
How to Spend 3 Days in Helsinki
With three days in Helsinki, you can check off all the must-see sights, indulge in the local culture, and venture a bit farther afield.
Helsinki’s most-Instagrammed café is a local institution, with roots stretching back to 1952. Perched right on the seafront at the southern end of Kaivopuisto Park, the café serves up sweeping views across the Helsinki archipelago—along with a range of sweet and savory treats.
Work up an appetite with a stroll through Kaivopuisto Park, then head to Café Ursula for coffee or oceanside lunch. Grab a seat on the terrace for the best views of Suomenlinna Island and the Baltic Sea. The lunch menu includes a range of Finnish specialties, such as grilled Baltic herring and open sandwiches, with shrimp being the favorite. Alternatively, order a cold beer, tuck into some Finnish pastries, or enjoy an ice cream.
Café Ursula is located at the south-eastern corner of Kaivopuisto Park, right on the seafront. To get there from downtown Helsinki, ride the tram to Kaivopuisto—from there it’s a 10-minute walk through the park.
The café is open daily all year-round. Come on a sunny summer’s afternoon to sit out on the terrace, join locals for Sunday brunch, or cozy up indoors during the winter months. The liveliest time to visit is on the first day of May, when the park serves as a backdrop for the city’s Vappu festival celebrations.
Just south of downtown, Kaivopuisto Park is one of Helsinki’s most popular parks with an idyllic setting along the Baltic coast. Head there to picnic on the grassy lawns in summer, walk along the sea cliffs, or visit the Ursa Observatory before taking a coffee break at Café Ursula. The park is a favorite spot for walking, jogging, and cycling during summer, as well as sledding during winter.