Helsinki may not be the first city that comes to mind for adult entertainment, but it has a thriving sex industry for those looking to indulge.
Home to 620,000 people, Finland’s capital is a busy mix of tourists, students, and business travelers. While its nightlife is packed with bars and clubs, the city also offers a variety of adult services, from escorts and erotic massage parlours to private strip clubs and discreet encounters.
If you’re in Helsinki and looking for NSFW entertainment, we’ve got some decent options to explore. This guide breaks down the best ways to find adult fun in the city.
Helsinki’s Adult Entertainment
Sex and Prostitution In Helsinki
Prostitution in Finland is legal, but you’re unlikely to see much sign of the world’s oldest trade in public life.
That’s because while buying or selling sex in private is allowed, soliciting in public, and any kind of organized prostitution (like brothels, escort agencies or pimping) are banned.
Lawmakers have taken a middle path: no, it’s not the full “Nordic model” (where punters are criminalized), but authorities take a pretty dim view of pop-up brothels, and the street trade has largely been driven underground.
By most accounts, Helsinki’s commercial sex scene is relatively small and low-key compared to major European capitals. More than 66% of sex workers in Helsinki are foreign migrants rather than local Finns.
Similar to other cities in the region, Helsinki draws in escorts from Russia, the Baltics, Eastern Europe, and beyond, making for a rather transient sex scene with little in the way of ‘home talent’.
As we’ll see below, there’s little in the way of a red light district (official or otherwise). If you want to find Helsinki’s sexy side, you really need to head online. So… welcome!
Escort Industry
As a consequence of the current law structure, Helsinki’s escort industry is largely a private, online-driven scene. You won’t find many agencies or luxury courtesan houses (like you might in other major European cities).
Virtually all escorts work independently or with loosely organized networks that are kept well away from the public view.
In 2019, Finland’s biggest sex-ad listing website “Sihteeriopisto” was briefly shut down (by Spanish authorities, since it was hosted abroad), and this – predictably – caused absolute chaos in the local sex trade.
Before its closure, Sihteeriopisto was the main hub for escorts and punters. It’s said that an estimated 95% of Finland’s sex business was arranged through that site, a staggering number, and while the site eventually re-emerged through different hosting and alternate domains (and possibly even different owners), the disruption led to something of a splintered market, which continues to this day.
If we look at the actual demographic of Helsinki escorts in 2025, a significant number are foreign women touring or temporarily staying in Finland… plus a smattering of local Finnish providers (usually much more expensive to hire).
Most escorts in Finland come from abroad, from Eastern Europe, Russia, Africa, and the Baltic countries.
They often travel through Helsinki as part of a circuit, staying for a few days or weeks, possibly dropping through Tampere or Espoo too. The selection can vary month to month. Typically, communication is usually in English (or sometimes Russian), and curiously, it can be harder to find escorts who can actually speak Finnish.
How and where are services advertised? Almost entirely online.
Since the fall of the old Sihteeriopisto site, the escort ads have splintered across multiple platforms:
Sihteeriopisto spin-offs – Many agencies have registered domains and URLs peddling off the back of the historic Finnish escort forum. It was taken down in 2019, but punters weren’t exactly aware of the legal troubles. These days you can find multiple different spin-offs of the Sihteeriopisto brand, each littered with escort ads.
It’s probably not a great idea to trust sites involved with this kind of brand-hijacking.
RealEscort – One of the best known directories to serve Helsinki, currently has 110+ ads of local providers. It also has sections for Espoo and Tampere (although much smaller).
EuroGirlsEscort – Another global escort listing site. It features a number of Helsinki escorts (217 at our last count), often those touring from other countries. It’s known for a wide selection, though some profiles can be semi-pro or agency-managed, leading to slightly higher prices across the board.
A few freelance escorts use X/Twitter or Snapchat to advertise to Finnish clients. There are also closed Telegram groups and the like, but those are invitation-only. We’re also seeing a small number of Helsinki-based OnlyFans stars that appear to be moonlighting as courtesans.
Helsinki Brothels
There are no legal brothels in Helsinki. Locals prefer to visit massage parlours for general relief or arrange private (“privaatti”) shows with sex performers.
Helsinki does experience the temporary sex worker one-woman, AirBnB phenomenon. This occurs when a sex worker rents an apartment for a couple of weeks and runs a pop-up brothel. These are usually shut down very quickly, and it isn’t possible to provide details (for multiple reasons!).
