Why Helsinki?

Although we are not yet back to pre-pandemic numbers regarding international events, we see a growing interest towards Helsinki at the moment and we get a lot of inquiries from event organizers. I am happy to say that we look brightly at the future.

Many congresses have exceeded the expected number of participants and even seen a record number of delegates when in Helsinki. We believe this is partly because Helsinki is seen as a new and interesting destination. The recent congress survey carried out by Helsinki Convention Bureau shows that almost 80% of congress delegates are visiting Helsinki for the first time. For those who want to experience and explore something new, this is the perfect place.

Helsinki is committed to be carbon neutral by 2030. There are a lot of steps already taken towards this goal. In the Global Destination Sustainability Index ranking 2023, Helsinki improved its standing among the worldwide comparison of cities, rising to fourth place. The City of Helsinki has created a carbon footprint calculator for events, which is suitable for gatherings of different sizes and types, from outdoor events to congresses, hybrid and virtual events. You don't need special expertise in carbon footprint calculation to use the calculator. Its purpose is to help event organizers identify the main sources of emissions from events. This identification makes it easier to plan more climate-friendly events.

For the sixth year in a row, Finland has been named the world’s happiest country by the annual United Nations World Happiness Report 2023.

All major venues are situated within the city centre, making it easy for congress visitors to enjoy the social program as well as the city’s cultural offerings, sights and shopping.

• Finlandia Hall

  Finlandia Hall is one of the most iconic buildings designed by world-renowned Finnish architect, Alvar Aalto, and was planned from the ground up for visitors and a wide range of events.

• Helsinki Congress Paasitorni

  Helsinki Congress Paasitorni operates in a more than 100-year-old building which has been skillfully restored and extended.

• Scandic Marina Congress Center

  The waterfront location makes Marina Congress Center an incomparable venue for conference and gala events.

• Messukeskus

  Messukeskus is the biggest venue in Helsinki, able to host conferences with several thousand delegates and large exhibitions.

• Clarion Hotel Helsinki

  Located in the up-and-coming area of Jätkäsaari, the conference facilities are situated in the waterfront old warehouse building.

Helsinki metropolitan area boasts around 20,000 hotel rooms in different categories, and in the city of Helsinki we have up to 15,000 hotel rooms. During the past few years Helsinki has seen several new hotel openings, the latest being Radisson Red which opened in the first week of November.

Among Helsinki’s 15,000 rooms:

• Hotels:

  • 5-star: 1,000 rooms

  • 4-star: 10,0000 rooms

  • 3-star: 1,500 rooms

  • 2-star: 900 rooms

• Hostels and apartments: 1,500 rooms

• Airbnb: more than 2,300 listings

Helsinki Airport is the leading Northern European transit airport. Approximately 50 airlines serve Helsinki, and there are direct connections to nearly 130 international destinations around the world. There are several daily direct flight connections to Helsinki from all major European destinations, most are within a range of two to three hours’ flight. Helsinki also serves as a hub to Asia and the USA. There are currently 21 weekly flights from the USA and 64 from Asia to Helsinki.

We offer free-of-charge assistance in the bidding process, in the selection of the best facilities, partners and service providers, and in promoting the congress. We help to make the most of our city so that Helsinki can offer participants a truly unforgettable experience.

We provide the Think Sustainably service, which helps visitors and locals to choose more sustainable options by combining sustainable services, experiences and transportation in Helsinki into one easy-to-use digital service on MyHelsinki.fi

I would absolutely recommend visitors to take advantage of the seaside location and unique archipelago surrounding Helsinki. Helsinki boasts 130 km of shoreline and more than 300 islands. One of these is Suomenlinna Sea Fortress, a UNESCO world heritage site. Here you can stroll around the islands and feel the sea breeze.

No matter the season, summer, or winter, Suomenlinna is always welcoming. The fortress was shaped by three historic eras when it helped to defend first Sweden, then Russia and ultimately Finland. There are six kilometres of walls, 100 cannons, exciting tunnels, and beautiful parks.
There are also museums, guided tours, events and restaurants in Suomenlinna. The fortress is easily accessed all year by public transport ferry from the Market Square.