Currency
Euro (EUR)
Language
Finnish
Time Zone
EET (UTC+2)
Best Time to Visit
May–Sep
Typical Duration
10-14 nights
Price Range
From $50 pp
Port Type
Departure & Port of Call
Tender Port
No
Gateway to Arctic exploration and Nordic culture, offering unique cruises to Svalbard and the High North alongside Baltic Sea itineraries.
Cruises that visit Helsinki
- cruises to Helsinki
- Helsinki sailings
- Helsinki cruises
- 7-night Norwegian Cruise Line cruise
- 7-night Silversea cruise
- 7-night Norwegian Cruise Line cruise
- 7-night Norwegian Cruise Line cruise
- 7-night Quark Expeditions cruise
- 7-night MSC Cruises cruise
- 7-night Quark Expeditions cruise
- 7-night Explora Journeys cruise
- 7-night MSC Cruises cruise
- 7-night Silversea cruise
- 7-night PONANT EXPLORATIONS cruise
- 7-night The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection cruise
- 7-night Explora Journeys cruise
- 7-night MSC Cruises cruise
- 7-night Silversea cruise
- 7-night PONANT EXPLORATIONS cruise
- 7-night The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection cruise
- 7-night Silversea cruise
- 8-night PONANT EXPLORATIONS cruise
- 8-night Silversea cruise
- 8-night PONANT EXPLORATIONS cruise
- 8-night PONANT EXPLORATIONS cruise
- 8-night Explora Journeys cruise
- 8-night Norwegian Cruise Line cruise
- 8-night Silversea cruise
- 8-night Explora Journeys cruise
- 8-night PONANT EXPLORATIONS cruise
Build Your Day in Helsinki
Cruise calls are short. Set your ship's arrival time, pick the stops you care about, and we'll show whether they realistically fit before departure.
Ships typically depart around 5:00 PM
Usually about 9 hours ashore
Embarkation port — worth arriving early
Embarkation port — worth arriving early
Getting around:
Helsinki Market Square
A fun outdoor venue with fresh fruits, crafts, artwork, etc
Closed · Opens 6:30 AM Mon
Linnanmäki
Lots of activities for kids and reasonable wait even when park is full
Closed · Opens 1 PM Mon
Suomenlinna
It houses museums, galleries, cafes, and even a brewery.
Kamppi Helsinki
This shopping mall is kept clean and the service is impeccable.
Closed · Opens 10 AM Mon
Senate Square
Fun area with drink/food stalls and mini cafes.
Stockmann Helsinki City Center
Luxury retail chain with good selection and food at the top floor
Closed · Opens 10 AM Mon
Itis
good mall, many brands, free parking, free charging
Closed · Opens 10 AM Mon
Mall of Tripla
Lots of stores - from high end fashion to budget friendly fast fashion.
Closed · Opens 9 AM Mon
Forum
Lots of shops, lots of cafés and restaurants right in the heart of kamppi
Closed · Opens 6 AM Mon
Helsinki Cathedral
Beautiful building to look at and close to lots of activities
Esplanadi
Mini concerts can happen in special days and there is a restaurant.
Open now
Korkeasaari Zoo
Nice atmosphere and lots of guided activities during each day.
Closed · Opens 10 AM Mon
Uspenski Cathedral
Entry is free entry and donations are voluntary.
Closed · Opens 10 AM Tue
Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma
Light airy space with some great exhibits (and an excellent cafe)
Closed · Opens 11 AM Mon
Sokos Helsinki
It is a bit on the expensive side but sells high-quality merchandise
Closed · Opens 9 AM Mon
Citycenter Mall
Has a few stores, a bathroom and a gym too.
Closed · Opens 10 AM Mon
Sibelius Monument
... can be an expensive city to stay in so enjoy one of its free attractions.
SEA LIFE Helsinki
It was fun, memorable, educational with friendly staff.
Closed · Opens 10 AM Mon
Kaivopuisto
Great for kids over 4 years old.
Cafe Regatta
Authentic small Finnish cafe serving famous and delicious cinnamon buns.
Closes soon · 10 PM
Sibelius Park
Sculptures in a great park and across the road from a boating lake.
Suomen Kansallismuseo
... museum with a convenient audio guide and many interactive items
Temporarily closed
Fazer Café Kluuvikatu
Amazing coffee and the most delicious cinnamon bun in Helsinki.
Closed · Opens 7:30 AM Mon
Kappeli
Great atmosphere, good food, and cocktails, and lovely seating.
SkyWheel Helsinki
This is a family-friendly thing to do, or even go on a date night.
Closed · Opens 10 AM Mon
Restaurant Zetor
Amazing food, amazing drinks, amazing atmosphere, amazing service.
