The 14 best distilleries in Helsinki

If you love history and nature, this is a "must visit" for you. Take a ride on a ferry, ca 15 min from Helsinki and spend a day on this island. I suggest taking your time, the whole day, if you want to explore the island. There are cafes and restaurants, if you get tired or hungry. There is a supermarket, where you can get coffee and warm pastries. There are museums which are defenitely worth visiting. Walk along the shore and enjoy amazing views. Go explore the tunnels for sure, if you dare. Have a picnic if you wish. There are so many things you can do and see. The guide is also available. WCs are everywhere. It is easy to spend the whole day there and swith off the rest of the world.

This was a really nice way to spend half a day in Helsinki! Good to reach by public transport ferry. The island is quite nice and green, pretty quiet this time of year already as well but many things to see.

Nice trip by ferry. Views by ferry are very nice. Castle itself is a nice place to walk around in quite serene place. This place is of historical importance otherwise not much to see. Ferry itself is cheap at 3.2 Euro for a ticket that is good for 90 minutes, so one may be able to a return trip using a single ticket.

I had heard great things about Suomenlinna and I wasn’t disappointed! Such an adorable little island. It is filled with history and just lovely to walk around. Such easy access to get to, you don’t want to miss this on your next visit in Helsinki:)

Frequent ferris daily to reach the island. Enjoy the tranquility time travel walk. We arrived there before daybreak, the unmanned visiter information center was open, supplying warmth, wifi, toilets and maps.

Suomenlinna is an incredible place to explore and soak up Finnish history. The island is full of historic fortifications, museums, and scenic walking paths, with stunning views of the sea and Helsinki’s harbor. It’s peaceful and easy to wander around, with plenty of spots to relax and take photos. Perfect for a day trip, whether you’re interested in history, nature, or just enjoying a unique part of Helsinki. Highly recommended! Also the ferry’s to and from the island are efficient and come very often. Also free with the HSL transport ticket!

Truely amazing tourist destination in the whole of scandenavia. The history behind the whole architecture itslef is worth knowing, especially if you have interest in the history. This is situated in the distance of 40mns ferry ride from the Helsinki boat jetty where all the cruise and ferries start. There js option to pre-book ypur ticket and also to buy tickets from the counter. If you have the Helsinki travel card, it also includes thr trip to sume lina fortress. Once you reach there you can go to the tourist helpdesk and get the map of the area and then take your time and walk and stroll all the way around.there is no time limit but be wary of the boat timings to ensure that you dont watse time waiting for the ferry.

Ateneum offers a beautiful collection of Finnish art in a stunning historic building. The exhibits are well-curated and inspiring. It was not crowded at all. There is a kid’s corner where they can draw portraits and self portraits. Fun experience! Definitely recommend it!

Really great museum with interesting work and great exhibition design. Some fun interactive things too! Tickets are slightly cheaper if you buy online rather than in person, but the museum has free wifi, so you can easily do it there if you don’t want to plan ahead.

I visited once and was impressed how well was all ordered, by styles, and how different and great art pieces this place offers. Also a very well ordered store with thematic art merchandise, books and souvenirs. The museum itself is a work of art!

Very lucky to visit this museum during the Klimt exhibition. It's not a big museum, but definitely they do collect and exhibit top quality artworks. It's conveniently located across the central station and accessible by several tram lines.

Visited the museum during the weekend and around lunch time. It was empty with no wait time and minimal amounts of people inside. Plenty of time to look and appreciate all of the artwork without being hassles by crowds. Would advise to buy tickets online as there is a discount vs in person.

The way this museum presents its collection is truly unique! You can scan the barcodes and listen to short recordings about certain pieces. There is a studio where you can draw yourself and pin it to the wall. I spent almost two hours more than I planned!

Went in to see the painter Klimt and Vienna painters exhibition - good. The other parts of the museum were not too bad. Again they can make it clearer to get started from the right place.....

Kiasma is easily one of my top two museums in Helsinki, though “understanding” what you’re looking at is optional. If you have a taste for modern art, it’s absolutely worth a visit—just bring an open mind and maybe a sense of humor. Some works are thought-provoking, others are quirky, and a few will make you wonder if someone accidentally dropped their recycling bin in the gallery. (My travel companion swore some pieces were actual trash. He might not be wrong, but that’s contemporary art for you.) The beauty is, Kiasma isn’t huge—you can wander through in a couple of hours, feel cultured, and still have time for a long Finnish lunch. And the building itself? A sculptural statement that upstages half the exhibits. Kiasma proves that art doesn’t need to be liked—or even understood—to be unforgettable. Sometimes it just needs to make you smirk, squint, and say, “Seriously?”

