7 shades of autumn: why Helsinki is a fall favorite
As the days shorten and the light softens, Helsinki shifts, finding beauty in the quiet moments of change. The air is crisp, the waters are calm, and the crowds have thinned – leaving the city all to yourself.
Ready to fall in love with Helsinki this autumn?
Here’s your 7-step guide!
(To be honest – it’s actually a 21-step guide, but hang in there!)
Created
| 6 min read
1. Golden Hours: Autumn falls in Helsinki
Helsinki wears autumn like a well-loved coat. With the scent of earth and leaves in the air, the city becomes an open invitation to wonder and let go of time for a while. Here are three nature-related things to help you get into the season:
Experience ruska: When Autumn arrives, Helsinki becomes a canvas of fiery reds and gold – this is ruska, Finland’s most colorful season. The best way to experience this stunning transformation?A fallen leaves walk through the city’s natural beauty, hear the crunch of leaves beneath your feet, and see nature’s colours at their peak.
Follow Helsinkian nature photographer’s footsteps: Pose for the diving sun, as Helsinki is a photographer’s paradise in autumn. Capture the city’s tranquil parks, the reflections in the waters, and the cozy streets bathed in warm light.
Enjoy the end of summer in Helsinki’s botanical gardens as the city slips into autumn’s embrace. Make your way to Kaisaniemi Botanic Garden, and don’t forget to stop by the glasshouse to catch a glimpse of tropical greenery while the autumn leaves swirl around you outside.
2. Autumn lights & creative heights: find Helsinki’s heartbeat
As autumn deepens, Helsinki’s creative heartbeat quickens. Find new depth to the city’s art and cultural scene this fall with these three picks:
Dive into the amazing art house film world: Amidst the inevitable decay, Helsinki flickers to life with the Helsinki International Film Festival – better known as Love & Anarchy. Bold, rebellious, and full of daring stories, it’s a festival that challenges how we see cinema – and the world.
Dive into design or peek into people’s homes: Autumn calls for expression, and Helsinki Design Week does its best. The largest Design and Architecture festival in the Nordic countries turns the city into a playground of creation and capability. From fashion to furniture, here, you’ll find it all. Also the much-loved Open House Helsinki urban festival opens doors to places not usually accessed: from high-rises to waterfront plots and hidden courtyards.
Visit the thrills of an old amusement park: The days may grow darker, but the city doesn’t dare. Linnanmäki amusement park comes alive in a blaze of color at the Carnival of Light. Here fun meets fantasy, as the city’s beloved fun fair transforms into a wonderland of lights, music, and magic.
3. Sweat, sweep & feast: Helsinki’s seasonal traditions
The season shifts, and so do the rhythms of daily life, with long-held traditions that connect the past to the present. Experience autumn the Helsinki way with these three customs:
Urban sauna, a truly Helsinkian thing. As autumn chills the air, Helsinki’s saunas heat up. From the steamy saunas at Löyly to a refreshing dip at Allas Pool, the city invites you to embrace the season’s contrasts.
It’s time to tidy up! As leaves cast over Helsinki, the city comes together. From community events in Kaivopuisto to local initiatives in Kallio and Punavuori, Helsinki is swept clean, embracing the calm before snowfall.
Kekri (Halloween, what’s that?!). At the heart of the season is Kekri, an ancient Finnish harvest festival celebrated with feasts, folk music, and fun. On all Saints’ Day head to Viapori Kekri Festival (Viapori is also known as Suomenlinna Island), where these traditions come to life.
4. Autumn leaves: breath in Helsinki atmosphere (and beyond)
When autumn unfolds, so does nature. Step outside, and perhaps off the beaten path, where the season leads you to what you’ve been seeking: peace, beauty, and the quiet hum of earth. Here you’ll find the peace that you’ve been looking for:
Autumn in Nuuksio is an invitation to slow down. Pack your bag and head across the city lines. Here you’ll find peaceful cottage getaways, scenic woods, and lakes to last a lifetime.
Shoreline retreats: As autumn sweeps through Helsinki, the city’s shores become still retreats. Uncover breezy beaches at Hietaniemi or Seurasaari, where autumn colors meet the sea.
Catch the summer’s last ferry (or the autumn’s first!). Vibrant hues paint the scenery of Helsinki’s archipelago, a breath of fresh air that beckons you further. Embark on a ruska cruise and drift through calm waters, while soaking up the last of the sun.
5. Falling for Helsinki: the past in the quiet of fall
In the calm of autumn, Helsinki’s history takes a new depth. With fewer visitors, the city’s historic sites feel more intimate. Here are three iconic things to uncover before snowfall:
Historic landmark: Autumn brings forth memories and Suomenlinna Fortress Island (or Viapori, remember?) beckons with them. The vibrant fall colors echo the historic walls, inviting you to explore, without the usual crowds.
Historic park: As the leaves turn, Helsinki’s cemeteries become serene places for reflection. Step into the past at Old Church Park aka the”Plague Park”, Helsinki’s oldest cemetery. With its 17th-century graves nestled in the heart of this eerie park, it’s a tranquil place where history and nature intertwine.
Iconic design: Right at the core of the city, you can find Helsinki’s Design District, a lively blend of beautiful architecture, captivating history and cutting edge innovation. In autumn, the area charms by-passers with cozy boutiques and galleries. Pop in for a visit, you might want to stay a while.
6. Flavours of autumn: Helsinki’s traditional fall food scene
Autumn in Helsinki is a celebration of harvest – where flavours of the season shine through every dish. It’s a time to find Finns among food, join in on the delicacy here with these three picks:
Taste of tradition by the sea: Each autumn, Helsinki Baltic Herring Market (Silakkamarkkinat), fills the harbour with the scent of sizzling herring and the buzz of local flavors. A 300-year-old celebration of Finland’s maritime roots, this market serves up both fresh fish and coastal charm.
Taste of tradition from the forests: In Helsinki’s autumn forests, mushrooms and berries abound, offering a taste of Finnish tradition. Visitors are welcome to join the hunt thanks to Jokaisen oikeus (Everyone’s Rights) but be sure to do your homework first – some mushrooms are better left untouched!
Taste of tradition from inside a blanket: As the days grow cooler, Helsinki’s cafés, restaurants and bars offer the perfect hideout. Outdoor terraces are transformed with snuggly blankets and crackling fireplaces, making sure you don’t miss the view. Inside the cozy pubs such as Punavuoren Ahven, try playing board games in candle light whilst sipping hot chocolate (or mulled wine – the glögi season is just around the corner too!).
7. Autumn pages: embrace the written word with Helsinki
The autumn breeze blows Helsinkians toward worlds, and words, anew. The season invites you to slow down and explore. Watch the stories unfold in these three Helsinki literary scene settings:
Sing an ode for the world’s greatest library: As leaves fall, autumn echoes the walls of Helsinki’s beautiful libraries, and Oodi stands at the heart of it all. With floor-to-ceiling windows framing the colourful tapestry outside, Oodi offers up a spot to get lost – whether in a book, or a quiet moment.
Fall into a world of stories at the Helsinki Book Fair as it transforms the city into a literary hub. From author panels to book displays, the fair celebrates literature in all forms.
Step into stories by visiting Helsinki’s myriads of antiquarian bookshops. From the shady streets of Kallio to the charming corners of Kruununhaka and Kamppi, Helsinki is full of the most amazing antiquarian bookshops. Try one of our favourites, the Antiquarian Bookshop C. Hagelstam in Punavuori. They also sell vintage posters, postcards and other papery curiosities.
