Hotels near Helsinki Christmas Market on Senate Square

The Helsinki Christmas market fills Senate Square, the neoclassical heart of the city, with the steps of Helsinki Cathedral rising above the stalls. The 2026 market runs from 27 November to 22 December, open from 11am to 7pm from Sunday to Thursday and 11am to 8pm on Fridays and Saturdays, according to MyHelsinki.

Stalls sell handmade Finnish crafts, woollen goods, wooden decorations, design pieces and festive food. The heart of the market is an old-fashioned carousel and a licensed food area where visitors can try glögi (Finnish mulled wine), salmon soup and Christmas sweets. The market is produced by the Helsinki Events Foundation and focuses on sustainable gifts and local makers.

The market closes on 22 December, so it is not open on Christmas Eve.

Pro Tip: Visit at dusk, which is around 3.15pm in mid-December, when the cathedral is lit up above the stalls. Try glögi with almonds and raisins, the classic Finnish way.