The building of Kiasma, Museum of Contemporary Art, is in itself a work of art. Of course the exhibitions of the museum are very high quality and some single artworks are masterpieces but walking there inside the building around is walking inside the artwork. It's almost intoxicating. In Helsinki there are some very interesting museums. No doubt, Kiasma is one of them.

Okay, first thing's first. It's modern art. If you're not into that kinda thing then I don't recommend you go. It's not quite the banana taped to the wall, but some exhibits are close. Some will get you thinking... Some will make you laugh... And some, and I honestly mean this in one case, will have you thinking the artist is close to suicide and/or murder - or possibly even both. So, go if you can open your mind to try to appreciate the messages these artists are trying to convey.

Kiasma Museum in Helsinki is definitely worth a visit. Even though I went on a free day, it offers great value for the price. The museum has multiple floors filled with impressive artwork, and there are also performances and small cinema-style installations that make the experience more interactive. Highly recommended for contemporary art lovers.

Overpriced entry fee to see mostly trash. €22 is criminal The museum (I would call it a gallery) is conveniently located and easy to reach. The building design is impressive, more impressive than the art itself There is no art at all on level 1, and level 5 was filled with mostly vulgar art that cannot even be uploaded to a Google Map review. Parents be warned There was a children’s group during my visit and it made me think, the children could create better art than the “professionals” who have their art displayed. Only few pieces of art do I enjoy looking at. Rest should be thrown into the skip where they belong Many toilets. Facilities are great for people with disabilities. Lockers and cloakroom available, as well as a cafe (with average food and high prices). You can waste your money and time like I did and visit yourself, make up your own mind

A striking new building in Helsinki, part of the Civic complex worth the library and theatre adjacent. Clever ramped access to the galleries on each floor level. A mixture of exhibitions and attractive cafe area and gallery shop.

Look, it was a cool experience, first ever time in an art museum. I’ll be honest, I didnt really get it but that’s okay, there was some really nice pieces. Some other stuff confused me but that’s part of the experience I suppose. Was a shame that I came a few days before new exhibitions came to the 4th and 5th floors. I attached my three favourite things, like I said, I’m not really an art buff but these were nice

The Design Museum had some nice pieces, but nothing mind blowing or particularly memorable. If you're in town for a long time and looking to fill a quiet afternoon, then sure, go have a look. It costs 20 euros per person, which felt steep for something that was honestly average at best. The staff at the ticket counter could have been a lot friendlier; mostly chatting among themselves or glued to their phones, not exactly helpful. Would definitely not go again.

We got in for free because it was the last tuesday of the month. I can recommend it! I especially liked the Moomin & Tove Jansson exhibition, there was also a free guided english tour which was interesting. Lots of information also about Finland, its architecture & society especially after the war times. The museum shop is also quite nice.

As architects and design enthusiasts, we were genuinely excited to visit Helsinki’s Design Museum—in a city celebrated for its aesthetic clarity, clean lines, and functional beauty, we expected a world-class institution. Unfortunately, what we found was a disappointment cloaked in stylish lighting. Let’s start with the cost: the entry fee is one of the highest we’ve encountered in any museum anywhere, and certainly the steepest for what you actually get. Yes, Finland isn’t known for its bargains, but for a country that values design so deeply, the price-to-content ratio here feels way off. Inside, there were a few genuinely engaging moments. A well-thought-out exhibit on Finnish chair design showed the elegance and ingenuity of Scandinavian craftsmanship. A section on glass and ceramics was also strong, giving insight into materiality and manufacturing. But beyond that, the museum felt oddly vacant—curatorial restraint to the point of absence. Sparse walls, limited depth, and a surprising lack of major pieces or interactive installations that one might expect in a design capital. Your ticket also includes entry to the Museum of Finnish Architecture just across the street, which we’d hoped might redeem the experience. It didn’t. One exhibit, minimal content, and little more than a hallway of placards and models. As architects, we were craving plans, sections, urban context—something—but walked away shrugging. All in all, the ambition and price suggest a landmark. The reality feels more like a stylish placeholder. Helsinki deserves a design museum as strong as its output. This isn’t it—at least not yet.

Design Museum is a comparatively small museum with 2 floors of exhibit, the ticket also includes visit to the Architecture Museum which also has 2 floors of exhibit and is a separate building behind. The exhibition felt poorly designed for both the Design & Architecture Museum, few places missed providing any context for the display. There are only few artefacts of intrigue and felt like the collection was a miss opportunity to show the Finnish way - because the modern designs in use are quite thoughtful. It costs €20 a ticket for each adult which felt expensive for the whole experience. Some stories of the designers and architects like Alvo Aalto and Haaris were really good, but there are very few artefacts or context given into what they have designed. A better experience would be to roam around the design district and try out shops and restaurants instead of spending lot of time and money here.

