A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Helsinki vs. Turin (Torino) for Attractions, Food, Families, and Couples

Should you visit Helsinki or Turin (Torino)?

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 Turin (Torino) 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 active, nature-focused, and coastal city. You'll find world class beauty here as well. Other popular activities here include nightlife, food, and shopping.

Turin (Torino)

Turin (Torino) is a lively, beautiful, and authentic city. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. Visitors also love the food, shopping, and museums.

Helsinki and Turin (Torino): Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Helsinki or Turin (Torino)?

Both Turin (Torino) and Helsinki have plenty of things to do for travelers. Both provide a wide variety of sights and activities for tourists. Helsinki is more popular for its shopping and impressive beauty, while Turin (Torino) is known for its food. Helsinki is popular for its rich culture that includes traditional elements as well as an active subculture scene. Turin (Torino) is popular for its grand squares, beautiful palaces, and easy access to the Alps.

How is Helsinki different from Turin (Torino)?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Turin (Torino) 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 Turin (Torino)?

Visiting museums and landmarks is a fun activity in both Helsinki and Turin (Torino).

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 Turin (Torino). The city boasts a number of museums including The Egyptian Museum, Museo Nazionale del Cinema, and Museo Nazionale dell'Automobile. Other landmarks include the Royal Armory, The Cathedral and the Holy Shroud, and Palazzo Madama.

Is the Food Better in Helsinki or Turin (Torino)? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

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

Turin (Torino) has a huge number of terrific restaurants. The region has been credited with being the birthplace of the Slow Food Movement. The dishes often use locally made ingredients and there are very diverse flavors and recipes. Local favorites include antipasto misto, risotto ai funghi (mushroom risotto), and carne cruda (beef tartare).

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 Turin (Torino) Better for Nightlife?

The good nightlife scene is relatively similar in Helsinki and Turin (Torino).

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.

Turin (Torino) has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. There's a good nightlife scene that includes everything from bars to dance clubs. Via Po is one of the city's main bar hopping streets. For a more relaxed night out head to Via Garibaldi which has a number of restaurants and cocktail bars.

Is the Shopping Better in Helsinki or Turin (Torino)?

Helsinki is notable for its shopping areas. Also, Turin (Torino) is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for shopping.

Browsing through shops is a popular activity in Helsinki. 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.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Turin (Torino). The city has everything from high end shopping to local boutiques. For the best luxury shopping head to Via Roma. Via Garibaldi is another popular pedestrian street that has many shops and restaurants.

Is Helsinki or Turin (Torino) Better for Families?

Helsinki is notable for its family-friendly activities. Also, Turin (Torino) is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

Helsinki is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. 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.

Turin (Torino) is a family-friendly city. If the kids need to stretch their legs, head to Valentino Park. For kid-friendly museums, check out The Cinema Museum The Egyptian Museum, or the Museum of Car. It's also fun to take a ride of the historic tram.

Is Helsinki or Turin (Torino) Better for Couples?

Both Helsinki and Turin (Torino) are high quality destinations for a couple's getaway.

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.

Couples visit Turin (Torino) frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. With grand squares, beautiful architecture, and excellent cuisine, couples will enjoy every minute of their trip to Turin. The city is also near the Alps, so outdoor adventure isn't far away.

Is Helsinki or Turin (Torino) Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Turin (Torino) is a very popular place for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Helsinki is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for backpackers.

Many backpackers visit Turin (Torino). You'll find hostels around town and easy access to outdoor activities. The city also has great food and a lively atmosphere.

Plenty of backpackers 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.

Is Helsinki or Turin (Torino) Better for Students?

Both Helsinki and Turin (Torino) are high quality 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 Turin (Torino). It's relatively easy to find study abroad opportunities to the area. The city's atmosphere is diverse and fun with many activities that the student population can enjoy.

Is Helsinki or Turin (Torino) Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Visitors will find high quality public transit in both Helsinki and Turin (Torino).

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

Turin (Torino) offers a very effecient public transportation network. The public transit system is operated by Gruppo Torinese Trasporti (GTT) and includes one metro line, nine tram lines, and a number of bus lines.

Is Helsinki or Turin (Torino) a more walkable city?

Helsinki and Turin (Torino) are good 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.

Turin (Torino) is a somewhat walkable city. While the city is large, the city center is generally compact and walkable.

For even more information, also check out Is Helsinki Worth Visiting? and Is Turin (Torino) Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Turin (Torino) or Helsinki?

How long in Helsinki or Turin (Torino)?

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Turin (Torino) 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 Turin (Torino).

One day in Helsinki or Turin (Torino)?

In Helsinki, you'll find museums and nightlife. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

The beautiful city of Turin (Torino) 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 Turin (Torino)?

Helsinki is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Because of this, a weekend is usually enough time for a trip here.

Turin (Torino) 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 Turin (Torino), a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Helsinki or Turin (Torino)?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Helsinki. It offers something for everyone. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Turin (Torino) 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 Turin (Torino)?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the city of Helsinki. Your budget might influence how long you stay. 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.

Turin (Torino) 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 Vineyard & Wine Tours in Italy, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Italy.

When comparing the travel costs between Helsinki and Turin (Torino), we can see that Turin (Torino) 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. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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

Which is Bigger, Helsinki or Turin (Torino)?

Turin (Torino) has a larger population, and is about 55% larger than the population of Helsinki. When comparing the sizes of Helsinki and Turin (Torino), 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.