7 ways Helsinki’s clean air and nature help you live better
Sometimes you are looking for a moment to reconnect with yourself or nature. In Helsinki, space for that is always within reach.
Though Helsinki is a vibrant city, it has perfect conditions for reflecting, opening your mind and clearing your head. All its unique features invite you to truly enjoy the moment. Here are seven ways Helsinki helps you to find the freedom to breathe.
1. Air you can trust
In case you were not aware, Finland has the cleanest air in the world. Helsinki also takes a lot of pride in it. Trams display information about the city’s real-time air quality on their screens. In 2023, air quality in the city centre was rated “good” or “satisfactory” 90 % of the time. For a capital city, we think it’s pretty impressive.
Curious about the current air quality? It’s easy to check on the HSY website, giving you confidence that you’re breathing some of the cleanest air in the world.
2. Fresh water all year around
One of the best things about Helsinki is that you can drink tap water everywhere. It’s among the cleanest in the world. Water flows through the city in more ways than one. With 123 kilometres of shoreline and 27 public beaches, Helsinki invites you to explore its waters. In the summer months, Hietaranta is a popular place to visit as it attracts ice cream vans, food trucks, and musical performers.
The fun doesn’t stop in the winter – there is an opportunity to take a dip throughout the winter. Helsinki has 13 maintained winter swimming spots where the ice forming on the surface of the water will be broken to allow people to swim. Also, you can visit places like Löyly or Allas Sea Pool – or join a winter swimming club, if you are around for a longer period – where you will get access to a maintained swimming spot as well as a sauna which helps you adjust to the cold water.
3. Green spaces right in your reach
Did you know that green areas managed by the city make up 40 % of Helsinki? That’s amazing, right! Helsinki is the perfect place for anyone who enjoys spending time in nature, with spaces like Uutela, a naturally diversified recreational area in eastern Helsinki. The nature trail is well worth experiencing. There is also Central Park, the beautiful shores of Lauttasaari and the scenic boardwalk route of Lammassaari.
There is still more to explore just outside Helsinki as there is two national parks that are easily accessible by public transport. Nuuksio, which is located in Espoo, is filled with delightful walking trails and in the autumn it’s a mushroom picker’s paradise. Sipoonkorpi, which is located in Vantaa, offers serene walks and a smoke sauna by Lake Kuusijärvi.
Helsinki Freedom
Breathe Deep
4. The right to roam
In Finnish law, there is something called every person’s right, which was initiated 110 years ago by a woman called Ilma Lindgren. It means that everyone is free to roam the forests and wilderness regardless of who owns the land. You can walk, ski, or cycle – even pick berries or mushrooms – wherever you like in the countryside, as long as you respect private spaces and don’t damage nature.
Even inside the city, adventures are always around the corner – and there’s no need to experience them alone. The city is dotted with 92 dog parks, where you’ll often see happy pups enjoying them. Whether you’re walking alone or with a four-legged friend, you have the freedom to wander.
5. Islands to explore
Helsinki isn’t just a mainland city. It’s pretty much surrounded by islands, many of which are open to visitors. Take a short ferry ride to Lonna for a meal, sauna, coffee, or all three. Vallisaari offers peaceful walks and a hidden beach, while Harakka is perfect for scenic strolls and birdwatching. And not to forget adorable Katajanokanluoto, one of Helsinki’s most charming islands and home to an excellent pizzeria, and Pihlajasaari, a perfect place to spend time in the summer.
Even in winter, island adventures continue. Suomenlinna is accessible year-round, and some islands, like Mustikkamaa, Lammassaari, Uunisaari and Seurasaari, are connected by bridges, making it possible to walk there. Rajasaari, designed especially for dog walkers, is a particular favorite during the colder months.
6. Everything in your reach
Helsinki is a compact city easily explored by walking. About a third of all journeys made here are carried out by foot. There are also 1,200 kilometres of maintained cycle lanes and people really do use them.
With the public transport, all maintained by HSL, you have an opportunity to choose between trams, buses, metro, commuter trains or even boats! Tickets are easily bought through the HSL app. On top of that, from May to October, you can rent city bikes to see more of Helsinki. In other words, there’s no need to sit in traffic breathing in car fumes.
7. Space to hear the silence
Helsinki is full of quiet areas, which are perfect for escaping the hassle of everyday life. The 20 hectare Viikki Arboretum contains 250 different kinds of trees and shrubs from all over the world. Töölönlahti, a serene bay near the city center, invites locals and visitors alike to pause, breathe, and enjoy their surroundings.
The beauty of Helsinki is in its balance. Here you can always find time and space for yourself whether you are wandering through green spaces, sitting by the water, or enjoying the changing seasons.
