Stockholm and Oslo are two of the largest and most influential cities in the Nordics. Stockholm is known for its historic old town and its beautiful waterfronts. Helsinki is known for having incredible buildings, especially its churches, and for being home to some of the happiest people on Earth. If you are trying to decide between Stockholm or Helsinki, here is the ultimate guide to help you decide which city to visit.
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Stockholm or Helsinki Overview
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital city of Sweden and has one of the most beautiful city centers in all of Europe. The city has a population of 974,000 and a metro population of nearly 2.4 million people. Stockholm was originally founded by the Vikings as a trade route. Nearly 5 million people visit Stockholm each year to see the city’s iconic waterfront and the iconic old town.
Stockholm is located on the eastern coast of Sweden. Spanning 14 different islands, 30% of the city is waterways with another 30% of the city being green spaces and parks. Since the city is so far north, in the summer months it gets 18 hours of daylight and in the winter it only gets 6 hours of daylight. Having so many waterways, Stockholm has many waterfront public areas to enjoy.
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. 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.
Places to See
Stockholm
Gamla Stan is the Old Town of Stockholm. This area is one of the most picturesque areas in the city. Most people who visit Stockholm will make this their first stop during their time in the city.
Vasa Museum is one of the most famous museums in Scandinavia. It houses the Vasa battleship which is a massive wooden ship that sunk in 1628.
The Royal Palace sits on the water edge in the center of the city. It is the official residence of the King of Sweden. It is one of the largest palaces in Europe with more than 600 rooms.
City Hall sits kitty-corner to the Old Town along the water’s edge. It where the Nobel Prize banquet is held every year.
Drottningholm Palace is the private residence of the Swedish Royal Family. It is just outside of Stockholm but worth a visit if you have the time.
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
Stockholm
Kjøttboller, or Swedish meatballs, are known around the world which means that you should definitely try some when you come to Stockholm. Seafood also places a large role in the cuisines found here. Crayfish are a favorite in Stockholm, especially during the summer months. Herring is another traditional seafood that is still popular today. Gamla Stan and the area around Hantverkargaten are two of the best area in Stockholm to find an abundance of excellent restaurants.
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
Stockholm
The Gamla Stan or the Old Town is extremely walkable. You can see many sights within walking distance. Outside of the Old Town, Stockholm becomes more spread out because is spans 14 islands. The city offers bus lines, metro, commuter rails, trams, and ferries as well as public bikes for use. The cheapest way to get around is to invest in one, two, or three day passes to use public transportation. For just over 15 USD you can get a 24-hour pass or for 30 USD you can get a 3-day pass.
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
Stockholm
Stockholm has a thriving nightlife. The Old Town area is known for its pubs and also has nightclubs. Just to the north of the Old Town, on the mainland, is another part of town that is filled with a raging night scene. Some of the best nightclubs in Scandinavia are found here. Some of the best places for nightlife in Stockholm are Slakthuset, Under Bron, and Kraken.
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 the Helsinki is very walkable so you will be able to traverse the nightlife fairly easily.
Day Trips
Stockholm
- Sigtuna is Sweden’s oldest city, founded in 980 AD by the Vikings.
- Gripssholm Castle is located only 60km from Stockholm is the town of Mariedred. It was used as a residence of the Royal Family until 1809.
- Uppsala is a city to the north of Stockholm. It is known for the University of Uppsala which was founded in 1477. It is also known for its beautiful Cathedral of Uppsala.
Stockholm is pretty far from Copenhagen but the journey is easy if you want to visit another Scandinavian capital city.
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.
From Helsinki, you could also explore the other Baltic capital cities if you have the time to do so.
Overall
Stockholm and Helsinki are two of the most iconic cities in Northern Europe and the Nordics. Stockholm is a little more pricey than Helsinki but Helsinki is still much pricier than most cities in Europe. Helsinki is smaller than Stockholm so you probably don’t need as much time to explore but if you want to visit Tallinn you will want at least an extra day. Both cities deserve to be visited but if you have to decide, you have to consider which culture intrigues you the most and how much time you want to spend in the city.