I gave the Helsinki Design Museum four stars mainly for the excellent Maija Lavonen exhibition on the upper floor. Lavonen's evolving and innovative art is impressive, such as the sails piece and of course her more recent application of fibre optics woven into the textiles. But Lavonen's work is really modern art, not so much design, yet it consumes most of the museum dedicated to design. The actual "design" artifacts and displays were less satisfactory in the relatively small area on the main floor. These exhibits offer a tiny fragment of what Finland designers have created. Visitors were offered descriptions for a few designers (e.g., Nyman), but most of the displays offered minimal context. For example, how did the famous ball chair come to be, and did it influence other chair designers? Also, design isn't just chairs and glass vases; it includes household products (this museum does briefly mention the Nurmesniemi coffee pots etc.), vehicles, possibly architectural design, and even the aesthetics of ship interior design. So, after Lavonen's exhibition has ended (and hopefully displayed at other art museums), the Helsinki Design Museum needs to make effective use of the large upper floor to show the world with more variety and depth what great designs have emerged from Finnish creativity over the past century or two. Visited in August 2025

Absolutely a must, especially if you are interested in design at all. Very cool city planning interactive exhibit for kids!

The Design Museum Helsinki offers a focused journey into Finnish design. Among the highlights are Alvar Aalto’s iconic bentwood stool and armchair, showcasing functional elegance; Marimekko’s bold textiles, with Maija Isola’s Unikko prints radiating playful color; and Eero Aarnio’s futuristic Ball Chair, a 1960s classic that still feels strikingly modern. The historic neo-Gothic building adds charm and atmosphere. The museum is, however, on the smaller side. Yet for design enthusiasts, especially those curious about Finland’s most celebrated names, it remains a rewarding and inspiring visit.

It is 5 euros for a student. There are not many exhibitions. There are two exhibition rooms, one is large and the other is a small space. They gave me stickers with admission tickets, but they told me to put them on my clothes, so I just carried them around. Lockers are free. The bathroom was clean, too. I got a good impression on this exhibition. However, it seems a little expensive to see without a discount.

Amos Rex has a striking design and cool modern vibe, but the exhibitions can be uneven. Some are visually impressive, others feel a bit underwhelming. Worth a visit if you’re into contemporary art, but not a must-see for everyone.

Mind blowing modern art, excellent layout. Don't sleep on the exterior where people of all ages play on top of conical structures straight out of a Dr. Seuss illustration.

Very cool and contemporary museum! Quite pricey for a regular ticket, but definitely worth the visit 🌟

It was a lovely visit, reminded me of my old school days when, as kids, we used to create such beautiful designs. What a lovely childhood memory to recall.

Nice space, big art without substance. There better shows to see in Helsinki.

Interesting gallery, but it is not a “must go” while visiting Helsinki. We were here during December and went on a rainy day. I haven’t seen any spectacular artworks- interesting works.

Disappointing Experience We visited Tislaamo Distillery with a friend and left with mixed feelings. While the concept of the place—offering house-made alcohol—was intriguing, the service left much to be desired. Despite having a reservation, we were seated at a random table after some delay. Throughout the evening, I had to go to the bar myself to order a second cocktail and even to fetch a straw, as no staff came to check on us. At the end, we had to go to the counter to pay, as nobody brought us the bill. We were told at the entrance that they were short-staffed due to illness, which might explain the lapses in service, but the worst part came when we were pressured into tipping. When paying, we were presented with an iPad to select a tip amount—5%, 10%, 15%, or 20%. This might be acceptable in the US, but in Finland, where staff are paid proper wages, it felt inappropriate. The manager insisted we had received “good service,” which was far from our experience. I understand that Finland is currently going through an economic crisis, and businesses are trying to earn money in any way they can. However, customers are also affected by this crisis, and it feels unfair to push extra costs onto people who finally get the chance to go out and relax. While the drinks were decent, the overall experience left a bad taste in our mouths. A little honesty and a less pushy approach would have gone a long way.

I am so glad this kind of ambitiously built independent place exists in the heart of our city! The drink options are based on their own products (which is as it should be), and selection is abundant. They are all very tasty (well, I haven't tried them all, yet, but many enough 😃). Food is very tasty and creative. Pricey, but worth to money every now and then. Sometimes, the service feels a bit tired, and sometimes you get a feeling of not being that important (especially at the outside terrace). Which is not how the customer should feel at all in this kind of rather pricey and ambitiously built place which is trying to fight the power of huge industrial competition with their little brand. Thus, I really hope they don't get the "growth fatigue" where the sincere, personal and passionate service of early days is lost to trying to match the growth speed and targets. Keep going and remember where you came from - passionate Helsinki brand!

