INDIVUE – travel & art

Past month 2025–2026, Helsinki offered an exceptionally rich Christmas season with three different Christmas markets, each contributing in its own way to the city’s festive atmosphere. Together, they ensured that the Christmas spirit did not abruptly end in December, but continued well into early January.

The largest and most well-known of these was Tuomaan Markkinat, held at Senate Square. This traditional market remains a cornerstone of Helsinki’s Christmas season and is highly recommended for anyone visiting the city during the holidays. Tuomaan Markkinat ends couple of days before Christmas Eve and holidays.

Tuomaan Markkinat at Senate Square

Tuomaan Markkinat offered a delightful selection of festive food and drinks, ranging from traditional Christmas classics to newly updated, modern seasonal flavours, in 2025. The food stalls reflected both Finnish Christmas heritage and contemporary interpretations, making the market interesting even for returning visitors.

The atmosphere was jolly, warm, and unmistakably Christmassy. Soft lights, nice music, historic surroundings, and the iconic Helsinki Cathedral in the background created a setting that felt both intimate and grand at the same time. In the evenings, Senate Square was lively and often very crowded, filled with locals and visitors enjoying the festive mood.

During daytime, however, the experience was quite different. As you can see in my video, the square felt more spacious and relaxed, allowing visitors to explore the stalls at an unhurried pace. I filmed the footage during one of the very few sunny moments in Helsinki in December 2025, which made the pale winter light and historic architecture stand out beautifully.

Weather, Light, and Timing

December 2025 in Helsinki was largely snowless, which made those rare sunny moments particularly special. Snow and consistent winter sunshine only arrived at the beginning of January 2026, after Christmas itself had already passed.

This made it especially enjoyable that the other two Christmas markets in the city remained open until 6 January 2026. Thanks to their extended duration, it was still possible to experience an authentic Christmas atmosphere outdoors in Helsinki, now accompanied by snow, crisp air, and brighter winter light.

A Longer Christmas Season in the City

The extended Christmas market season gave both residents and visitors more flexibility. Those who prefer quieter daytime visits, winter photography, or simply enjoying seasonal food without large crowds benefited greatly from this longer timeframe.

Altogether, Helsinki’s three Christmas markets in 2025–2026 created a festive season that felt more inclusive, relaxed, and seasonally appropriate — especially once winter finally arrived in January. Combined with light, snow, and historic surroundings, they offered an authentic and memorable Christmas experience in the Finnish capital.

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