Helsinki: Difference between revisions

{{distinguish|text=the film [[Hellsinki]]}}

| name               = Helsinki

| official_name     = {{lang|fi|Helsingin kaupunki}}<br />{{lang|sv|Helsingfors stad}}<br />{{lang|en|City of Helsinki}}

| native_name       = {{native name|sv|Helsingfors}}

| nicknames         = Stadi (by city dwellers), Hesa (by country people),<ref name="nickname">{{cite web |last=Ainiala |first=Terhi |year=2009 |title=Place Names in the Construction of Social Identities: The Uses of Names of Helsinki |url=http://yorkspace.library.yorku.ca/xmlui/handle/10315/2924 |access-date=22 September 2011 |publisher=Research Institute for the Languages of Finland}}</ref> the Daughter of the Baltic,<ref name="nickname1"/> the Pearl of the Baltic Sea<ref name="nickname2"/>

| settlement_type   = [[Capital city]]

| image_skyline     = {{multiple image

| image_shield       = Helsinki.vaakuna.svg

| shield_size       = 80x80px

| blank_emblem_type = [[Wordmark]]

| blank_emblem_size =  

| image_map         = Helsinki uusimaa.png

| mapsize           = 270px

| map_caption       = Location (in red) within the [[Uusimaa]] [[Regions of Finland|region]] and the [[Helsinki sub-region]] (in yellow)

| pushpin_map       = Finland#Europe

| pushpin_mapsize   = 250

| pushpin_relief     = yes

| coordinates       = {{coord|60|10|15|N|24|56|15|E|display=it}}

| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]

| subdivision_name   = {{FIN}}

| subdivision_type1 = [[Regions of Finland|Region]]

| subdivision_name1 = [[File:Flag of Uusimaa.svg|25px|link=Uusimaa]] [[Uusimaa]]

| subdivision_type2 = [[Sub-regions of Finland|Sub-region]]

| subdivision_name2 = [[Helsinki sub-region]]

| subdivision_type3 = Metropolitan area

| subdivision_name3 = [[Helsinki metropolitan area]]

| leader_title       = [[Mayor of Helsinki|Mayor]]

| leader_name       = [[Daniel Sazonov]] ([[National Coalition Party (Finland)|Kok]])

| leader_title1     = Governing body

| leader_name1       = [[City Council of Helsinki]]

| established_title = [[Charter]]

| established_date   = 12 June 1550

| established_date2 = 8 April 1812

| area_footnotes     = {{Data Finland municipality|area_footnotes|Helsinki}}

| area_total_km2     = {{Data Finland municipality|area_total_km2|Helsinki}}

| area_land_km2     = {{Data Finland municipality|area_land_km2|Helsinki}}

| area_water_km2     = {{Data Finland municipality|area_water_km2|Helsinki}}

| area_urban_km2     = 680.12

| area_metro_km2     = {{#expr: {{Data Finland municipality/land area|Helsinki}} + {{Data Finland municipality/land area|Espoo}} + {{Data Finland municipality/land area|Vantaa}} + {{Data Finland municipality/land area|Kauniainen}} + {{Data Finland municipality/land area|Kirkkonummi}} + {{Data Finland municipality/land area|Vihti}} + {{Data Finland municipality/land area|Nurmijärvi}} + {{Data Finland municipality/land area|Hyvinkää}} + {{Data Finland municipality/land area|Tuusula}} + {{Data Finland municipality/land area|Kerava}} + {{Data Finland municipality/land area|Järvenpää}} + {{Data Finland municipality/land area|Mäntsälä}} + {{Data Finland municipality/land area|Sipoo}}  + {{Data Finland municipality/land area|Pornainen}} }}

| area_rank         =  

| population_as_of   = {{Data Finland municipality|population_as_of|Helsinki}}

| population_total   = {{Data Finland municipality|population_total|Helsinki}}

| population_metro   = {{#expr: {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Helsinki}} + {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Espoo}} + {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Vantaa}} + {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Kauniainen}} + {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Kirkkonummi}} + {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Vihti}} + {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Nurmijärvi}} + {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Hyvinkää}} + {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Tuusula}} + {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Kerava}} + {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Järvenpää}} + {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Mäntsälä}} + {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Sipoo}} + {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Pornainen}} }} ([[Helsinki metropolitan area|metro]])

| population_urban   = 1,360,075

| population_rank   = {{Data Finland municipality|population_rank|Helsinki}}

| blank_name         = {{Data Finland municipality|blank_name|Helsinki}}

| blank_info         = {{Data Finland municipality|blank_info|Helsinki}}

| blank3_name       = [[Köppen climate classification|Climate]]

| blank3_info       = [[Cool summer humid continental climate|Dfb]]

| timezone           = [[Eastern European Time|EET]]

| utc_offset         = +02:00

| timezone_DST       = [[Eastern European Summer Time|EEST]]

| utc_offset_DST     = +03:00

| elevation_m       = 26

| elevation_ft       = 85

| area_code         = +358-9

| website           = {{URL|https://www.hel.fi/en}}

'''Helsinki'''{{efn|English: {{IPAc-en|ˈ|h|ɛ|l|s|ɪ|ŋ|k|i}} {{respell|HEL|sing|kee}} or {{IPAc-en|h|ɛ|l|ˈ|s|ɪ|ŋ|k|i|audio=en-us-Helsinki.ogg}} {{respell|hel|SING|kee}},<ref>{{Cite American Heritage Dictionary|Helsinki}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Helsinki |url=https://www.collinsdictionary.com/amp/english/helsinki |website=[[Collins English Dictionary]] |publisher=[[HarperCollins]]}}</ref> {{IPA|fi|ˈhelsiŋki|lang|Fin-Helsinki.ogg|small=no}}.}} ({{langx|sv|Helsingfors}}){{efn|{{IPA|sv-FI|helsiŋˈforsː|lang|Helsingfors.ogg|small=no}}, {{IPA|sv|hɛlsɪŋˈfɔʂː||sv-Helsingfors.ogg|label=Sweden Swedish:|small=no}}.}} is the capital and most populous city in [[Finland]]. It is on the shore of the [[Gulf of Finland]] and is the seat of southern Finland's [[Uusimaa]] region. About {{formatnum:{{#expr:{{Data Finland municipality/population count|Helsinki}} round -3}}}} people live in the municipality, with {{formatnum: {{#expr: ({{Data Finland municipality/population count|Helsinki}} + {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Espoo}} + {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Vantaa}} + {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Kauniainen}}) /1000000 round 1 }} }}&nbsp;million in the [[Helsinki capital region|capital region]] and {{formatnum: {{#expr: ({{Data Finland municipality/population count|Helsinki}} + {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Espoo}} + {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Vantaa}} + {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Mäntsälä}} + {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Pornainen}} + {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Kauniainen}} + {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Kirkkonummi}} + {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Vihti}} + {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Nurmijärvi}} + {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Hyvinkää}} + {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Tuusula}} + {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Kerava}} + {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Järvenpää}} + {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Sipoo}}) /1000000 round 1 }}}}&nbsp;million in the [[Helsinki metropolitan area|metropolitan area]]. As the most populous [[List of urban areas in Finland by population|urban area]] in Finland, it is the country's most significant centre for politics, education, finance, culture, and research. Helsinki is {{convert|80|km}} north of [[Tallinn, Estonia]], {{convert|400|km}} east of [[Stockholm, Sweden]], and {{convert|300|km}} west of [[Saint Petersburg, Russia]].

Together with the cities of [[Espoo]], [[Vantaa]] and [[Kauniainen]]—and surrounding commuter towns,<ref>{{cite web |title=Cities of Finland |url=http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/portal/page/portal/region_cities/city_urban/city_maps/FI |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130518144548/http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/portal/page/portal/region_cities/city_urban/city_maps/FI |archive-date=18 May 2013 |access-date=10 February 2013 |publisher=Eurostat}}</ref> including the neighbouring municipality of [[Sipoo]] to the east<ref>{{cite web|title=Sipoo - kahden keskuksen kunta Helsingin tuntumassa|url=https://ta.fi/ajankohtaista/499-sipoo-kahden-keskuksen-kunta-helsingin-tuntumassa|access-date=9 November 2021|website=ta.fi}}</ref>—Helsinki forms a [[Helsinki metropolitan area|metropolitan area]]. This area is often considered Finland's only metropolis and is the world's [[List of northernmost items#Cities and settlements|northernmost]] metropolitan area with over one million inhabitants. Additionally, it is the northernmost capital of an [[Member state of the European Union|EU member state]]. Helsinki is the [[List of the most populated municipalities in the Nordic countries|third-largest]] municipality in the Nordic countries, after Stockholm and [[Oslo]]. Its urban area is the [[List of urban areas in the Nordic countries|third-largest]] in the Nordic countries, after Stockholm and [[Copenhagen]]. [[Helsinki Airport]], in the neighbouring city of Vantaa, serves the city with frequent flights to numerous destinations in Europe, North America, and Asia.

