To celebrate 150 years of Helsinki City Council operations, an Open House will be arranged at the City Hall on Helsinki Day, Thursday 12 June that will allow members of the public to tour some of the building’s premises that are normally off limits. The tour will lead visitors from the City Hall lobby to the mayor’s reception room and its adjacent balcony looking out over the Market Square. From there, it will continue to the historic Banquet Hall and the Council Chamber.
Along the route, visitors will have the opportunity to see historical documents and artefacts associated with the City Council’s decision-making and operations over the years.
Helsinki City Hall was designed by the architect Carl Ludvig Engel and completed in 1833. In 1913, it housed the Hotel Seurahuone. The building has functioned as the City Hall since the 1930s. From 1965 to 1970, the interior was rebuilt under the leadership of the architect Aarno Ruusuvuori. Only the Banquet Hall and facade were preserved.
Several artworks are on display at City Hall, the most famous of which include a painting of Helsinki from 1877 by Oscar Kleineh, the metal sculpture People Through the Ages (1971) by Eila Hiltunen, Kimmo Kaivanto’s imposing installation Ketju (1971) and Rut Bryk’s ceramic relief Kaupunki auringossa (1975).
The City Hall’s Open House is open to the public at no cost. It is part of the Helsinki Day programme, celebrating the capital’s birthday.
Event details
Open House: An inside look at Helsinki decision-making
Where: Helsinki City Hall, Pohjoisesplanadi 11–13, the tours will depart from the main entrance
When: Helsinki Day, Thursday 12 June 2025 from 8.30 to 10.20
The Open House is open to the public at no cost. Parts of the tour are not accessible.