Sitting across a series of islands in Finland’s far south, Helsinki is a remarkable city teeming with life, world-class culture and delicious local cuisine. Offering light-filled summer days perfect for cruising around the Baltic archipelago, the outstanding capital city provides endless possibilities for exploration, beautiful scenery, architecture and great adventure.
Those enjoying a luxury yacht vacation around Finland and its surrounding archipelago should definitely make a stop at the country’s captivating capital. With an enticing blend of unique beauty, tremendous sightseeing opportunities and outstanding gastronomical experiences to look forward to, there is something for everyone to enjoy during their 24 hours stay in this magical place.
Arrive at the most legendary guest harbor in Helsinki, Marina Bay. Located right in the center of the city, this lively marina has up to 100 berth slips up to 45m (150ft) LOA, with plenty of space for anchoring out in the harbor. Boasting an abundance of notable services including modern sauna facilities and your very own full-service port summer café and terrace, from here, you will feel ready to explore more of what Helsinki has to offer.
Helsinki is a compact city easy to explore by foot, with something to marvel at every corner. The harbor boasts prime access to all of Helsinki’s amazing shops, restaurants and market square, all of which are just walking distance from your luxury yacht charter. For those who don’t want to tire themselves out before any evening revelries, you can opt to hire a bike or jump on one of the city’s trams that run regularly throughout the day.
Justifiably proud of its cutting-edge architecture, experiencing Helsinki’s unique buildings for yourself is a must when visiting the vivacious city. The Kamppi Chapel of silence stands out to be one of the most renowned pieces of architecture thanks to its unique shape and striking wooden frame. Found in the heart of the city, make sure you visit this quiet sanctuary for self-contemplation, a place that offers guests a welcome and unexpected respite from the noise of the city that surrounds it.
Venture on to the Töölö neighborhood of Helsinki to witness the architectural masterpiece that is the Temppeliaukio church. Attracting visitors from all across the globe, the underground church is excavated directly into the rock and is bathed in natural light which enters through the skylight surrounding the center copper dome.
Particularly beautiful, this church maintains the original character of the square it was built in and is a visual spectacle for sure.
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Kamppi Chapel of Silence
Attraction
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Temppeliaukio church
Attraction
Just outside of the marina you will be able to spot the Suomenlinna Fortress, a unique monument of military architecture that can be seen for miles. Covering 518 acres of land and consisting of 200 buildings and 6km of defensive walls, the fortress stretches over six separate islands.
It was originally built during the Swedish era as a maritime fortress and acted as a base for the Archipelago fleet but today, it is a well-recognized UNESCO world heritage site and is definitely something to add to your Finland yacht charter bucket list!
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Suomenlinna Fortress
Landmark
Sauna culture is a huge part of Finnish identity and is highly recommended to improve both physical and mental health. With around two million saunas dotted around Finland, experiencing a traditional sauna in its capital city is a must!
Nestled in the heart of Helsinki, Allas Sea Pool is a marine spa experience for all the senses, offering its visitors new ways of enjoying the Baltic sea. Open all year round, the sea pool and spa is a completely unique experience and creates the perfect recreational activity for those on a Finland yacht charter around Helsinki. Visitors are welcome to follow in the footsteps of traditional Finnish practice here so once you are satisfied with the heat from the sauna, cool off in the Baltic sea Allas swim pool, or alternatively, make the most of the gorgeous spa facilities found here.
Following the coastline south you'll come across another highly recommended sauna experience in the ultra-modern Löyly. Here you can enjoy a unique sauna and restaurant experience in a beautiful setting and once you have braced a dip in the ocean you can further enjoy the uninterrupted sea views as you tuck into the restaurant’s excellent cuisine, with dishes paying homage to traditional Scandinavian fare with a Mediterranean twist.
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Allas Sea Pool
Attraction
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Löyly
Activity
If you’re a lover of innovative, top-quality cuisine then you will most certainly appreciate the totally unique and remarkable dishes that are created in Helsinki. Home to a number of outstanding fine dining restaurants, the Finnish capital does not disappoint when it comes to creating a memorable dining experience.
Be sure to taste the creations of chef Ari Ruoho in the luxurious restaurant, Nokka. Committed to serving only the purest seasonal ingredients, sourced from the forests of Salla in Lapland and from smallholdings across Finland, expect to taste sensational dishes filled with different flavors and textures.
Also attracting diners with its Nordic mystique is the tremendous city restaurant, Kultá kitchen. Located inside the Lapland Hotels Bulevardi in Helsinki’s center, the restaurant provides guests with a remarkably modern a la carte menu based on authentic food from the polar region. Taking pride in their modern and natural northern tastes, the restaurant also offers a surprise menu that is a tribute to the rich nature of the North and to the world’s purest ingredients found in Finland.
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Nokka
Restaurant
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Kultá kitchen
Restaurant
After a day of exploring the city that never sleeps, select a table high up above Helsinki’s rooftops at the Klaus K sky bar.
Boasting delightful views over the city, sit back, relax and enjoy the range of summer cocktails and refreshments that are served at this chic rooftop bar. Modern, charming and relaxing, this is the perfect hangout for any social occasion, afternoon refreshment or evening aperitif.
Complete your Helsinki venture by discovering the city’s vibrant and varied nightlife scene. Whether you’re searching for a luxury clubbing experience or a laid-back dinner with drinks, Helsinki has it all. Begin your evening with drinks at Maxine, a luxe bar and club home to a cool crowd and stylish surroundings, this is the place to see and be seen on the weekends.
With sparkling night-time urban rooftop views from its outdoor terrace and spacious lounges and dance floors inside, Maxine offers everything you could wish for when it comes to the ultimate party experience.
For those in search of a more relaxed night out, head to the Storyville Jazz Club which is located in the heart of the city. Bursting with a happy and energetic atmosphere, this jazz club provides its guests with tremendous live jazz music, dancing and refreshing drinks every day of the week.
Ready to start planning your next yacht charter vacation? Feel free to browse our fleet of superyachts available for a Scandinavian yacht charter or view all Finland yacht charter itineraries for further inspiration.
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