Helsinki is small and intimate; lively but not bustling. Its size makes it easy to walk around and cafés, markets, and the nearby islands are its summer delights. Helsinki has many kilometers of coastline and most of its central districts are near the seaside and this makes Helsinki a maritime city. The Suomenlinna sea-fortress built and the Seurasaari Island with its parks and open-air museum. The cosy town has interesting lighting during dark winters such as the classic Aleksanterinkatu's Christmas street (Joulukatu). During the coldest months of the winter it is very common for Helsinkians to go for walks on the frozen sea, although much caution must be taken. There are also many places for ice swimming along the coast, some with saunas.

Helsinki also has popular cruiseferry links with Stockholm and hydrofoil and catamaran links to Tallinn.