A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Helsinki vs. Baltimore for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Families

Should you visit Helsinki or Baltimore?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Helsinki and Baltimore can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Helsinki

Helsinki is a waterfront, active, and nature-focused city. The famous beauty of this place is one of the main draws. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Baltimore

Baltimore is a diverse, colorful, and historic city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. Visitors also love the food, shopping, and museums.

Helsinki and Baltimore: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Helsinki or Baltimore?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Baltimore. Although Helsinki and Baltimore are roughly the same size, Baltimore has more sights and attractions for tourists. Baltimore is better known for its food, nightlife, and big city activities, while Helsinki is more popular for its impressive beauty. Baltimore is more touristy than Helsinki and is popular for the Inner Harbor and its many water based activities. Also, Baltimore is famous for the National Aquarium. Helsinki is well known for its rich culture that includes traditional elements as well as an active subculture scene.

How is Helsinki different from Baltimore?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Baltimore and Helsinki. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Helsinki or Baltimore?

Visiting museums and landmarks is a fun activity in both Helsinki and Baltimore.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Helsinki. Many of the city's sights and attractions center around nature and the water. Major hightlights of the city include the Fortress of Sveaborg, Seurasaari open-Air Museum, and Temppeliaukio Rock Church. The city is also home to The National Museum of Finland.

Visitors can fill many days exploring the museums and attractions around Baltimore. The city is known for its historic ships that are found in the Inner Harbor. There are many other museums around town as well like the American Visionary Art Museum, the Reginald F. Lewis Museum, and the Baltimore Museum of Art. Many days can be filled exploring the many art, history, or science museums in the area.

Is the Food Better in Helsinki or Baltimore? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Baltimore is a very popular place for its restaurants. Also, Helsinki is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.

Baltimore has a huge number of terrific restaurants. The city's location near the Chesapeake Bay means that there are many great local seafood dishes. Blue crab is a regional favorite and is often served as crab soup, crab dip, or crab cakes. You'll find many famous restaurants in the Inner Harbor, but if you want something more local you should check out Little Italy or Fells Point.

There are many up and coming restaurants in the Helsinki area. Food in town is all about local flavors and simple ingredients. The dishes let the flavor speak for itself without fancy cooking techniques or complex flavor combinations. Many of the restaurants are locally sourced with traditional ingredients. You'll find a lot of seafood, herring, grilled sausages, pancakes, and desserts.

Is Helsinki or Baltimore Better for Nightlife?

Baltimore is a very popular place for nightlife and partying. Also, Helsinki is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its evening party scene.

Baltimore has a large number of nightlife venues. It's a vibrant city with many night time activities like breweries, night clubs, and cocktail bars. There's even outside the box activities like ballroom dancing or arcade bars.

Helsinki has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. The nightlife scene is at its best on weekends when the city center comes to life with parties, dance clubs, and student activities. Many of the best clubs and bars are concentrated in the city center. Weekends are a bit calmer and things quiet down a lot.

Is the Shopping Better in Helsinki or Baltimore?

Shoppers can find a variety of superb stores in both Helsinki and Baltimore.

Helsinki is well-known for its shopping. The city is great for shopping, with many brands focused on sustainability. There are local boutiques as well as name brands. Flea markets and vintage shops are also popular.

Browsing through shops is a popular activity in Baltimore. Shopping is a great way to experience the different neighborhoods around town. For high end shopping head to Harbor East. For a bit more history check out Federal Hill. Hampden is known for its quirky style and Fell's Point is particularly popular with tourists.

Is Helsinki or Baltimore Better for Families?

Both Helsinki and Baltimore are superb to visit with kids.

Because of its large number of kid-friendly activities, Helsinki is very family-friendly. The coastal setting offers many activities that kids and adults alike will enjoy. This capital city has a calm atmosphere with plenty of parkland to explore. The shoreline is dotted by islands where you'll also find a zoo and a fort. Kids will also enjoy exploring the islands by boat.

Baltimore is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. The National Aquarium is a highlight for many families. It's an impressive aquarium with dolphins, sharks, puffins, and fish. Also in town is the Port Discovery Children’s Museum which has many interactive exhibits. The Maryland Science Center, the Maryland Zoo, and the many historic ships in the harbor also offer educational opportunities for kids. For something a bit different, check out Urban Pirates in the Inner Harbor.

Is Helsinki or Baltimore Better for Couples?

Helsinki is well known for its romantic activities. Also, Baltimore is still popular, but not quite as popular for couples.

Couples visit Helsinki frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. The city's many parks offer the perfect setting for a picnic or a walk. There are also botanical gardens, evening boat rides, and saunas that will help you enjoy a romantic trip away.

Baltimore is a good city for couples to visit. Most visitors spend the majority of their time around the Inner Harbor. There are restaurants and romantic hotels that are perfect for couples. The city also has many entertainment options and other activities that make for a great date night.

Is Helsinki or Baltimore Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Helsinki and Baltimore are both notable destinations for backpackers.

Helsinki is a good city to visit for backpackers. With its active nightlife scene, vibrant atmosphere, and inclusive personality, this city is a fun place for backpackers, but you should expect to pay a premium for the experience. Many backpackers avoid the city because they have heard how expensive it is. There are a few hostels around that will help you keep costs a bit more manageable.

