Helena Travel Guide

  Required State Capitol Photo
by frankcanfly
 
  • Required State Capitol Photo
      Required State Capitol Photo
    by frankcanfly
  •   Things to Do
    by lctours
  •   Helena
    by Windseekr
  • State Capitol Building, Helena, Montana
      State Capitol Building, Helena, Montana
    by mrclay2000
  • The Crazy Moutains at dusk
      The Crazy Moutains at dusk
    by melissa_bel
 

Pro

melissa_bel profile photo

  Small town but it's the capital with all the advantages it implies. Great outdoors close by... 


Con

montana40 profile photo

  Bizarre street layout, water quality problems 


In a nutshell

mrclay2000 profile photo

  Great Capital City - Perfect Kick-Off for Yellowstone or Glacier 

 

Explore Helena

Things to Do  

Last Chance Wagon Ride Dinners

Last Chance Wagon Ride Dinners, Helena

 schulzzy Says:  My family and I traveled to Helena, MT and while we were there made reservations at Last Chance Wagon Ride Dinners. It was a great evening that started off with a horse drawn wagon ride up into the mountains. When we arrived we were shown around the small cabin and tee-pees... 

Montana Historical Museum

Montana Historical Museum, Helena

 melissa_bel Says:  For those interested in Montana history, this is the place to go. From Native artifacts to painting, from firearms to tools used in mining, farming, ranching, from gems to costumes, this Museum covers a lot of grounds. The cow head skeleton gracing the entrance, is the work... 

Ride The Last Chance Tour Train

Ride The Last Chance Tour Train, Helena

 lctours Says:  Ride the Last Chance Tour Train and experience Helena's colorful past. From its beginning, spurred by the discovery of gold in Last Chance Gulch to the present. You'll hear wonderful stories as you sit back, relax and enjoy the ride through the "Queen City of the Rockies".... 

State Capitol Building

State Capitol Building, Helena

 Astrobuck Says:  Ever heard the saying, "Beauty is only skin deep, but ugly goes right to the bone?" That is the best way I can describe Montana's state capitol building in Helena. No, I don't have a picture to prove it (camera broke on my trip...), but take my word for it. The outside of... 

St-Helena Cathedral

St-Helena Cathedral, Helena

 melissa_bel Says:  I would have really liked to spend more time into this cathedral! Modelled after the Dom of Cologne and the Votive Church of Vienna, this gothic style cathedral is a beauty! You cannot miis it! The twin spires are 230 feet high.The building was open for Christmas of 1914.... 

The strange story of the Goddess of Liberty

The strange story of the Goddess of Liberty, Helena

 melissa_bel Says:  Like many capitols in the US, Helena has its Lady Liberty atop the building but the story of how it got there is really strange. During the "Capital fight", the people responsible for the plans ran off with all the papers and records. During construction, a statue of a... 

Tower Hill

Tower Hill, Helena

 melissa_bel Says:  On top of Tower Hill, lies one of Helena's landark. The Fire Tower. From that vantage point of view, the tower has served as a guardian of the city. There's been a tower since 1869 but this one dates from 1884. 

Last Chance Gulch Street

Last Chance Gulch Street, Helena

 melissa_bel Says:  Helena's main street is located where the Last Chance Creek stood. This is where the “Four Georgians” (John Cowan, Daniel Jackson Miller, John Crab, and Reginald, or Robert Stanley) found gold in 1864. The claim was staked and named “Last Chance Gulch.” The group worked... 

Hampton Inn Helena, MT

 1 Review and 42 Opinions

Restaurants  

No Sweat Cafe: My local favorite

No Sweat Cafe: My local favorite, Helena

 chanoc2003 Says:  I walked in and felt at home. My girlfriend's deceased mothers picture is on the wall, over a booth, art from the my family decorates the interior. I was introduced to all the employees who are friends of the family.Okay, the service - excellent! My coffee cup never went... 

Coffeehouse: On North Last Chance Gulch

Coffeehouse: On North Last Chance Gulch, Helena

 melissa_bel Says:  Well.... there are a lot of them! Unfortunately, I don't remember the exact name of this place but it was towards the end of N. Last Chance, beofre the "Atlas House".On this chilly November afternoon, a good coffee and homemade muffin was perfect! And the reds inside the... 

Shopping  

Capital Hill Mall: Great places to get Great Montana Stuff

Capital Hill Mall: Great places to get Great Montana Stuff, Helena

 MTMomKate Says:  Lots of stores in this mall with great Montana gear -- places like the Nature Trail, Dillards Montana Shop, and Leslies Hallmark. Neat Montana tees and foods and great stuff from local restaurants (Montana City Grill sauces). Really depends -- great gifts and no sales tax 

Local Customs  

Montanans are not all closed minded!

