The jewels of Helsinki: experience culture, architecture, and peace in the middle of Finland’s bustling capital
Helsinki’s city centre offers an exceptional range of world-class architecture and art, as well as opportunities for silence and contemplation. Take a day to enjoy contemporary art at Amos Rex, visit Helsinki’s breathtaking Central Library Oodi, and find inner peace at the one-of-a-kind Kamppi Chapel – our picks will help you enjoy Helsinki in an active and stress-free way that is sure to calm and delight your senses.
Plan a perfect day in the heart of Helsinki
Visitors do not need to venture far to experience art and urban life in Helsinki, or to find a place of calm among the hustle and bustle of the city. If you’re hungry for culture, this list is the most stress-free option for a day out in Helsinki:
- Amos Rex – a unique location where art meets urban culture
- Central Library Oodi – a location that combines fantastic architecture with a cozy atmosphere
- Kamppi Chapel – a unique location for finding peace and calm in the middle of Helsinki
All of our picks are located within a few hundred metres of each other, making it easy to hop from one location to another, even during a rainy day.
Amos Rex – dive into an underground world of art
Amos Rex is the place where art meets urban culture in the middle of Helsinki. Amos Rex includes underground exhibition spaces, the historic Lasipalatsi (“Glass Palace”) building from 1936, and the Bio Rex cinema. The ceiling of the exhibition space features several domed skylights, which appear above as sculpted concrete mounds in Lasipalatsi’s event square. Located directly above the exhibition space, this area is a popular spot for photography and social gatherings, offering a playful and free architectural experience for visitors of all ages.
Amos Rex is known for its experiential and technologically experimental exhibitions that feature ambitious art with a fresh and joyful approach. Ever since its opening, Amos Rex has become enormously popular, with long queues to match – if you want to ensure an easy and smooth day in the city, book your tickets to Amos Rex in advance and start your cultural experience here.
Amos Rex is located in the heart of Helsinki at Mannerheimintie 22–24
Helsinki Central Library Oodi – an architectural jewel that combines practicality with a cozy atmosphere
Helsinki Central Library Oodi, located just a stone’s throw away from Amos Rex, is an architectural jewel in its own right. Its proximity to the Finnish Parliament House and Kansalaistori Square has made it a lively and open public space for all, making Oodi both a library and so much more.
Three different floors and atmospheres
Oodi is divided into three floors, each with its own atmosphere and functions. The first, street-level floor has been designed with encounters in mind. It features an information point, the Kino Regina cinema hall, and a restaurant.
Oodi's second floor includes plenty of spaces and opportunities for different activities. For example, the Urban Workshop features 3D printers, sewing machines, laser cutters, as well as recording studios and gaming rooms.
Oodi’s third and top-most floor is home to its library space, which includes an extensive collection of books and a children’s section with play areas and a peaceful space for reading. This floor also features a café and access to the Citizen's Balcony, a large terrace offering sweeping views of Kansalaistori Square, Parliament House, and Töölönlahti Bay.
Oodi is well worth a visit during a day trip, not least for its unique atmosphere and magnificent architecture, as well as for the opportunity to enjoy a delicious lunch or a leisurely cup of coffee.
Central Library Oodi: Töölönlahdenkatu 4, Helsinki – open seven days a week.
Kamppi Chapel – let your senses rest in perfect silence
Once you have satisfied your hunger for visual delights at Amos Rex and experienced Helsinki's vibrant urban culture at Oodi, it’s time to offer your senses something else: perfect tranquillity. A day out in the city doesn’t need to be stressful and tiring; you can include a moment of calm, rejuvenation, and escape, right in the heart of Helsinki.
In the middle of Helsinki's busiest shopping area, on the edge of Narinkkatori Square, you can find an unmistakably unique and magnificent landmark – Kamppi Chapel. This windowless yet inviting wooden chapel offers a stark and fascinating contrast to its surrounding glass and stone buildings. The unique design and construction of Kamppi Chapel were not chosen just to make it stand out visually; they also help separate the chapel from the noise and bustle of the outside world. When you enter Kamppi Chapel, you are instantly transported to a place of perfect peace.
Open to all
Kamppi Chapel is also known as the Chapel of Silence, and it is open to all visitors, no matter their worldview, religion, or background. The chapel welcomes people of all ages, from children to the elderly and everyone in between. Kamppi Chapel offers an opportunity for silence and contemplation: here, you are free to simply be, without the need for prior knowledge or preparation. Take a moment to relax and breathe before you resume your journey.
Read more: Kamppi Chapel – discover a place of perfect silence right in the heart of Helsinki
Practical tips: Kamppi Chapel’s opening hours and other details for visitors
- Is visiting Kamppi Chapel free of charge? Those under the age of 18, personal assistants, guides, Helsinki Card or press card holders, and Helsinki residents can enter the chapel for free. Other visitors are charged an admission fee of 5 € to support the chapel’s activities. Tickets can be purchased at the chapel or via the Reveel app.
- Kamppi Chapel’s opening hours: Tue–Sat 11 am–6 pm, Sun–Mon closed
- Address: Simonkatu 7, Narinkkatori, Helsinki
- Other considerations: Kamppi Chapel is completely accessible and includes accessible toilet facilities and a childcare room.
By combining Amos Rex’s fascinating art exhibits, Oodi's urban atmosphere, and Kamppi Chapel’s deep silence and magnificent architecture, you can experience Helsinki with all your senses – it only takes a few steps to discover both the beating heart of Helsinki and perfect tranquillity in a single visit.
