How to survive Helsinki winter: 7 tips
Some say the best thing about Helsinki is its four distinct seasons. In reality, there are more – there are at least four types of winter alone. This guide shows you how to prepare for each of them. Some might think there isn’t much to smile about during the somewhat gloomier months – but perhaps these tips can bring a little lightness to help you embrace the depth of winter. And the next time slush splats onto your cheek, at least you’ll know how to survive.
Living in Helsinki sharpens your personal winter know-how and hones your Arctic survival skills. You won’t find this article’s content in any book. You’ll get plenty of practice staying upright on various snowy and icy surfaces across Helsinki’s streets, yards and parks from November to March.
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| 7 min read
Tip #1: Breathe – you’ll get through this
Let’s start with the good news: we’ve got what it takes to get through this season! There are hot drinks, hand-knitted woollen socks, merino wool thermals, studded winter boots, bike tyres with spikes, and snow tyres for cars. There’s central heating, candles and lanterns, waterproof clothing, and heated pedestrian underpasses in the city centre. Some lucky Helsinkians even have their own tiled fireplaces, wood-burning stoves – and, of course, saunas!
Helsinki residents are used to living by the blustery Baltic Sea and adapting to ever-changing weather. There’s an outfit or piece of gear for every condition – one that makes a winter’s day at least tolerable, and often downright enjoyable. Sometimes that gear is a streaming service and a sofa; sometimes it’s ice skates and hot juice in a thermos. So no matter what – don’t forget to breath in (that crisp winter air) and breath out – we will get through this together.
Tip #2: Identify the winter type – and dress accordingly
You can’t rely much on the calendar in Helsinki. It mostly tells you how little daylight you’ll get – from November to February, it’s very little. Around New Year’s, only about six hours.
Winter weather in Helsinki can change by the day. Some years, snow arrives in early November and stays even until April – but more likely, it comes and goes week by week, even day by day. Wind direction and strength influence how cold it feels just as much as the actual temperature. A stiff breeze at 0°C can feel like -10°C on your skin!
Learn to recognise Helsinki’s most common snow types: powder, snowman, slush-mess, and black ice (you’ll get more detail in the following tips).
The type of winter weather affects not only how you dress and how fast you move – it also shapes the city’s collective mood and conversation topics. On a sunny, frosty day, half the city will be out walking; in a harsh snowstorm, you might be the only one braving the streets. How you dress depends on what you’ll be doing. Are you going for a brisk walk, standing around in the dog park, or watching your kid at the playground (watching, not participating)?
In Helsinki winter, warmth is all about layering. Many trust merino wool base layers for warmth and moisture-wicking. On top of that, you can mix and match fleece, wool jumpers, puffer coats, and windproof shells depending on your taste. And – be prepared to take these layers off when entering the tram, the super market, the museum, the library…and back on again!
Tip #3: Powder days – reconnect you with your inner child
Helsinki is at its most beautiful when dry snow falls below zero. In the light of the moon and streetlamps, snowflakes sparkle like tiny diamonds. If the wind picks up, the city transforms into a scene of sculptural snow dunes.
When enough fresh powder falls, you’ll be wading ankle-deep through fluffy snow on the pavements. It muffles all sound, crunches and squeaks underfoot like cornstarch.
Try this: Kids – and the young at heart – throw themselves onto their backs to make snow angels in this kind of snow. If you’re going to ask someone for a snow face-wash (yes, it’s a thing), this is the snow to use.
Footwear: Boots with thick soles and high tops. The Finnish brand Kuoma makes winter boots perfect for this weather, in sizes for all ages. Teenagers love Moon Boots. If the streets have been ploughed, you’ll stay upright even in lighter shoes, as long as they have serious tread.
Outdoor tip: Snow trousers should have smooth fabric and snow guards at the ankles to stop snow from getting in!
Right?
A matter of perspective
Tip #4: Snowman days – hone your sculpting skills
When temperatures hover around zero, the snow gets wetter and heavier. Streets become slippery, braking distances lengthen, and minor car collisions are common.
