Student life in Helsinki

The biggest student holiday — a month of sitsit, beer-pong, parties on Kuppala yard, statue cappings, student overalls, white student caps, munkki (donuts), and sima (mead).

An academic dinner party: three-course meal, traditional songs from Kannunvalajas red songbook, and plenty of 'Helan går!'. Tip: don't pre-drink; eat beforehand.

Pre-Christmas parties starting in November. Gingerbread, glögi, ugly Christmas sweaters, Secret Santa. CISSI often visits the Porvoo Christmas Market.

Student sledding competition at Ullanlinnanmäki in Kaivopuisto. Creative sleds, laskiaispulla, minttukaakao.

Fancier sitsit — three courses, wine, shots, konjakkikorvat worn during dessert. Followed by sillis ('herring breakfast') the next morning.

The main student housing foundation in the capital area. Mostly unfurnished; rent usually includes water, internet, and electricity.

Furnished apartments, including short-term. Several properties in Töölö and the city centre.

Owned by HYY (the Student Union). Shared or studio apartments in Kamppi. HYY members get 10% off rent.

Furnished shared and studio apartments in Koskela with good city-centre connections.

City of Helsinki public housing.

Furnished short- and long-term rentals.

Big Finnish rental listings site (also for buying).

Another large rental listings site.

Private rental operator.

Private rental operator.

Student Health Service — free for degree students (fee for non-EU). Covers physical and mental health.

Free counselling in English, Finnish, or Swedish. Crisis helpline available in English.

Peer support and group chats for students. Focus on study skills and daily life.

Backup for emergencies when FSHS can't help. Regular visit ~€33, ER ~€50–€60. Fees capped at €300–400/year.

Yliopiston Apteekki at Mannerheimintie 96, 00250 Helsinki — the only 24/7 pharmacy in Helsinki.

Under-25s living in Helsinki get free contraception. Drop-in clinics in Kalasatama and Vuosaari.

Skin and Allergy Hospital Venereal Disease Clinic (Meilahdentie 2) — free STI testing and PrEP (waitlist ~6 months).

Prepaid and monthly plans. Good roaming options.

Prepaid and monthly. Monthly plans need a Finnish bank ID and credit history.

Wide range of prepaid packages, easy to buy at R-kioski. Cheapest data ~€19.90/month (DNA Super Prepaid).

DNA-owned budget operator — notably cheaper than the big three.

Public transport: routes and tickets across Helsinki region.

Digital student card for discounts — including Unicafe prices.

Send money to friends using just phone numbers — used everywhere in Finland.

Buy unsold food from restaurants and stores at heavy discounts.

Quick online account while waiting for your Finnish bank — good for transfers.

Buy tickets to student events and organisation memberships.

Official info hub about moving to and living in Finland — permits, jobs, housing.

Finland's biggest second-hand marketplace — cheap/free furniture and more.

Book hairdressers and barbers — student-budget prices and reviews.

Cheapest taxi service in Finland.

Holds all your loyalty and membership cards (UFF, Kierrätyskeskus, etc.) in one app.

Student sports centres in Kluuvi, Kumpula, Meilahti, Otaniemi, and Töölö. Gym access, group classes, ball sports. First session is free.

Swimming pools, outdoor gyms, tennis, skateboarding, and more. Free or very cheap.

Most public ice rinks are free to access in winter; some rent skates for a fee.

Central Katajanokka. Two pools (sea + heated 27°C) and 5 saunas (3 gender-neutral). Student tickets €13–€16.

Public volunteer-run sauna in Verkkosaari/Mustikkamaa — free, you chop wood and light the fire yourself. Gender neutral, swimsuits optional.

Legendary Kallio sauna running since the 1920s. Three saunas, cool down on the street. Student price €13.

The postcard view of Helsinki. The cathedral steps are a classic meeting spot and sunny-day hangout. National Library is next door.

Waterfront market — boats leave here to Suomenlinna, Vallisaari, and Korkeasaari Zoo. Watch your food: seagulls are aggressive.

Central shopping street and park, inspired by Paris's Champs-Élysées.

Uspenski Cathedral, Temppeliaukio (Rock Church), and Johanneksenkirkko are all worth a visit.

Historic sea fortress — UNESCO World Heritage. Free with your HSL monthly AB(C) ticket (boat from Market Square).

Iconic monument — pair it with a hot chocolate and cinnamon bun at nearby Café Regatta.

Owned by UH — free outdoor garden near the city centre. Winter Garden is the indoor version.

Lively nightlife, chill vibes. Featured in the Finnish TV show Aikuiset (Adults).

Peaceful island, walkable in a loop (~10 km). Beaches (watch for geese).

Home of the Iittala + Arabia design store. Check the sale section in the back; small design museum on the 8th floor.

Brightly coloured wooden houses — a mood-lifter during the winter blues.

Indie shops, Sinebrychoff Park, and Kaffa Roastery.

Nature island day trip — boat from Market Square.

Open-air museum island, friendly squirrels, lovely in summer.

'Sheep Island' — reach it via the Vanhankaupunginkoski nature reserve. Sheep roam in summer.

Classic coastal stroll and city-centre beach vibe.

Beach island — boat required, worth the trip.

Helsinki's largest green oasis ('Central Park') — not actually central, but easy by transit.

Peaceful Alppila park near Linnanmäki — rocks for picnics and sunsets.

