Botanical dreaming
Kaisaniemi Botanical Gardens
Why locals love it
Close to the central station, the Botanical Gardens features shrubs, flowers, herbs, ornamentals, Finnish wildflowers and native flora, as well as wonderful greenhouses. You could live years in Helsinki and not really know this place was here, but once discovered, a stroll through its grounds is destined to become a treasured part of your routine.
Why you should visit it
The gardens have a very ‘Helsinki’ feel to them. This is not a pompous city, revelling in its own grandiosity, and these botanical gardens reflect the natural, down-to-earth charisma of the nature-loving Finns. The grounds are well looked after, and have somewhat of a classical feel to them, but they’re not overly manicured.
Special tip
Romantic nooks are to be found here, so pack some Jane Austen or D.H. Lawrence into your backpack and go find yourself a shady hollow.
Su: 10:00-16:00
Tu-We: 10:00-17:00
Th: 10:00-18:00
Fr-Sa: 10:00-17:00