5 Best Day Trips in Helsinki
While the international gateway into Finland, the country’s capital city of Helsinki is just one aspect of life in this unique travel destination. To truly get a feel for the history, culture, and nature of all Finland, it’s well worth considering taking one or more day trips from Helsinki to Finland’s other destinations.
In this way, visitors can enjoy the expansive range of accommodation options, restaurants, and bars which dot Helsinki’s neighborhoods, but also undertake tours to unmissable attractions outside of the capital’s limits.
We’ve collated the 5 best day trips from Helsinki Finland, providing a range of experiences whatever the time of year you’ll be visiting.
Visit Nuuksio National Park
For a glimpse into the typical landscapes of Finland, look no further than Nuuksio National Park, located just 90 minutes from Helsinki by bus. It’s variety of vistas range from rock-strewn hills to wetland and small, sparkling lakes, so be sure to have your camera at the ready.
The best way to explore Nuuksio National Park is undoubtedly to follow one of its well-signed walking trails, suitable for everyone from families with young children to hardened hikers. They lead deep into the park’s forest panoramas, follow the shores of its lakes, and help visitors of all ages connect with Finland’s wildlife, which exists here in abundance.
Should you prefer a little help, guided tours are offered by the park’s Finnish Nature Center Haltia, while its restaurant has garnered a superb reputation for its menu of dishes using locally-produced ingredients whenever possible.
Visit Nuuksio in the winter months, and you could easily mistake a visit for a Lapland vacation, given the snow-covered ground and beautiful seasonal landscapes.
Absorb the Culture in Lahti
Approximately an hour from Helsinki by train, the university city of Lahti used to have a status as being a little unpolished in places. However, an emphasis on regeneration over the past few years has taken Lahti from uncut diamond in the rough to hidden gem.
The city’s art and cultural offerings are probably second only to those of the capital, making Lahti a great option for a Finland day trip from Helsinki. Why spend a precious day of your Finland vacations in Lahti?
First among Lahti’s attractions is probably the Malva visual arts museum which opened its doors to the public in 2022. Bringing new life to a former red-brick factory building known as Malski, the museum has three main galleries and several smaller ones, hung with a rang of permanent and temporary exhibitions covering everything from mid-century Finnish works to brightly-colored posters.
The city is also home to the Sinfonia Lahti symphony orchestra, offering regular performances inside the Sibelius Hall concert venue. Understandably, much of the orchestra’s emphasis is on the works of local composer Jean Sibelius, whose most famous work is Finlandia.
Sports fans will be pleased to hear that Lahti is also a famous ski jump destination, with a Ski Museum providing more insight into the invention of this sport.
Tour Old Town Porvoo
Having obtained its independence from Russia just over a hundred years ago in 1917, those looking for package trips to Lapland or elsewhere in Finland might be mistaken for thinking the country lacks history.
A day trip from Helsinki to Finland’s Porvoo will prove otherwise. It can be reached in approximately an hour from Helsinki by bus, with a steamship offering an alternative means of arrival and departure during the summer months.
With its heart situated around a river, Porvoo Old Town is a miraculous survivor of another age. Its lightly-colored houses of wood and plasterwork together create beautiful street scenes of independent stores, linking with cobbled squares, and a medieval cathedral.
Porvoo Museum is the place to head for a better understanding of the town’s history and traditions, while the whitewashed rooms of Gallery Vanha Kappalaisentalo bring visualizations of the town right up to date with its revolving collection of contemporary artworks. Porvoo Art Hall, at Taidetehdas, is another inspiring space for exhibitions, with the same building hosting some of Finland’s top musicians come the evening.
Stroll to Hame Castle
The day trip to Hame Castle from Helsinki is a great way of seeing a masterful piece of historic Finnish architecture while being able to experience life outside of the capital in person. To get there, visitors first travel to Hämeenlinna city by bus or by train. Then a pleasant 20 minute walk leads to the castle itself (although a taxi will also get you there if you don’t fancy the walk).
Nestled on the side of Lake Vanajavesi, this medieval castle still consists of its original keep (central fortress), surrounded by its high defensive walls and a water-filled moat. Thought to have been first constructed in the 1200s, Hame was built as a home for Swedish nobility. However, over its many centuries of existence, it has also served as a jail before becoming a museum.
One of the most popular attractions in Finland’s south, a visit to Hame Castle is a lovely addition to any Finland Christmas holiday package, when the cold winter weather enhances the castle’s ambience even more.
Stand at the Southernmost Point of Finland
Particularly popular in the summer, Finland’s southernmost city of Hanko is the antithesis of a Lapland Finland vacation. Boasting some of the country’s highest temperatures, it’s known for its beaches, alongside chances to sail and fish.
An easy day trip from Helsinki thanks to Finland’s efficient public transportation network, Hanko can be reached in under two hours by taking a train from Helsinki and changing at Karjaa. Consisting of many stylish wooden coastal villas, Hanko maintains the atmosphere of former times, with plenty of photographic opportunities as a result.
Connecting to Tulliniemi Nature Trail, an important nesting site for endangered species of bird, the southernmost point of mainland Finland can be found at the tip of the cape in Hanko, marked by a memorial to those who emigrated from Hanko to the US in the fifty years from 1880 onwards in search of better lives.