4 Best Places to Shop in Helsinki, Finland

At this Helsinki institution, open year-round on the South Harbour quayside, wooden stands with orange and gold awnings bustle in the mornings when everyone—tourists and locals alike—comes to shop, browse, or sit and enjoy coffee and conversation. You can buy a variety of fish for dinner along with an array of forest mushrooms, a bouquet of bright flowers for a friend, or a fur pelt. In summer the fruit, berry, and vegetable stalls are supplemented by an arts-and-crafts and souvenir market. The crepes, made to order by one of the tented vendors, are excellent, while locals swear by the meat pies and fresh jam-filled doughnuts. In summer there are several vendors selling lunch plates. In early October, there's a Baltic Herring Market, a tradition dating back to the 18th century, with small boats from the outlying islands docked at the quay to sell their wares.

Fish, meat, fruit, berries, fresh vegetables, bread and pastries, local cheeses, spices, coffee, and tea—the brick Old Market Hall on the waterfront, close to the outdoor Market Square, is a treasury of delicacies. A soup station, café, and seafood bar make it ideal for a quick lunch, and there is even a small branch of the Alko wine and liquor outlet. Permanent stalls are adorned with decorative carved woodwork, giving the hall a historic feel.

At the outdoor flea market (open weekdays 8–7, Saturday 8–4) that's held here, you can get an ever-changing assortment of used items; the indoor market brims with food, flowers, fish, and more.

Visit Kauppatori, Helsinki's Market Square, to browse among the colorful stalls or just relax with a coffee.