Helsinki has hosted the [[1952 Summer Olympics]], the first [[Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe|CSCE]]/[[Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe|OSCE]] Summit in 1975, the first [[World Athletics Championships]] in 1983, the [[Eurovision Song Contest 2007|52nd Eurovision Song Contest]] in 2007 and it was the 2012 [[World Design Capital]].<ref name="Worlddesigncapital.com">{{cite web |title=Past capital: Helsinki |url=http://www.worlddesigncapital.com/world-design-capitals/past-capital-helsinki/ |access-date=19 May 2015 |publisher=Worlddesigncapital.com}}</ref> The city is recognized as a "[[Design Cities (UNESCO)|Design City]]" in 2014 by [[UNESCO]]'s [[Creative Cities Network]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.unesco.org/en/creative-cities/helsinki|title=Helsinki – Creative Cities Network|publisher=[[UNESCO]]|access-date=3 June 2025}}</ref>

Helsinki has one of the highest standards of urban living in the world. In 2011, the British magazine ''[[Monocle (UK magazine)|Monocle]]'' ranked Helsinki as the world's most liveable city in its [[City quality of life indices|livable cities index]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Most liveable city: Helsinki&nbsp;— Monocle Film / Affairs |url=http://monocle.com/film/affairs/most-liveable-city-helsinki/ |access-date=12 March 2013 |publisher=Monocle.com |archive-date=9 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150709213034/http://monocle.com/film/affairs/most-liveable-city-helsinki/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> In the [[Economist Intelligence Unit]]'s 2016 livability survey, Helsinki ranked ninth out of 140 cities.<ref name="2016 detail">{{cite web |title=Global Liveability Ranking 2016 |url=https://www.eiu.com/public/topical_report.aspx?campaignid=liveability2016 |website=www.eiu.com}}</ref> In July 2021, the American magazine ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' named Helsinki one of the world's greatest places, a city that "can grow into a burgeoning cultural nest in the future" and is already known as an [[Natural environment|environmental]] pioneer.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://time.com/collection/worlds-greatest-places-2021/6079245/helsinki/|title=Helsinki: The World's 100 Greatest Places of 2021|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|access-date=16 December 2021}}</ref> In an international ''Cities of Choice'' survey conducted in 2021 by the [[Boston Consulting Group]] and the BCG Henderson Institute, Helsinki was ranked the third-best city in the world to live in, with [[London]] and [[New York City]] coming in first and second.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.helsinkitimes.fi/finland/finland-news/domestic/19591-helsinki-comes-in-third-in-ranking-of-world-s-best-cities-to-live.html|title=Helsinki comes in third in ranking of world's best cities to live|work=[[Helsinki Times]]|date=14 July 2021|access-date=15 August 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cityam.com/london-hailed-as-worlds-city-of-choice-by-bcg-report/|title=London hailed as world's 'city of choice' in quality of life report|first=Farah|last=Ghouri|work=[[City A.M.]]|date=4 August 2021|access-date=15 August 2021}}</ref> In the ''[[Condé Nast Traveler]]'' magazine's 2023 Readers' Choice Awards, Helsinki was ranked the 4th-friendliest city in Europe.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cntraveller.com/gallery/friendliest-cities-europe|title=The friendliest cities in Europe: 2023 Readers' Choice Awards|work=[[Condé Nast Traveler]]|date=3 October 2023|access-date=21 October 2023}}</ref> Helsinki, along with [[Rovaniemi]] in [[Lapland (Finland)|Lapland]], is also one of Finland's most important [[tourism|tourist]] cities.<ref>[https://www.lapinkansa.fi/rovaniemen-ja-helsingin-johtajat-saivat-ministeril/3141180 Lapin Kansa: Rovaniemen ja Helsingin johtajat saivat ministeriltä tehtävän miettiä, miten matkailu nousee korona-ajan mentyä ohi – Rahaa on luvassa EU:n elpymispaketista] (in Finnish)</ref> Due to the large number of sea passengers, Helsinki is classified as a major port city,<ref>{{cite journal | doi=10.1080/03088839.2020.1802785 | title=The Southampton system: A new universal standard approach for port-city classification | year=2021 | last1=Roberts | first1=Toby | last2=Williams | first2=Ian | last3=Preston | first3=John | journal=Maritime Policy & Management | volume=48 | issue=4 | pages=530–542 | s2cid=225502755 | doi-access=free }}</ref> and in 2017 it was rated the world's busiest passenger port.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Helsinki becomes world's busiest passenger port |url=https://www.dailyfinland.fi/travel/3854/Helsinki-becomes-worlds-busiest-passenger-port |access-date=2024-02-11 |website=clickittefaq}}</ref>

According to a theory put forward in the 1630s, at the time of [[Swedish colonisation of Finland|Swedish colonisation]] of the Finnish coast, colonists from [[Hälsingland]] in central [[Sweden]] arrived at what is now the [[Vantaa (river)|Vantaa River]] and called it {{Lang|sv|Helsingå}} ('Helsinge River'), giving rise to the names of the [[Helsingin pitäjän kirkonkylä|village]] and [[Church of St. Lawrence, Vantaa|church]] of Helsinge in the 1300s.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Salminen |first=Tapio |title=Vantaan ja Helsingin pitäjän keskiaika |date=2013 |isbn=978-952-443-455-3 |location=Vantaa |publisher=Vantaan kaupunki |language=fi |trans-title=The Middle-age in Vantaa and Helsinki}}</ref> This theory is questionable, as dialect research suggests that the settlers came from [[Uppland]] and the surrounding areas.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hellman |first=Sonja |date=7 June 2015 |title=Historiska fel upprättas i ny bok |language=sv |trans-title=Historical misinformation corrected in new book |work=Hufvudstadsbladet}}</ref> Others have suggested that the name derives from the Swedish word {{Lang|sv|helsing}}, an archaic form of the word {{Lang|sv|hals}} ('[[neck]]'), which refers to the narrowest part of a river, the [[rapids]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Utbildning & Vetenskap: Svenskfinland |url=http://veta.yle.fi/svenskfinland/artikel.php?id=23&subject=mellannyland |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080512081641/http://veta.yle.fi/svenskfinland/artikel.php?id=23&subject=mellannyland |archive-date=12 May 2008 |access-date=8 July 2009 |publisher=Veta.yle.fi}}</ref> Other Scandinavian towns in similar geographical locations were given similar names at the time, such as [[Helsingør]] in Denmark and [[Helsingborg]] in Sweden.

When a town was founded in the village of [[Koskela|Forsby]] (later {{Lang|fi|Koskela}}) in 1548, it was called {{Lang|fi|Helsinge fors}}, 'Helsinge rapids'. The name refers to the {{ill|Vanhankaupunginkoski|fi|Vanhankaupunginkoski}} rapids at the mouth of the river.<ref>{{cite web |last=<!--Not stated--> |title=Onko kosken alkuperäinen nimi Helsinginkoski vai Vanhankaupunginkoski? |url=http://www.helsinginkoski.fi/kysymyksetjavastaukset/onko-kosken-alkuperainen-nimi-helsinginkoski-vai-vanhankaupunginkoski/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305220022/http://www.helsinginkoski.fi/kysymyksetjavastaukset/onko-kosken-alkuperainen-nimi-helsinginkoski-vai-vanhankaupunginkoski/ |archive-date=5 March 2016 |access-date=26 February 2016 |website=Helsinginkoski}}</ref> The town was commonly known as {{Lang|fi|Helsinge}} or {{Lang|fi|Helsing}}, from which the modern Finnish name is derived.<ref>{{cite web |last=Jäppinen |first=Jere |date=2007 |title=Helsingin nimi |url=http://www.helsinginkaupunginmuseo.fi/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/sofia_2_2007.pdf |access-date=26 February 2016 |website=www.helsinginkaupunginmuseo.fi |publisher=Helsingin kaupunginmuseo}}</ref>

Official [[Council of State (Finland)|Finnish government]] documents and Finnish language newspapers have used the name ''Helsinki'' since 1819, when the [[Senate of Finland]] moved to the city from [[Turku]], the former capital of Finland. Decrees issued in Helsinki were dated with Helsinki as the place of issue. This is how the form Helsinki came to be used in [[literary language|written]] Finnish.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Jäppinen |first=Jere |date=15 November 2011 |title=Mistä Helsingin nimi on peräisin? |url=http://www.hs.fi/paivanlehti/arkisto/Mist%C3%A4+Helsingin+nimi+on+per%C3%A4isin/aaHS20111115SI1AT02exp?src=haku&ref=arkisto%2F |journal=Helsingin Sanomat |pages=D2 |access-date=29 November 2013 |archive-date=29 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129184056/http://www.hs.fi/paivanlehti/arkisto/Mist%C3%A4+Helsingin+nimi+on+per%C3%A4isin/aaHS20111115SI1AT02exp?src=haku&ref=arkisto%2F }}</ref> When Finland became the Grand Duchy of Finland, an autonomous state under the rule of the [[Russian Empire]], Helsinki was known as {{Transliteration|ru|Gel'singfors}} ({{Lang|ru|Гельсингфорс}}) in Russian, because the main and official language of Grand Duchy of Finland was Swedish.

[[Christianity]] does not gain a significant foothold in Finland before the 11th century. After that, a number of [[Christian cross|crosses]] and other objects related to Christianity can be found in archaeological material. According to the traditional view, the [[Kingdom of Sweden (800–1521)|Kingdom of Sweden]] made three crusades to Finland, thanks to which the region was incorporated into both Christianity and the Swedish Empire. Recent research has shown that these expeditions, to the extent that there were even three of them, were not the crusades that had been imagined. Later, the conquest of Finland was justified in terms of "civilisation" and "christianisation", and the myth of the Crusades was developed. It is more likely that it was a multidimensional combination of economic, cultural and political power ambitions.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-03-04 |title=Keskiaikainen Helsingin pitäjä {{!}} Historia Helsinki |url=https://historia.hel.fi/fi/kaannekohdat/alkujuuret-ja-perustaminen/keskiaikainen-helsingin-pitaja |access-date=2024-02-21 |website=historia.hel.fi |language=fi}}</ref>

The early settlements were raided by [[Vikings]] until 1008, and the [[Battle at Herdaler]] was a battle between the Norse Viking leader Olav Haraldsson (later King [[Olaf II of Norway]], also known as Saint Olaf) and local Finns at Herdaler (now [[Ingå]]), not far from Helsinga, around 1007–8.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Väätäinen |first=Erika |date=2022-03-04 |title=Were There Ever Vikings In Finland Or Finnish Vikings? |url=https://scandification.com/finnish-vikings-and-vikings-in-finland/ |access-date=2024-02-24 |website=Scandification |language=en-GB}}</ref> The [[Heimskringla|Saga of Olaf Haraldson]] tells how Olav raided the coasts of Finland and was almost killed in battle. He ran away in fear and after that the Vikings did not raid the coasts of Finland.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Battle of Herdaler |url=http://mcllibrary.org/Heimskringla/haraldson1.html | quote = Saga of Olaf Haraldson. See chapter 8: The Third Battle. }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Talvio |first=Tuukka |date=2002 |title= Suomen museo 2002 |location=Vammala |publisher= Suomen Muinaismuistoyhdistys |isbn=951-9057-47-1}}</ref>