On days like this, younger generations of Helsinkians flock to yards and parks. Around 0°C, snow is perfect for everyday sculpting. Everywhere you look, you’ll spot the classic snowball effect – a small snowball pushed along the ground turns massive with persistence, and the spheres become snowmen, snowwomen, snow-horses, and unicorns. It’s meditative!
Try this: You can carve a snow fort in your courtyard or the nearest park. Choose a large pile of snow and tunnel a cave inside it, or build a castle out of snowballs. A DIY snow lantern is made from snowballs stacked as a little hollow dome with a candle inside.
Footwear: Same as for powder snow. The wetter the snow, the more important it is to keep moisture out. Choose footwear made from water-repellent materials, like high-top winter boots or hiking boots with a Gore-Tex membrane.
Outdoor tip: Shovelling snow with a snow scoop is a great workout. Want to earn your neighbours’ love? Offer to help push out a car stuck behind a snowbank.
Tip #5: Face the Helsinki mood test – survive the slush-mess
When temperatures rise well above zero, snow melts into an utter slush-mess. Few people love this weather, but with climate change shortening the length of snowy spells, residents are having to adapt.
Try this: Now’s the time to fully embrace indoor life. Pull on your wool socks, binge those streaming shows you’ve been saving, spend time with loved ones, or head to a swimming hall for the whole evening – they all have saunas.
Footwear: Insulated rubber boots are the way to go – yes, winter wellies exist!
Outdoor tip: Walk further from the road to avoid filthy splash-ups from passing cars.
Tip #6: Black ice days – shorten your stride!
Black ice hits when melting snow freezes again as the temperature drops – and suddenly the city turns into an ice rink. Before maintenance crews can salt or grit the streets, you’ll need to walk with a flat-footed shuffle: place your foot down evenly, not heel first or springing off the ball of the foot. High heels and trainers? Absolutely not – they offer zero grip.
Footwear: Many Helsinkians swear by studded winter boots, which grip even sheet ice and are stable enough for jogging. Another option is anti-slip shoe grips you strap onto your soles, available from cobblers and sports shops. They’re easy to remove if you pop into, say, a museum with wooden floors.
Outdoor tip: Even if some streets are icy, you’ll always find well-maintained outdoor routes for walking and skiing. Now might be the perfect time to try cross-country skiing – Central Park has excellent ski trails in mid-winter.
Tip #7: Sauna + winter – feel the true Helsinkian vibe
Cold days literally electrify Helsinki. You’ll notice it when people take off their hats in shops or trams – their hair shoots off in every direction!
Walking on slippery streets can tense up your body. The best way to melt that tension? Sauna, of course! Mmmmm, and maybe even a cold plunge or ice hole swim (avanto in Finnish). When drying off, long hair should be blow-dried or tied into a ponytail and tucked into your hat. Otherwise, your hair might freeze and snap off! We are not kidding.
The key thing in winter is staying warm. Red cheeks mean you’ve been out and about, moving and sweating, with your blood flowing strong. Or just spent a long time in the sauna.
Bonus tip: Winter is here – and it’ll be gone soon. Enjoy it while it lasts!
Helsinki doesn’t flinch at weather. Even if it snows for days, kids still get to school and adults make it to work. Public transport keeps running, thanks to snow-ploughed streets and cleared tram tracks. And while the air might be freezing to breathe, it’s clean – even in winter. We don’t fear the cold. Parents on leave have their babies nap outdoors – even in deep frost. In snowy winters, mountains of snow pile up in public squares, turning into unofficial playgrounds for the neighbourhood kids. As tempting as it is to dig caves into them, don’t – snowplough drivers need to see if anyone’s inside.
While movement in winter Helsinki slows down a little, the city takes on a certain charm. Snow softens the acoustics. It’s the season for the beloved seasonal sweet treats: laskiaispulla buns around Shrovetide and Runeberg tortes in early February. Small children beam as their parents pull them to nursery in sledges.
There are outdoor skating rinks all over the city, free for everyone to use. Even adults benefit from a run down the sledding hill before or after work. Pack a thermos of hot cocoa and spare mugs – you’re guaranteed to make new friends on the slopes.
