{"id":81025,"date":"2026-05-12T21:57:50","date_gmt":"2026-05-12T21:57:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/dk\/81025\/"},"modified":"2026-05-12T21:57:50","modified_gmt":"2026-05-12T21:57:50","slug":"christmas-in-helsinki","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/dk\/81025\/","title":{"rendered":"Christmas in Helsinki"},"content":{"rendered":"

This article contains affiliate links. We may receive compensation if you make a purchase using one of these links at no additional cost to you. See our Disclaimers and Terms of Use<\/a> for more information.<\/p>\n

Discover why celebrating Christmas in Helsinki is a special experience. The holiday season in Finland\u2019s capital city is spectacular!<\/p>\n

\"Helsinki Image: \u00a92foodtrippers <\/p>\n

We were scared to go to Helsinki at Christmas. Don\u2019t get us wrong.<\/p>\n

We added Finland to our wish list way back in April after we ate our first korvapuusti in Portland<\/a> during the breakneck US road trip that kicked off our adventure to taste the world. It\u2019s not that we didn\u2019t want to go to Helsinki.<\/p>\n

Our issue, or to be specific Mindi\u2019s issue, was the December timing. Would we be able to handle the frigid weather and short winter days?<\/p>\n

\"Dressed We came to Helsinki ready for the cold. Luckily, we weren\u2019t that cold during the Helsinki holidays after all.\u00a0| Images: \u00a92foodtrippers<\/p>\n

The potential intensity of the Helsinki winter weather was the concern that loomed in our minds as we flew from Barcelona<\/a>\u2018s warm Mediterranean climate to the cold Baltic climate of Helsinki. Finland is famous for its northern location. Plus, it\u2019s the home city for Santa Claus.<\/p>\n

Our concern, or dare we say fear, regarding the weather was completely justified.<\/p>\n

We wondered if we would even want to leave the warm hotel room to explore Finland\u2019s winter wonderland capital city. Plus, we knew that the days would be short, unlike the endless Finnish summer days.<\/p>\n

Long story short, we loved being in Helsinki for the holiday season. And it wasn\u2019t that cold after all.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s So Great about a Helsinki Christmas?<\/p>\n

\"Street Helsinki is the closest we\u2019ve ever been to Lapland, Santa\u2019s home. Perhaps this was him. Either way, we enjoyed the sweet tunes of Hotel California as we walked by the Helsinki Central Railway Station.\u00a0| Image: \u00a92foodtrippers<\/p>\n

Maybe it\u2019s the proximity to Santa Claus\u2019 Lapland home close to the North Pole in northern Finland, but there\u2019s something magical about the Helsinki Christmas. The city is decked out with festive decorations that light up around 3:00 pm when the sun starts its daily decline.<\/p>\n

Yes, Christmas Day in Helsinki is one of the shortest days of the year.<\/p>\n

\"Kamppi The Kamppi Center gets all dressed up for Christmas. Luckily we saw the inside before it closed for the holiday.\u00a0| Image: \u00a92foodtrippers<\/p>\n

Christmas markets dot the city, offering loads of shopping options, and the seasonal food is scrumptious. But the best part of the Helsinki Christmas may be the Christmas sauna, or at least it was for us.<\/p>\n

\"Christmas The Christmas sauna is a Helsinki Christmas tradition that gets our full support.\u00a0| Image: \u00a92foodtrippers<\/p>\n

Pro Tip
Visiting Helsinki during Christmas can present some challenges due to businesses being closed for the holiday. Be sure to check restaurant and museum websites for the latest information so that you don\u2019t miss out on your top destinations.<\/p>\n

Even with the closure challenges, cold weather and shorter days, you should absolutely travel to Helsinki for Christmas. Here are the things you can\u2019t miss during your Helsinki Christmas visit.<\/p>\n

1. Helsinki Christmas Markets<\/p>\n

Helsinki has multiple Christmas markets, both indoors and outdoors. We checked out a few, but our favorite was the big Helsinki Christmas Market at Senate Square.<\/p>\n

