There are many things to do from shopping and ice skating to visiting cafes and museums in Helsinki area in December 2018! Quite near Helsinki there are cities and towns such as Vantaa, Espoo, Sipoo, Raasepori and Tuusula.
Check out these places that we have listed for you! :)
Check also the Christmas opening hours and ticket pricing by visiting the websites of the places included in this article.
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– BUY PRESENTS! – DESIGN, ART, FOOD –
Photo: Fiskars Village, Raasepori
Buy Christmas presents or souvenirs at the many Christmas markets in Helsinki and in the boutiques of the nearby cities and towns!
Raasepori
There are design shops, hotels, and restaurants in this historical area! Read more about the Christmas buses from Helsinki to Raasepori (until 15th of December) here.
Ornamo’s Design Christmas (From 7th to 9th of December)
Kaapelitehdas, Helsinki
Read more about Ornamo here.
Wanha Satama’s Christmas (From 5th to 9th of December)
Katajanokka, Helsinki
Teurastamo’s Market (From 15th to 16th of December)
Helsinki
Read more about Teurastamo here.
Helsinki Christmas Market (Vanhan Joulutori) (From 15th to 22nd of December)
Vanha ylioppilastalo, Helsinki
Helsinki Christmas Market (Tuomaan Markkinat) (From 1st to 22nd of December)
the Senate Square, Helsinki
Helsinki
Porvoo’s Artfactory Christmas Market (From 14th to 16th of December)
Culture and Congress Center, Porvoo
Porvoo’s Christmas Market (From 8th to 9th of December)
Old Porvoo
Visit Old Porvoo's beautiful old buildings in December! There are many boutiques and museums in Old Porvoo.
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– VISIT MUSEUMS, EXHIBITIONS, AND ART GALLERIES –
Halosenniemi, Tuusula. Photo: VisitTuusulanjärvi
While visiting Helsinki, you should also visit the historical places near Helsinki! These places include museums and art galleries!
Ainola (Jean Sibelius’ home)
Järvenpää
Tuusula
Tuusula
Lake Tuusula is known for its many historical places. Find more museums by Lake Tuusula here. We visited Lake Tuusula in spring 2018! Read more
Sipoo
If you love art and design, you should visit Gumbostrand Konst & Form! Its art exhibitions and design shop can be found near Helsinki in Sipoo.
Photo: Haltia – the Finnish Nature Centre, Espoo
Haltia – The Finnish Nature Centre
Espoo
In Haltia there are exhibitions about the Finnish nature, a restaurant, and a shop! Visit also the Nuuksio National Park. We visited Haltia in spring 2018. Read more
Helsinki
The ferry takes visitors to the unique island of Suomenlinna also in the winter time! We visited Suomenlinna Sea Fortress in summer 2018! Read more
Helsinki
Visit the Helsinki themed exhibitions for free and make Christmas decorations at the workshop!
Helsinki
This zoo is located on an island in Helsinki. There are lions, tigers, bears, and other animals at the zoo that is closed only on Christmas eve! Adults 12 €, children 6 € (children under 4-years-old 0 €).
Helsinki
"The Ateneum Art Museum has the country’s oldest and largest art collection." There are also a shop and a cafe-restaurant at Ateneum.
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– EAT –
Restaurant Backas, Vantaa. Photo: Johanna Hurtig/LikeFinland.com
Eat lunch or buy a coffee! There are many unique restaurants in Helsinki and also near Helsinki Airport!
Kluuvikatu 3, Helsinki
At this cafe you can eat cakes, drink a cup of coffee or tea, and eat breakfast or lunch! The cafe was opened in 1891.
Pohjois-Esplanadi 37, Helsinki
Bulevardi 9, Helsinki
"Ekberg is Finland’s oldest bakery, patisserie and café".
Löyly – A sauna, a café, and a restaurant
Hernesaarenranta 4, Helsinki
Vantaa
Near Helsinki airport you can eat lunch in a 200-year-old manor! We visited restaurant Backas in spring 2018. Read more
Vantaa
By the Vantaanjoki river and also near Helsinki airport there is a historical restaurant in two buildings! We visited Kuninkaan Lohet in summer 2018. Read more
Sipoo
If you want to eat lunch or drink a cup of coffee in the countryside instead of the city, visit Cafe N'avetta!
Raasepori
Svartå Manor offers hotel and restaurant services in a beautiful environment!
Find more cafes and restaurants in Helsinki here!
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– SPORT ACTIVITIES & GAMES –
Photo: Flamingo Spa, Vantaa
If you want to do something else than shopping or visiting museums, you should consider these!
Flamingo Entertainment Centre, Vantaa
Go for a swim in the Spa or in the Waterpark! Flamingo Spa is located in Flamingo Entertainment Centre where you can also find a hotel, shops, and restaurants!
Talmantie 341, Sipoo
At Talma Ski you can rent skiing equipment and go skiing for example in Snow Park that has been used by many professionals! With the kids you can spend a winter day at Werneri Park.
Kiipeilyareena climbing centre
Salmisaari Sports centre (Salmisaaren Liikuntakeskus) & Shopping centre Redi, Helsinki
Go climbing! Adults with equipment 20 € (before 4 pm 16 €) and children with equipment 15 €.
Helsinki
Adults 6 €, children 3 € and students, pensioners 4 €.
Katajanokanlaituri 2 A, Helsinki
Go for a swim in the middle of Helsinki! Adults 14 €, children 7 €.
Exit Room Helsinki. Photo: LikeFinland.com
Multiple locations around Helsinki, mainly in Vallila area
Some of the rooms are available also in English!
Entertainment Centre Flamingo, Vantaa
Salmisaari Sports centre (Salmisaaren Liikuntakeskus), Helsinki
Salmisaari Sports centre (Salmisaaren Liikuntakeskus), Helsinki
Entertainment Centre Flamingo, Vantaa
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– READ MORE ABOUT HELSINKI –
Photo: LikeFinland.com
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Text: Johanna Hurtig
Fiskars Village, VisitTuusulanjärvi, Gumbostrand Konst & Form, Haltia, Restaurant Backas, Svartå Manor, Talma Ski, Restaurant Kuninkaan Lohet, Flamingo Spa, Kiipeilyareena climbing centre, Exit Room Helsinki, Megazone Vantaa & Helsinki and Prison Island Vantaa & Helsinki are our Star Destinations and media customers.
Other online sources used in this article: MyHelsinki, Ice Park, Löyly, Allas Sea Pool, OldPorvoo, Ateneum, Fazer, Korkeasaari Zoo, Helsinki City Museum, Ornamo, Wanha Satama, Teurastamo, Vanhan Joulutori, Tuomaan Markkinat, Porvoo’s Artfactory, and Old Market Hall.
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