Sustainable Helsinki
What does it really mean to be a sustainable city? For Helsinki, it means designing life to support life—both human and natural.
Here, sustainability is in the water, the air, the way we move, eat, rest, and relate. 70% of the city is forests and sea. Education is free, the tap water is some of the cleanest in the world, and public transport takes you from downtown to nature in minutes. Sustainability is about equality, cycling, and yes—even sauna.
Because sustaining life doesn’t just mean avoiding harm. It means actively creating the conditions for people, communities, and ecosystems to thrive.
7 sustainablility facts about Helsinki
#1 on the Global Destination Sustainability Index
Around 10% of the total city area is urban forest, integrated into neighborhoods and parks
Environmental Report 2022 70% of of Helsinki is water
70% of Helsinki’s surface area is water (Baltic Sea)
Environmental Report 2022 100% of tap water is drinkable (and delicious)
Can I drink the tap water in Helsinki? Yes, according to the UN World Water Development Report, the water in Finland is the cleanest in the world. So yes, it is safe to drink the tap water in Helsinki and you can fill your bottle in the hotel room.
2030 Carbon Neutral
Helsinki aims to be carbon neutral by 2030 – and is already making progress
City of Helsinki – 33% CO₂ emissions per capita have dropped
CO₂ emissions per capita in Helsinki have dropped 33% between 1990 and 2022
City of Helsinki 1,200km cycling routes
Over 1,200 km of cycling routes weave through city parks, forests, and along the seaside.
+30 public saunas
Seaside swimming happens year-round—yes, even in winter—with heated sea pools like Allas Sea Pool in the heart of the city!
The world’s most sustainable destination
In 2024, Helsinki was named the #1 sustainable city destination in the world by the Global Destination Sustainability Index. The GDS-Index uses 76 indicators that evaluate destinations’ sustainability performance across four key areas: Destination Management, Supplier, Social, and Environmental. This isn’t a coincidence—it’s a result of years of intentional choices, built into the city’s strategy and daily life. Clean. Fair. Green. Safe. Humane.
Learn more about sustainability in Helsinki
How to travel sustainably in Helsinki
Travel light travel slow
Helsinki is built for train travel, trams, and walking. You don’t need a car to experience everything the city has to offer.
Getting around Helsinki: Easy travel, everyday adventure Stay longer travel off-season
Want the city to yourself? Try November or early spring—quiet, beautiful, and full of real-life rhythm.
Embracing the darkness in Helsinki Eat seasonal eat local
Spring asparagus. Summer berries. Autumn mushrooms. Winter roots. Fresh, ethical, and naturally Finnish.
Eat & Drink Shop local shop quality
From design boutiques to flea markets, Helsinki is full of quality and character. Choose small makers, vintage finds, and timeless objects.
Shopping Take part in local community
Volunteer. Learn the sauna code. Go to a flea market. Smile at your neighbour. You’re part of the Helsinki story now.
Helsinki sauna etiquette: 7 simple tips
Ethical. Local. Original. Helsinki.
Looking for shops that match your values? We’ve got you covered:
Sustain your connection to nature
With 23,000 acres of parks and forests per 100,000 residents, Helsinki blends urban life with nature in a way few cities can. Add the sea, the archipelago of 300+ islands, and the change of seasons, and it is easy to understand why this is a city destination where you can remember that you – we, all of us – are in fact nature. Spot birds at Vanhankaupunginlahti. Pick berries in Keskuspuisto. Stargaze from a frozen sea. Hike, swim, bike, breathe.
Sustain human connection
Travel opens hearts. Meet the people behind the city—artists, sauna-keepers, chefs, shopkeepers, musicians, volunteers. Say hello. Stay curious. Sustain the most important thing of all: empathy.
Sustain yourself
Let sauna be your guide. In Finland, it’s more than tradition—it’s therapy, connection, pause. It slows time, evens the playing field, and softens the edges of modern life. There’s a reason the happiest country in the world is full of saunas. Sit on the laude. Feel the löyly. Close your eyes and let the steam carry you back to yourself.
