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It's safe to say that most people don't come to Helsinki for the beaches, but on a hot summer day in July Hietsu (as it is known to locals) is a good place to be. Beach volleyball, swimming and various events are popular. It's wide city center sand beach and moreover, surrounded with large park area, where people sunbathe and picnic in the summer time.
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You can rent a standup paddleboard or a kayak.
Hietaniemen hautausmaa
Helsinki's equivalent to Arlington in Washington D.C., Hietaniemi is the final resting place for many Finns of importance during the last 200 years: politicians including almost all heads of state, artists and other cultural personalities, war heroes and so on. Some grave monuments are quite impressive.
The world-famous composer Jean Sibelius' monument was designed by sculptress Eila Hiltunen and unveiled in 1967. It is one of the most well-known tourist attractions in Helsinki as nearly every guided tourist tour is brought to Sibelius Park to marvel at this unique work of art resembling organ pipes, welded together from 600 pipes and weighing over 24 metric tons.
Temppeliaukion kirkko, literally "Temple Square Church"
An atmospheric of minimalistic church, this church was literally dug out of solid rock. From above, it resembles a crashed UFO. The roof is made of 22 km of copper strips. Completed in 1969, this has become one of Helsinki's most popular attractions. Concerts are often held here thanks to the excellent acoustics.
Heikki Ritavuoren murhapaikka
Finnish Interior Minister Heikki Ritavuori was assassinated by Swedish-speaking activist Ernst Tandefelt. At the front door of Ritavuori's former home stands the Finnish text: "Minister of the Interior Heikki Ritavuori was killed in front of his front door on 14 February 1922 by a bullet from an Assassin."
Luonnontieteen museo
The museum of natural history is operated by Helsinki University and shows Finnish wildlife, dinosaur skeletons and everything in-between.