Plenty of backpackers visit Baltimore. There are a couple of hostels around town, but most international travelers overlook this city.

Is Helsinki or Baltimore Better for Students?

Helsinki is well known for students. However, Baltimore is not popular with students.

Helsinki is very popular with students. The city has an active student life with plenty of culture and nature. It's active nightlife scene and beautiful natural areas make it a wonderful place to study.

Baltimore is not popular with students.

Is Helsinki or Baltimore Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Visitors will find superb public transit in both Helsinki and Baltimore.

The public transit in Helsinki can get you around easily. Transit options include bus, tram, metro, commuter train and ferry services.

Baltimore offers a very effecient public transportation network. There are water taxis and a free downtown bus service that's called the Charm City Circulator. MTA also operates a metro and a light rail system.

Is Helsinki or Baltimore a more walkable city?

Baltimore is a very popular place for its high level of walkability. Also, Helsinki is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its ease of walking around.

Baltimore is a very walkable city. The downtown area is the most walkable part of the city. In particular, the Inner Harbor and Fells Point are particularly walkable.

Helsinki is a somewhat walkable city. Many neighborhoods are easy to explore on foot. The air is also clean and the setting is refreshing.

For even more information, also check out Is Helsinki Worth Visiting? and Is Baltimore Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Baltimore or Helsinki?

How long in Helsinki or Baltimore?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Helsinki and Baltimore. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Helsinki than in Baltimore. Usually, 2-4 days is a good amount of time for Helsinki, and 2-3 days is enough time in Baltimore.

Families should spend more time in Baltimore than Helsinki. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Baltimore, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Helsinki than Baltimore. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Helsinki that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Baltimore than Helsinki if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Baltimore.

One day in Helsinki or Baltimore?

You'll find shopping and museums around the city of Helsinki. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

The city of Baltimore offers food and shopping. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

A weekend in Helsinki or Baltimore?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the waterfront destination of Helsinki. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Baltimore is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this city makes for a great vacation. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Baltimore, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Helsinki or Baltimore?

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the active city of Helsinki. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Baltimore is a popular choice for travelers. Five days is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A week in Helsinki or Baltimore?

Helsinki is a popular choice for travelers. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

Baltimore is a great place to explore. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This city offers something for everyone.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Finland, The Best Tours for Seniors to Finland, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Los Angeles, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from New York City.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Helsinki and Baltimore, we can see that Baltimore is more expensive. And not only is Helsinki much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Helsinki is in Europe and Baltimore is in North America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Helsinki would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Helsinki and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Baltimore would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Baltimore than you might in Helsinki.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Helsinki Expensive? and Is Baltimore Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Helsinki or Baltimore?

Baltimore has a larger population, and is about 9% larger than the population of Helsinki. When comparing the sizes of Helsinki and Baltimore, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Helsinki or Baltimore?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Helsinki or Baltimore in the Summer?

Both Baltimore and Helsinki during the summer are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Helsinki in the summer for the family-friendly experiences. Also, most visitors come to Baltimore for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

Helsinki is much colder than Baltimore in the summer. The daily temperature in Helsinki averages around 17°C (62°F) in July, and Baltimore fluctuates around 78°F (25°C).

In Baltimore, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Helsinki. In the summer, Helsinki often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Baltimore. Helsinki gets 275 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Baltimore receives 283 hours of full sun.

Baltimore gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Helsinki usually gets less rain in July than Baltimore. Helsinki gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Baltimore receives 4.1 inches (103 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Helsinki or Baltimore in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Helsinki and Baltimore. Most visitors come to Helsinki for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area during these months. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Baltimore because of the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.

In the autumn, Helsinki is much colder than Baltimore. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Helsinki in October average around 6°C (42°F), and Baltimore averages at about 57°F (14°C).

Helsinki usually receives less sunshine than Baltimore during autumn. Helsinki gets 90 hours of sunny skies, while Baltimore receives 196 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Helsinki usually receives around the same amount of rain as Baltimore. Helsinki gets 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Baltimore receives 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Helsinki or Baltimore in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Helsinki as well as Baltimore. The winter months attract visitors to Helsinki because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Baltimore this time of year.

It's quite cold in Baltimore in the winter. The weather in Helsinki can be very cold. In January, Helsinki is generally much colder than Baltimore. Daily temperatures in Helsinki average around -6°C (21°F), and Baltimore fluctuates around 32°F (0°C).

In the winter, Helsinki often gets less sunshine than Baltimore. Helsinki gets 39 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Baltimore receives 153 hours of full sun.

Helsinki usually gets less rain in January than Baltimore. Helsinki gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Baltimore receives 2.9 inches (74 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Helsinki or Baltimore in the Spring?

Both Baltimore and Helsinki are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The natural beauty are the main draw to Helsinki this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Baltimore for the activities around the city.

It's quite cold in Helsinki in the spring. Helsinki is much colder than Baltimore in the spring. The daily temperature in Helsinki averages around 3°C (37°F) in April, and Baltimore fluctuates around 54°F (12°C).

It's quite sunny in Baltimore. Helsinki usually receives less sunshine than Baltimore during spring. Helsinki gets 183 hours of sunny skies, while Baltimore receives 225 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Helsinki usually receives less rain than Baltimore. Helsinki gets 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Baltimore receives 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Baltimore and Helsinki