Helsinki Cathedral
Helsinki Cathedral
4
09:00 - 18:00
Monday
09:00 - 18:00
Tuesday
09:00 - 18:00
Wednesday
09:00 - 18:00
Thursday
09:00 - 18:00
Friday
09:00 - 18:00
Saturday
09:00 - 18:00
Sunday
09:00 - 18:00
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Plan your visit
The area
Address
Neighbourhood: Vironniemi
How to get there
  • Helsingin yliopisto • 4 min walk
  • Rautatientori • 8 min walk
Reach out directly
See what travellers are saying
  • RopentaStones
    St Helens, United Kingdom2,046 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Magnificent
    The cathedral sits in a huge open area and is one of my favourite public squares I have ever visited. Perfect for people watching and also you get the views. The cathedral itself glistens so brightly when the sun is shining that it stands out like a beacon against the clear blue sky.
    Visited September 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 13 October 2023
  • pfefmeister
    San Francisco, California4,373 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great on the Outside
    Walking up to this majestic cathedral, I expected an equally impressive interior. Unfortunately, not the case. Once inside, it’s just a plain old white interior in need of some mosaics, some Sistine Chapel inspiration, just something. Probably the most boring cathedral we’ve ever visited. I still went with four stars **** for its dramatic setting.
    Visited October 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 15 October 2023
  • TheShis
    Tel Aviv, Israel42,755 contributions
    3.0 of 5 bubbles
    A big cathedral.
    This massive cathedral dominates the entire central square of Helsinki and looks very imposing and impressive. However, its interiors are SO underwhelming and almost bare. Nevertheless, we got a chance to see a wedding here and congratulate the happy newly weds.
    Visited September 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 20 October 2023
  • Adam Jones
    Beijing, China196 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Must See
    In my opinion Helsinki Cathedral is not quite as attractive as Uspenski, but definitely a must visit church if you are in Helsinki. You can see the monument from quite far away, so it dominates the Helsinki skyline. I was surprised by the inside - it really wasn’t decorated much like most cathedrals with mosaics etc. To enter a 5 Euro donation is asked which can only be paid by card.
    Visited November 2023
    Travelled solo
    Written 28 November 2023
  • TAMAN1951
    Liberty Lake, Washington8,650 contributions
    3.0 of 5 bubbles
    Kinda neat
    The story about the place is pretty interesting. First built as a Lutheran facility but the onion domes added during time of Russian control. Bells too heavy for the tower so they were placed in outbuilding. To preserve symmetry a chapel was constructed on the other side.
    Visited December 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 27 December 2023
  • Gregory W
    Mankato, Minnesota3,826 contributions
    3.0 of 5 bubbles
    Nice Experience
    The church was originally built from 1830 to 1852 as a tribute to the Grand Duke of Finland, Tsar Nicolas I. It was also known as St Nicholas's Church until Finland declared its full independence in 1917.[
    Visited December 2023
    Travelled solo
    Written 29 March 2024
  • Barbs25
    Staffordshire, United Kingdom3,910 contributions
    3.0 of 5 bubbles
    No longer free
    From April it’s chargeable but we just got in to visit in March. Nothing spectacular, very plain as the Lutheran style goes. Totally agree with it as churches are way too decadent for the purpose but still as an atheist I enjoy the arty detail of other churches!
    Visited March 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 3 April 2024
  • Al Makynen
    Duluth, Minnesota350 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great View of the Plaza
    This is a Lutheran cathedral. Maximum light, plain, with the focus on personal worship from your enclosed pew. It is worth experiencing the interior. The granite steps (40+) are formidable but worth the climb. When you come out, look onto the plaza. Also, look out beyond to see the ships in the harbor.
    Visited May 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 2 May 2024
  • Tracey G
    Halesowen, United Kingdom2,218 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Impressive building
    Impressive building viewable from practical everywhere in Helsinki. Painted grey to show up against the snow Free entry. Not very big inside compared to many British cathedrals. Also very plan due to the nature of its religion Certainly worthy of a visit
    Visited May 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 17 May 2024
  • Angeliki_Lambrou
    Greece33 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Helsinki Cathedral
    The Helsinki Cathedral overlooks the National library and Senate Square and is probably the main tourist attraction in Helsinki. The large white cathedral looks very grand. It is free to enter. The inside of the cathedral is rather plain compared to most others, so can be underwhelming.It was built between 1830 and 1852.It is in the shape of a Greek cross with a colonnade on each arm. Look up and see the twelve apostles on the edge of the roof. Inside the cathedral, there are statues of reformers, Martin Luther, Philipp Melanchthon and Mikael Agricola .Overall though a must visit, and probably your first place to visit, on any trip to Helsinki.
    Visited June 2023
    Travelled on business
    Written 22 May 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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4.0
4.0 of 5 bubbles6,189 reviews
Excellent
2,656
Very good
2,488
Average
944
Poor
86
Terrible
15

