house has gathered several architectural awards and is a stunning example of modern library architecture. It has an curvilinear brick facade. Architects AOA (2012). There's also a café in the building, WELL Cafe Kaisa-talo.

The Kaisa House functions as the Main Library of Helsinki University. The house has gathered several architectural awards and is a stunning example of modern library architecture. It has an curvilinear brick facade. Architects AOA (2012). There's also a café in the building, WELL Cafe Kaisa-talo.

Kaisa House, Helsinki University Main Library

Lapinlahti is a district with much parkland in the western downtown area. A major part of the area is taken up by the cemetery and the compounds of a former hospital. 

Lapinlahti

The Aalto House

Museums & Galleries

Studio Aalto

Sights and Attractions

Office building at Fabianinkatu

Academic Bookstore

Shopping

Restaurant Savoy

Restaurant

Finnish Engineers' Association Building

National Pensions Institute, main building

Kulttuuritalo - Helsinki Hall of Culture

Riihitie block of flats

Stora Enso Headquarters

Sähkötalo - Helsinki Energy Office Building

Alvar Aalto's Helsinki

Top highlights of Helsinki architecture

Advanced search

Modernism, functionalism and the largest concentration of Art Nouveau buildings in Northern Europe make Helsinki a major city of architecture....