Christmas Eve is a peaceful celebration that is usually spent at home among family. In recent decades the Christmas silence in the city has begun to lift, and more and more people can be seen in town. Some restaurants and other services are also open throughout Christmas.
On Christmas Eve, 24 December, buses, the Metro and trams will operate a Sunday service. Trams will operate on reduced service from 4pm. On Christmas Day, 25 December, a Sunday service will operate from about 11am. Also on Christmas Day, trams will have a reduced service. Find out more about the timetables from Helsinki Region Transport website.
Activities on Christmas Eve and on Christmas Day
Old Market Hall and Hakaniemi Market Hall are open on Christmas Eve at 8am–2pm. Christmas sauna is a deeply embedded Finnish tradition. You can try it at Kotiharju sauna, Uusi Sauna, Allas Sea Pool or Kuusijärvi, all of which are open on Christmas Eve. Allas Sea Pool, Löyly and Kuusijärvi saunas will be heated also on Christmas Day.
Kamppi Shopping Centre is open on Christmas Eve at 9am–12pm and Forum at 9am–12pm, Mall of Tripla is open on Christmas Eve at 9am–2pm and in REDI a part of the shops 9am–10pm. At the city centre, the department store Stockmann is open on Christmas Eve at 9am–2pm and Sokos at 8am–12pm.
The Helsinki Zoo at Korkeasaari is open daily, as well as the outdoor gardens at Kaisaniemi Botanic Garden and Flying Cinema Tour of Helsinki. On Christmas Day 25 December you can visit Finnish Science Centre Heureka in Vantaa at 12–18.
Helsinki Cathedral is open on Christmas Eve at 11.30 am-15.15 pm/ 17-18 pm and on Christmas Day 9.45 am-15.45 pm. Temppeliaukio church ("rock church) is open on Christmas Eve 10 am-12 pm and on Christmas Day 12pm-5 pm.
Tourist information
The Tourist Information (Aleksanterinkatu 24) and the digital service channels are closed from December 24th to 26th.