Helsinki Entertainment

Helsinki has a great party atmosphere, particularly in the summer months from June to September. It has numerous bars, nightclubs and live music venues as well as quality theatre options, although a night out will never be very cheap whatever option you go for. Helsinki also offers many daytime activities and the shopping here is excellent, while numerous festivals and events add to the excitement.

Nightlife

Helsinki is loaded with cafs, bars and nightclubs, and is now one of the best nights out in Scandinavia. Friday and Saturday nights are the most popular, but also the busiest, while summertime nights out are particularly bustling.

During the summer, it is best to go out early, especially when going to clubs, as they fill up very quickly. There are several choice areas at which to enjoy Helsinkis nightlife, and the citys compact nature makes it all the more enjoyable. The city centre and nearby Kallio offers the greatest concentration of pubs and clubs, while the beaches and top hotels are also home to some of the citys best drinking establishments.

Theatre and Music

Helsinki also has a year-round cultural scene with a glut of theatrical performances at some outstanding venues as well as plenty of live music. The Finlandia Hall holds the citys major concert and orchestral performances including the Finnish National Opera, which is of a very high standard. The majority of performances here are staged in Finnish or Swedish. With regards to festivals and outdoor entertainment, August is the best time of the year for this, when the city's parks fill up with revellers and the weather is at its warmest, while everything from rock to dance, jazz and grunge can be enjoyed at Helsinkis many music venues.

Festivals

Festivals take place all over Finland at all times of the year and Helsinki is home to the great majority of them including music events in every genre, sporting events, cultural festivals and opera.

• May Day: touted as one of the best parties of the year in Helsinki, May Day celebrations are particularly aimed at students. There is lots of music and dancing, and the main gathering takes place in Market Square and along the Esplanade (May).
• Helsinki City Marathon: this annual event goes around the beautiful coastline and through Helsinki and is one of the most popular city marathons in Europe, with thousands of competitors from around the world participating (August).
• Helsinki Festival: this two-week long event is Finlands biggest cultural festival which encompasses Asian culture and photography (August).
• Baltic Herring Fair: this is Helsinkis oldest traditional event and marks the fishing season, most notably the herring season, with a fair held in Market Square (early October).