Helsinki Bingo: Spot 30 Typically Helsinki Things
Walk the granite, tick off the card, snap a photo of every typically Helsinki thing you can find. From a Moomin in a shop window to the white Cathedral catching the low Nordic light, this is a 30-item Helsinki bingo that turns any walk into a treasure hunt. No fixed route. Just keep your eyes open.
Challenges (30)
Spot a Marimekko poppy print
Find Marimekko's Unikko poppy print on a fabric bolt, bag, dress or shop window. The big stylised flower is unmistakable. Photograph the print.
Spot a Moomin
Find a Moomin (Tove Jansson's round white character) in a shop window, on a coffee mug, a children's book cover or a pillow. Photograph the smile.
Spot a Karelian pie (karjalanpiirakka)
Find a Karelian pie at a bakery or market hall counter: a rice-and-rye open pastry, usually with egg butter on top. Photograph the boat-shaped pie.
Spot salmiakki licorice
Find salmiakki (Finnish salty licorice) in a sweet-shop window or supermarket display. The black diamonds or coins. Photograph the package.
Spot a sauna sign
Find a sauna sign (the universal Finnish institution: there are more saunas than cars in Finland). Allas Sea Pool, Löyly, public-pool saunas all work. Photograph the sign.
Spot the Finnish flag
Find a Finnish flag (white with a blue cross) flying on a building, ferry or balcony. Photograph it.
Spot a reindeer souvenir
Find a reindeer souvenir or Sami-craft item: antlers, knife sheaths, reindeer-leather wallet, postcards. Photograph the souvenir.
Spot a coffee cup (kahvi)
Finns are the world's biggest coffee drinkers per capita. Find a freshly brewed mug at a café or kahvila and photograph it.
Spot a Helsinki Metro M
Find the orange-and-white M sign at any Helsinki Metro entrance. Photograph the sign.
Spot a Finnish design shop window
Find a window with Iittala glassware, Marimekko fabric or Artek furniture. The clean lines say Helsinki. Photograph the window curation.
Spot Helsinki Cathedral white facade
Walk to Senate Square and find the white Helsinki Cathedral (Tuomiokirkko) with its green dome on top of the steps. Photograph the facade across the square.
Spot Senate Square statue (Alexander II)
In the centre of Senate Square stands the bronze of Tsar Alexander II. Find the statue with the cathedral behind. Photograph the duo.
Spot the Market Square (Kauppatori)
Walk to Kauppatori on the south harbour and find a stall with reindeer hides, berries or salmon soup. Photograph the stall with the harbour behind.
Spot the Old Market Hall (Vanha Kauppahalli)
Walk into the red-brick Old Market Hall on Eteläranta. Photograph the interior with the food stalls and the wooden booths.
Spot the Uspenski Cathedral red brick
Find Uspenski Cathedral, the red-brick Orthodox cathedral with golden onion domes on Katajanokka island. Photograph the domes.
Spot the Sibelius Monument
Walk to Sibelius Park in Töölö and find the steel-pipes monument honouring Jean Sibelius. Photograph the pipes against the sky.
Spot Esplanadi park
Walk down Esplanadi and find someone at the bandstand or sitting on the benches. Photograph the park with the surrounding flagship stores (Marimekko, Aarikka, Karl Fazer) in view.
Spot a Linnanmäki ride
Find a view of the Linnanmäki amusement park: the Ferris wheel (Rinkeli), the wooden roller coaster (Vuoristorata) or the red helmet ride. Photograph one.
Spot a Suomenlinna ferry
At Market Square find a ferry heading to Suomenlinna (the sea fortress UNESCO site). Photograph the ferry at the dock or sailing out.
Spot a Helsinki tram
Find a green-and-yellow HSL tram on its route in the centre. Photograph one passing a heritage building.
Spot a Helsinki Cathedral angel statue
On Helsinki Cathedral's roof stand 12 zinc apostle statues. Find one and photograph the silhouette against the sky.
Spot a Finnish summer cottage poster
Find a Finnish summer cottage reference (a mökki on a postcard, brochure or print). The wooden lakeside cabin is the Finnish dream. Photograph it.
Spot a Fazer chocolate
Find a Fazer chocolate (the blue Fazer Sininen wrapper, a Geisha bar, a salty-licorice version) in a shop window. Photograph the wrapper.
Spot a Finnish design Alvar Aalto curve
Find an Alvar Aalto design (Stool 60, Savoy Vase, Aalto-designed building like Finlandia Hall). Photograph the curved silhouette.
Spot a Helsinki Central Library Oodi
Walk to the Oodi Central Library, the curving wood-and-glass building near Parliament. Photograph the timber prow.
Spot a "happy and bizarre" sauna boat or Allas
Find Helsinki's sauna boats, Löyly's sloped roof, or the Allas Sea Pool. Photograph the sauna culture in action.
Spot a Finnish berry bowl
Find a bowl of cloudberries, bilberries or lingonberries at the Market Square. Photograph the colours.
Spot a Helsinki street sausage stall
Find a Finnish makkara (sausage) stall or the salmon-soup pot at the Market Square. Photograph the steaming food.
Spot a Rock Church (Temppeliaukio)
Walk to Temppeliaukio Church (the Rock Church) in Töölö. Photograph the copper-domed church carved into solid rock.
Spot a Helsinki Christmas market (Tuomaan Markkinat)
In December find Senate Square's Tuomaan Markkinat Christmas market with wooden stalls and glogi. The rest of the year, find a Christmas-themed shop window or souvenir. Photograph the scene.
Frequently asked questions
The duration is up to the organizer when they set up the adventure. As a guideline, a focused day across Senate Square, the Market Square, Esplanadi and the Design District ticks off most of the easy items, and stretching across a weekend (with a ferry to Suomenlinna) lets a determined group complete all 30.
Each of the 30 items is a camera challenge. When you spot the thing, take a photo and submit it; the bingo card tracks progress. Play solo, with friends or split into teams and race to tick off the most items.
Some items (Suomenlinna boat, a reindeer dish) need targeted hops. Sweep Senate Square for the easy items, Kauppatori (Market Square) for the market hall, the Design District for Marimekko and Iittala, and Kallio for cafés.
The Senate Square, Esplanadi and Market Square area hits the most items in a walking loop. Add the Design District around Diana Park, Kamppi for shopping, the Töölö waterfront for the Sibelius Monument and Linnanmäki, and a ferry to Suomenlinna.
Yes. Kids love spotting Moomins, the Cathedral, Linnanmäki rides and reindeer souvenirs; adults enjoy hunting Marimekko, Iittala and Finnish design. No alcohol stops are required.