Amos Rex
7 attractions all made by a danish-palestinian artist.
Closed · Opens 11 AM Mon
Kamppi Chapel
Unique experience in a very cool building.
Closed · Opens 11 AM Tue
Kluuvi Shopping Centre
You get all you need at reasonable prices.
Closed · Opens 7 AM Mon
Woolshed Helsinki - Australian Gastropub
Great burgers, decent beer, friendly staff and nice vibes.
Closes soon · 10 PM
Helsinki City Museum
There are multiple hands-on, interactive exhibits that children enjoy a lot.
Closed · Opens 11 AM Mon
Helsinki Outlet
Very walkable area, good prices and several brand stores with helpful staff.
Closed · Opens 10 AM Mon
Lappi Ravintola
Between the food and the atmosphere it’s totally worth the price.
Closed · Opens 4 PM Mon
Kämp Galleria
Magnificent place, clean, well kept, with well organized stores.
Closed · Opens 8 AM Mon
On the Rocks
Lovely, beautifully presented bar in a great, clean central location.
Hills Dumplings
Super cozy, nice relaxed eatery vibe with quality food and friendly service.
Closed · Opens 11 AM Mon
Ravintola Kannas
Service, food, drinks, and ambience were great.
Restaurant Savotta
The beef and pork stew, and the lamb hamburger blew our minds.
Aurinkolahti Beach
Clean, well maintained beach that is looked after by handful of lifeguards.
Ravintola Kolme Kruunua
Delicious food, great service, and lovely setting.
99 TopMeal
The food was incredibly delicious, and the portions were huge.
Restaurant Konstan Möljä
Almost all of the vegetarian options were vegan and they tasted so great.
Closed · Opens 5 PM Tue
Café Esplanad
A lovely café with great coffee, tasty cake, and a warm atmosphere.
Closed · Opens 8 AM Mon
Restaurant Sea Horse
The dishes featured local ingredients and the portion sizes were generous.
Rioni
The food and atmosphere were fantastic, and the service was very kind;
Closes soon · 10 PM
Gastro Hub
The decor, the service, the food, and the wine were all top notch 😋
The Riff
Great music, great atmosphere, and all cocktails can be made non-alcoholic.
Restaurant Merimakasiini
Delicious salmon soup and amazing french fries!
Closes soon · 10 PM
Ravintola KuuKuu
The quality of ingredients is top tier, food was piping hot.
Ravintola Nokka
Comfortable interior, warm atmosphere and delicious foods and drinks.
Closed · Opens 5 PM Tue
Ravintola Ragu
High quality ingredients, dishes cooked and seasoned perfectly.
Closed · Opens 5 PM Mon
Hietaranta Beach
Good is big sandy patch as well as some grass and rock to sit on.
Pikkukoski Swimming Beach
Beautiful swimming beach in the middle of jungle.
Restaurant Gaijin
fresh quality ingredients, perfectly cooked, and beautifully presented.
Flying Cinema Tour Of Helsinki
A bit pricey but a good activity for a rainy afternoon.
Closed · Opens 10 AM Mon
Restaurant Shelter
Relaxed and unpretentious, but with top-notch food!
Closed · Opens 5 PM Mon
Liberty or Death
Great atmosphere, good selection of cocktails and very helpful staff.
Osteria dei Gusti
The flavors were spot on and the entire experience was top-tier.
Closes soon · 10 PM
Tawook Lab
The food was delectable, the service impeccable, and the ambiance charming.
Closed · Opens 11 AM Mon
Ravintola Finnjävel SALONKI
Extraordinary food and service, we enjoyed every part of our dinner.
Closed · Opens 5 PM Tue
Baskeri & Basso
Relaxing atmosphere, nice music, short menu, good wine selection.
Closed · Opens 4 PM Tue
Savoy
Smooth service, bold flavors, and a relaxing vibe.
Closed · Opens 11:30 AM Mon
Cafetoria Café & Shop
My favourite café in Helsinki, the espresso and cortado are nice and strong!
Closed · Opens 9:30 AM Mon
Restaurant Olo
Every course was exquisite and the wine pairing was out of this world.
Closed · Opens 6 PM Tue
Enchanté Café
One of the best cafes in Helsinki.Great service,great vibes,tasty treats.
Closed · Opens 10 AM Mon
Restaurant Natura
The dishes were creatively prepared and presented.
Munkkiniemi Beach
Here you can swim and lay in the sun
Open now
Base Bar
A fantastic metal bar, fantastic atmosphere and fantastic staff!🤘
Kallahdenniemi Beach
This place is not only designated for swimming but also a bbq gathering.
Kaffa Roastery
Friendly staff and the best espresso I've had in Scandinavia so far.