Stunning in bloom; lovely the rest of the year too.

Hiking paradise in Espoo, reachable by public transit.

Another nearby national park in Sipoo.

Finland's national art museum — classic Finnish art.

Contemporary art with a famous Lasipalatsi underground gallery.

Studio-museum of Akseli Gallen-Kallela by the sea in Espoo.

Free! Located right on Senate Square.

Closed for renovation until 2027.

~€75 for a year's access to 300+ museums across Finland.

Named the best library in the world in 2019. A 'living room' for Helsinki with study spaces, musical instruments, a recording studio, game rooms, 3D printers, sewing machines, and even a cinema. Open on Sundays when the university is closed. Book facilities via Varaamo.

Known for its beautiful reading room — a classic study spot.

Neighbourhood library in lively Kallio with events and a relaxed vibe.

Central library with book lovers' bonus: sometimes free old books on the ground floor.

Get a public library card with a photo ID, Finnish personal identity number, and an address. The card works in all Helmet libraries (Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa). Request books online via helmet.fi.

Student-priced lunch (~€2.95) across the city. Try Musiikkitalo branch to mix it up.

Vietnamese fusion — banh-mi and pho. Weekend specials; Chjoko nearby for ice cream.

Some of the best pizza in Helsinki. Vegan and gluten-free options at all 3 locations.

First certified Neapolitan pizzeria in Finland. Pricier; reserve a table.

Poke bowls, burgers, pizza, risotto, salads. Good drink deals Sun–Thu.

Finnish fast food. VEKE Soy Tortillas + cheapest veggie burgers (€1.50).

All-day breakfast — Aussie/Belgian/Finnish. Friday open mic.

Basic Vietnamese with a twist: Shanghai tacos. Go at lunch or afternoon special.

Japanese noodles made in-house. Kimchi Cheese Vege + Laksa Curry are favourites. Near Porthania.

Cool branding, influencer-approved tacos.

Buffet lunch: sushi + warm dishes for €14.90. Right next to campus.

Hidden gem at Hietaniemi marketplace — breakfast (~€15), weekend brunch (~€25).

Japanese soul food + unique cocktails for something special.

'Simply good af sandwiches.'

Cool brews in Viikki — worth the trek.

Iconic Helsinki café near Sibelius Monument. Hot chocolate and cinnamon buns, mostly outdoor seating.

Töölö and Otaniemi. Latin-Nordic Roastery coffee, empanadas, homemade gelato. No laptops on Sundays.

Romantic Kamppi café. Try the off-menu Kinder Bueno latte.

Lofi retro study spot in Pasila — use stairs in the neighbouring K-market to reach it.

Spacious Punavuori basement. Buy beans, study, collect the free stickers.

Bright Sörnäinen café. Good Life Coffee beans, almond croissants. Arrive early.

Top-tier espresso and hot cocoa in Kamppi. Big windows for people-watching.

Best matcha in Helsinki. Grab it 'mukaan' (to-go) — the place is tiny.

Popular family-owned café in Ullanlinna. Cream-cheese muffins + lattes. Get there early.

'Magic Lamp' in Kallio — no signage, opens on the owner's whim. Cash or MobilePay only.

Japanese-style shoreline café in Hakaniemi. Silence required, no computers. Thu–Sat.

Historic villa café north of Arabia. Unlimited tea and coffee, homemade quiches. Sundays 12–16 only.

Tiny Kallio bar — cheapest 1-litre beer in town. Most CISSI pub nights happen here!

Cozy Töölö bar with a living-room feel. Dog-friendly.

Very popular — often fully packed. Great food and weekend brunch, terrace in summer.

Cozy Vallila pub with craft beer. Dog-friendly.

Lovely wine bar opposite Femton.

Bar + restaurant + cultural hub + movie theatre in a Töölö tram hall.

Stand-up, exhibitions, DJ nights, live music in Kallio.

Central tap room on Kaisaniemenkatu for small Finnish breweries. Board games.

Kallio craft-beer bar with happy hour and 'craft of the week'.

'Most dog-friendly bar in Helsinki' — huge board game library.

Coffee late into the evening; after-work prices on drinks. Study and party combo.

Queer bar in Kamppi — drag shows, DJ, bingo, trivia, karaoke.

Topelia building — student discount card (€5 one-off) for cheap drinks.

Creative cocktail bar — pricier but amazing drinks.

Cluster of bars/clubs in Hämeentie: Siltanen, Kaiku, Kuudes linja, Post Bar, Koistinen.

Cheapest stores. Get the free Lidl app for discounts.

S-Group's big-box store — cheapest of the S-chains. Clothes, electronics, groceries.

Customer-owned co-op (S-Group). Same prices across all locations.

Independent retailers — prices vary; smaller usually = more expensive. Use K-Plussa card.

Big independent supermarket with international products not in K/S.

Asian groceries.

Latin American groceries.

Vintage and regular clothes. Watch for Tasarahapäivät (same-price days: €1, €6 etc.). Best branches: Hakaniemi, Fredrikinkatu.

Finnish Red Cross second-hand department store — clothes, home items, dishware, puzzles.

Clothes + home goods. Branch near the university. Student discounts.

Vintage clothes and home items — 15% off with student card. Iso Roobertinkatu branch is nice.

Second-hand meets café. More branded clothes, higher prices.

Smaller indie second-hand shops.