I didn't care for Designmuseo…read more Walking into the museum, you are asked to leave any bags (even a small purse) in the provided lockers. But the issue is that the lockers are located in the open floor lobby and it's easy to see the large keypad password if you're seated nearby. My biggest advice is they should move the lockers to an enclosed section and switch to (like most of the other lockers we ran into) keyed lockers for security. In relation to the exhibitions - most of the lobby floor was a waste. If you're a fan of Moomin one corner area is cute, but the rest is just a basic furniture showroom, there's nothing unique or engaging about it. All in all, Designmuseo is nowhere near worth the $26 usd purchase price and I felt extremely uncomfortable leaving my bag here so overall I can't recommend it.

Only part of the museum was open due to installation of a new exhibit, but we still found plenty to…read moreenjoy. There is extensive information on architectural design changes throughout the history of Helsinki which we found very interesting especially as the exhibits were arranged in the context of geopolitical events. We also enjoyed the furniture, kitchen and fashion exhibits.

This is our family favorite, absolutely fantastic museum! Great changing exhibitions and a…read morewonderful collection of the Finnish history. Full of information and great experience also for kids. Many fantastic features, such as time trip to Finnish heavy metal music and predicting the future president.

This museum offers so much more than its size would suggest. There are lots of sections to wander…read morethrough to discover the history of Finland from prehistoric times to now. Take your time to wander through and take it all in. From the history of the sauna to modern heavy metal, you'll find so much to see and do!

The Museum of Cultures is located on the second floor of Tennispalatsi. They have changing…read moreexhibitions through the year. Trying to bring other cultures closer to the visitor they have exhibits from ancient times till today on display. You should really pay this place a visit. The museum is not too big but still has a lot to offer. Just drop by during one of your shopping trips or before going to the movies next time. The entrance is free of charge.

Great museum. I spent hours here and could have spent hours more. The exhibits are varied and…read moreinteresting, with a lot of interactive aspects that allow you to fully engage with the museum. My only complaint, and it is a minor one, is that their audio tour (which is free) is a little uneven; some rooms have nothing or only play music, some rooms have way too many things to scan with narrations that go on for far too long. This place is really cool, though, and if you like history/natural history/artifacts/etc. it's definitely worth a visit.

Luonnontieteellinen museo is the Natural History Museum. An hour minimum here, probably closer to…read moretwo. Lots of taxidermy animals, jarred fish, shells, skeletons, dioramas. The museum is clearly aiming for kids to enjoy as well, with a lot of the items available for touching. Most of the captions in Finnish, but their free wifi let Google Translate do some interesting translations for me. Don't miss the view from the balcony. [Review 10061 overall, 1646 of 2018.]

Helsinki's Senate Square (Senaatintori) are part of the oldest part of the city of Helsinki…read more Surrounding this large plaza are the Helsinki Cathedral, the Government Palace, the University of Helsinki and the Sederholm House which is the oldest building in the city center. You'll also find the Statue of Alexander II here, who re-established the Diet of Finland and worked towards Finland's independence from Russia. Senaatintori is where the big things happen, including concerts and exhibits. There is plenty to see here and nearby. [Review 10086 overall, 1672 of 2018.]

Senate Square is the main public square in Helsinki. It contains the Cathedral, the Government…read morePalace, the University Main Building, the National Library, and a statue of Tsar Alexander II. I spent some time in this square to view the buildings, which had some beautiful architecture. I felt interested in how the Finnish people liked Alexander II for solidifying the use of the Finnish language. Please note, though, that pickpocketing can occur in this square. A pickpocketer stole a wallet from a man in my tour group. If you visit here, be careful to watch your belongings!

Sibelius-monumentti is a monument that visually gives the effect of organ pipes…read more The monument was created in honor of the composed Jean Sibelius and thus was designed to compose music through the pipes when it gets windy. We stopped in on our private tour while it wasn't too busy, but later found out that it's one of the most popular tourist destinations in Helsinki so we lucked out there wasn't a large crowd. All in all, Sibelius-monumentti is a must-see while in Helsinki and I definitely recommend dropping by.

I visited the Sibelius Monument in Sibelius Park and loved the photographic possibilities. From a…read morelow, centered vantage the clustered steel pipes form a circular frame of sky that's both dramatic and elegant. The reflective surfaces change with the light, so every shot feels different. The park is peaceful, easy to access from central Helsinki, and there's a bust of Jean Sibelius nearby for context. Great spot for photographers and anyone who appreciates modern public art.

While walking around Helsinki, I accidentally stumbled upon the 1952 Summer Olympics game stadium,…read moreand this was a really cool find!! Some of the grounds are still used for sporting events today . The whole complex was really cool to walk around. I didn't get to go into the museum, but the portion the exhibit that I did see and the gift shop were really cool! I do love stumbling upon parts of history!

Slightly outside of the "main downtown" area, this tourist destination is still technically…read morewalkable if you have time and a bit of energy. (or you can take any one of the timely, clean trams that run through the city). The view is really incredible at the top. It's a small fee (and the platform is small as well), but definitely well worth the time. You can see all the way to the waterfront and everywhere in between. Also, at the base, there are small exhibits dedicated to the olympics, a real-life 1st/2nd/3rd olympic podium to stand on (!), a cafeteria, and access to the main fields at ground level. I believe there is a hostel too, but I didn't stay there on my trip. The entire area is pretty well maintained but the staff were rather stoic (maybe a cultural thing?) Didn't get an overwhelmingly positive - or negative - vibe from any of them. All in all, it's slightly off the beaten path, a bit of history, and well worth the visit.

Helsingin Kaupunginmuseo is a free museum our tour guide suggested and enjoyed it because they had…read moreclean restrooms, nice seating, and it felt very calm and wasn't crowded. The museum would probably be three stars if they tried to charge for it as the exhibitions are a bit of a let down and don't feel all that engaging, but some of the historical furniture was interesting as was the fridge with historical "food". All in all, if you're in Helsinki and have some time to waste I'd recommend it, but generally keep your expectations low.

Super cool museum smack downtown (I think). It's in the square by the cathedral and was a great…read morespot to both wind down and get some energy out on a long sunny day, and an even better place to hunker down when it was a rainy day later in the week. Our primary purpose was the kids area as we had three kiddos that desperately needed some play and imagination time after walking the city for some time. They've got a whole section for the kiddos with lots of stuff to jump around and climb on, an old kitchen where play food lives and a small stage where they can put on puppet shows. There's another area where they house classic toys - sort of a tease to have them displayed but not let the kids play with them, but they're fun to look at! Entry was free and there appeared to be plenty of other stuff to check out throughout the place. Stroller parking is outside but easily seen from the kids area and there's a coffee shop right off the main entryway. There's really no reason to not be checking this place out, especially if the kiddos are in tow!