Helsinki tourism hits record highs as city centre footfall recovers

Helsinki is reporting record tourism numbers, with over 4.9 million overnight stays logged last year, while local residents are also returning to the city centre, according to data from the City of Helsinki.

Footfall in the core downtown area, measured via domestic mobile data, has risen but remains roughly a third below pre-pandemic levels, said Timo Hämäläinen, the city’s lead specialist. Remote work and online shopping are the primary reasons for the decline.

The busiest shopping streets, however, are seeing a resurgence. Pedestrian counts on Aleksanterinkatu near Kolmensepänaukio, tracked by camera, have returned to pre-COVID levels.

To draw more visitors, the city is focusing on experiences, events, and greener public spaces rather than retail alone. Hämäläinen noted that Helsinki’s centre serves as a social and cultural hub, hosting gatherings, protests, and shared civic life.

Projects like the upcoming Kaivokatu redesign for light traffic and trams, the renewal of the Eteläsatama waterfront, and a new Architecture and Design Museum—expected to open by 2030 and attract 400,000 annual visitors—aim to boost long-term appeal.

Private developers are also contributing. Pension fund Keva, which acquired the Kaivopiha block from the University of Helsinki’s student union last year, plans to transform the area between the railway station and Aleksanterinkatu into a welcoming thoroughfare with improved lighting and materials, according to Tuomas Raikamo, CEO of developer Airut.

Temporary initiatives like Töölönlahti’s summer park, featuring hammocks and beach volleyball, demonstrate how low-cost interventions can create popular urban spaces, Hämäläinen said.