This summer, Helsinki and its surroundings are bursting with cultural richness, offering visitors unforgettable art, history, and design experiences. Whether you’re wandering through world-class museums or stepping into the past in scenic countryside towns, there’s no shortage of inspiration. Here’s your guide to the top cultural attractions in and around Helsinki for summer 2025.
Helsinki – Where Culture Comes to Life
Ateneum Art Museum
At the heart of Helsinki, Ateneum is Finland’s most visited art museum and a cornerstone of the Finnish National Gallery. This summer, it hosts Crossing Borders – Travelling Women Artists in the 1800s until August 25, featuring over 200 works by 53 pioneering women who defied the norms of their time. The museum’s current collection, A Question of Time, unveiled in April 2023, offers a thought-provoking exploration through four thematic lenses: The Age of Nature asks how nature is changing; Images of a People explores how Finnishness is portrayed; Modern Life delves into the experience of living in our modern era; and Art and Power scrutinises the dynamics of power within the realm of art. Ateneum is also open on Mondays throughout July and August.
Finlandia Hall – The Finlandia Exhibition
Finlandia Hall, one of Helsinki’s most iconic architectural landmarks designed by Alvar Aalto, has reopened as a vibrant cultural hub following a major renovation. At the heart of this transformation is the new Finlandia Exhibition, which opened on June 4, 2025. This permanent exhibition offers a captivating journey into the lives and legacy of Alvar, Aino and Elissa Aalto – exploring their creativity, human values, and the profound role of light and nature in Finnish identity.
The exhibition is divided into five immersive spaces – Prelude, Power of Light, Land of Forests, Together, and MyAalto—each offering a unique perspective on Finnish culture and the Aaltos’ vision. It is part of the broader Finlandia Experience concept, where culture, design, food, accommodation, and architecture come together in the heart of Helsinki.
Suomenlinna – Fortress Island by Ferry
Just a 15-minute HSL ferry ride from Helsinki’s Market Square, Suomenlinna is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the capital’s most beloved attractions. Built across six islands, the historic fortress itself is the heart of the visit—featuring old bastions, tunnels, cannons, and scenic coastal paths that tell the story of centuries of military and maritime history.
Suomenlinna also hosts five unique museums: the Suomenlinna Museum and Military Museum’s Manege are open year-round, while the Vesikko Submarine, Finnish Customs Museum, and Ehrensvärd Museum (set in a Gustavian-era residence) welcome visitors during the summer season. Alongside the history, the island offers charming cafés, restaurants, artist studios, and parks—making it an ideal day trip for both culture and relaxation.
Sinebrychoff Art Museum
A short stroll from the city center, the Sinebrychoff Art Museum offers a refined escape into European art history, showcasing masterworks from the 14th to 19th centuries. Highlights include Finland’s only Rembrandt, The Reading Monk, and the country’s largest collection of miniatures, alongside exquisite works from Dutch, Flemish, Italian, and French masters. This summer, Classical Heroes (until August 10) explores timeless tales from antiquity, while Spain Beyond the Myths, opening in September, dives into romanticized depictions of Spain from the 19th and 20th centuries. On the upper floor, visitors can also explore the elegant home of Paul and Fanny Sinebrychoff – preserved as a period house museum and always free to enter, offering a glimpse into aristocratic life in historic Helsinki.
TAHTO Sports Museum
TAHTO offers a unique cultural experience where the energy of sport meets history, emotion, and design. TAHTO’s main exhibition, The Story of TAHTO, invites visitors to explore the highs and lows of Finnish sports—from the 1952 Olympics to modern e-sports. This summer’s highlight is a special exhibition dedicated to football legend Jari Litmanen, featuring personal memorabilia and rare photographs from his extraordinary career.
TAHTO is perfect for families too: the Sports Adventure area lets kids and adults test their skills through playful, interactive challenges. The museum also houses Finland’s national sports collections, with over 36,000 items and 500,000 photographs, along with one of the world’s largest sports libraries.
Cultural Attractions Near Helsinki
Beyond the capital, the wider Helsinki region and Southeast Finland and Lohja offer a wealth of cultural experiences – perfect for day trips or extended explorations.
Heureka Science Centre and Finnish Aviation Museum in Vantaa
Part of the Helsinki metropolitan area and home to Finland’s main airport, Vantaa is also a great destination for curious minds and families.
