Helsinki is the perfect city to visit on either a quick city escape or for a stopover before travelling further afield.
Luxury Holidays in Helsinki
@ Jussi Hellsten
@ Jussi Hellsten
A word from our travel specialist
I always think there’s something magical about this northern capital — a place where minimalist design meets centuries-old architecture, and the rhythm of city life slows down just enough for you to really take it all in.
I love wandering through the quiet streets of Helsinki. From the stunning white Helsinki Cathedral rising above Senate Square, to the hip cafés and art galleries tucked into the Design District, every corner has a story.
Hopping on a ferry to explore the fortress island of Suomenlinna, and ending the day watching the sun dip below the horizon from Löyly sauna is a wonderful experience.
It’s peaceful here, but never boring. Helsinki knows how to mix tradition with trend, nature with city, quiet moments with bold beauty.
I am already planning my next trip back in winter for those snowy streets and maybe even the northern lights.
Zoe
Nordic Experience Specialist
Inspiration for Holidays in Helsinki
A Nordic Christmas Beneath the Northern Lights
A luxury Christmas journey through Swedish and Finnish Lapland featuring igloos, Northern Lights, festive traditions, and private wilderness lodges.
Luxury Lapland Wilderness Escape
A luxury winter journey through Sweden and Finland, featuring Arctic Bath, Treehotel, Octola wilderness living, and Northern Lights experiences.
Arctic Luxury and Northern Lights Escape in Finnish Lapland
Luxury Arctic glass cabin retreat with snow adventures, Northern Lights experiences and premium glass roofed accommodation in Lapland followed by elegant...
Helsinki Christmas City Break
Explore the Christmas markets, enjoy a guided tour and experience some delicious food
5 Star Capitals
5 capital cities, 5 five-star hotels, 5 Michelin-starred restaurants
@ Lauri Rotko
Helsinki, Designed Around You
Helsinki is the vibrant seaside capital city of Finland and has beautiful islands and lots of green parks. The city boasts a combination of a laid-back style and exciting activities with a huge number of top-quality restaurants and hotels. It is a compact city and easy to get around on foot.
Design, architecture, and culture all feature along with being able to visit the forest, lakes, and the coastline which means that there is no shortage of natural exploration too! Perfect for a city escape or stopover before journeying further afield.
Some top spots to discover included the Kauppatori is Helsinki’s harbour side, and is dotted with market stalls selling local produce. The Lutheran Cathedral and the Uspenski Cathedral are two eye-catching churches, facing each-other high above the city. Helsinki has a number of fascinating museums and art galleries which should be high on the list for any culture lovers!
Where to Stay: Handpicked for You
From stylish design-led hotels to harbour-view hideaways, our curated picks in Helsinki reflect the city’s effortless blend of tradition and trend.
Hilton Waldorf Astoria Hotel Maria Helsinki
Nordic elegance at Hilton Waldorf Astoria Hotel Maria—Helsinki’s most refined spa, dining, and cultural haven awaits.
Hotel St. George
A luxury hotel with holistic care for a healthy mind, heart and body
The Hotel Maria
Unwind & rejuvenate in our globally inspired spa and wellness facilities
Hotel Kämp
Rejuvenating massages at Kämp Wellness, a spa in the heart of the cityThe Guidebook
Explore Helsinki
Only 30 minutes from the airport by bus or train you can soon find yourself in Finland’s capital and get out exploring. It truly is the perfect cosmopolitan introduction into Finland and offers a wealth of cultural and historical experiences as well as opportunities to witness the beautiful archipelago of islands in the Summer and Autumn months.
Getting There
Helsinki is serviced by regular international flights, making it an obvious city stopover for any trip to Finland. Public transport in the city is excellent, with a reliable and efficient metro line, trams, taxis, and busses. Getting around by bicycle is also a popular, safe, and convenient way to see the city!
Climate
Helsinki has a mild climate compared to areas further North in Finland. Summer temperatures often reach around 20℃, while winter temperatures drop to a chilly -6℃. Temperatures as low as -20℃ occur a few times a year, but the snow season is much shorter compared to the North of Finland.