In the Middle Ages, the Helsinki area was a landscape of small villages. Some of the old villages from the 1240s in the area of present-day Helsinki, such as [[Koskela]] and [[Töölö]], are now Helsinki districts, as are the rest of the 27 medieval villages. The area gradually became part of the Kingdom of Sweden and Christianity. [[King's Road (Finland)|Kuninkaantie]], or the "King's Road", ran through the area and two interesting medieval buildings were built here: {{ill|Vartiokylä hillfort|fi|Vartiokylän linnavuori}} in the 1380s and the [[Church of St. Lawrence, Vantaa|Church of St. Lawrence]] in 1455. In the Middle Ages, several thousand people lived in Helsinki's [[keep]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-03-04 |title=Keskiaikainen Helsingin pitäjä {{!}} Historia Helsinki |url=https://historia.hel.fi/fi/kaannekohdat/alkujuuret-ja-perustaminen/keskiaikainen-helsingin-pitaja |access-date=2024-02-13 |website=historia.hel.fi |language=fi}}</ref>

There was a lot of trade across the [[Baltic Sea]]. The shipping route to the coast, and especially to [[Reval]], meant that by the end of the Middle Ages the Helsinki region had become an important trading centre for wealthy [[peasant]]s, [[priest]]s and [[nobility|noble]]s in Finland, after [[Vyborg]] and [[Pohja]]. [[Fur]]s, [[wood]], [[tar]], [[fish]] and animals were exported from Helsinki, and [[salt]] and [[grain]] were brought to the fortress. Helsinki was also the most important cattle-breeding area in Uusimaa. With the help of trade, Helsinki became one of the wealthiest cities in Finland and Uusimaa. Thanks to trade and travel, e.g. to Reval, people could speak several languages, at least helpfully. Depending on the situation, Finnish, Swedish, Latin or Low German could be heard in the Helsinki area.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-16 |title=Keskiaikaista arkea Helsingin pitäjässä {{!}} Historia Helsinki |url=https://historia.hel.fi/fi/ilmiot/arjen-muuttuvat-kasvot/keskiaikaista-arkea-helsingin-pitajassa |access-date=2024-02-15 |website=historia.hel.fi |language=fi}}</ref>

During the second half of the 17th century, Helsinki, as a wooden city, suffered from regular [[fire]]s, and by the beginning of the 18th century the population had fallen below 1,700. For a long time Helsinki was mainly a small administrative town for the governors of [[Nyland and Tavastehus County]], but its importance began to grow in the 18th century when plans were made to build a more solid naval defence in front of the city.<ref name="helsinki-history"/> Little came of these plans, however, as Helsinki remained a small town plagued by poverty, war and disease. The [[Great Northern War plague outbreak|plague]] of 1710 killed most of Helsinki's population.<ref name="Tabblo100" /> After the [[Battle of Helsinki (1713)|Russians captured]] Helsinki in May 1713 during the [[Great Northern War]], the retreating Swedish administration set fire to parts of the city.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://historia.hel.fi/fi/kaannekohdat/tuho-ja-jalleenrakennus/suuri-pohjan-sota-ja-helsingin-tuho|title=Suuri Pohjan sota ja Helsingin tuho|date=21 January 2022 |publisher=City of Helsinki|access-date=10 May 2023|language=fi}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|first=Seppo|last=Aalto|title=Kruununkaupunki – Vironniemen Helsinki 1640–1721|publisher=[[Finnish Literature Society]]|location=Helsinki|year=2015|isbn=978-952-222-675-4|language=fi}}</ref> Despite this, the city's population grew to 3,000 by the beginning of the 19th century. The construction of the naval fortress of [[Suomenlinna|Sveaborg]] (''Viapori'' in Finnish, now also called ''Suomenlinna'') in the 18th century helped to improve Helsinki's status. However, it wasn't until Russia defeated Sweden in the [[Finnish War]] and annexed Finland as the autonomous [[Grand Duchy of Finland]] in 1809 that the city began to develop into a substantial city. The Russians besieged the Sveaborg fortress during the war, and about a quarter of the city was destroyed in a fire in 1808.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Niukkanen |first1=Marianna |last2=Heikkinen, Markku |title=Vuoden 1808 suurpalo |url=http://www.nba.fi/helsinginarkeologiaa/keskusta_kohteet_1810.htm |access-date=14 July 2013 |website=Kurkistuksia Helsingin kujille |publisher=National Board of Antiquities |language=fi |archive-date=14 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171214210101/http://www.nba.fi/helsinginarkeologiaa/keskusta_kohteet_1810.htm }}</ref>

Emperor [[Alexander I of Russia]] moved the capital of Finland from [[Turku]] to Helsinki on 8 April 1812 to reduce Swedish influence in Finland and bring the capital closer to [[St Petersburg]].<ref>{{cite web |title=8 April 1812 Emperor Alexander I promotes Helsinki to the capital of the Grand Duchy. - Helsinki 200 years as capital |url=http://www.helsinki200.fi/en/helsinki-1812-2012/1812-emperor-alexander-i-promotes-helsinki-capital-grand-duchy/ |access-date=21 January 2016 |archive-date=10 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810032003/http://www.helsinki200.fi/en/helsinki-1812-2012/1812-emperor-alexander-i-promotes-helsinki-capital-grand-duchy/ }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://yle.fi/news/3-5486170|title=Bicentennial of Helsinki as Finnish capital|work=[[Yle News]]|date=8 April 2012|access-date=8 April 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.helsinkitimes.fi/finland/finland-news/domestic/1978-lobbying-for-helsinki-200-years-ago-2.html|title=Lobbying for Helsinki 200 years ago|work=[[Helsinki Times]]|date=19 April 2012|access-date=8 April 2022}}</ref> After the [[Great Fire of Turku]] in 1827, the [[Royal Academy of Turku]], the only university in the country at the time, was also moved to Helsinki and eventually became the modern University of Helsinki. The move consolidated the city's new role and helped set it on a path of continuous growth. This transformation is most evident in the city centre, which was rebuilt in the [[neoclassicism|neoclassical]] style to resemble St. Petersburg, largely according to a plan by the German-born architect [[Carl Ludvig Engel|C. L. Engel]]. As elsewhere, technological advances such as the railway and [[industrialisation]] were key factors in the city's growth.

By the 1910s, Helsinki's population was already over 100,000, and despite the turbulence of Finnish history in the first half of the 20th century, Helsinki continued to grow steadily. This included the [[Finnish Civil War]] and the [[Winter War]], both of which left their mark on the city. At the beginning of the 20th century, there were roughly equal numbers of Finnish and [[Swedish-speaking population of Finland|Swedish speakers]] in Helsinki; the majority of workers were Finnish-speaking. The local [[Helsinki slang]] (or ''stadin slangi'') developed among Finnish children and young people from the 1890s as a mixed Finnish-Swedish language, with influences from [[German language|German]] and [[Russian language|Russian]], and from the 1950s the slang began to become more Finnish.<ref>{{cite book| author=Marjo Vilkko | title=Suomi on ruotsalainen | chapter=Stadin slangi | pages=216–219 | location=Helsinki | publisher=[[Schildts & Söderströms]] | year=2014 | isbn=978-951-52-3419-3 | language = fi}}</ref> A landmark event was the [[1952 Summer Olympics|1952 Olympic Games]], which were held in Helsinki. Finland's rapid urbanisation in the 1970s, which occurred late compared to the rest of Europe, tripled the population of the metropolitan area, and the [[Helsinki Metro]] subway system was built and put into operation in 1982.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hel.fi/hki/HKL/en/About+HKL/History/History+of+metro+transport |title=Helsinki City Transport - About HKL - History - A brief history of the metro |publisher=Helsinki City Transport |date=19 March 2012 |access-date=21 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150512153035/http://www.hel.fi/hki/HKL/en/About%2BHKL/History/History%2Bof%2Bmetro%2Btransport |archive-date=12 May 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Known as the "Daughter of the Baltic"<ref name="nickname1">[https://europecharm.com/helsinki-the-daughter-of-the-baltic/] {{Dead link|date=June 2021|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> or the "Pearl of the Baltic",<ref name="nickname2">{{cite web|url=https://www.myhelsinki.fi/en/my-helsinki/helsinki-pearl-of-the-baltic-sea|title=Helsinki, Pearl of the Baltic Sea|website=Myhelsinki.fi|access-date=16 December 2021|archive-date=17 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210517084823/https://www.myhelsinki.fi/en/my-helsinki/helsinki-pearl-of-the-baltic-sea|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://hooniverse.com/the-white-pearl-of-the-baltic-sea-helsinki-deals-with-snow/|title=The White Pearl of the Baltic Sea – Helsinki Deals with Snow|website=Hooniverse.com|date=3 January 2013|access-date=16 December 2021}}</ref> Helsinki is located at the tip of a peninsula and on 315 islands. The city centre is located on a southern peninsula, ''Helsinginniemi'' ("Cape of Helsinki"), which is rarely referred to by its actual name, [[Vironniemi]] ("Cape of Estonia"). Population density is comparatively high in certain parts of downtown Helsinki, reaching {{convert|16494|PD/km2}} in the district of [[Kallio]],  overall Helsinki's population density is 3,147 per square kilometre. Outside the city centre, much of Helsinki consists of post-war suburbs separated by patches of forest. A narrow, {{convert|10|km}} long [[Central Park (Helsinki)|Helsinki Central Park]], which stretches from the city centre to Helsinki's northern border, is an important recreational area for residents. The City of Helsinki has about 11,000 boat [[Berth (moorings)|moorings]] and over {{convert|14,000|ha|acre mi2|abbr=off}} of marine fishing waters adjacent to the capital region. About 60 species of fish are found in this area, and recreational fishing is popular.

