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

Should you visit Helsinki or Canberra?

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 Canberra 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 environmentally conscious, waterfront, and active city. It's considered by many to be an absolutely beautiful destination, too. Visitors also love the food, shopping, and museums.

Canberra

Canberra is a cultural, diverse, and under-rated city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. Visitors also love the nightlife, food, and hiking.

Helsinki and Canberra: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Helsinki or Canberra?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Canberra than Helsinki. While Helsinki is larger than Canberra, Canberra has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Canberra is better known for its food, hiking, and big city activities, while Helsinki is more popular for its shopping and impressive beauty. Helsinki is more touristy than Canberra and is known for its rich culture that includes traditional elements as well as an active subculture scene. Canberra is well known for its educational museums and the nearby nature reserves. Also, Canberra is famous for the Australian War Memorial.

How is Helsinki different from Canberra?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Canberra 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 Canberra?

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

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 Canberra. As Australia's capital, there are a large number of museums around town that focus on everything from history and culture to science and nature. Some of the most interesting are the Australian War Memorial, the New Parliament House, the Museum of Australian Democracy, the National Gallery of Australia, and the National Science and Technology Centre, but there are many more.

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

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

Canberra has a huge number of terrific restaurants. There's a trendy culinary scene as well as nearby vineyards that provide great wine. You'll find everything from family-friendly and casual to upscale and fine dining.

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 Canberra Better for Nightlife?

The notable nightlife scene is relatively similar in Helsinki and Canberra.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Helsinki. 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.

Canberra has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. There are local pubs and music venues that offer fun entertainment in the evening. You can sip wine or practice your dance moves at one of the city's clubs.

Is Helsinki or Canberra Better for Hiking?

Canberra is a city with good options for its hiking trails. However, Helsinki is not a hiking destination.

Plenty of visitors go hiking around Canberra. There's one national park - Namadgi, as well as green space, rolling hills, and hiking trails just outside of town.

Helsinki is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Helsinki or Canberra?

Helsinki is an excellent place to visit for its shopping opportunities. Also, Canberra is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its shopping areas.

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.

Many visitors go to Canberra to go shopping. Caberra Centre is the city's largest shopping centre and it has all of the usual international brands.

Is Helsinki or Canberra Better for Families?

Both Helsinki and Canberra are excellent 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.

Canberra is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. There are interactive museums and science centers such as Questacon, the National Dinosaur Museum, and the National Zoo and Aquarium. There are also cultural and historical museums such as the Australian War Memorial, the Museum of Australian Democracy, and the National Museum of Australia. The city also has plenty of outdoor space and hands on crafts that kids will enjoy.

Is Helsinki or Canberra Better for Couples?

Helsinki is an excellent place to visit for its romantic activities. Also, Canberra is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for couples.

Helsinki makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. 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.

Canberra is a good city for couples to visit. As the city has plenty of date night activities like nice restaurants, interesting shows, and trendy wineries. During the day you can explore the outdoor setting, have a picnic, or visit a vineyard.

Is Helsinki or Canberra Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Helsinki is a popular place for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Canberra is lacking in options for backpackers.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Helsinki. 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.

Canberra is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. Despite being the capital city, few backpackers actually spend much time in town. There are some budget-friendly motels if you're stopping by.

Is Helsinki or Canberra Better for Students?

Both Helsinki and Canberra are excellent destinations for students.

Students come from all over to stay in Helsinki. 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.

Many students visit Canberra. It's a welcoming city that is a fairly popular study abroad destination. Many students appreciate the friendly atmosphere, safe environment, and great economic setting.

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

Helsinki is an excellent place to visit for times when you don't have a car. Also, Canberra is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its public transit.

Helsinki has some very good public transit options. Transit options include bus, tram, metro, commuter train and ferry services.

You'll find some public transit in Canberra, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There are public buses as well as a light rail system. The Red Explorer Loop bus goes by many of the city's sights.

Is Helsinki or Canberra a more walkable city?

Helsinki and Canberra are notable when it comes to walkability.

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

Canberra is a somewhat walkable city. There are parts of the city that are walkable and possible to explore on foot, but in general this is a very car-centered city.

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

Should I spend more time in Canberra or Helsinki?

How long in Helsinki or Canberra?

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

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

Couples should spend more time in Helsinki than Canberra. 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 Helsinki than Canberra 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 Helsinki.

One day in Helsinki or Canberra?

The beautiful city of Helsinki 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.

The city of Canberra 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 Canberra?

Helsinki 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 Helsinki, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Canberra 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 Canberra, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Helsinki or Canberra?

Helsinki 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.

Canberra 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 Canberra?

Helsinki 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.

Canberra 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 Walking Tours in Australia, and The Best Eco Tours in Australia.

When comparing the travel costs between Helsinki and Canberra, we can see that Helsinki is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Helsinki is in Europe and Canberra is in Pacific, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.

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

Which is Bigger, Helsinki or Canberra?

Helsinki has a larger population, and is about 70% larger than the population of Canberra. When comparing the sizes of Helsinki and Canberra, 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 Canberra?

Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Canberra is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but Helsinki has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].

Should I visit Helsinki or Canberra in the Summer?

Both Canberra and Helsinki are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Helsinki for the family-friendly experiences. Also, many visitors come to Canberra in the summer for the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.

Helsinki is cooler than Canberra in the summer. The daily temperature in Helsinki averages around 17°C (62°F) in July, and Canberra fluctuates around 20°C (68°F)in January.

In July, Helsinki usually receives less rain than Canberrain January. Helsinki gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Canberra receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Helsinki or Canberra in the Autumn?

Both Canberra and Helsinki during the autumn are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Helsinki in the autumn for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area. Furthermore, most visitors come to Canberra for the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, and the shopping scene during these months.

In the autumn, Helsinki is much colder than Canberra. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Helsinki in October average around 6°C (42°F), and Canberra averages at about 17°C (63°F)in April.

Canberra gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Helsinki usually gets less rain in October than Canberrain April. Helsinki gets 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Canberra receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Helsinki or Canberra in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Helsinki and Canberra. Most visitors come to Helsinki for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Furthermore, the winter months attract visitors to Canberra because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Helsinki can be very cold during winter. In January, Helsinki is generally much colder than Canberrain July. Daily temperatures in Helsinki average around -6°C (21°F), and Canberra fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

In January, Helsinki usually receives around the same amount of rain as Canberrain July. Helsinki gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Canberra receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Helsinki or Canberra in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Helsinki as well as Canberra. The spring months attract visitors to Helsinki because of the natural beauty. Additionally, the activities around the city are the main draw to Canberra this time of year.

The weather in Helsinki can be very cold. Helsinki is much colder than Canberra in the spring. The daily temperature in Helsinki averages around 3°C (37°F) in April, and Canberra fluctuates around 15°C (60°F)in October.

Helsinki usually gets less rain in April than Canberrain October. Helsinki gets 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Canberra receives 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Canberra and Helsinki