We – the whole family – loved the whole journey!!
The accommodations, the activities and especially the great people – thank you very much for this fantastic organisation !!!
Barbara
I used OTMT to organise a holiday to see the Northern Lights for my partner’s 50th birthday. They took the time to understand my priorities, the kinds of places we like to stay and the things we like to do. They recommended a fabulous itinerary in Norway centred around the Lyngen Experience Lodge. The holiday itself lived up to expectations and I have no hesitation in recommending OTMT. They listened carefully during the planning and delivered the perfect present for my partner.
Alex
Exceptional service throughout the entire planning and booking process – travel agencies don’t get any better than this. A brilliant, seamless experience matched by the holiday experience itself. Would recommend ‘Off the Map Travel’ to anyone considering booking for a Nordic experience ‘par excellence’.
Chris
Amy planned a fantastic trip! Everything was very well-thought out. All transfers went smoothly, accommodations were amazing, great restaurant recommendations and the tours were once-in-a-lifetime, can’t book it yourself off the internet experiences. The guides were all fantastic. Communications were prompt and everything worked exactly the way it was supposed to. What a pleasure! Already working on our next trip.
Anonymous
We originally hired Off the Map Travel in 2020 to set up a trip to see the Northern Lights. That didn’t happen, thanks to COVID. But, we persisted and in March of 2023, we took a 16-day trip that included both Iceland and Norway. IT WAS MAGICAL! Off the Map took care of everything! We were pampered at every stage of our trip. The people they hired and the activities they planned added up to a trip that will set the standard for any we’ll ever take in the future. Alex and his team were fabulous! We recommend them without restraint!
Jim & Kris
We have loved it so much here that we have extended our stay and will come back to Bjornfjell and stay in one of their cabins until Jan 3 then we are staying in the igloo hotel the night of the 3rd. 😊We added a few excursions this week – we did the whale trip on the RIB boat (wow!), toured the igloo hotel (which is why we decided to book the last night!) and did the reindeer sleigh at Sorrisniva. You were so right, the bonfire excursion was incredible!!It has been an absolutely amazing trip!
Kristen
Arctic Retreat was simply magical. Graham and his team were superb. Their entire focus was on ensuring we had an outstanding experience. The accommodation, setting and food were all excellent. The team, experienced professionals, each brought their own personal touch and local nuance. It was faultless. The dog sledging trip directly from Arctic Retreat was also superb. We would return to Arctic Retreat in a heartbeat.
George
Hello Lucy!! Kim and I had a fantastic time in Iceland! Probably one of my top 3 trips I’ve ever taken!
It was everything we asked for and you did a wonderful job coordinating it all so beautifully!!
Thank you very much and we will contact you again when we get ready to plan our trip to Norway and Lapland!
Doreen
Fantastic trip to Svalbard which delivered the true Arctic experience we were hoping for. The hotels were excellent and the activities – dog sledding and snowmobile expedition were lead by first class guides.
Top tip! The champagne tasting in the world’s most northerly wine cellar in the exceptional Funken Lodge is not to be missed!
Faith
We did! Everything was truly wonderful! I think the Holman Husky Lodge was our favourite place. Beautiful accommodations, but best of all, wonderful people! Everyone was so friendly and accommodating, excellent food, we really enjoyed our time there. We also greatly enjoyed Bergen! Opus XVI was beautiful and we loved being able to walk to restaurants and bars and take in the sights. All of our drivers were punctual and friendly. The itinerary was full but not overfull.
Thank you so much! It was an epic trip, we are taking home wonderful memories!
Shelly
Well-organized trip to Norway and Svalbard with great accommodations and activities. Gwen was communicative and responsive to requests. Highly recommend!
Russell Snook
Amy was a great help with planning this trip. Our trip turned out amazing. I also was very grateful for Off the Map’s Front Desk service, which promptly handled an on the spot issue we had.
Karen