At the Heureka Science Centre, visitors of all ages can explore hands-on exhibits, engaging experiments, and the wonders of the universe through interactive displays and a full-dome planetarium. Ranked among Finland’s top attractions, Heureka offers fun, learning, and discovery all under one roof and regularly hosts special themed exhibitions.
Nearby, the Finnish Aviation Museum takes you on a journey through the history of Finnish flight. Set across two hangars, the museum showcases historic aircraft, cockpits you can climb into, engines, and uniforms, bringing to life everything from early aviation pioneers to modern jet technology.
Strömfors Ironworks in Loviisa
This beautifully preserved 18th-century industrial village, Strömfors Ironworks in Loviisa, is alive with artisan shops, galleries, and exhibitions. Paddle the river, dine on local food, and admire the harmony of history and nature. Once a working ironworks community, the area now hosts summer events, museums, and workshops where visitors can learn about traditional crafts. It’s the perfect place for a slow-paced cultural outing, surrounded by charming wooden buildings and peaceful riverside scenery.
Maritime Centre Vellamo in Kotka
Rising like a wave in Kotka’s old port, Maritime Centre Vellamo is a striking architectural and cultural landmark where Finland’s maritime heritage meets bold contemporary exhibitions. Inside, you’ll find permanent displays, seasonal highlights, and interactive fun for all ages.
This summer, don’t miss In the Shadows – We Still Dream (until 19 Oct 2025), a moving exhibition by Anni Laukka featuring toys salvaged from bombed Ukrainian homes and a touching animation based on real stories of children affected by war.
Family favourites include Never Never Town, where kids can build their own colourful city, and Courage, Freedom, Love! A Moomin Adventure, which brings Tove Jansson’s beloved characters to life through nature and play. Vellamo also hosts the Coast Guard Museum, where Keeping You Safe at Sea marks 95 years of Finnish Coast Guard history—from the Prohibition era to today’s rescue missions.
Porvoo’s Cultural Treasures
Just a short drive from Helsinki, Porvoo is a dream destination for culture lovers, blending art, history, and heritage in a charming riverside setting.
Visit the Runeberg Home Museum to step into the everyday life of Finland’s national poet, J. L. Runeberg, with original furnishings and personal items. At the Albert Edelfelt Studio and Villa Albert, you can explore the serene coastal surroundings where the famous painter worked each summer. Taidehalli in central Porvoo showcases contemporary art through rotating exhibitions, while the Porvoo Museum at Holm House offers an atmospheric journey into 18th-century merchant life. Finish your tour at Gallery Vanha Kappalaisentalo, housed in an 18th-century wooden building, featuring seasonal exhibitions in a beautifully nostalgic setting.
Cultural Highlights in Kouvola
Verla Groundwood Mill in Kouvola is a UNESCO World Heritage Site offering a rare glimpse into Finland’s industrial history. In summer 2025, visitors can step inside the newly restored Patruunan Pytinki, a 19th-century building now home to a restaurant and meeting spaces that bring new life to the historic setting.
Taideruukki is a year-round creative centre housed in an old factory, where tradition and innovation meet. Visitors can explore artist studios, exhibitions, design shops, and cultural events in a vibrant, hands-on environment.
The Ankkapurha Cultural Area invites exploration of Alvar Aalto’s architecture, local museum exhibitions, and tranquil riverside surroundings. Once an important industrial hub, today it’s a peaceful place to experience culture, history, and nature side by side.
The Tytyri Mine Experience in Lohja
One of Southern Finland’s most unique attractions lies deep beneath the surface in Lohja. The Tytyri Mine Experience takes visitors 100 metres underground into a still-active limestone mine, where industrial heritage meets natural geology, immersive art, and creative storytelling.
The tunnels reveal dramatic light installations, fascinating exhibits, and stories from the mine’s working past. A highlight is the underground event hall—renowned for its acoustics and atmospheric setting—occasionally used for concerts and special performances. Families will also love the Troll Cave, a themed adventure area 100 metres down.
Tips for Getting Around
Helsinki Region Transport (HSL) offers a simple and efficient way to reach all major cultural sites in the capital. From Suomenlinna ferries to tram stops by Ateneum and buses to the Olympic Stadium, one ticket gets you access to the full network.
For longer cultural excursions, renting a car through Avis Finland provides the freedom to explore Kotka, Porvoo, Loviisa, and beyond at your own pace.
This summer, let Finland’s art, architecture, and history enrich your journey – whether you’re in the heart of Helsinki or discovering hidden gems just beyond the city.
