Will you be in Helsinki in the summer? See our tips for the coming months and get the most out of your holiday.

Enjoy the maritime atmosphere

Helsinki’s proximity to the sea offers an endless number of opportunities in the summer. Helsinki’s shoreline is adorned by around 100 kilometres of coast and over 300 islands of which many are accessible for recreational use. The archipelago of Helsinki also provides a beautiful setting for summer dining at some of the idyllic island restaurants. This year you will also be able to visit a new recreational island, Lonna!

New experiences in the pipeline

One of the most visible novelties of the season is the Finnair Sky Wheel, which will open by the Market Square in the beginning of June. It is flanked by the events café of the Allas City Spa, due to open next year. A new event of the season is the Sibelius Finland Experience concert series at the Helsinki Music Centre from 17 June to 8 August. The concerts, performed daily at 12 noon, offer a quality experience where the music of Sibelius and photographs from the Finnish nature meet.

Delicacies top off the holiday

Gastronomes may enjoy several delicious events arranged in Helsinki. The highly popular Restaurant Day conquers the city twice during the summer, on 17 May and on 17 August. The Dinner under the Helsinki sky event invites everyone out to sit by the tables and enjoy the picnic delicacies onHelsinki Day, 12 June. On the same day starts the Taste of Helsinki food event, which continues in the park of the Kansalaistori Square until June 15. In late summer, the Delicacies of Finland & Syystober food and beer festival will be enjoyed at the Rautatientori on 21–23 August. Don’t forget to also visit the renewed Old Market Hall opening on 6 June!

Summer of festivals

The highlights of the summer include the traditional Helsinki Day on 12 June, followed by the enjoyable Kainutlaatuinen – Kainuu on the Senate Square provincial festivities on 13–15 June. The metal music festival Tuska on 27–29 June and the music and city culture festival Flow Festival on 8–10 August are some of the top music festivals of the summer. Finland’s biggest multi-arts festival, the Helsinki Festival, will be enjoyed in the city from 15 to 31 August. The Helsinki Festival’s popular city event, The Night of the Arts, will be held on 21 August. Also a part of the Helsinki Festival, the now 20-year-old Art goes Kapakka city festival is arranged in the central bars, cafés and restaurants of Helsinki from 14 to 23 August.

Lots of summer exhibitions to choose from

Don't miss the popular Tove Jansson centennial jubilee exhibition at theAteneum Art Museum until 7 September. Friends of art, design and fashion should visit the new exhibition Kiasma+Marimekko=Togetheropen until 7 September at the Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma. Another “must” stop for fans of design is the Design Museum, which stages a centennial jubilee exhibition in honour of Ilmari Tapiovaara until 21 September.

Updated 1.7.2014