Feel Helsinki
Cold Outside. Warm Inside. Helsinki Awaits.
From late November onwards, Helsinki takes on a special festive atmosphere, with Christmas lights illuminating the city centre until the end of January.
Visit the Helsinki Christmas Market at Senate Square, open from 27 November to 22 December, or experience Finland’s Independence Day on 6 December — an important date in the Finnish calendar.
From 30 December 2026 to 6 January 2027, Lux Helsinki transforms the city into an open-air gallery, with spectacular light installations transforming Helsinki’s streets and landmarks.
Complete your winter stay with the Finnish sauna tradition or a refreshing dip at Allas Sea Pool, right in the heart of Helsinki — even in the freezing cold.
Then discover the flavours of Finland. Enjoy a cup of Finnish glögi or try a bowl of traditional Finnish salmon soup — a comforting winter delight. Sample reindeer dishes, other local specialities and modern Nordic cuisine, and discover the distinctive taste of cloudberries and other Nordic berries in everything from jams and desserts to liqueurs, ice cream, yoghurt and other Nordic berry products.
Christmas & New Year
Spend the festive season in Helsinki surrounded by Christmas lights, Finnish traditions, cosy restaurants and seasonal experiences. Explore museum exhibitions, enjoy concerts and shows, discover Finnish design and shopping in the city centre.
On New Year’s Eve, Helsinki hosts a large open-air concert in the city centre, organised by the City of Helsinki. Welcome the New Year with fireworks and festive dining, explore Lux Helsinki, enjoy a Finnish sauna and outdoor swimming, or extend your stay with a winter escape beyond Helsinki — from a peaceful cottage retreat and charming Porvoo to the landscapes of Karelia and Lapland, or a journey to Tallinn or Stockholm.
Come for the lights. Taste Finland. Feel Helsinki.