Helsinki's official plant is the [[Norway maple]] and its official animal is the [[red squirrel]].<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.kirjastot.fi/kysy/arkistohaku/kysymys/?ID=4cb7bd80-f847-49dc-a6c9-020fc91899c2 | title=Mitkä ovat Helsingin nimikkoeläin ja nimikkokasvi? | work=Kysy kirjastonhoitajalta | publisher=Helsinki City Library | date=30 August 2001 | access-date= 30 December 2020 | language= fi}}</ref>

{{Main|Helsinki capital region|Helsinki metropolitan area}}

The [[Helsinki metropolitan area]] or the Greater Helsinki consists of the cities of the capital region and ten surrounding municipalities: [[Hyvinkää]], [[Järvenpää]], [[Kerava]], [[Kirkkonummi]], [[Nurmijärvi]], [[Sipoo]], [[Tuusula]], [[Pornainen]], [[Mäntsälä]] and [[Vihti]].<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.kielitoimistonohjepankki.fi/ohje/403 | title= Pääkaupunkiseutu, Suur-Helsinki ja Helsingin seutu | work= Kotus | access-date= 30 December 2020 | language= fi}}</ref> The Metropolitan Area covers {{convert|3697|km2|0|abbr=out}} and has a population of about {{formatnum: {{#expr: ({{Data Finland municipality/population count|Helsinki}} + {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Espoo}} + {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Vantaa}} + {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Mäntsälä}} + {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Pornainen}} + {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Kauniainen}} + {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Kirkkonummi}} + {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Vihti}} + {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Nurmijärvi}} + {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Hyvinkää}} + {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Tuusula}} + {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Kerava}} + {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Järvenpää}} + {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Sipoo}}) /1000000 round 2 }} }} million, or about a fourth of the total population of Finland. The metropolitan area has a high concentration of employment: approximately 750,000 jobs.<ref>{{cite web |title=Helsingin seutu tiivistetysti |url=http://www.helsinginseutu.fi/hki/HS/Helsingin+Seutu/Kaupunkitieto+ja+tilastot |website=Kaupunkitieto |date=19 December 2022 |publisher=Helsinginseutu.fi |language=fi}}</ref> Despite the intensity of land use, the region also has large recreational areas and green spaces. The Helsinki metropolitan area is the world's northernmost urban area with a population of over one million people, and the northernmost EU capital city.

The [[Helsinki urban area]] is an officially recognized [[Urban areas in Finland|urban area in Finland]], defined by its population density. The area stretches throughout 11 municipalities, and is the largest such area in Finland, with a land area of {{convert|669.31|km2}} and approximately 1.36 &nbsp;million inhabitants.

|source 2 = Weather Atlas (sun data)<ref name="Weather Atlas">{{cite web |url=https://www.weather-atlas.com/en/finland/helsinki-climate |title=Helsinki, Finland - Monthly weather forecast and Climate data |publisher=Weather Atlas |access-date=22 May 2023 }}</ref>}}

| Jun record high C = 31.4

| Nov record high C = 13.4

| source 2 = record highs and lows<ref name="FMI open data">{{cite web |title=FMI open data |url=https://www.ilmatieteenlaitos.fi/ilmastollinen-vertailukausi |access-date=19 May 2025 |publisher=FMI}}</ref>

Helsinki is divided into three major areas: [[Helsinki City Centre]] ({{langx|fi|Helsingin kantakaupunki}}, {{langx|sv|Helsingfors innerstad}}), [[North Helsinki]] ({{langx|fi|Pohjois-Helsinki}}, {{langx|sv|Norra Helsingfors}}) and [[East Helsinki]] ({{langx|fi|Itä-Helsinki}}, {{langx|sv|Östra Helsingfors}}). Of these, Helsinki City Centre means the undefined core area of capital, as opposed to [[suburb]]s. The designations [[Central business district|business center]] and city center usually refer to [[Kluuvi]], [[Kamppi]] and [[Punavuori]].<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.hel.fi/www/Helsinki/fi/kaupunki-ja-hallinto/hallinto/kaupunginosat/kamppi-kluuvi-punavuori | title=Kamppi, Kluuvi ja Punavuori | work = City of Helsinki | access-date=30 December 2020 | language= fi}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.pienimatkaopas.com/helsinki/majoittuminen.html | title= Millainen hotelli Helsingissä kannattaa valita ja miltä alueelta | work= Pieni matkaopas | access-date=30 December 2020 | language= fi}}</ref> Other subdivisional centers outside the downtown area include [[Malmi, Helsinki|Malmi]] ({{langx|sv|Malm}}),<ref>[https://www.uuttahelsinkia.fi/fi/malmi Malmi] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922055351/https://www.uuttahelsinkia.fi/fi/malmi |date=22 September 2022 }}, Uuttahelsinkiä.fi, (in Finnish)</ref><ref>[https://www.sttinfo.fi/tiedote/malmin-keskustan-suunnitteluperiaatteet-paatoksentekoon?publisherId=60577852&releaseId=69910578 Malmin keskustan suunnitteluperiaatteet päätöksentekoon – STT Info] (in Finnish)</ref> located in the northeastern part of city, and [[Itäkeskus]] ({{langx|sv|Östra centrum}}),<ref>[https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-11632410 Tässä on tuleva Itä-Helsingin keskus: Itäväylän päälle rakentuu taloja ja tilaa kaikille, Stoan Puhoksen ja Puotilan metroaseman alueen monikulttuurisuutta halutaan rikastaa] – ''[[Yle]]'' (in Finnish)</ref> in the eastern part of city.

[[Carl Ludvig Engel]], appointed to plan a new city centre on his own, designed several [[Neoclassical architecture|neoclassical]] buildings in Helsinki. The focal point of Engel's city plan was the [[Helsinki Senate Square|Senate Square]]. It is surrounded by the [[Government Palace (Finland)|Government Palace]] (to the east), the main building of Helsinki University (to the west), and (to the north) the large [[Helsinki Cathedral]], which was finished in 1852, twelve years after Engel's death. Helsinki's [[epithet]], "The White City of the North", derives from this construction era. Most of Helsinki's older buildings were built after the 1808 fire; before that time, the oldest surviving building in the center of Helsinki is the {{ill|Sederholm House|fr|Maison Sederholm}} (1757) at the intersection of Senate Square and the Katariinankatu street.<ref name="matkaoppaat">{{cite web| url=http://matkaoppaat.com/helsinki/ | title=Helsinki – Suomi | website=Matkaoppaat.com | access-date=29 December 2020 | language=fi}}</ref> Suomenlinna also has buildings completed in the 18th century, including the [[Kuninkaanportti]] on the {{ill|Kustaanmiekka|fr|Kustaanmiekka|lt=Kustaanmiekka Island}} (1753–1754).<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.suomenlinna.fi/kavijalle/nahtavyydet/kuninkaanportti/ | title=Kuninkaanportti | work=Suomenlinna | access-date=29 December 2020 | language=fi | archive-date=19 March 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210319112607/https://www.suomenlinna.fi/kavijalle/nahtavyydet/kuninkaanportti/ | url-status=dead }}</ref> The oldest church in Helsinki is the Östersundom church, built in 1754.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Vuonna 1754 rakennettu Östersundomin kirkko on Helsingin vanhin kirkko |url=https://www.helsinginseurakunnat.fi/ostersundominhautausmaa/artikkelit/chpmocf43 |access-date=2024-02-12 |website=Helsingin seurakunnat |language=fi}}</ref>

In addition to other cities in Northern Europe that were not under the [[Soviet Union]], such as [[Stockholm]], Sweden, Helsinki's neoclassical buildings gained also popularity as a backdrop for scenes intended to depict the Soviet Union in numerous Hollywood movies during the [[Cold War]] era, when filming within the actual USSR was not possible. Some of them, including ''[[The Kremlin Letter]]'' (1970), ''[[Reds (film)|Reds]]'' (1981), and ''[[Gorky Park (film)|Gorky Park]]'' (1983).<ref>{{cite journal |last=Willis |first=David K. |date=4 August 1983 |title=When it comes to films on Russia, they've seen enough |url=http://www.csmonitor.com/1983/0804/080464.html |journal=Christian Science Monitor}}</ref> was possible due to such Russian cities as [[Leningrad]] and [[Moscow]] also having similar neoclassical architecture. At the same time due to [[Cold War]] and Finnish relations with the USSR the government secretly instructed Finnish officials not to extend assistance to such film projects.<ref name="mtv3erittainsalainen">Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, Political Department: {{cite web |title=Memo 56 of 20 January 1982 (labelled highly confidential in 1982) |url=http://img.mtv3.fi/mn_liitteet/mtv3/uutiset/bulleting/300538.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070615135412/http://img.mtv3.fi/mn_liitteet/mtv3/uutiset/bulleting/300538.pdf |archive-date=15 June 2007 |access-date=16 January 2007}}&nbsp;{{small|(1.37&nbsp;MB)}}</ref> The city has large amounts of underground areas such as shelters and tunnels, many used daily as swimming pool, church, water management, entertainment etc.<ref>{{cite web |last=Morris |first=Kieran |title=Deeper Underground: How Helsinki is Building its Future Beneath the City Surface |url=https://theculturetrip.com/europe/finland/articles/deeper-underground-how-helsinki-is-building-its-future-beneath-the-city-surface/ |website=Culture Trip |date=6 May 2020 |access-date=31 August 2020 |archive-date=19 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210319112619/https://theculturetrip.com/europe/finland/articles/deeper-underground-how-helsinki-is-building-its-future-beneath-the-city-surface/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Underground Master Plan |url=https://www.hel.fi/helsinki/en/housing/planning/current/underground-master-plan |website=Helsingin kaupunki |access-date=31 August 2020 |archive-date=19 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210319112613/https://www.hel.fi/helsinki/en/housing/planning/current/underground-master-plan }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=My Helsinki |url=https://www.myhelsinki.fi/en/see-and-do/underground-helsinki |website=www.myhelsinki.fi |access-date=31 August 2020 |archive-date=19 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210319112619/https://www.myhelsinki.fi/en/see-and-do/underground-helsinki }}</ref><!-- + https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674775514000699 https://gigazine.net/gsc_news/en/20191228-underground-helsinki/ -->

