Eurídice and Caitlin work as Helsinki Helpers, serving tourists visiting Helsinki. The Helsinki Tourist Information Office is located at Aleksanterinkatu 24, but during the summer season Helsinki Helpers also assist tourists at the Pavilion info point near the Market Square, in the city centre and at Helsinki’s harbours.
Helsinki Tourist Information also provides personal service via chat, phone and email, as well as advice on how to purchase tickets for guided tours, events and public transport. In-person visitors to the different service locations can also receive assistance with accommodation bookings and restaurant and shopping recommendations.
Varied recommendations for Helsinki
Helsinki offers something for everyone, whether you are interested in culture, relaxation or new experiences. Whatever you are looking for, Eurídice and Caitlin stand ready to help you find it. According to them, some tourists are interested not only in the usual things like ferry timetables and purchasing travel tickets, but also in learning about the history of Helsinki and Finnish politics.
“In this job, it is a good idea to memorise some timetables and other information that tourists regularly ask about. There are some things that we get asked about every day, such as how to get to the Suomenlinna fortress island or Korkeasaari Zoo. I have also memorised various tram routes that tourists ask about on a daily basis,” says Caitlin.
Helsinki Helpers are also up to speed on all the things that are currently happening in Helsinki and where tourists should head to. Sometimes their own interests also prove useful in answering people’s questions.
“We always work in pairs, so we help each other if we get asked questions that we do not have answers to off the tops of our heads. We each know different things about the city. For example, I myself am particularly interested in history. Sometimes we get some rather unusual questions too, such as where to buy a large flag of Finland. If we do not know the answer, we will find it out for the person or guide them to the right place,” Eurídice explains.
Helsinki tips for both short-term visitors and local residents
Helsinki Tourist Information provides advice to a wide variety of tourists, who each have their own preferences and needs regarding their visit to Helsinki. Helsinki Helpers can provide information on which places are accessible by wheelchair and pram, for example. They also provide advice to cruise passengers, who are only in the city for a few hours, on how to get the most out of a short visit.
Helsinki residents can also make use of Helsinki Tourist Information’s services in many ways. One service that has proven surprisingly popular among locals as well is the board on display at the Aleksanterinkatu office listing the day’s events taking place in the city, which is updated by Helsinki Helpers daily.
“Locals often come by to check the board for what is happening in the city and take pictures of it. My friends also often ask me for pictures of the board to know what to do at the weekend. Locals and tourists both appreciate that we collect information and present it in an easily accessible way that does not require them to browse their phones,” Eurídice says.
Eurídice’s and Caitlin’s recommendations for a perfect summer day in Helsinki
Eurídice’s day: “I would start the day with coffee at Way Bakery. After breakfast, I would take a bus to Lammassaari, where I would enjoy a walk and a swim. To round off the day, I would head to Kunsthalle Helsinki to check out the Tommi Toija: Archeology of Emotions exhibition.”
Caitlin’s day: I would enjoy coffee by the sea in Eiranranta park and then explore the flea markets, design stores and bookshops in the Punavuori district. Like Eurídice, I like going to museums, so I would also check out an exhibition. For example, the A Glimpse of Helsinki – Volker von Bonin’s photos exhibition at Villa Hakasalmi.”
Personalised recommendations for culture lovers, families and people looking for new experiences
Families: The Helsinki City Museum, Korkeasaari Zoo, Linnanmäki amusement park and the Sea Life Helsinki aquarium are popular among families. This summer, you can also learn about dinosaurs in Korkeasaari Zoo! The open-air museum of Seurasaari and Children's Town are also great places for spending time together.
Culture lovers: Helsinki is full of culture and art, so it is worth your time to explore the city's museums, galleries and theatres. In the city centre, you can find the Amos Rex art museum and Josefina Nelimarkka’s The Cloud of Un/knowing exhibition, which explores clouds and their essence as part of the Earth's hydrological cycle.
Tourists looking for luxurious getaways: There is also plenty of luxury to be found in Helsinki, as there are numerous quality restaurants, boutique hotels and spas. We recommend heading to the Löyly public sauna and restaurant to enjoy a sauna by the sea, for example.
Helsinki Tourist Information’s contact information and opening hours
Helsinki Tourist Information, Aleksanterinkatu 24:
Summer season 15 May–14 September 2024
- Mon–Sat 9:00–17:30
- Sun 9:00–16:00
Exceptional opening hours
- 21–23 June 2024 (Midsummer) Helsinki Tourist Information and the electronic service channels are open normally.
Electronic service channels:
- Summer season 15 May–14 September 2024
- Mon–Sun 9:00–16:00
Telephone service: +358 9 3101 3300
Email: helsinki.touristinfo (at) hel.fi
Chat: The service opens automatically on the MyHelsinki.fi website if you accept all cookies. Chat in real-time with the staff of Helsinki Tourist Information during opening hours.
During the summer season, Helsinki Helpers also assist tourists at the Pavilion info point near the Market Square, in the city centre and at Helsinki’s harbours.
Pavilion info point near the Market Square:
- Open daily 9:00–16:15 from Fri 24 May until the end of August
Postal address: Helsinki Tourist Information
P.O. Box 20
00099 City of Helsinki