cathedral
Temppeliaukio Church (Rock Church)
A remarkable Lutheran church in Helsinki excavated directly into solid rock, topped with a copper dome that floods the interior with natural light.
1 km · about 5 min drive
EuropeFinlandUusimaa
Helsinki
Uusimaa, Finland · Europe
About Helsinki
Helsinki works well as a base: 29km from Nuuksio National Park.
Helsinki is a city located in Uusimaa, Finland. With a population of 658,864, it is an important destination in Europe.
On a road trip, Helsinki sits in Finland, where you drive on the right. It's in the Europe/Helsinki time zone. Below you'll find where to stay, things to do nearby, and everything you need to add Helsinki to your route.
About Helsinki
Helsinki, until about 1930 known in English by its Swedish name of Helsingfors, is the capital and most populous city in Finland. It is on the shore of the Gulf of Finland and is the seat of southern Finland's Uusimaa region. About 694,000 people live in the municipality, with 1.3 million in the capital region and 1.6Read more
million in the metropolitan area. As the most populous urban area in Finland, it is the country's most significant centre for politics, education, finance, culture, and research. Helsinki is 80 kilometres (50 mi) north of Tallinn, Estonia, 400 kilometres (250 mi) east of Stockholm, Sweden, and 300 kilometres (190 mi) west of Saint Petersburg, Russia. Helsinki is a bilingual municipality with Finnish and Swedish as its official languages.
Together with the cities of Espoo, Vantaa and Kauniainen—and surrounding commuter towns, including the neighbouring municipality of Sipoo to the east—Helsinki forms a metropolitan area. This area is often considered Finland's only metropolis and is the world's northernmost metropolitan area with over one million inhabitants. Additionally, it is the northernmost capital of an EU member state. Helsinki is the third-largest municipality in the Nordic countries, after Stockholm and Oslo. Its urban area is the third-largest in the Nordic countries, after Stockholm and Copenhagen. Helsinki Airport, in the neighbouring city of Vantaa, serves the city with frequent flights to numerous destinations in Europe, North America, and Asia.
Helsinki has one of the highest standards of urban living in the world, and often ranks highly in various city quality of life indices. In the Condé Nast Traveler magazine's 2023 Readers' Choice Awards, Helsinki was ranked the 4th-friendliest city in Europe. It has also ranked first in the Global Destination Sustainability Index in 2024, 2025 and 2026. Helsinki, along with Rovaniemi in Lapland, is also one of Finland's most important tourist cities. Due to the large number of sea passengers, Helsinki is classified as a major port city, and in 2017 it was rated the world's busiest passenger port. Helsinki has hosted the 1952 Summer Olympics, the first CSCE/OSCE Summit in 1975, the first World Athletics Championships in 1983, and the 52nd Eurovision Song Contest in 2007 and was the 2012 World Design Capital. The city is recognized as a "Design City" in 2014 by UNESCO's Creative Cities Network.
Where to Stay in Helsinki
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best things to do in Helsinki?
Helsinki offers many attractions including tourist sites, museums, parks, and local restaurants. Explore famous landmarks, scenic roads, and natural wonders on our interactive map and plan your visit.
How do I plan a road trip to Helsinki?
Plan your road trip to Helsinki with Plan Your Road Trips! Add Helsinki as a destination, and we'll help you find the best route and discover more amazing places along the way.
Where is Helsinki located?
Helsinki is located in Uusimaa, Finland, Europe. The coordinates are 60.1695 latitude, 24.9354 longitude.
What is the population of Helsinki?
Helsinki has a population of approximately 658,864 people, making it a city in Finland.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 658,864
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- Finland
- Region
- Uusimaa
- Timezone
- Europe/Helsinki
- Coordinates
- 60.1695, 24.9354
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in Finland
Winter tyres mandatory December–February.
Full driving guide for FinlandTags
Worth the detour from Helsinki
6 notable places within an hour's drive.
landmark
Linnanmäki
Helsinki's beloved amusement park operating since 1950 with all profits going to Finnish child welfare organizations.
2 km · about 5 min drive
cafe
Café Regatta
Tiny red 1887 fisherman's hut on the Töölö shoreline, now Helsinki's best-loved café: cinnamon buns and coffee by the water, sausages grilled over an open fire, kayaks and SUPs for rent off the jetty.
2 km · about 5 min drive
castle
Suomenlinna
A sea fortress built on a group of islands off the coast of Helsinki, one of the largest maritime fortresses in the world.
4 km · about 5 min drive
national park
Nuuksio National Park
A pristine forest and lake wilderness just 30 minutes from Helsinki, offering easy access to quintessential Finnish nature.
29 km · about 35 min drive
landmark
Porvoo Old Town
A riverside town of cobbled lanes and ochre-red shore warehouses, a favourite day-drive east of Helsinki.
47 km · about 55 min drive
When to drive here
May to September
Far northern latitude: short daylight hours outside summer make long drives harder.
Nearby Destinations
Other places to explore near Helsinki.
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