Closed · Opens 8 AM Mon
Trillby & Chadwick
Amazing drinks, incredible atmosphere and impeccable service.
Restaurant Grön
Fantastic Michelin Star restaurant with amazing food, great service.
Closed · Opens 5 PM Wed
Winest
Delicious food, cozy atmosphere, super friendly staff!
Closes soon · 10 PM
Lauttasaari Beach
It’s wide, sandy, beautifully clean, and perfect for families.
La Galleria
Everything was excellent — the food, the atmosphere, and the service
Restaurant Juova Hanahuone
Great selection of beers, the snacks are amazing, and its very cozy.
Boon Nam
Exquisite food, the service was excellent and the waiter was very friendly.
Closed · Opens 5 PM Mon
Mustikkamaa Beach
Good beach, clean and has toilets.
Puotila Beach
Lovely quiet beach
Karhu Pub
... atmosphere and fantastic service, the bartender was the best!
Restaurant Brasa
Excellent and friendly service, quality food and great atmosphere!
Closed · Opens 5 PM Mon
Restaurant Bona Fide
Fantastic service, food and wines (lots of natural wines too).
Closed · Opens 5 PM Wed
Heritage Cafe
Super cute cafe with plenty of seating and fast WiFi.
Closed · Opens 9 AM Mon
Café Noir
Best coffee I’ve had in Helsinki so far, cheap and super kind barista!!
Closed · Opens 8 AM Mon
Bar Mate
Super lovely staff, delicious drinks, great minimal decor, awesome tunes.
Le Ankka
We had the 5 course menu with wine pairing and everything was excellent.
Closed · Opens 5 PM Tue
HogoHuone
Perfect service, perfect drinks and most welcoming atmosphere.
Closed · Opens 6 PM Mon
Restaurant Young Hearts
Truly delicious food and excellent service!
Closed · Opens 4 PM Thu
Rastila Beach
Nice place to chill, water is rusty but nice place for sun bath as well.
The Last Drop Bar & Kitchen
Very cool bar where they serve food and drinks until 5 am !
Palettilampi Beach
Besides the pond area there's a sandy area which can play beach volleyball.
Opening hours are indicative — always confirm before you go. Travel times are estimates from Google Maps.
Helsinki
is an embarkation port. Many cruises start or end here —
it's worth arriving a day early or extending your stay to explore beyond a single port day.
About Helsinki
Helsinki stands as a vibrant hub for Northern European cruising, with eleven major cruise lines calling at this dynamic Finnish capital. With 186 upcoming cruises and a steady stream of vessels throughout the year, you'll find excellent options whether you're embarking on a 10-night Arctic expedition to Svalbard and the Spitsbergen Archipelago or joining a Baltic itinerary that includes Stockholm and Tallinn. The port's peak season runs from May through September, offering the best weather for exploring this fascinating corner of the world.
As a port of call, Helsinki invites you ashore to experience Nordic design, innovative architecture, and a thriving waterfront culture. The compact city center is easily walkable from the cruise terminal, making it simple to explore local treasures during a day in port. Whether you're drawn to cultural landmarks or simply want to soak in the atmosphere of this modern Scandinavian city, Helsinki delivers memorable experiences that complement your broader cruise itinerary perfectly.
As a port of call, Helsinki invites you ashore to experience Nordic design, innovative architecture, and a thriving waterfront culture. The compact city center is easily walkable from the cruise terminal, making it simple to explore local treasures during a day in port. Whether you're drawn to cultural landmarks or simply want to soak in the atmosphere of this modern Scandinavian city, Helsinki delivers memorable experiences that complement your broader cruise itinerary perfectly.
Cruise Lines at Helsinki
- MSC Cruises (49 cruises)
- Holland America Line (42 cruises)
- Quark Expeditions (36 cruises)
- Norwegian Cruise Line (34 cruises)
- Oceania Cruises (28 cruises)
- Explora Journeys (23 cruises)
- Silversea (22 cruises)
- PONANT EXPLORATIONS (17 cruises)
- Seabourn (14 cruises)
- Celebrity Cruises (8 cruises)
- Carnival Cruise Line (4 cruises)
- Atlas Ocean Voyages (3 cruises)
- The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection (2 cruises)
Cruises Departing From Helsinki
Cruises Visiting Helsinki
Ship Schedule at Helsinki
Helsinki Location
Other Cruise Ports in Finland
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Helsinki?
Helsinki is the capital city of Finland.
Where is Helsinki located?
Located on the Baltic coast along the Gulf of Finland.
What is Helsinki known for architecturally?
Neoclassical architecture by Carl Ludvig Engel and modern Finnish design.
How large is the Helsinki metropolitan area?
The greater Helsinki metropolitan area has over one million residents.