The National Library of Finland
The National Library of Finland
4.5
09:00 - 18:00
Monday
09:00 - 18:00
Tuesday
09:00 - 18:00
Wednesday
09:00 - 20:00
Thursday
09:00 - 18:00
Friday
09:00 - 18:00
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The area
Address
Neighbourhood: Vironniemi
How to get there
- Helsingin yliopisto • 3 min walk
- Rautatientori • 7 min walk
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4.5
265 reviews
Excellent
162
Very good
87
Average
15
Poor
0
Terrible
1
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Freya J
Den Helder, The Netherlands395 contributions
Jan 2024 • Family
Wonderfully authentic. I won't say that the entire library is authentic, but the first part is. Great to see this. Old books galore. When you enter, you are absolutely not allowed to take any bags or coats into the building. There are lockers where you can store your belongings. The library is located next to Helsinki Cathedral. Definitely a recommendation.
Written 25 January 2024
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.
TheShis
Tel Aviv, Israel43,258 contributions
Sept 2023 • Couples
This underwhelming building located next to the Helsinki cathedral might be somehow misleading.
While its exterior is far from impressive, the interiors are beautifully and lavishly decorated.
Definitely worth a peek inside.
While its exterior is far from impressive, the interiors are beautifully and lavishly decorated.
Definitely worth a peek inside.
Written 20 October 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.
purplemyrtles
Kent, UK329 contributions
Dec 2024 • Couples
Wow what a gem, if you like books and libraries you’ll love this place with its very old grand design. Free entry so well worth a look. It’s just opposite the main Cathedral behind Senate Square so very central location. Very friendly greeting on arrival, where you need to leave all coats and bags in free lockers and you pick up a free information guide.
Written 4 December 2024
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.
BharathiMani
Bengaluru, India4,416 contributions
Mar 2023 • Couples
Oh what jewels to be found inside. This is a big library with 7-8 levels. It's a book readers paradise for sure!
Entry is free. You need to leave your coats, umbrellas and food etc at the ground floor. There are free lockers.
The building from inside is beautiful, with gorgeous frescoes.
The library is spic and span and well organised. Many places to sit and read in silence.
There is a cafe downstairs but didn't check it out. Clean restrooms.
A week is not enough in such a place.
Entry is free. You need to leave your coats, umbrellas and food etc at the ground floor. There are free lockers.
The building from inside is beautiful, with gorgeous frescoes.
The library is spic and span and well organised. Many places to sit and read in silence.
There is a cafe downstairs but didn't check it out. Clean restrooms.
A week is not enough in such a place.
Written 23 March 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.
tarjak4
Helsinki, Finland70 contributions
Aug 2019
Apart from the changing exhibitions and amazing (mostly Finnish) collections of books, newspapers and magazines, the main attraction for tourists would be the beautiful hall with its ceiling and wall frescos. Well worth popping in, if you are in the Senate square or visit the Helsinki Cathedral.
Written 10 October 2019
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.
Irina
United States14,341 contributions
Jul 2019
I always admire libraries in different countries I visit. What can be more valuable in keeping, preserving , developing and enriching their cultural heritage?
The National Library of Finland, located near Senate Square and Helsinki Cathedral, occupies a very prominent building, various parts of which were designed separately by architects C.L.Engel and G. Nystrom, in 1844 and in 1906, respectively. Today, the library has over 3 million items.
These days, there's a very interesting exhibition taking place in the National Library of Finland. It's called From Dice to Bytes: 200 Years of Finnish Gaming. The exhibits illustrating several centuries of gaming are fantastic - from older board games to modern computer games, including all kinds of game paraphernalia. As I learnt, gaming is a fast developing industry in Finland, donations to this exhibition are made by private collectors.
The building of the library is built in classic style, and it is very imposing, the grounds around it are beautiful too.
The National Library of Finland, located near Senate Square and Helsinki Cathedral, occupies a very prominent building, various parts of which were designed separately by architects C.L.Engel and G. Nystrom, in 1844 and in 1906, respectively. Today, the library has over 3 million items.
These days, there's a very interesting exhibition taking place in the National Library of Finland. It's called From Dice to Bytes: 200 Years of Finnish Gaming. The exhibits illustrating several centuries of gaming are fantastic - from older board games to modern computer games, including all kinds of game paraphernalia. As I learnt, gaming is a fast developing industry in Finland, donations to this exhibition are made by private collectors.
The building of the library is built in classic style, and it is very imposing, the grounds around it are beautiful too.
Written 7 September 2019
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.
NukeExpatinTheDesert
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates162 contributions
Dec 2018 • Couples
A quick must see, the interior of the library is intimate and impressive. For the (actual) or wanna be bibliophile (like me) it is a dreamy destination, if only to spend 20 minutes exploring.
Written 21 December 2018
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.
Trek-Always
Alpharetta, GA2,517 contributions
Aug 2017 • Couples
Built in 1845. Free. Beautiful inside. Right across the street from the Lutheran Church. They have the largest collection of Slavic books in the world, including Russia. There are lockers inside for free too.
If this review is helpful then please indicate so below.
If this review is helpful then please indicate so below.
Written 13 September 2017
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.
Sachin0408
Bengaluru, India897 contributions
Dec 2016 • Solo
A library can never be a tourist attraction unless it’s the largest in the world or carries significance amount of history as part of its existence. I happened to stay very close the Library and hence decided to give it a go not as a tourist but as an avid reader. The National Library of Finland is the foremost research library in Finland. Administratively the library is part of the University of Helsinki. Until 1 August 2006, it was known as the Helsinki University Library.
The National Library is responsible for storing the Finnish cultural heritage. By Finnish law, the National Library is a legal deposit library and receives copies of all printed matter, as well as audiovisual materials excepting films, produced in Finland or for distribution in Finland. These copies are then distributed by the Library to its own national collection and to reserve collections of five other university libraries. Also, the National Library has the obligation to collect and preserve materials published on the Internet.
Any person who lives in Finland may register as a user of the National Library and borrow library materials. The publications in the national collection, however, are not loaned outside the library. The library also is home to one of the most comprehensive collections of books published in the Russian Empire of any library in the world.
The National Library is responsible for storing the Finnish cultural heritage. By Finnish law, the National Library is a legal deposit library and receives copies of all printed matter, as well as audiovisual materials excepting films, produced in Finland or for distribution in Finland. These copies are then distributed by the Library to its own national collection and to reserve collections of five other university libraries. Also, the National Library has the obligation to collect and preserve materials published on the Internet.
Any person who lives in Finland may register as a user of the National Library and borrow library materials. The publications in the national collection, however, are not loaned outside the library. The library also is home to one of the most comprehensive collections of books published in the Russian Empire of any library in the world.
Written 17 June 2017
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.
Lucas L
Helsinki, Finland50 contributions
Jan 2013 • Couples
I visited the National Library with my friend once. We were there for hours, and it was really awesome! I loved the library, because it is just like some library you've seen in a movie. The halls and areas in it were just so amazing, and good looking. I want to go back! Recommended to visit!
Written 26 December 2013
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.
Yes! they actually have small tables with electricity places as well there. And I think wifi as well.
Written 22 May 2019
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