Peter B
Norsborg, Sweden186 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020
A very imposing building with a gigantic stairway up from the square in front. Great view over the inner city from the stairs as well. Once inside you can see the Nordic style interior with its "less is more" feel. Clean and bright design which looks perfectly in place here. An impressive building well worth seeing.
Written 5 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Laurens H
Delft, The Netherlands34 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2021 • Couples
Even for a lover of Protestant churches, this interior was rather meagre. A sharp contrast with the mighty exterior. Free or charge. However, one can pay a 5 euro 'donation' if you like. Can't go lower than five though... which is more than I would have liked to donate.
Written 21 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

RangeR
Canada679 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2019
Impressive from the outside and you’ll surely see other tourists taking their photos with it on the stairs leading up. This is why going inside can be a bit of a letdown since there isn’t anything grandiose about the interior, you’ll see more decorated churches elsewhere. There are paid restrooms inside.
Written 14 April 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Alex J
Melbourne, Australia2,206 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2019
For Catholics like me, who are used to richly decorated churches, with plenty of statues, and grand altars, this cathedral was a bit of a letdown. However, to be fair, it is after all a Lutheran place of worship, and Lutherans don't believe in ostentation! At the very least, the outside is really photogenic. Especially on a bright sunny day. I had gone alone to Helsinki in 2018, and I had not gone inside. When I went again last year, with my wife, we went inside. If you have an hour or so to spare, and if you can climb the steps, you will be rewarded with great views from the entrance platform. Plus, having come this far, you might as well go inside the cathedral !! If you are also seeing the Russian Orthodox cathedral nearby, you could make some interesting comparisons! If you don't want to climb the steps, you could climb the somewhat steep road, along the side, and enter the cathedral with hardly any steps along the way. This is the only way someone with a stroller could enter!
Written 18 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

GerardTonlegee
Dublin, Ireland82 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2022 • Couples
We spent a day in Helsinki while we were in Tallinn. It was easy to navigate and had a lovely, if small, Christmas market. We visited the cathedral in Senet Sq and the orthodox cathedral. Both well worth seeing. We also visited the Sibelius monument which is a bit out of the centre but we had got a relatively cheap day travel pass. Again well worth the time.
Now too the down side, expense, coming from one of Europe’s most pricy cities, Dublin, we were shocking by the cost of everything in Helsinki. A simple cup of coffee €5:90, a basic bottle of wine with lunch €40+, however if you know before hand it is well worth a visit, even a short one like ours.
Written 22 December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

FiftyFifty5050
Montgomery, UK899 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2020
We walked up to Senate Square and the Lutheran Cathedral from visiting the Orthodox Cathedral and the contrast was striking; all the complexity and grandeur of this cathedral is in it's position - at the top of a long, steep flight of stone steps on one side of the Senate Square - and on it's exterior; because the inside is almost stark in it's simplicity.

White walls, simple pews, a complete sparsity of icons, paintings, statues only serves to highlight the stillness and spirituality of this beautiful space. The ambience and intention of the building speak for themselves and don't need any embellishments.

A truly lovely place to visit, to sit quietly, to reflect, to pray.
Written 16 October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

AngloItalian78
Aylesbury, UK547 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2023 • Couples
As others have commented, this cathedral is a key part of the Helsinki skyline, in an elevated position up many steps from Senate Square in the heart of the city.

And in its stunning bright white, it’s a truly beautiful piece of architecture that the city can be proud of, and looks so wonderful against the snow on a clear blue sky winters day, especially when viewed from a ferry coming into port, or from Uspensky cathedral.

However, the interior is drab and boring and absolutely not worth any entrance fee. There really is nothing to see inside and you’re better off paying to go and see other far more interesting and beautiful churches like the Rock Church & Uspensky Cathedral.
Written 28 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Janka K
Brno, Czech Republic8,683 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2023 • Couples
Very monumental, the place looks the best from outside and is worth of a picture or two, mostly the symmetrical one.
Inside, you can spend few minutes looking around, but unless you want to contemplate spiritually at the place, it's not worth of staying longer.
What I had mixed feeling about is voluntary entrance fee at the place. There are two kiosks inside for that and I saw that at the moment when people entered the church, a security guy working at the place approached them, asking if he can help with the kiosks. I felt a bit pressured to pay the entrance fee. I did because I wanted to support the building's maintenance. But then I stayed for few minutes only, looking around and then leaving. So from this perspective, it didn't pay out.
Written 2 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Gee231205x2022
74 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2023 • Solo
What a stunning building sat atop the stone steps in senate square. I visited one cloudy afternoon and found the inside to be peaceful and reflective. It is not ornately decorated like many cathedrals but really feels like someone to sit quietly in contemplation. Entry is free but there is a donation box if you wished to give something.
Written 2 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Scott Marks
Auckland Central, New Zealand341 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2019
From the outside it an impressive Greek architecture style Cathedral. It can be seen from far away, pointing to the heart of the city. Climbing up the famous stairs before it gives an impressive view of the city. Inside is a very simple, reflecting a Nordic restrained style of decoration.
Written 4 June 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Helsinki Cathedral

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