Helsinki also features several buildings by Finnish architect [[Alvar Aalto]],<ref name="36h">{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/08/08/travel/things-to-do-helsinki.html|title=36 Hours in Helsinki|first=Ingrid K.|last=Williams|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=8 August 2024|access-date=12 August 2024}}</ref> recognized as one of the pioneers of architectural [[functionalism (architecture)|functionalism]]. However, some of his works, such as the headquarters of the paper company [[Stora Enso]] and the concert venue [[Finlandia Hall]], have been subject to divided opinions from the citizens.<ref>{{cite web |date=25 February 2007 |title=Stora Enson pääkonttori, Kanavaranta 1 |url=http://helsinginaallot.blogspot.com/2007/02/stora-enson-pkonttori-kanavaranta-1.html |access-date=5 February 2011 |website="Helsingin Aallot" blog |language=fi}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=14 June 2008 |title=Kohtaako Enson konttori voittajansa? |language=fi |at=Lead editorial |work=[[Helsingin Sanomat]] |url=http://www.hs.fi/paakirjoitus/artikkeli/Kohtaako+Enson+konttori+voittajansa/HS20080614SI1MA01re3 |access-date=5 February 2011 |archive-date=19 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111119164352/http://www.hs.fi/paakirjoitus/artikkeli/Kohtaako+Enson+konttori+voittajansa/HS20080614SI1MA01re3 }}</ref><ref name="penttilä">{{cite web |last=Penttilä |first=Vappu |title=Kiasma nousi inhokkien ykköseksi |url=http://www2.hs.fi/extrat/kulttuuri/rakennukset/rakennukset_c2.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629165346/http://www2.hs.fi/extrat/kulttuuri/rakennukset/rakennukset_c2.html |archive-date=29 June 2011 |access-date=5 February 2011 |website=Verkkoliite |publisher=[[Helsingin Sanomat]] |language=fi}}</ref>

There have been many plans to build highrise buildings in Helsinki since the 1920s when architect Eliel Saarinen proposed the 85-meter-tall Kalevalatalo in 1921, but few tall buildings were built until the 21st century.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Saarinen |first=Eliel |url=https://finna.fi/Record/mfa.5b0e8ef5-cd5f-4ced-90a0-0967a0fdb74a?lng=en-gb |title=Kalevalatalo, Munkkiniemi, Helsinki, ulkoperspektiivipiirustus, 1921 |archive-date=13 February 2024 |access-date=13 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240213095440/https://finna.fi/Record/mfa.5b0e8ef5-cd5f-4ced-90a0-0967a0fdb74a?lng=en-gb |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 1924 Oiva Kallio won Etu-Töölö competition with his plan (several 14- to 16-story buildings).<ref>{{Cite web |title=26.11.1927 Hakkapeliitta no 48, s. 11 |url=https://digi.kansalliskirjasto.fi/aikakausi/binding/1811962?page=11 |access-date=2024-02-13 |website=digi.kansalliskirjasto.fi |language=fi}}</ref> A 32-story city hall was also proposed.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pilvilinnoja – pöydälle jääneitä suunnitelmia |url=https://www.mfa.fi/kokoelmat/tietopaketit/pilvilinnoja-poydalle-jaaneita-suunnitelmia/ |access-date=2024-02-13 |website=Arkkitehtuurimuseo |language=fi}}</ref> Other plans of the 1930s included the 18-story "Kino" palace, a 17-story apartment building, and a 30-story<ref name="blog">{{Cite web |last=Murole|first=Pentti|date=7 April 2021 |title=Uskallanko kirjoittaa korkeasta rakentamisesta? |url=https://penttimurole.blogspot.com/2021/04/uskallanko-kirjoittaa-korkeasta.html |access-date=2024-03-08 |website=Pentti Murole blogi}}</ref> Stockmann building were proposed but only the 70-meter-tall 14-story [[Hotel Torni]] was built.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Etusivu - UTUPub |url=https://www.utupub.fi/ |access-date=2024-02-11 |website=www.utupub.fi}}</ref> (Hotel Torni was the tallest high-rise in Finland until 1976, when the 83-meter-tall [[Accountor Tower|Neste headquarters]] were completed in Espoo; Helsinki had rejected the tower.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Törmänen |first=Eeva |date=2022-12-17 |title=Suomen ensimmäinen pilvenpiirtäjä rakennettiin Espooseen 1976, koska Helsinki kieltäytyi – Raaden Hampaan rakentamiseen liittyi erikoinen vaatimus |url=https://www.tekniikkatalous.fi/uutiset/suomen-ensimmainen-pilvenpiirtaja-rakennettiin-espooseen-1976-koska-helsinki-kieltaytyi-raaden-hampaan-rakentamiseen-liittyi-erikoinen-vaatimus/d020f0eb-62df-4522-b977-d3130f358709 |access-date=2024-02-25 |website=Tekniikka&Talous |language=fi}}</ref>) Twin 30-story buildings were proposed in [[Pasila]] in the 1970s but were rejected.<ref name="blog"/> In 1990 a planned 104-meter-tall tower<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pasanen |first=Esko |date=1990-11-08 |title=Koneen tornikaavailut hämmästyttävät Elmua |url=https://www.hs.fi/kaupunki/art-2000003026040.html |access-date=2024-02-11 |website=Helsingin Sanomat |url-access=limited |language=fi}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Pasanen |first=Esko |date=1990-12-19 |title=Kiinteistövirasto: Koneen korkea torni sopii Elmun tontille |url-access=limited |url=https://www.hs.fi/kaupunki/art-2000003036227.html |access-date=2024-02-11 |website=Helsingin Sanomat |language=fi}}</ref> for the [[Kone]] company was also cancelled.

Highrise construction only started in the beginning of the 21st century, when the city decided to allow the construction of skyscrapers. Highrises were first built in [[Kalasatama]], a primarily-residential district built on [[Sörnäinen Harbour|a former container port]]. As of 2024, four residential towers have been completed: the 35-story, 282-apartment, {{convert|134|m|ft|adj=mid|-tall}} {{lang|fi|[[Majakka]]|italic=unset}} in 2019 (which is the [[List of tallest buildings in Finland|tallest building in Finland]]); the 32-story, 124-meter {{lang|fi|Loisto|italic=unset}} in 2021; the 31-story, 120-meter {{lang|fi|Lumo|italic=unset}} One<!--this part isn't Finnish but is part of the name of the building--> in 2022; and the 24-story, 98-meter {{lang|fi|Visio|italic=unset}} in 2023. The 26-story, 111-meter-tall office building {{lang|fi|Horisontti|italic=unset}} is to be completed in 2025, and three further towers are to be built in the complex.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-03-03 |title=Eteläiseen Helsinkiin nousee jälleen uusi tornitalo, 111-metrinen toimistopilvenpiirtäjä |url=https://yle.fi/a/74-20020877 |access-date=2024-02-25 |website=Yle Uutiset |language=fi}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-12-15 |title=Kalasataman harmaaksi haukutun Majakan viereen nousee kaksi valkoista tornitaloa – Poliitikot haluavat nähdä omin silmin, miltä talojen julkisivu näyttää |url=https://www.hs.fi/kaupunki/art-2000005933606.html |url-access=limited |access-date=2024-02-25 |website=Helsingin Sanomat |language=fi}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-09-13 |title=Kalasatama |url=https://www.hel.fi/fi/kaupunkiymparisto-ja-liikenne/kaupunkisuunnittelu-ja-rakentaminen/uutta-helsinkia-rakentamassa/kalasatama |access-date=2024-02-25 |website=Helsingin kaupunki |language=fi}}</ref>

Tall residential towers have also been built in the eastern district of [[Vuosaari]]: the 87-meter, 26-story [[Cirrus (Helsinki building)|Cirrus]] was completed in 2006, the 24-story, 85-meter-tall {{lang|fi|Hyperion|italic=unset}} was completed in 2023 and the 33-story, 288-apartment, 120-meter-tall {{lang|fi|Atlas|italic=unset}} is due to be completed in late 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Atlas ja Hyperion kurkottelevat pilviin |url=https://www.skanska.fi/tietoa-skanskasta/media/artikkelit/atlas-ja-hyperion-kurkottelevat-pilviin/ |access-date=2024-02-10 |website=www.skanska.fi |language=fi-FI}}</ref>

Skyscrapers have also be planned in the Pasila area, with a handful of over-100-meter-tall towers in various stages of planning or early construction as of 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Senaatti-kiinteistöt, Helsingin kaupunki ja Skanska allekirjoittivat sopimuksen Pasilan Länsitornialueen toteuttamisesta {{!}} Skanska Oy |url=https://www.sttinfo.fi/tiedote/69995077/senaatti-kiinteistot-helsingin-kaupunki-ja-skanska-allekirjoittivat-sopimuksen-pasilan-lansitornialueen-toteuttamisesta?publisherId=69819623 |access-date=2024-02-09 |website=www.sttinfo.fi |language=fi}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Siippainen |first=Aapo |date=2024-03-01 |title=130-metrisen tornitalon rakentaminen alkaa Pasilassa – vilkas pyöräbaana jää alle |url=https://www.helsinginuutiset.fi/paikalliset/6599643 |access-date=2024-03-01 |website=Helsingin Uutiset |language=fi}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-04-12 |title=Pilvenpiirtäjät {{!}} Helsingin Pasilaa odottaa mullistus: Kuvissa uudet tornit |url=https://www.hs.fi/kaupunki/art-2000009514127.html |url-access=limited |access-date=2024-02-13 |website=Helsingin Sanomat |language=fi}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-08-18 |title=Rakentaminen {{!}} Helsingin Messukeskus on saamassa uuden sisääntulohallin ja 33-kerroksisen hotellitornin |url=https://www.hs.fi/kaupunki/art-2000006606043.html |url-access=limited |access-date=2024-02-10 |website=Helsingin Sanomat |language=fi}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Hotelli Tornitalo |url=https://kerrokantasi.hel.fi/trainfactory/tZADj96QZLzvBq1Nym9kuf8vE6DU6NiH}}</ref>

