Helsinki design guide: iconic landmarks, shopping gems and the everyday life
Design lovers, you’ve met your match. A UNESCO City of Design, Helsinki is where innovation meets heritage, where everyday objects can be works of art, and where even saunas are Instagram-worthy. From history and iconic sights to must-visit events and shopping spots, here’s your essential guide to Finnish design in Helsinki.
From rustic roots to Nordic cool
Finnish design has always been about nature, simplicity, and living well. In the mid-1900s, Alvar Aalto’s Paimio Chair and Savoy (Aalto) Vase, with brands like Iittala and Artek, made Finnish design a global symbol of functionality and beauty.
The 1952 Helsinki Olympics marked the city’s debut as a cultural capital. The Olympic Stadium, Finlandia Hall and the launch of Marimekko helped cement the Nordic aesthetic.
Today, Helsinki’s design is all about enhancing lives. Take the Helsinki Central Library Oodi, a stunning example of service design combined with innovative architecture, or the city’s accessible playgrounds designed to welcome children of all backgrounds. In the happiest capital of the world, design is a tool for a better life.
Where to experience Helsinki design?
The Helsinkian way of life
Be it functional public spaces, well-planned digital experiences, or inclusive services, design is woven into Helsinkians’ everyday life. Locals might tell you of their fabulous multi-space offices, or opportunities for free physical activity – you’ll see and feel a well-designed city everywhere.
Museums and design centres:
Design Museum Helsinki
Take a deep dive into Finnish design history and contemporary trends, or visit seasonal markets at the Design Museum Helsinki.
Iittala & Arabia Design Centre
Visit the showroom and museum at the factory of the Finnish household brand in northern Helsinki. (Note: the Design Centre is closed until spring 2025.)
Museum of Finnish Architecture
From neoclassical to modernism, uncover Finland’s architectural evolution at the Museum of Finnish Architecture, or attend their guided walks around Helsinki.
Hidden design treasures
Do some research and uncover design pieces around the city from Birger Kapiainen’s relief on the ground floor of Stockmann department store to Paavo Tynell’s light fixtures in Hotel Vaakuna.
Design events in Helsinki:
Helsinki Design Week
Helsinki Design Week is the largest design festival in the Nordics. Visit inspiring events, exhibitions, talks, fashion shows and markets, with access to unique venues.
Helsinki Biennial
Helsinki Biennial brings contemporary art out from the galleries into the open nature. Taking place between HAM (Helsinki Art Museum), Esplanadi Park, and Vallisaari island, every corner you turn might reveal a beautiful installation.
Habitare
Habitare brings together design and interior enthusiasts around the Nordics. Lose yourself in hundreds of innovative showrooms, events and design exhibits.
Helsinki’s architecture
Design and architecture go hand in hand, and Helsinki is a captivating playground for both. Marvel at the creations of Finland’s most celebrated architect, Alvar Aalto, from his home in Munkkiniemi to the Savoy restaurant. Or step back further in time with Carl Ludvig Engel, the mastermind behind the grand buildings of Senate Square.
Go beyond historic landmarks – Helsinki’s architecture is a blend that pushes boundaries. Stroll through the cobble-stoned streets and Art Nouveau buildings of Katajanokka, admire the idyllic 1920’s wooden houses of Käpylä, and take in the imposing stone buildings of Töölö. Visit modern developments like eco sauna complex Löyly and Oodi library.
Helsinki Design District
The Design District of Helsinki stretches across 25 streets through the central districts of Punavuori, Ullanlinna, Kaartinkaupunki, and Kamppi. From 200+ boutiques, galleries, restaurants, hotels and museums, it’s the place for all things design.
Where to shop design in Helsinki
Helsinki is a treasure trove of iconic design brands. Want to bring home a piece of Nordic minimalism? Visit these design shops in Helsinki:
Design hotels in Helsinki
Why just visit design landmarks when you can stay in them? These Helsinki design hotels tackle comfort and style with creativity:
Whether you’re roaming design museums, shopping for iconic brands, or staying in a quirky hotel, in Helsinki, you’ll experience a city that turns everyday life into art. Ready to uncover the happy capital’s creative soul? Come. Stay awhile.
