Helsinki

Eat and Joy Farmers Market

In the heart of Helsinki at Kluuvi shopping centre, another one at Helsinki Airport. The markets are open seven days a week and have delicacies from more than 500 small producers across Finland: wild reindeer (poro), salmon, artisan cheeses, berry jams, fish roe, hand-crafted beer and cider, mushrooms, rye bread, smoked specialities, kyyttö forest cow, artisan chocolates and many other products – all direct from the producers.

Esplanadi Park

Esplanadinpuisto

Located between the market square (Kauppatori) and the two Esplanadi boulevards, this small but stately park has a commanding position at the heart of the city. In the summer time it is full of people sitting on the lawn, meeting their friends and quite often also having a drink or two. In the summer there are often free concerts given by local artists on the stage close to Kauppatori, facing restaurant Kappeli. If you're walking around with an ice cream or sandwich, do watch out for the aggressive birds.

Flea market in Helsingin Jäähalli

Jäähallin kirpputori

Besides sports events, the ice hall (or more precisely the corridors around the actual sports ground) is a venue of regular weekend flea markets.

Sat Sun 09:00-13:30

Hakaniemi Market Hall and Open-Air Market

Hakaniemen kauppahalli, Hakaniemen tori

A busy indoor market hall and outdoor market square frequented by locals, this is where you can find fresh produce and specialities or have a cup of coffee or a small meal. The open-air market offers fresh vegetables and seasonal products, and a flea market on the first Sunday each month at which point there will be a much greater number of food and goods vendors from all over Finland. Walking up Hämeentie from Hakaniemi market, you'll find several African, Middle Eastern, Indian and Asian grocery stores.

Hietalahti Old Market Hall

One of Helsinki's three traditional market halls until the turn of the millennium, after that concentrating on antiques and as of 2019 a kind of a food court, with some gift shops.

Hietalahti Open Air Flea market

Next to Hietalahti Old Market Hall, this is the most popular flea market in Helsinki. Open year round, but busiest from May to August.

Korkeasaari

Helsinki's zoo, with approximately 150 different animal species. The zoos signature animals are the bears, the free-roaming peafowls and the cats (from tigers and lions to European wildcats). Another highlight is Amazonia, a partly underground house featuring tropical plants and smaller animals such as fish and frogs. Opened in 1889, Korkeasaari is reportedly one of the world's oldest operating zoos. Korkeasaari is connected to the mainland by bridges via Kulosaari and Mustikkamaa islands, and since spring 2016 pedestrians and bikers can take a shortcut from Kalasatama; the Isoisänsilta (lit. Grandfather bridge). From downtown, bus 16 takes you to the gates of the zoo, and if you're driving, you can park for free on Mustikkamaa. During summer you can also opt for a 15-min ferry ride (ferry ticket: €6.95 return, under 18 yr old travel for free) from Hakaniemi and Market Square.

Every day except Christmas Eve: 10:00-20:00, may operate shorter hours on holidays·€14 adults, €10 children and students

Marimekko

Innovative and unique Finnish interior design, bags, and fabrics. This is the flagship store, but items can also be found at the Kämp Gallery, Kamppi Centre, Hakaniemi Market Hall, or their factory shop.

Market Square

Kauppatori

At the end of Esplanadi facing the sea, this open-air market sells fresh fish and produce from all over Finland. Open year round. It's busiest in summer, although the Christmas Market in December is also worth a look. One section of the market is devoted to souvenirs, but best buys here are the fresh berries and other produce. In summer, try the sweet green peas (herne). Pop open the pod and eat as is.

Metropolia Polytech main building

This impressive 19th-century building next to the Hietalahti square hosted the Helsinki Technical University until the 1950s, nowadays it's the main building for the Metropolia University of Applied Sciences. As you're there, check out the Hietalahti market hall and market square.

Moko market and café

Things to furnish and decorate your home of the more expensive kind as well as organic products. They have a café too, serving sandwiches, good hamburgers and a range of beverages – on Saturdays you can enjoy brunch there. Moko has another branch in Punavuori in the southwest of the city.

Mon-Fri 09:00-17:00, Sat 10:00-16:00

Old Market Hall

Vanha kauppahalli

Next to Market Square, this old brick building houses Finland's best collection of gourmet food boutiques. Try to find the stall which sells beaver sausage.

Tammisalo Canal

Tammisalon kanava

The canal was dug in 1762 by the owner of the Herttoniemi manor to provide a shortcut for fishermen from Porvoo to the Helsinki Market Square. Before that it was a natural strait, through which Russian warships attacked Helsinki during the Greater Wrath. It was filled in 1794, but was re-opened as a local sight in 2001.

Joulu

Christmas

In the weeks before Christmas, Aleksanterinkatu is festively lit up, the Christmas lights of the street are ceremonially lit on the last Sunday in November. The open-air Christmas market formerly held in the Esplanadi Park is nowadays held at the Senaatintori (Senate Square). The Stockmann department store sets up a Christmas themed exhibition with mechanic dolls and animals in their windows at the corner of Keskuskatu and Aleksanterinkatu. Christmas is a family event, so on the 24th, everything shuts down and stays closed until December 26.

Vappu

Walpurgis Night

Vappu began as a north European pagan carnival, and is now an excuse for students to wear brightly colored overalls and for everybody to drink vast amounts of alcohol. At 18:00 on April 30, the statue of Havis Amanda at the Market Square is crowned with a student's cap and the revelry begins in the streets. Things can get a little ugly outside as the night wears on, so it's wiser to head indoors to the bars, clubs and restaurants, all of which have massive Vappu parties. The following morning, the party heads to the Kaivopuisto and Kaisaniemi parks for a champagne picnic, regardless of the weather. If the weather is good, up to 70,000 people will show up. Left-wing parties hold rallies and speeches, but the event is increasingly non-political.

April 30-May 1

World Village Festival

in Finnish Maailma Kylässä

An annual multicultural weekend festival in late May. The event is free to all and a meeting place offering tastes of different cultures and surprises from all over the world, music, dance, food, art, market, information. Several hundred organizations are involved and the main organiser KEPA works under the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland.

Alanya Market

A grocery store specializing in Middle Eastern products.

Mon–Sat 9:00–21:00, Sun 11:00–21:00

K-Market Suomenlinna

Only grocery store in the Suomenlinna Island.

Mon–Fri 07:00–22:00, Sat 08:00–22:00, Sun 10:00–21:00

Moi Market

A grocery store selling Asian and Middle Eastern foods.

Mon–Fri 09:00–21:00, Sat 09:00–20:00, Sun 10:00–19:00

Siisti Kirppis

A flea market.

Tue–Fri 11:00–19:00, Weekend 12:00–17:00