In [[Jätkäsaari]], a 113-meter-tall hotel and a 24-story residential tower have been approved.<ref>{{Cite web |last=HS |first=Milka Valtanen |date=2019-06-19 |title=Jätkäsaareen nousemassa lähes 40 metriä Clarionia korkeampi tornihotelli |url=https://www.hs.fi/kaupunki/art-2000006148607.html |url-access=limited |access-date=2024-02-10 |website=Helsingin Sanomat |language=fi}}</ref> 121- and 93-meter-tall office buildings are planned to be built in [[Ruoholahti]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-02-06 |title=Kaupunkisuunnittelu {{!}} Helsinkiin halutaan uusi "tunnistettava maamerkki": 29-kerroksinen torni Ruoholahteen |url=https://www.hs.fi/kaupunki/art-2000010206996.html |url-access=limited |access-date=2024-02-10 |website=Helsingin Sanomat |language=fi}}</ref> Well over 200 high-rise buildings will be built in Helsinki in the 2020s.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-04-26 |title=Kaavat, kartat ja avustukset rakentamiseen |url=https://www.hel.fi/fi/kaupunkiymparisto-ja-liikenne/tontit-ja-rakentamisen-luvat/kaavat-kartat-ja-avustukset-rakentamiseen |access-date=2024-02-11 |website=Helsingin kaupunki |language=fi}}</ref>{{Failed verification|date=July 2024|reason=Ref is the city's website with links to maps and plans for constructors, would probably need some sort of query (which was not given) or manual investigative work.}}

[[File:11-07-29-helsinki-by-RalfR-149.jpg|thumb|upright|A [[Alexander II (statue in Helsinki)|statue]] of [[Alexander II of Russia]], the [[Grand Duke of Finland]], by [[Walter Runeberg]] and {{ill|Johannes Takanen|fi}} and erected in 1894. He was a well regarded [[emperor]] among the majority of [[Finns]] at the time.<ref>YLE: The statue of the Russian emperor arouses wonder among tourists – Why is it still in the middle of Helsinki? - [https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-10984227 Venäjän keisarin patsas herättää turisteissa ihmetystä – Miksi se on yhä keskellä Helsinkiä?] (in Finnish)</ref>]]

The Mayor of Helsinki is [[Daniel Sazonov]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.iltalehti.fi/politiikka/a/9b7fc178-57bd-4462-9d41-00f4bb6c9cd8|title=Tässä on Helsingin uusi pormestari|last=Ijäs|first=Johannes|work=[[Iltalehti]]|date=2 June 2025|access-date=8 June 2025|language=fi}}</ref>

At 53 percent of the population, women form a greater proportion of Helsinki residents than the national average of 51 percent. Helsinki's population density of 3,147 people per square kilometre makes Helsinki the most densely populated city in Finland. The life expectancy for men and women is slightly below the national averages: 75.1 years for men as compared to 75.7 years, 81.7 years for women as compared to 82.5 years.<ref>{{cite web |last=Tapani Valkonen ym. |date=17 December 2007 |title=Tutkimuksia 10/2007: Elinajanodotteen kehitys Helsingissä ja sen väestönosaryhmissä 1991–2005 |url=http://www.hel.fi/hel2/tietokeskus/julkaisut/pdf/07_12_17_tutk_10_Valkonen.pdf |access-date=30 December 2007 |publisher=Helsingin kaupunki, tietokeskus |archive-date=8 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220308095129/https://www.hel.fi/hel2/tietokeskus/julkaisut/pdf/07_12_17_tutk_10_valkonen.pdf }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Tilastolaitoksen historiaa |title=Tilasto |url=http://www.stat.fi/org/historia/elinajanodote.html |access-date=13 April 2010 |publisher=Stat.fi |archive-date=24 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100424015724/http://www.stat.fi/org/historia/elinajanodote.html }}</ref>

| title   = Population size 1980–2020<ref name="Stat-finland-population-38,000-persons"/>

| label_type = Year

| data_type   = Population

| bar_width = 47

| width_units = em

| label1 = 1980

| label2 = 1985

| label3 = 1990

| label4 = 1995

| label5 = 2000

| label6 = 2005

| label7 = 2010

| label8 = 2015

| label9 = 2020  

| data_max = 665000

| data1 = 483036

| data2 = 485795

| data3 = 492400

| data4 = 525031

| data5 = 555474

| data6 = 560905

| data7 = 588549

| data8 = 628208

| data9 = 656920

|direction=row

|caption = Population by<br/>mother tongue (2024)<ref name="statistics-finland-population-2024-final"/>

|value1 = 74.1

|value4 = 2.2

|value5 = 1.6

|value6 = 1.5

|value7 = 1.4

|value8 = 10.6

In addition, the number of people who speak [[Sámi languages|Sámi]], Finland's third official language, was only {{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/native language Sami|Helsinki }}}} persons ({{Percentage|sigfig = 1|{{Data Finland municipality/native language Sami|Helsinki}}|{{Data Finland municipality/native language total|Helsinki}}}}) of the population. Although few people speak the Sámi languages as their mother tongue, there are 527 people of Sami origin.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.stat.fi/tietotrendit/blogit/2021/oulusta-on-tullut-suomen-suurin-saamelaiskyla/ |title=Oulusta tullut Suomen suurin saamelaiskylä – Helsinki on viides &#124; Tieto&trendit |language=fi|publisher=Stat.fi |date= |access-date=5 May 2022}}</ref> There are 93 Tatar speakers in Helsinki, almost half of the total number of Tatar speakers in Finland.

[[Helsinki slang]] is a regional dialect of the city. Historically, it was a combination of Finnish and Swedish, with influences from Russian and German. Nowadays it has a strong English influence. Today, however, Finnish is the common language of communication between Finnish speakers, Swedish speakers and speakers of other languages ([[New Finn]]s) in everyday public life between strangers.<ref>{{cite web|title=Immigrants Learning Swedish over Finnish Run into Problems|date=4 November 2010 |url=https://yle.fi/news/3-5664606}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Helsingfors blir allt mer flerspråkigt: "Svårt att klara sig på svenska"|url=https://svenska.yle.fi/a/7-1316759}}</ref>

The city of Helsinki and the national authorities have specifically targeted Swedish speakers. Knowledge of Finnish is essential in business and is usually a basic requirement in the labour market.<ref name="yle.fi">{{cite web |title=Immigrants Learning Swedish over Finnish Run into Problems &#124; News &#124; YLE Uutiset |date=4 November 2010 |url=http://yle.fi/uutiset/immigrants_learning_swedish_over_finnish_run_into_problems/2114684 |access-date=16 September 2011 |publisher=yle.fi}}</ref> Swedish speakers are most concentrated in the southern parts of the city. The district with the most Swedish speakers is [[Ullanlinna|Ullanlinna/Ulrikasborg]] with 2,098 (19.6%), while [[Kyläsaari|Byholmen]] is the only district where Swedish is the majority language (at 82.8%). The number of Swedish speakers decreased every year until 2008, and has increased every year since then. Since 2007, the number of Swedish speakers has increased by 2,351.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hbl.fi/artikel/har-bor-de-svensksprakiga-i-helsingfors-se-hur-det-ser-ut-i-ditt-omrade/ |title=Här bor de svenskspråkiga i Helsingfors – Se hur det ser ut i ditt område |publisher=Hbl.fi |date= 20 May 2018|access-date=5 May 2022}}</ref> In 1890, Finnish speakers overtook Swedish speakers to become the majority of the city's population.<ref>{{cite web |title=Helsingin nimistön vaiheita |url=https://kaino.kotus.fi/www/verkkojulkaisut/julk125/helsinki/ |access-date=13 April 2010 |publisher=Kotimaisten kielten tutkimuskeskus}}</ref> At that time, the population of Helsinki was 61,530.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kysy.fi &#124; Helsingin kaupunginkirjasto |url=http://igs.kirjastot.fi/iGS/kysymykset/haku.aspx?word=Viipuri |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120504201358/http://igs.kirjastot.fi/iGS/kysymykset/haku.aspx?word=Viipuri |archive-date=4 May 2012 |access-date=17 February 2014 |publisher=Igs.kirjastot.fi |language=fi}}</ref>

Foreign languages were spoken by {{Formatnum: {{pct|{{Data Finland municipality/native language other|Helsinki}}|{{Data Finland municipality/native language total|Helsinki}}|1}}}} of the population.<ref name="statistics-finland-population-2024-final"/> As [[English language|English]] and [[Swedish language|Swedish]] are compulsory school subjects, functional bilingualism or trilingualism acquired through language studies is not uncommon. At least 160 different languages are spoken in Helsinki. {{As of|2024}}, the most common foreign languages are [[Russian language|Russian]] (3.1%), [[Somali language|Somali]] (2.2%), [[Arabic]] (1.6%), [[English language|English]] (1.5%), [[Estonian language|Estonian]] (1.4%), [[Chinese language|Chinese]] (0.7%) and [[Persian language|Persian]] (0.7%).<ref name="statistics-finland-population-2024-final"/>

|colspan="3"|'''Population by country of birth (2024)'''<ref name="statistics-finland-population-2024-final"/>

! Nationality || Population || %

|{{flag|Finland}} || 558,876|| 77.9

|{{flag|Soviet Union}} || 14,604 || 2.1

|{{flag|Estonia}} || 9,979 || 1.5

|{{flag|Somalia}} || 7,873 || 1.2

|{{flag|Iraq}} || 6,377 || 0.9

|{{flag|China}} || 4,635 || 0.7

|{{flag|Russia}} || 4,621 || 0.7

|{{flag|Sweden}} || 3,658 || 0.5

|{{flag|Philippines}} || 3,488 || 0.5

|{{flag|India}} || 3,321 || 0.5

|Other || 63,499 || 9.3

There are around 30 mosques in the Helsinki region. Many linguistic and ethnic groups such as [[Bangladeshis]], [[Kosovo Albanians|Kosovars]], [[Kurds]] and [[Bosniaks]] have established their own mosques.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kielimoskeija: Kallion moskeijassa lapsista kasvatetaan pakistanilaisia |url=http://yle.fi/uutiset/kielimoskeija_kallion_moskeijassa_lapsista_kasvatetaan_pakistanilaisia/8374875 |website=Yle Uutiset|date=28 October 2015 }}</ref> The largest congregation in both Helsinki and Finland is the {{ill|Helsinki Islamic Center|fi|Helsinki Islam Keskus}}, established in 1995. It has over 2,800 members {{as of|2017|lc=yes}}, and it received €24,131 in government assistance.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://minedu.fi/documents/1410845/4935909/2018+uskonnolliset+yhdyskunnat.pdf/d311612c-ac42-4181-901c-41f2e4b4a8c7/2018+uskonnolliset+yhdyskunnat.pdf.pdf|title=OKM - Avustukset rekisteröityjen uskonnollisten yhdyskuntien toimintaan v. 2018|website=Minedu.fi|access-date=16 December 2021}}</ref>

In 2015, imam {{ill|Anas Hajar|fi|Anas Hajjar}} estimated that on big celebrations around 10,000 Muslims visit mosques.<ref>{{cite web |title=Vaikuttajaimaami: "Pääkaupunkiseudulle tarvitaan jopa viisi suurmoskeijaa" |url=http://yle.fi/uutiset/vaikuttajaimaami_paakaupunkiseudulle_tarvitaan_jopa_viisi_suurmoskeijaa/8412539 |website=Yle Uutiset|date=28 October 2015 }}</ref> In 2004, it was estimated that there were 8,000 Muslims in Helsinki, 1.5% of the population at the time.<ref>{{cite web |date=19 February 2004 |title=Tietokulma &#124; Islam Helsingissä |url=https://www.hs.fi/kaupunki/art-2000004203725.html |website=Helsingin Sanomat}}</ref> The number of people in Helsinki with a background from Muslim majority countries was nearly 41,000 as of 2021, representing over 6% of the population.

