Felicity Long
Even though Finland snagged the world’s happiest country title again in 2025 — for the eighth consecutive time — the country, and particularly its capital city of Helsinki, isn’t resting on its laurels.
Visitors interested in sauna culture, for example, will soon be able to take a dip at the renovated Yrjoenkatu Swimming Hall, the oldest still-operating public swimming hall in the Nordics.
Designed by architect Vaeinoe Vaehaekallio, the building blends Nordic classicism and art deco influences.
Set to reopen to the public in February, the venue will feature a swimming hall, saunas, a private relaxation cabin and refreshments from Cafe Yrjoe.
And because there are separate swimming hours for women and men, bathing suits are optional.
The Seurasaari Open-Air Museum, which offers a glimpse into Finland’s rural past, is adding a 1950s-era Finnish summer cottage, the first entirely new site introduced at the museum in 40 years.
You don’t need to be a railroad buff to appreciate what’s going on at the Helsinki Central Railway Station. Highlights include dining, brewery visits and tours of the restored Kellotorni clock tower, originally designed by Eliel Saarinen in 1919. Also new at the station is the Taulu restaurant, named for the painting by Eero Jaernefelt that adorns the space, which combines a cafe, bar and restaurant.
Speaking of dining, Helsinki’s tourism board is touting the proliferation of kiosk cafes, many positioned along tram routes — a fun counterpoint to more formal eateries. Summer is the prime season for kiosks; a comprehensive list is available at MyHelsinki. But the Helsinki Distilling Company is among the casual eateries open year-round.
Festivals and events
Fans of Nordic Noir can attend the new Helsinki Noir festival, a crime literature event at the Aleksanteri Theater scheduled for Feb. 28 to March 1. Finnish and international authors will be on hand to discuss crime fiction, thrillers and true crime through panel discussions and conversations.
Finally, if it seems like Moomins are everywhere this year, it’s not your imagination (and if you’ve somehow missed this phenomenon, ask your kids).
For the record Moomins are wildly popular, plump figures — think a cross between a troll and a hippopotamus and you’ll get the idea — created in the 1950s Finnish artist Tove Jansson.
Delve into all things Moomins at the newly expanded Tove Jansson Gallery at the HAM Helsinki Art Museum, set to open in February. Or visit the Architecture and Design Museum’s exhibition “Escape to Moominvalley,” open until Sept. 27.
For more information on upcoming events, check out MyHelsinki’s events calendar, but fair warning: You might find that all that Finnish happiness is catching.