Kauppatori (Market Square & Market Hall), Helsinki

This market is closed to where the boats to Helsinki Zoo depart. It's full of stands where they sell local craft, fruit, fish, etc. It's an excellent place to buy some souvenirs, imo. Here I got a t-shirt saying "Finland" and the word "moose" in Swedish, Finnish and English and a cute stuffed animal in the shape of a moose with a hoodie. If you buy here, pay in cash.

On a bright sunny day it's a good idea to head down to the market on Helsinki's harbour. There you can find many kinds of food; different kinds of fish and other meats, fresh fruit and vegetables (get yourself some strawberries, raspberries or blueberries!). There are also quite a few souvenir stalls and arts and crafts stalls.

Plus if you're hungry then and there, there are plenty of stalls selling drinks and food and tables to sit at and eat.

A good place to wander around.

Opening Hours
Mon-Fri: 6.30am-6pm
Sat: 6.30am-4pm;
(From May-September it also runs on Sundays)

Sightseeing and cruises by boat:

Helsinki by sea: Royal Line, Sun Lines, Astrid Charter Oy, Random Lines Oy.

Also archipelago cruises: Iha-Lines.

Helsinki by sea and archipelago cruises 1-2 hours, commentary in many languages, departure from the harbour the Market Square.

Cruises to Porvoo (old wooden town): m/s J.L. Runeberg.

One-day or longer journeys to Tallinn in Estonia Eckerö Line, Linda Line, Nordic Jetline, Silja Line, Tallink, Viking Line.

Just at the harbor there is the big market square in Helsinki, the Kauppatori. Here you can buy a lot of things, most of it is food and souvenirs though. Nothing special, a bit too touristic for me, but still a nice place to stroll around for half an hour or so.
Just make sure you keep you wallet close to you. Lots of people means high risk to lose it…

The markets in Helsinki are certainly worth a look. They are beautifully set right on the harbour front. There is an indoor market hall and lots of outdoor market stalls. It's a wonderful place for photography as well as for shopping, because there is always lots going on here.

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The place shows realy different face depending you're there during the day, when is full of people, coming from big ships in a search of a goodfood, souvenirs, boat trips or during the night when is quiet and there's no one. During the night hours there's no trace of any stand or daily open sky food kiosks and many typical Finish souvenirs stands.

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The Vanha Kauppahalli is a very interesting sight: a covered market that was built in 1888 made of and yellow bricks. Inside there are two long rows of polished pine stalls, selling everything from souvenirs, bread, fruits and veggies, and in particular plenty of Finnish delicacies such as salmon (prepared in many different ways) and reindeer. You can taste them in one of the market little restaurants and cafés.

The market is open 06:30-18:00 from Monday to Friday, from 06:30 to 16:00 on Saturday, and in summer also on Sunday from 10:00 to 16:00.

Kauppatori (Salutorget in Swedish) is the Market Square, a very central square right near the Esplanadi. Like the nearby Kauppahalli, it sells souvenirs, bread, fruits and veggies and fish. I found it a bit too touristy – with too many stalls selling souvenirs and too few selling food, in particular fish. This way the market’s atmosphere is somewhat lost. Prices tend to be on the touristy side…

The most interesting sight I found at Kauppatori was this boat selling fish that had just been fished: delicious!

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If you are in the city between May and August (summer time), DO NOT miss the delicious food at Kauppatori (market square)! You will get delicious food with small money. Do not worry about the hygiene, no need to. In Finland the health authorities are very strict by hygiene and how food is preserved. They do several hygiene/sample tests of the food during the summer without any prenotice.

There you can find some traditional food as well as other kind of snacks which will keep your hunger away. Yes, I always eat here if I'm around. A word of warning tho': watch the seagulls, they are arrogant and after your food portion!

In 2008 it was open 18.May to 28.Sep: Mon-Fri 6.30-18.00, Sat 6.30-16.00, . Sun 10.00-17.00

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There is a shuttle bus right off the boat dock. For either $8 US or 5 Euro they would take us roundtrip into Helsinki and back. Of course we gave them $8 US currency. The bus dropped us off downtown just around the corner from the avenue that went to the market.
There wonderful smells greeted us, and very friendly people too. They had all kinds fruits and vegetables, and wonderful breads and desserts too purchase here.