[[Helsinki Art Museum]] will in 2020 launch the Helsinki Biennial, which will bring art to maritime Helsinki – in its first year to the island of [[Vallisaari]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Front page|url=https://helsinkibiennaali.fi/en/|access-date=9 November 2021|website=Helsinki Biennial}}</ref>

Helsinki has three major theatres: The [[Finnish National Theatre]], the [[Helsinki City Theatre]], and the [[Swedish Theatre]] (''Svenska Teatern''). Other notable theatres in the city include the [[Alexander Theatre]], ''{{ill|Q-teatteri|fi}}'', {{ill|Savoy Theatre (Helsinki)|fi|Savoy-teatteri|lt=Savoy Theatre}}, {{ill|KOM-theatre|fi|KOM-teatteri}}, and ''{{ill|Teatteri Jurkka|fi}}''.

Finland's national public-broadcasting institution [[Yle]] operates five television channels and thirteen radio channels in both national languages. Yle is headquartered in the neighbourhood of [[Pasila]]. All TV channels are broadcast [[Digital television|digitally]], both terrestrially and on cable. Yle's studio area houses the {{convert|146|m|ft|adj=on}} high television and radio tower, [[Yle Transmission Tower]] (''Pasilan linkkitorni''),<ref>{{cite web |url = http://skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=292 |title = Pasilan linkkitorni – SkyscraperPage.com |access-date  = 29 January 2022}}</ref> which is the third tallest structure in Helsinki and one of Helsinki's most famous landmarks, from the top of which, in good weather, can be seen even as far as [[Tallinn]] over the Gulf of Finland.<ref>{{cite web| url= http://yle.fi/uutiset/3-8442453 | title= Pasilan linkkitorni tyhjeni, mihin katosivat maankuulun maamerkin lautasantennit? | work= [[Yle]]| date=10 November 2015 |access-date = 29 January 2022 | language = fi}}</ref>

Helsinki was already known in the 18th century for its abundant number of [[inn]]s and [[pub]]s, where both locals and those who landed in the harbor were offered plenty of [[Alcoholic drink|alcoholic beverages]].<ref name="alcohol">{{cite web|url=https://www.hs.fi/kaupunki/helsinki/art-2000008520179.html|title=1700-luvun Helsingissä ryypättiin tilanteissa, joita nykyihmisen on vaikea käsittää|trans-title=In 18th-century Helsinki, drinking was done in situations that are difficult for modern man to comprehend|first=Tuomo|last=Väliaho|work=[[Helsingin Sanomat]]|date=26 January 2022|access-date=29 January 2022|language=fi}}</ref> At that time, taxes on the sale of alcohol were a very significant source of income for Helsinki, and one of the most important sellers of alcohol was {{ill|Johan Sederholm|fr|Johan Sederholm}} (1722–1805), a trade councilor who attracted rural [[merchant]]s with alcohol and made good deals.<ref name="alcohol"/> Gradually, a new kind of beverage culture began to grow in the next century, and as early as 1852, the first [[Coffeehouse|café]] of Finland, [[Café Ekberg]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ekberg.fi/en/|title=Home page|website=Ekberg.fi|access-date=29 January 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.helsinginuutiset.fi/paikalliset/1556741|title=Tässä ovat Helsingin kahvilakisan voittaja ja yli sata muuta suosikkia|first=Marketta|last=Karjalainen|work=[[Helsingin Uutiset]]|date=26 November 2016|access-date=29 January 2022|language=fi}}</ref> was established by confectioner {{ill|Fredrik Ekberg|fi|Fredrik Ekberg}} (1825–1891) after attending his studies in [[St. Petersburg]]. Ekberg has also been said to have created Finland's "national [[pastry]] tradition".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://kansallisbiografia.fi/kansallisbiografia/henkilo/5689|title=Ekberg, Fredrik (1825 - 1891)|publisher=[[The National Biography of Finland]]|access-date=29 January 2022|language=fi}}</ref> At first, café culture was only a prerogative of sophisticated [[elite]], when it recently began to take shape as the right of every man.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ruokatieto.fi/ruokakasvatus/hyva-tavaton-ruoka-ja-tapakulttuuri/mista-ruokakulttuuri-koostuu/maakuntien-ruokaperinteita|title=Maakuntien ruokaperinteitä|work=Ruokatieto|access-date=29 January 2022|language=fi}}</ref> Today, there are several hundred cafés in Helsinki, the most notable of which is [[Cafe Regatta]], which is very popular with foreign tourists.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.myhelsinki.fi/eat-and-drink/caf%C3%A9s/quirky-caf%C3%A9s-that-the-locals-love|title=Quirky cafés that the locals love|work=My Helsinki|access-date=29 January 2022|archive-date=29 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220129082454/https://www.myhelsinki.fi/eat-and-drink/caf%C3%A9s/quirky-caf%C3%A9s-that-the-locals-love|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.tripadvisor.fi/Restaurant_Review-g189934-d1596888-Reviews-Cafe_Regatta-Helsinki_Southern_Finland.html| title= Cafe Regatta | website= [[Tripadvisor]]| access-date = 29 January 2022 | language = fi}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.city.fi/opas/cityn+suuri+ravintolaaanestys+2014+helsinki/8003| title= Cityn Suuri Ravintolaäänestys 2014: Helsinki| work= [[City (magazine)|City]]| date= 7 June 2014 | access-date = 29 January 2022 | language = fi}}</ref><ref name="guardian-dunlop"/>

As an important [[port city]] on the Baltic Sea, Helsinki has long been known for its [[Fish as food|fish food]], and it has recently started to become one of the leading fish food capitals in [[Northern Europe]].<ref name="guardian-dunlop"/><ref name="kosmos">{{cite web|url=http://www.ravintolakosmos.fi/|title=Helsingin ruokakulttuuri elää voimakasta nousukautta|work=Ravintola Kosmos|access-date=29 January 2022|language=fi}}</ref> Helsinki's [[Market Square, Helsinki|Market Square]] is especially known for its traditional [[herring]] market, which has been organized since 1743.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://silakkamarkkinat.fi/|title=Stadin Silakkamarkkinat|website=Silakkamarkkinat.fi|access-date=29 January 2022|language=fi}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.stadissa.fi/tapahtumat/32718/stadin-silakkamarkkinat|title=Stadin Silakkamarkkinat|website=Stadissa.fi|access-date=29 January 2022|language=fi}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hs.fi/nyt/art-2000006289548.html|title=Kala maistuisi yhä useammalle, mutta kalaravintolat ovat Helsingissä harvassa – kriitikko söi niistä kolmessa|work=[[Helsingin Sanomat]]|first=Anna|last=Paljakka|date=30 October 2019|access-date=29 January 2022|language=fi}}</ref><ref name="helsinki-food"/> [[Salmon]] is also a typical Helsinki fish dish, both fried and [[Fish soup|souped]].<ref name="guardian-dunlop"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hs.fi/ruoka/art-2000008198626.html|title=Perinteistä lohikeittoa tarjoillaan ravintoloissa ympäri Suomen, mutta valmistuksessa ontuu yksi vaihe – HS testasi kolmen ravintolan keiton ja löysi erinomaisen|work=[[Helsingin Sanomat]]|first=Arda|last=Yildirim|date=4 October 2021|access-date=29 January 2022|language=fi}}</ref> The most prestigious restaurants specializing in [[seafood]] include Restaurant Fisken på Disken.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fisken.fi/en/fisken-pa-disken/|title=Seafood bar and restaurant|publisher=Fisken på Disken|access-date=29 January 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.helsinginuutiset.fi/paikalliset/4308497|title=Tässä ovat kaupungin parhaat kala-ravintolat – Katso asiantuntijoiden vinkit|work=[[Helsingin Uutiset]]|first=Sakari|last=Nupponen|date=29 September 2021|access-date=29 January 2022|language=fi}}</ref>

