Helsinki Cathedral

Helsinki Cathedral tickets: which one to buy

Helsinki Cathedral stands at the top of a broad flight of steps above Senate Square in the centre of Helsinki, Finland, and entry is free. Its white walls, green domes and columns are the symbol of the city and one of the most photographed buildings in the Nordic countries. Walking tours of Helsinki start or pass here, combining the cathedral with Senate Square, the Uspenski Cathedral, the Market Square, the Esplanadi park and ferries to the Suomenlinna fortress.

The steps in front of the cathedral are a popular meeting place, used for concerts and events. The crypt beneath the cathedral is used for exhibitions and events, and it has a café in summer. The cathedral is an active Lutheran church, and visiting pauses during services and concerts. Cruise ships and ferries from Tallinn and Stockholm bring many visitors to the city. Trams 2, 4, 5 and 7 stop at Senate Square beside the cathedral.

Visiting Helsinki Cathedral: what to see

The cathedral was designed by the German architect Carl Ludvig Engel as the crowning feature of Senate Square, a neoclassical ensemble built after Helsinki became the capital of the Grand Duchy of Finland under Russian rule. It was built between 1830 and 1852 and originally dedicated to Tsar Nicholas I, being known as Saint Nicholas' Church; it became a cathedral in 1959. After Engel's death, Ernst Lohrmann added the four smaller domes and statues of the Twelve Apostles on the roof. Inside, the cathedral is surprisingly plain and white, reflecting Lutheran simplicity, with statues of the reformers Martin Luther, Philip Melanchthon and Mikael Agricola, a pulpit and an organ.

In front of the cathedral, Senate Square holds a statue of Tsar Alexander II, who was popular in Finland. The crypt, with brick vaults, is used for exhibitions and concerts. The cathedral's dome is supported by columns and decorated inside with simple stucco. The altarpiece shows the burial of Christ. The organ, built in the twentieth century, is used for concerts. The cathedral's bells ring from the small tower beside the church. The Twelve Apostles statues on the roof were made in Berlin. The Senate Square buildings around the cathedral include the Government Palace and the University of Helsinki's main building. The crypt café is a pleasant place in summer, with a terrace facing the square.

Helsinki Cathedral opening hours and the best time to go

The cathedral is open daily, with longer hours in summer. Helsinki is busiest in summer, when days are very long and the city is full of outdoor events; winter is cold and dark, but the cathedral is beautiful under snow, and the Christmas market fills Senate Square in December. The steps are used for concerts and celebrations, including the New Year's Eve countdown and graduation celebrations in spring. Allow about fifteen minutes for the cathedral, and walk down to the Market Square and the harbour for a ferry to Suomenlinna. The Suomenlinna sea fortress, a UNESCO site, is a fifteen-minute ferry ride from the Market Square.