Copenhagen and Helsinki are two of the northernmost capital cities in Europe and have become two of the most iconic cities in Northern Europe. Copenhagen is known for beautiful castles, palaces, and canals. Helsinki is known for being its world-famous churches and compact city center. If you are trying to decide between Copenhagen or Helsinki, here is the ultimate guide to help you decide which city to visit.
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Copenhagen or Helsinki Overview
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city in Denmark. It is located on the far eastern coast of the country. The city has a population of 794,000 people and over 2 million in the metro area. Originated as a Viking fishing village, it has grown to be one of the most influential cities in all of Europe. The city has many attractions from beautiful canals to historic castles.
The Oresund strait separates Copenhagen from Sweden which makes it extremely easy for people to travel between Denmark and Sweden. It has many areas of waterfront areas for activities even though the water temperatures are typically cold, even in the summer months. The city has been a powerful city in Scandinavia for centuries and has many historic landmarks.
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and the most populous city in Finland. Much of the architecture in the city was constructed using lightly colored granite which gives it the nickname “the white city of the north”. The aurora borealis can be seen here roughly once every 20 days. It is the most northern metro area with over one million people as well as the coldest capital city in the world. Being so far north, the city experiences up to 19 hours of daylight in the summer and as low as 4 hours a day in the winter. The population of the city of Helsinki is 650,000.
Helsinki sits at the top of the Baltic Sea and spans over 300 islands. Much like Oslo, the city is spread over an unusually large area because of the large number of islands it occupies. Because of the large amount of water in the area, fishing is a popular past time for the residents of Helsinki. Forests also cover a large amount of the city.
Things to See
Copenhagen
Nyhavn is one of the most picturesque locations in all of Scandinavia. It is a canal lined with beautifully colored buildings making for a truly spectacular sight.
Tivoli Gardens is a garden and theme park that opened in 1843. It is the 2nd oldest theme park in the world and is one of the most visited parks in all of Europe.
Stroget is a street designated for pedestrians only. It is one of the longest pedestrian streets in Europe and is 1.1km long.
Little Mermaid Statue is a Copenhagen icon based on the book written by Hans Christian Andersen.
Christiansborg Palace is where the Danish Parliament and the Supreme Court of Denmark are located. It is a grand palace located in the middle of Copenhagen.
Round Tower was built in 1642 as an astronomical tower. It has a massive spiral staircase leading to the top so Christian IV could ride his horse to the top to see the city.
Helsinki
Helsinki Cathedral is an Evangelical Lutheran Church located in the center of the city. It was built in 1852 and is one of the most famous landmarks in the city.
Temppeliaukio Church is a beautiful Lutheran church that was built directly into solid rock. It is a truly spectacular place to see.
Linnanmaki is Finland’s most popular amusement park with over 1 million people visiting each year. It is also known for donating proceeds to the Finnish child welfare system.
The National Museum of Finland holds many exhibits about the history of Finland, dating back to the medieval times. The building’s architecture was inspired by class Finnish cathedrals and castles.
Food
Copenhagen
One of the most popular dishes in Copenhagen is Smørrebrød which is an open-faced sandwich. It typically consists of rye bread with butter and a bunch of toppings like meat, cold cuts, fish, garnishes, and other types of spreads. Stegt flæsk is considered to be the national dish of Denmark. It is a dish of fried pork belly and potatoes. The Danes also know how to brew a terrific beer considering that Carlsberg beer originated in Denmark and the headquarters are still in Copenhagen.
Helsinki
Because of its close proximity to the water, the Finnish people love to eat fish. One of the most popular foods is the Baltic Herring which is served in a variety of ways. Grilled sausages are also hugely popular in Helsinki, especially when cooked over a fire during the summer months. One of the most popular treats in Finland is salted black licorice.
Getting Around
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is a fantastic city to explore by walking. The city an extensive metro system, buses, and trains that can take you wherever you need to go. You might want to invest in the Copenhagen Card which gives you unlimited access to public transportation and gives you free admission to over 80 museums and attractions. Copenhagen is also known as one of the most bike-friendly cities in the world. There are over 500,000 bicycles in the city and over 60% of all commutes are done using a bicycle.
Helsinki
Central Helsinki is rather compact making it great for walking. The bus system doesn’t even run in the middle of the city. You can also use the network of ferries or use the trams which bring you to the most popular sites within the city. The city is rather flat which makes it perfect for biking around. You can rent a bike for $5 per day or $10 per week which is extremely convenient for someone visiting the city. The metro system is the most northern metro in the world. It is also regarded as one of the simplest to use.
Nightlife
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is filled with bars, pubs, and nightclubs. A large cluster of nightlife can be found in the streets that branch off of Stroget. You can find raging dance parties or humble pubs throughout this area. The area around Vestergade is another great area that is full of bars, pubs, and smaller nightclubs. There is something for everyone here. KB3, Bakken, and Culture Box are fun places to visit if you want a wilder night out. Be sure to research the nightclubs before you visit them because some have terrible service and are not worth visiting.
Finnish people have learned to party even through the cold weather. Once summertime hits, you can expect to spend a lot of time drinking and partying outdoors. With daylight lasting 19 hours at the peak of summer, the Finns love to spend their time outdoors, even into the night. Most of the nightlife can be found in the center of the city. The city center of Helsinki is very walkable so you will be able to traverse the nightlife fairly easily.
Day Trips
Copenhagen
- Kronborg is a castle and stronghold north of the city. It is known as Hamlet’s Castle because William Shakespeare based Hamlet on the castle. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Frederiksborg Castle is another castle to the north of Copenhagen. It is known for being the largest Renaissance-style residence in all of Scandinavia. It is also known for the incredible garden that surrounds it.
- The Island of Fyn is laid back island with castles and manors that make it perfect for bicycling.
Oslo and Stockholm are both well connected to Copenhagen, so you should consider finding the time to head north to explore these two Scandinavian cities.
Helsinki
- Tallinn is the capital of Estonia and is located only 80km from Helsinki. Tallinn is regarded as a city based out of a fairytale because of its beautiful Old Town. A ferry from Helsinki to Tallinn is only $30.
- Tampere is the 3rd largest city in Finland and has quite a few things to see making it a great choice for a day trip.
- Nuuksio National Park is one of 40 some national parks in Finland. It is spectacularly beautiful with its forested terrain and rocky shorelines.
If you take the short ferry ride from Helsinki to Tallinn, you could then easily continue south to Riga or even Vilnius.
Overall
Copenhagen and Helsinki have both been influential cities in Northern Europe for centuries. People come from all over the world to get a taste of Scandinavian and Vikings cultures. Helsinki is a smaller and more compact city which makes it excellent for walking but it also means you probably only need 2 days to see the main sights. Copenhagen is a larger city and has quite a few more attractions and landmarks that should be seen. Since there is more to see in Copenhagen, you will want at least a full 3 days to truly experience the city. Both cities deserve to be visited but there is more to see in Copenhagen.