Helsinki is currently experiencing a period of booming [[food culture]], and it has developed into an internationally acclaimed food city, receiving recognition for promoting food culture;<ref name="helsinki-food"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hs.fi/ruoka/art-2000002774443.html|title=Helsingin ruokakulttuuri palkittiin|work=[[Helsingin Sanomat]]|first=Johanna|last=Tikkanen|date=3 November 2014|access-date=29 January 2022|language=fi}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.city.fi/kulttuuri/syomaan+ruokakulttuurin+asiantuntija+milla+visuri+helsingissa+kaikki+on+mahdollista/10950|title=Syömään! Ruokakulttuurin asiantuntija Milla Visuri: "Helsingissä kaikki on mahdollista"|work=City|first=Tiia|last=Rantanen|date=20 June 2017|access-date=29 January 2022|language=fi}}</ref> the city's gastronomy is considered unique, because many restaurants offers, in addition to fish dishes, [[reindeer]], [[Moose|elk]], and even [[bear]] meat.<ref name="guardian-dunlop">{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2025/jul/16/best-restaurants-in-helsinki-finland|title=Foodie Finland: the best restaurants and cafes in Helsinki|first=Fiona|last=Dunlop|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=16 July 2025|access-date=17 July 2025}}</ref> The local food culture is made up of cuisines from around the world and the fusions they form. Various [[Asian cuisine|Asian restaurants]] such as [[Chinese cuisine|Chinese]], [[Thai cuisine|Thai]], [[Indian cuisine|Indian]] and [[Nepalese cuisine|Nepalese]] are particularly prominent in Helsinki's cityscape, but over the past couple of years, restaurants serving [[Vietnamese cuisine|Vietnamese]] food have been very popular.<ref name="kosmos"/> [[Sushi]] [[restaurant buffets]] have also made their way into the city's restaurant offerings in one fell swoop.<ref name="kosmos"/> The third prominent trend is restaurants serving pure local food, many of which specialize primarily in serving pure [[Nordic cuisine|Nordic flavors]].<ref name="kosmos"/> In past years [[Middle Eastern cuisine|Middle Eastern]] food culture rose in its popularity. Especially Helsinki's eastern part offers many different options for Middle Eastern cuisine lovers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.myhelsinki.fi/en/eat-and-drink/restaurants/journey-to-east-helsinki-to-discover-middle-eastern-and-caucasian-food|title=Journey to East Helsinki to discover Middle Eastern and Caucasian food|publisher=My Helsinki|access-date=31 January 2023|language=fi|archive-date=31 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230131220227/https://www.myhelsinki.fi/en/eat-and-drink/restaurants/journey-to-east-helsinki-to-discover-middle-eastern-and-caucasian-food|url-status=dead}}</ref> There is also some touches of [[Russian cuisine]], one of which is the Finnish version of ''[[blini]]s'', a thick [[pancake]]s that are usually fried in a cast-iron pan.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.myhelsinki.fi/en/eat-and-drink/restaurants/top-russian-restaurants-in-helsinki|title=Top Russian restaurants in Helsinki|publisher=My Helsinki|access-date=11 February 2022|language=fi|archive-date=11 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230211191126/https://www.myhelsinki.fi/en/eat-and-drink/restaurants/top-russian-restaurants-in-helsinki}}</ref> One of the most significant food culture venues in Helsinki is the general public area known as [[Teurastamo]] in the [[Hermanni (Helsinki)|Hermanni]] district, which operated as the city's [[slaughterhouse]] between 1933 and 1992, to which the name of the place also refers.<ref name="helsinki-food"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://teurastamo.com/en/|title=Home - Teurastamo|website=Teurastamo.com|access-date=29 January 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.myhelsinki.fi/en/see-and-do/sights/teurastamo|title=Teurastamo|publisher=My Helsinki|access-date=29 January 2022}}</ref>

A nationwide food carnival called Restaurant Day (''Ravintolapäivä'') has begun in Helsinki and has traditionally been celebrated since May 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.kansanuutiset.fi/artikkeli/2797640-ravintolapaivan-avainsana-on-vapaus|title=Ravintolapäivän avainsana on vapaus|work=[[Kansan Uutiset]]|date=18 May 2012|access-date=29 January 2022|language=fi}}</ref> The purpose of the day is to have fun, share new food experiences and enjoy the common environment with the group.<ref name="helsinki-food">{{cite web|url=https://www.hel.fi/helsinki/fi/kulttuuri-ja-vapaa-aika/kaupunkikulttuuri/herkuttele-helsingissa/|title=Herkuttele Helsingissä|publisher=City of Helsinki|access-date=29 January 2022|language=fi|archive-date=29 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220129080959/https://www.hel.fi/helsinki/fi/kulttuuri-ja-vapaa-aika/kaupunkikulttuuri/herkuttele-helsingissa/}}</ref>

[[Vappu]] is an annual carnival for students and workers on 1 May. The last week of June marks the [[Helsinki Pride]] [[human rights]] event, which was attended by 100,000 marchers in 2018.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-10282658 | title = Helsingin Pride-kulkueessa jopa 100 000 ihmistä – seurasimme hetki hetkeltä| work = [[YLE]] | date = 30 July 2018| access-date = 27 January 2021 | language = fi }}</ref>

Helsinki was elected host-city of the 1940 Summer Olympics, but due to World War II they were canceled. Instead Helsinki was the host of the 1952 Summer Olympics. The Olympics were a landmark event symbolically and economically for Helsinki and Finland as a whole that was recovering from the winter war and the continuation war fought with the Soviet Union. Helsinki was also in 1983 the first city to host the World Championships in Athletics. Helsinki also hosted the event in 2005, thus also becoming the first city to host the Championships for a second time. The [[Helsinki City Marathon]] has been held in the city every year since 1981, usually in August.<ref>[https://helsinkicityrunningday.fi/helsinkimaraton/ HELSINKI CITY MARATON 40-VUOTIS JUHLAMITALI – Helsinki City Running Day] (in Finnish)</ref> A [[Formula 3000]] race through the city streets was held on 25 May 1997. In 2009 Helsinki was host of the [[European Figure Skating Championships]], and in 2017 it hosted [[World Figure Skating Championships]]. The city will host the 2021 [[FIBA Under-19 Basketball World Cup]].  [[American football]] and the [[Vaahteraliiga]] has a strong tradition in the city dating back to the early 1980s; the [[Helsinki Roosters]] are the only Finnish team to have participated in the Vaahteraliiga since its inception in 1980 and are by far the most successful American football team in Finnish history.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://vaahteraliiga.fi/roosters/|title=Helsinki Roosters|publisher=[[Vaahteraliiga]]|access-date=14 July 2025|language=fi}}</ref>

A majority of intercity passenger services in Finland originate or terminate at the Helsinki Central Railway Station. All major cities in Finland are connected to Helsinki by rail service, with departures several times a day. The most frequent service is to Tampere, with more than 25 intercity departures per day {{as of|2017|lc=yes}}.

Air traffic is handled primarily from [[Helsinki Airport]], located approximately {{convert|17|km|mi|0}} north of Helsinki's downtown area, in the neighbouring city of [[Vantaa]]. Helsinki's own airport, [[Helsinki-Malmi Airport]], is mainly used for general and private aviation. Charter flights are available from [[Hernesaari Heliport]].

[[Trams in Helsinki|Helsinki's tram system]] dates back to 1891 when the first [[horse-drawn]] trams were introduced; the system was electrified in 1900.<ref>{{cite book| title= Otavan suuri ensyklopedia, 7. osa (Optiikka–Revontulet) | page= 5563 | chapter= Raitioliikenne | publisher= Otava | year= 1973 | isbn= 951-1-02232-6 | language= fi}}</ref> {{As of|2024|01}}, the system consists of 14 routes covering the inner part of the city center and [[Helsinki light rail line 15|one]] newer [[light rail]] style line connecting [[Keilaniemi]] in Espoo with [[Itäkeskus]] in eastern Helsinki. The length of the network is [[Planned tram projects in Helsinki|planned to more than double]] during the 2020s and 2030s compared to 2021, with major projects including [[Vantaa light rail]], the [[Crown Bridges]] link to the island of [[Laajasalo]] and the [[West Helsinki light rail]] project connecting [[Kannelmäki]] to the city center.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Salomaa |first=Marja |date=2021-05-29 |title=Helsingin ratikkavallankumous nostaa asuntojen hintoja lukuisilla alueilla, asuntosijoittaja vinkkaa sijoituskohteesta – "Hymyilyttää" |url=https://www.hs.fi/kaupunki/art-2000007985482.html |access-date=2023-08-02 |website=Helsingin Sanomat |language=fi}}</ref> Construction work on the new tram as the number line 13 (Nihti–Kalasatama–Vallilanlaakso–Pasila) has begun in May 2020, and the line is scheduled for completion in 2024.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.helsinginuutiset.fi/paikalliset/2718947|title=Ratikka kulkee Nihdistä Pasilaan vuonna 2024|work=Helsingin Uutiset|date=25 August 2020| access-date = 30 December 2020 | language = fi}}</ref>

The [[Helsinki commuter rail|commuter rail system]] includes purpose-built double track for local services in two rail corridors along intercity railways, and the [[Ring Rail Line]], an urban double-track railway with a station at the [[Helsinki Airport]] in Vantaa. Electric operation of commuter trains was first begun in 1969, and the system has been gradually expanded since. 15 different services are operated {{as of|2017|lc=yes}}, some extending outside of the Helsinki region. The frequent services run at a 10-minute headway in peak traffic.

Helsinki has no official sister cities except [[Beijing]], China. On July 14, 2006, Beijing and Helsinki officially became sister cities. In October 2019, the two cities signed the Work Plan for Promoting the Cooperation between Beijing and Helsinki (19-2023).<ref>{{Cite web |title=City Profile |url=https://wb.beijing.gov.cn/en/sister_cities/sister_cities_of_beijing/european/european_helsinki/european_helsinki_city_profile/202007/t20200731_1968359.html#:~:text=%5BRelations%20with%20Beijing%5D%20On%20July,Helsinki%20(2019-2023) |access-date=2024-02-25 |website=wb.beijing.gov.cn}}</ref><ref name="pc" /><ref>{{cite web |last=Yan |first=Yangtze |date=14 July 2006 |title=Beijing, Helsinki forge sister city relationship |url=http://www.gov.cn/misc/2006-07/14/content_336339.htm |access-date=5 August 2013 |website=Gov.cn |publisher=Chinese Government |archive-date=9 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191009105714/http://www.gov.cn/misc/2006-07/14/content_336339.htm }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Sister Cities |url=http://www.ebeijing.gov.cn/Sister_Cities/Sister_City/ |access-date=23 June 2009 |publisher=Beijing Municipal Government |archive-date=16 February 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100216015454/http://www.ebeijing.gov.cn/Sister_Cities/Sister_City/ }}</ref> In addition, the city has a special partnership relation with:

Until 2022, Helsinki also had an international partnership with the Russian cities of [[Moscow]] and [[Saint Petersburg]], which was suspended after [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Helsinki varautuu Ukrainan sodan vaikutuksiin |url=https://www.hel.fi/fi/uutiset/helsinki-varautuu-ukrainan-sodan-vaikutuksiin |website=Helsingin kaupunki|date=10 October 2022 }}</ref>

* {{slink|Timeline of Helsinki|Bibliography}}

[[Category:Capitals in Europe]]