We loved the dozens of vendors selling folksy handcrafts, stylish pottery and warm winter gear. We could have easily bought gifts for our entire extended family at this Helsinki market, but we abstained since we\u2019re not going home any time soon.<\/p>\n

\"Artisan This adorable trinket caught our eyes at the Helsinki Christmas Market.\u00a0| Image: \u00a92foodtrippers<\/p>\n

Instead, we bought gl\u00f6gi, the traditional Finnish holiday drink with mulled wine<\/a>, almonds, raisins and sometimes vodka. (Sorry folks! This version did not contain liquor due to legal restrictions.)<\/p>\n

We had wanted to try gl\u00f6gi, and the Christmas Market provided the perfect opportunity for our first taste of the warm elixir.<\/p>\n

\"Glogi Hot glogi on a cold winter\u2019s day? This is clearly a rhetorical question.\u00a0| Image: \u00a92foodtrippers<\/p>\n

Perhaps it was our gl\u00f6gi-induced glow that attracted the reporters to interview us about market security, or maybe it was our American accents. Either way, we were featured in Finland\u2019s leading newspaper, the morning Helsingin Sanomat.<\/p>\n

\"Photo Image: Helsingin Sanomat<\/p>\n

Here are some Helsinki Christmas markets to check out:<\/p>\n

2. Sparkly Lights<\/p>\n

\"Helsinki The streets of Helsinki are like a light show during the holiday season. The interiors of shops like Stockmann are equally impressive.\u00a0| Image: \u00a92foodtrippers<\/p>\n

Helsinki is a pretty city with a well-maintained waterfront and interesting art deco architecture, but it\u2019s hard to imagine the city looking any prettier than it does at Christmas time. Lights adorn every street, especially Alekanterinkatu which is dubbed Christmas Street during December.<\/p>\n

\"Helsinki Reindeer and Christmas trees make Esplanade Park festive for the holidays.\u00a0| Image: \u00a92foodtrippers<\/p>\n

We especially loved the sparkly reindeer in Esplanade Park. We nicknamed them Randy and Rocky. Shh, don\u2019t tell them that we ate their cousins during our Christmas Eve dinner. <\/p>\n

3. Finnish Christmas Food<\/p>\n

\"Christmas Our plate runneth over at the Hotel Katajanokka Christmas Eve dinner.\u00a0| Image: \u00a92foodtrippers<\/p>\n

One of the best parts of a Helsinki Christmas celebration is the food. Helsinki residents enjoy special treats in December, culminating in a big Christmas dinner on the 24th.<\/p>\n

After eating many of these foods all week, we celebrated the actual holiday with a bang at Hotel Katajanokka<\/a>, a hip hotel located in a former prison right in the heart of Helsinki.<\/p>\n

We partook in the hotel\u2019s traditional Christmas buffet filled with a wide variety of Finnish specialties like pickled herring, roast beef, reindeer p\u00e2t\u00e9 and salmon as well as traditional Finland Christmas food delicacies including rutabaga casserole and baked ham.<\/p>\n

Hotel Katajanokka<\/a> is located at Merikasarminkatu 1, 00160 Helsinki, Soome.<\/p>\n

4. Finnish Pastries<\/p>\n

\"Helsinki We wonder how Helsinki locals stay so slim with so many Christmas pastries throughout the city.\u00a0| Image: \u00a92foodtrippers<\/p>\n

The most famous, and possibly best, Finnish pastry is the danish-like, soft, buttery korvapuusti, which can be found year round though in more abundance at Christmas time. Star-shaped and filled with plum jam, the Joulutorttu is more unique to Christmas time, so this is the pastry to eat in Helsinki in December.<\/p>\n

Who are we kidding \u2013 we didn\u2019t meet a pastry in Helsinki that we didn\u2019t love from fruity raspberry layer cake to paper-thin gingerbread cookies flavored with a hint of lemon. Do not miss the pastries in Helsinki!<\/p>\n