This place is known for their gin & tonics. I tried their favorite Helsinki dry gin. Very refreshing and strong flavor. Great!

The bartender is very professional and foes amazing cocktails. The staff is super friendly and well trained. Great foos and a talented chef. All in all, the atmosphere there is different(in the best way 😊) than any other bars i ve visited in Helsinki.

The place itself is nice, deco and atmosphere unique. At the streetbar we got super service but unfortunatelly in diningroom we had to wait servive over half on hour despite the fact we had made reservation. ( not because it was busy). The food (3 - cource menu) was delicious and saved the poor beginning. Still, I would recommend to visit.

A distillery in the middle of the city. There is a lot to learn in this place so if you have time do go for the tour as well! The first whisky will be out late August 2017 so prepare. Also heard some rumours about whisky powered sauna... Should be something special!

Helsinki distillery is worth of visiting. Premium products, good food and drinks. Very good tour In distellery.

3-4/5 for the food and 5/5 for drinks. I had the carpaccio starter 5/5 and fish of the day main which were tasty. The fish dish just had some sad looking asparagus. My husband had the ceviche which was very acidic (even for me!) and the beef main which was wildly under seasoned. Tiramisu was good. The snack menu looked good but didn’t try anything this time. We’ll come again for drinks + snacks.

We stopped in for a couple of quick cocktails on our way to dinner and it was definitely worthwhile! We had two different gin & tonics - they have so many options! - and then two different cocktails as well and all four drinks were super delicious and lived up to our expectations. Price point is very reasonable & fair for the quality!

Rich warm ambient bar is a great place for dates who want some intimate and romantic time with their significant other. Downstairs has a distillery tour. It is rather small but the tour itself is educational and quite fun. But no tasting is offered :( I would come again for the bar and the ambience.

The food was below average, served cold and some ingredients was missing in some plates. Service was friendly but awkward, we had a big group and had to yell from the otherside of the table what we want to drink, the waiter did not ask orders in person.

Great bar and service. Really authentic place. Food is great, make reservation. Do not miss the distillery tour. Their gin is really great and they got the best lonkero. Their whiskey is smooth. Try everything from the bar. Edit 15/3/2019 Tour & tasting was great, you get to inside experience of the process and products. Tasting is in unique setting and you’ll learn new things. Food is great even the list is limited there is something for everyone. Lobster bisque is tasty and burger works great. Bloody Mary is unreal! Ask for special drinks after the dinner, you might get surprised. DJs brings nice addition to atmosphere.

We took a tour, which was great and very personal, without any time pressure. The tasting following the tour took place in a small, very tastful chamber, where we could stay for the evening. Very recommendable even for someone who has visited distilleries before.

Very cool and fancy place. Excellent drinks and GTs. Service was professional. You can also reserve place for private happens.

(Translated by Google) I bought a strong strawberry berry wine to drink tonight, which was supposed to have an authentic taste. The taste is quite artificial 🤨 (Original) Ostin tänään ilta juomaksi mansikkaisen väkevän marjaviinin millä piti olla aitomaku. Maku on kyllä melkoisen keinotekoinen🤨

(Translated by Google) Choosing good products - but I can proudly refuse them too: Njet! Give it to the Russians, they will surely like it. (Original) Valikoimassa hyviäkin tuotteita - mutta ylpeänä voin kieltäytyä niistäkin: Njet! Juottakaa venäläisille, niille maistuu varmasti.

(Translated by Google) I bought a strawberry fortified berry wine, which claimed to be authentic tasting. I didn't taste anything authentic in the drink. (Original) Ostin mansikkaisen väkevän marjaviinin, mikä väitti olevansa aito makuinen. En maistanut juomassa mitään aitoa.

(Translated by Google) Shameful business (Original) Häpeällistä liiketoimintaa

(Translated by Google) Shame! (Original) Skäms!

(Translated by Google) Irresponsible behavior. (Original) Vastuutonta toimintaa.

(Translated by Google) Nice place. And a beautiful building (Original) Kiva paikks. Ja kaunis rakennus

(Translated by Google) Big and interesting (Original) Iso ja mielenkiintoinen

(Translated by Google) Bear/Toptygin on an anthill (Mesikämmen muurahaispesällä), sculptor: Jussi Mäntynen. The red granite sculpture was created in 1931 and is located in Karhupuisto in Helsinki in the Kallio district. (Original) Медведь/Топтыгин на муравейнике (Mesikämmen muurahaispesällä), скульптор: Юсси Мянтюнен (Jussi Mäntynen). Скульптура из красного гранита создана в 1931 году, расположена в Кархупуисто (Karhupuisto) в Хельсинки в районе Каллио (Kallio).

Love this karhu