This blog post is for all the fellow flower-lovers out there! Helsinki offers plenty of breathtakingly beautiful places to enjoy some fabulous floral magic.
From the gorgeous pink blossoming cherry trees in Roihuvuori to the cheerfully yellow sunflower fields of Tuomarinkylä, there’s bound to be something for every flower fan in Finland’s capital.
Whether you’re just crazy about flowers like I am or looking for the perfect location for a photo shoot – here’s the ultimate Helsinki flower bucket list!
The Flower Aficionado’s Guide to Helsinki
Located so far up North, Finland’s summer might be short. But what it may be lacking in length it makes up for in intensity. Once spring arrives the Nordic nature bursts into full bloom with an unparalleled force.
From the first springtime flowers until the last summer days, there’s always some floral action going on.
In this blog post I’ve gathered my favourite flower-related sights to see in Helsinki. This is the ultimate guide and bucket list for all of you who – like me – can’t get enough of flowers. I’ve arranged them in order of bloom, starting with the first springtime blossom and ending with the last flowers to burst into bloom.
All of these spots can be visited completely free of charge. In other words: perfect for any travellers on a tight budget!
Roihuvuori’s Cherry Park
There’s something extra special about those first springtime flowers. That’s why the Cherry Park in Roihuvuori, located in East Helsinki, is such a magical place to visit during spring.
Hundreds of cherry trees burst into gorgeous pink clouds of blossom every year in May. During this time the park attracts thousands of visitors and it’s not hard to see why. This is the perfect place to come for a picnic, a photo shoot or just to appreciate the cotton candy coloured blossom.
In a nutshell:
What? Cherry Trees Blossoming
When? May
Where? Roihuvuori
For more information on how to visit – check out my guide here:
Helsinki’s Hanami Magic – How To See Roihuvuori’s Cherry Park in Full Bloom
Helsinki’s Rhododendron Park
Lilac, yellow, ivory, fuchsia, coral and magenta. Few places can rival the colour explosion Helsinki’s Rhododendron Park offers during early summer!
The park, located by the residential area of Haaga in Helsinki, covers eight acres. There are thousands of rhododendrons and azaleas of various shape, size and colour.
This is an absolute gem, a real must-visit for all flower fans out there. In addition to admiring flowers, this park is great for a walks, romantic dates and photo shoots.
In a nutshell:
What? Rhododendrons and azaleas
When? June
Where? Laajasuontie 40
For more information on how to visit, here’s my guide:
A Veritable Flower Fest – Visiting Alppiruusupuisto: the Rhododendron Park in Helsinki
The Rose Garden in Meilahti Arboretum
As it’s fairly small, the Rose Garden in Meilahti Arboretum might not be as impressive as the Rhododendron Park or the Cherry Park. However, that doesn’t mean it’s not a lovely place to visit.
With over a hundred different types of roses, this park is not only a delight for the eyes. Your sense of smell is in for a treat as well as the scents coming from these roses are just amazing!
The garden is very pretty, a perfect place to just come to and sit down on a bench and just take it all in. Have a stroll, a picnic, enjoy the perfume and learn more about different roses.
In a nutshell:
What? Shrub roses and climbing roses
When? From late June to July
Where? Johannesbergintie
For more information on this site read my guide here:
La Vie en Rose – Visiting the Rose Garden in Meilahti Arboretum in Helsinki
The Rose Garden at Helsinki Winter Garden
More roses? Yes, because you can never get too much roses!
The Rose Garden by the Winter Garden in Helsinki has attracted visitors for almost a hundred years. And it’s easy to see why. This park, with its pretty geometrical layout, is almost like something out of a fairytale.
Over 3000 roses in different nuances delight visitors from mid-July until late August. However, it’s not all about the roses in this garden. On the upper terraces you’ll find numerous different flowers from early spring until autumn. From the upper terrace you’ll also get a great view over Töölönlahti.
This is the perfect place to come and read a book and escape the hustle and bustle of the centre of Helsinki.
In a nutshell:
What? Roses and other flowers
When? From spring to autumn, for the roses from mid-July until late August
Where? Hammarskjöldintie 1
For more information, check out my guide here:
Visiting the Rose Garden at Helsinki Winter Garden – A Complete Guide
Helsinki’s Sunflower Fields
Just when it seems summer is drawing its final breaths before the arrival of autumn a last burst of sunshine arrives. Driving by fields of sunflowers you can’t help but smile. There’s something so uplifting about those endless yellow rows of sunflowers.
Not only are the sunflower fields a delight to admire, they’re also the perfect backdrop for photos.
Helsinki’s sunflower fields are located in North Helsinki, near Vantaa. You’ll find one in Haltiala and another one in Tuomarinkylä.
In a nutshell:
What? Sunflowers
When? August
Where? Haltiala and Tuomarinkylä
You’ll find more information on how to find these fields and how to visit in my previous blog post on the subject:
A Pocketful of Sunshine – The Complete Guide to Visiting Helsinki’s Sunflower Fields