Helsinki, Finland: A Summer Photography Guide 

When in the year you visit Helsinki will have a big impact on what you see. From roughly November to April, the Finnish capital is caked in snow. Depending on when you visit, you might even see the entire sea surrounding the city frozen over. 

Summer, however, is a different story. The sun doesn’t set until well after 10pm, and temperatures are reasonable enough to go outside. Locals populate the waterfront areas and parks to chat, eat, and enjoy the sun before the long, dark winter settles in again. 

As a photographer, I’ve been to Helsinki in both the winter and summer. And while I enjoy the city year-round, you appreciate the summer more when you’ve been there during the colder months. 

In this Helsinki summer photography guide, we’ll look at what to pack and how to bring your camera equipment. You’ll also learn about daylight hours, average temperatures, and more. 

Daylight Hours 

Helsinki is located 60 degrees north—and because of this, the daylight hours vary dramatically from winter to summer. While the shortest day in December sees the sun peek above the horizon for less than six hours, you’ve got 19 hours of sunlight around midsummer in June. And even when the sun is below the horizon, it doesn’t get fully dark for much of the summer. 

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Having said that, your daylight hours will vary depending on when in the summer you visit. When I visited in July 2023, the sunset was around 22:30. According to my Finnish girlfriend, that was actually considered “dark” 🤨. 

Anyway, here are some sunrise and sunset times for various points during the summer: 

• June 1st: 04:09 (sunrise) | 22:29 (sunset) 
• June 21st: 03:55 (sunrise) | 22:51 (sunset)
• July 1st: 04:01 (sunrise) | 22:49 (sunset)
• July 21st: 04:34 (sunrise) | 22:20 (sunset)
• August 1st: 04:59 (sunrise) | 21:55 (sunset) 
• August 21st: 05:48 (sunrise) | 21:01 (sunset) 

The longest day of the year is usually around 21st June, and the end time for dusk is 00:43. Dawn, meanwhile, is at 02:02. So, if you fancy getting some unique pictures, consider going out with your camera in the middle of the “night”. 

Weather

Helsinki has four distinct seasons. While temperatures are subzero (and sometimes brutally cold) during the winter, summers are relatively warm. I personally dislike hot weather and like the rain, so Helsinki’s summer is perfect for those of you who are similar. 

When I was there in July, the daytime temperature ranged between 17ºC and 22ºC. You can sometimes experience temperatures in the high 20s and (albeit rare) low 30s; the highest-ever temperature in Helsinki was 33.2ºC in July 2019. Generally speaking, you should expect temperatures between 17ºC and 23ºC. 

At night, however, it can be quite chilly; the temperature was around 11-14ºC in the evenings. 

You should note that it might rain a lot during your trip, and sometimes, the humidity can be quite uncomfortable. To be honest, the weather in Helsinki often changes quite frequently—and it can also be quite windy. Sandals, sunscreen, a sweater, and an umbrella are all worth packing 🙂. 

How to Pack Your Photography Equipment for a Summer Trip to Helsinki 

You’ll probably fly with FinnAir or Norwegian when you visit Helsinki, and both airlines only allow one carry-on bag with their low-fare tickets. But even if you buy extra luggage, minimizing what you pack will reduce your stress. Considering that it often rains during the summer, make sure that you’ve packed a weather-sealed camera. Alternatively, you can get a rain cover for your device. 

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Helsinki is ideal for handheld photography during the summer, and unless you plan to take long-exposure shots, you might want to leave your tripod at home. You can’t see the Northern Lights at this time of year, and it’s rare that you even see the Northern Lights in Helsinki during the winter, either. 

If I had to pack one lens for summer photography in Helsinki, I’d make it a zoom lens. Personally, I took the 16-80mm lens for my Fujifilm camera. This was fine for landscapes, portraits, and street photography. 

What Should You Pack to Wear for Summer Photography in Helsinki? 

Knowing what to wear during the summer in Helsinki is, admittedly, quite difficult. As mentioned earlier, you should definitely take a rain jacket and/or umbrella. Comfortable shoes are also a good idea, but keep in mind that there are many rocky paths in the city—and you’ll probably end up with stones in your shoes a few times. 

Taking a good sweater is also smart for the evenings, and it’s a good idea to pack in layers as temperatures can vary throughout the day. I was okay with a sweater, t-shirt, and rain jacket—but things got a bit too hot when I wore a long-sleeved shirt during the day (this was fine at night). 

Lighting 

The light in Helsinki is unlike anywhere else in the world, and it can help you take some fantastic summer photos. It can, however, be quite harsh from around midday until 4 or 5pm—so you might want to avoid capturing too many shots during that period. Instead, later in the afternoon and early evening—along with closer to sunset—is a much better choice. 

The good news is that Helsinki can be pretty quiet during the middle of the day, especially in July when many Finns go on holiday. So, the best photo opportunities are often in the evening, anyway—especially if you’re into street photography. 

What Can You Photograph in Helsinki for Summer Photography? 

Let’s now talk about the fun stuff you can photograph in Helsinki during the summer…

Outdoor Life

Visit Helsinki in the winter and you might think that someone’s tricked you into thinking that you’re in a capital city. That, however, changes completely in the summer. Helsinki’s residents take to the parks, cafés, and bars when the sun comes out to celebrate its return in style. The area close to the main church in Kallio is especially good for photos, and so is pretty much anywhere along the waterfront. 

Architecture

One of Helsinki’s biggest charms is how quirky it is, and nowhere is this evident in the mishmash of architecture from different eras. The art nouveau buildings along Huvilakatu and in Punavuori will have you searching for apartment rentals in the Finnish capital, and Kallion Kirkko is also a masterpiece. Of course, we can’t forget the Rock Church in Etu-Töölö as well. 

You can view the Helsinki skyline from the Ateljee Rooftop Bar. The top of the stairs at Senate Square is another spot to check out. 

Nature 

Nature is inescapable in Finland, even in Helsinki. You can visit various national parks close to the capital, such as Nuuksio National Park. On top of that, you can go to some of the many islands nearby—such as Suomenlinna. 

If you plan to explore the forests in or near Helsinki, remember to take mosquito spray. Finland is notoriously bad for these bugs during the summer.