Montanans are not all closed minded!, Helena

 MontanaNative Says:  Contrary to the tip shared by native mt, most Montanans are open minded friendly folk! Your sexual orientation will not dictate your reception here in Helena. Present yourself as you would in any community- clean, friendly, inquisitive, and respectful, and I'm sure you will... 

What to Pack  

Bring Layers!

Bring Layers!, Helena

 montana40 Says:   Dry mountain climate can change 40 degrees in any 24 hour period. Bring both the tank top and the parka! Seriously. It can be 90 degrees one day, a cold front roll in and be 40 degrees the next morning. In my lifetime we have had 100 degrees in August and we have had SNOW... 

Layers are key!

Layers are key!, Helena

 truemtnative Says:  Waterproof luggage is key if you're going to be outside, otherwise, whatever suits your fancy. Dress light and always bring layers. IT can be hot one minute and freezing the next. Never leave without your camera. You never know when there will be a beautiful picture... 

Off The Beaten Path  

High, high, UP in the sky ...

High, high, UP in the sky ..., Helena

 AaronHumes Says:  My quaint cabin home east of Helena is one of my top two favorites. It's so beautiful ... the sky, the Montana type "blues", the quiet ....It's very cozy and romantic...Don't drink and drive there.Drink by your cabin's fireplace with someone you care about. 

Route 89-12

Route 89-12, Helena

 melissa_bel Says:  Another side of the road to Helena, rolling hills reminding you of "Dances With The Wolves" 

Getting to Helena

Getting to Helena, Helena

 melissa_bel Says:  From Billings, there 2 ways to get there. Either take I-90 past Bozeman then the 287 north to Helena or, a another scenic route (89) north by the Crazy moutains and Castle Moutains and then 12 west. like we did. This is a picture of the Crazy moutains at sunset. Both are... 

Sports & Outdoors  

Minor League Baseball

Minor League Baseball, Helena

 montana40 Says:  National Geographic once described home games featuring Helena's hometown Helena Brewers, a minor league farm team for the Milwaukee Brewers, as the best small town baseball experience in America 

Favorites  

Blue Skies and Mountains

Blue Skies and Mountains, Helena

 truemtnative Says:  In my opinion, the most important activity in Helena would be anything in the Great Outdoors! For most of us who live here we don't realize how lucky we are to be able to see blue skies and mountains surrounding us until you go elsewhere and realize that it's not like this... 

Helena has so many things to...

Helena has so many things to..., Helena

 Sammi59601 Says:  Helena has so many things to offer the tourist! You can go only a few miles out of town for water-skiiing, snowskiing, boating, hiking, camping, etc., in some of the most beautiful country in the world! We have a cultural community of many artists, museums, historical... 

 
Explore Deeper into Helena

The Place

Plan a Helena vacation with reviews, tips and photos posted by real travelers and Helena locals

Experience Helena
  •   54 Tips and Reviews
  •  43 Photos
  •  2 Videos
  Share your Travels  
Map of Helena
 

The People

53 Members Live Here
 
Advice from the Locals
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 A decade in Helena - Helena is a charming place to visit and less expensive and touristy than a lot of the resort areas. If you want to see movie stars, pass us by, but if you want to settle into a central location for... 

53 members live in Helena

 

Questions and Answers

hankanne profile photo

Q:  Hi Can we book a tour to Yellow stone NP from Helena in early June 

HansDK profile photo

A: VirtualTourist is not a booking site. 

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Top Helena Writers

1

A capital and a boomtown

melissa_bel profile photo

 This was my second visit to Helena, the Queen City, and this time, with more time on our hands, Justin and I could explore a little more of Montana's capital. So far, Helena is my favourite city in... 

2

A decade in Helena

montana40 profile photo

 Helena is a charming place to visit and less expensive and touristy than a lot of the resort areas. If you want to see movie stars, pass us by, but if you want to settle into a central location for...... 

3

Windseekr's new Helena Page

Windseekr profile photo

 On this page I want to share one of Montana's beautiful scenic places with my VT friends. Two very famous western explorers, Lewis and Clark traveled through this exact location nearly 200 years... 

4

EmilyS's Helena Page

EmilyS profile photo

 Helena was a nice place to visit, but a terrible place to live. One of the best attractions about Helena is the Archie Bray Foundation for the Ceramic Arts. The night life in Helena consists of bar...... 

5

Sammi59601's New Helena Page

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 Live in the "Queen City of the Rockies" and love it! 

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