Timeline
08:49
Find a quiet spot on the bench or grass near the statue of Elias Lönnrot. The park is small, so you will have a clear view of the horizon to the southwest. Wait for the sky to lighten.
09:09
Watch the sunrise. On 15 January the sun sets toward the southwest, meaning the golden light begins around 14:13, but the initial sunrise at 09:09 offers a crisp, blue morning atmosphere before the warmth returns.
09:34
Walk four minutes east to Café Ekberg. It is one of Helsinki’s oldest cafés, founded in 1852. Order a coffee and a pastry to warm up. The doors open at 09:00 on Saturdays and Sundays, or 07:30 on weekdays, so you will arrive just in time.
Local tip
The walk from the park to the café is short and flat. If you want to stretch your legs, the Market Square is a 13-minute walk further east, but the café is the most logical warm-up spot.
Check before you go
- Café Ekberg opens at 07:30 on weekdays and 09:00 on weekends.
- January mornings in Helsinki are cold. Dress warmly for the wait in the park.
Built from places in the Wikivoyage guide to Helsinki (CC BY-SA 4.0), with open map data from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).