Discover more great Christmas desserts around the world<\/a>.<\/p>\n

5. Rice Porridge<\/p>\n

\"Riisipuuro Riisipuuro, also known as rice pudding, is a breakfast favorite for Christmas in Finland.\u00a0| Image: \u00a92foodtrippers<\/p>\n

Known as riisipuuro in Finland, rice porridge is a special breakfast item during the holiday season in Helsinki. Hot and hearty, milky rice porridge is highly satisfying, especially when topped with sugar and cinnamon. We liked adding stewed fruit to our rice porridge for extra flavor.<\/p>\n

Rumor has it that one blanched almond is hidden in each pot of rice porridge, bringing good luck to the person who finds it. We never found an almond in our rice pudding, but we still felt lucky to be in Helsinki for Christmas.<\/p>\n

6. Baked Ham<\/p>\n

\"Baked It wouldn\u2019t be Christmas in Helsinki without baked ham, or so we were told.\u00a0| Image: \u00a92foodtrippers<\/p>\n

After we finished the savory part of our Christmas buffet, a server confided in us that ham is the most traditional Christmas protein in Finland. Luckily we had eaten some ham along with salmon, herring, beef and reindeer.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t worry, we ate some veggies too \u2013 we promise.<\/p>\n

7. Casseroles<\/p>\n

\"Christmas Christmas Casserole\u00a0| Image: \u00a92foodtrippers<\/p>\n

We were surprised to see three different casseroles at the Christmas buffet. One smelled the most enticing, and that was the rutabaga casserole. We later learned that this particular casserole is a Christmas staple in Helsinki.<\/p>\n

8. Glogi<\/p>\n

\"Glogi Glogi at the Helsinki Christmas Market\u00a0| Image: \u00a92foodtrippers<\/p>\n

Glogi is the traditional Christmas beverage in Helsinki that we drank at the Christmas Market. It\u2019s like a mulled wine but with almonds and raisins. For extra zing, some people add vodka. With or without the additional spirit, gl\u00f6gi is a warming way to toast the holiday.<\/p>\n

9. Helsinki Christmas Sauna<\/p>\n

\"Baltic Daryl took a dip in the frigid Baltic Sea during his Helsinki Christmas sauna experience.\u00a0| Image: \u00a92foodtrippers<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a tradition in Helsinki for locals to start Christmas Eve day with a soak in a blistering hot sauna and an ice-cold dip in the Baltic Sea. After doing some research, we chose Kulttuurisauna for our Christmas sauna experience.<\/p>\n

We had wondered if this Helsinki sauna would be open on the holiday. As it turns out, Christmas Eve day is the sauna\u2019s busiest day of the year.<\/p>\n

Mindi chose to forgo the Finnish ice bath since she hates being cold. Daryl, in his desire to experience Helsinki like a local, jumped into the freezing water, letting the icy liquid reach his neck for about 10 seconds.<\/p>\n

Daryl could feel the tingling of tiny pins against the skin of his legs as he thawed out in the warm confines of the social sauna clubhouse. He felt like an honorary local if only for this one Helsinki Christmas.<\/p>\n

Kulttuurisauna is located at Hakaniemenranta 17, 00530 Helsinki, Soome.<\/p>\n

\"Sparkling Helsinki is more fun when you plan ahead.\u00a0| Image: \u00a92foodtrippers<\/p>\n

\ud83e\udded Helsinki Travel Checklist<\/p>\n

\ud83c\udfa5 Ferry to Tallinn Video<\/p>\n

Watch our YouTube video<\/a> for more of our thoughts on spending Christmas in Helsinki. We filmed this video en route to continue our holiday in Tallinn<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u2699\ufe0f Disclosures<\/p>\n

Article Updates
We update our articles regularly. Some updates are major while others are minor link changes and spelling corrections. Let us know if you see anything that needs to be updated in this article.<\/p>\n

Sponsorship
We thank Visit Helsinki<\/a> for sponsoring our stay to facilitate this and future articles. We also thank Hotel Katajanokka for hosting our Christmas Eve dinner.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udccd Pin This Article<\/p>\n

\"PinterestPin<\/p>\n

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