However, be aware that some escorts (particularly those engaged through the free classifieds) often run these set-ups.
In short: Helsinki’s commercial sex scene is escort-based, not brothel-based.
Red Light Districts
Helsinki does not have an ‘official’ designated red light district.
This is largely due to the legal stance: selling sex is legal but public solicitation is outlawed, which effectively banned street prostitution back in 1999, and it has never really shown any signs of recovering.
In the 1990s, certain streets in the Kallio neighborhood were known for street hookers plying their trade, most notably around Aleksis Kiven katu and Vaasankatu.
At one point this area had a bit of a red light feel with sex workers finding johns on the street corners. However, once the city banned offering sex in public, that scene was quickly dismantled. It’s said that some street activity moved to the nearby city of Vantaa (where rules were initially looser) until Vantaa also banned it a year later.
We still hear the occasional report of activity in areas around Kalevankatu and Annankatu (in the downtown/Kamppi area), both of which have had reports of sex workers soliciting on the street during the early hours. It’s reported that a quickie goes for as low as €50 whilst some daring punters still find it possible to get a blowjob for around €20. Pretty crazy, and pretty stupid.
These are almost exclusively foreign women, many of them from Africa. Police do their best to bust any scene, and generally, it’s a bad idea to go anywhere near here.
The Price of Sex in Helsinki
How much does sex cost in Helsinki?
Well, in general, prices are on the higher end of European averages, and that’s mostly driven by short supply and a much higher cost of living.
Here’s a breakdown of typical costs for different services:
Independent Escort (Incall) – For a one-hour appointment at an escort’s place, expect to pay roughly €150–€250 on average. Many independent escorts in Helsinki charge around €200/hour for full service. Some very popular or high-end providers might ask €300 or more per hour, especially the loaded touring models or the girls offering specialty experiences (refined GFE, PSE, etc). Some escorts will have a 30-minute rate as well, usually around €100–€150, but you certainly won’t get this as an outcall.
Outcalls – Outcall services often cost a bit more. Add roughly €50 to the incall rate to account for travel time and transport. So an hour outcall might be €200–€300. Some escorts have a flat outcall surcharge (e.g. +€20–€50) depending on distance. No quickie options for outcalls.
Street Hookers – One crazy mofo forum punter says he managed to get a whole night from a street girl for €150, but the general rate is said to be €50–€100. Low price, high risk. We strongly suggest you stay off the street.
Erotic Massage – A legitimate massage (1 hour) in Helsinki costs around €60–€80 at regular spas. At the Thai massage parlours that offer extras, the upfront massage fee is usually €30–€50 for 30 minutes or €60 for an hour. If you want sexual extras, there’s an additional tip. A standard “happy ending” ir probably gonna add around €30–€50. Full service? The reports are so patchy that we don’t really trust the numbers we’ve seen.
Within Finland, Helsinki is the priciest city for sex (unsurprising as it’s the capital), but the discrepancy between other cities is not massive, since the choice across Finland is still not particularly impressive.
Erotic Massage Shops
Helsinki is serviced by a lot of adult massage parlours, many being Thai.
Most will provide happy endings as part and parcel of the service with the cost being added to the initial charge paid at the front desk. It is likely that paying for a 30-minute massage, ten minutes will be spent giving you an inadequate but tantalizing body rub before being asked if you would like ‘extras’.
You can expect to pay anywhere from €20-€100 depending on what is being offered and who is offering it. Payment for extras is considered a tip and should be made in cash directly to your masseuse.
Most massage parlours in Kallio (the closest thing to a red light district) will offer extras so you don’t need to get too detailed with the reception staff if you are booking into one of these venues.
Though there are more than fifty body rub centers in Helsinki, it is not known how many of these will provide additional services.
You can also pay extra for a less (instantly) fulfilling, but more expertly delivered, Tantric massage. A body to body experience, the effects can be very overwhelming and more than make up for the lack of a full service at the end.
Some of the girls do provide manual relief to clients but it isn’t guaranteed. Expect to pay around €100-€150 for a session of Tantric massage.
Sex Clubs In Helsinki
If you’re hoping to get your rocks off at a proper sex club in Helsinki, you’ll find the options are… niche.
We’re not talking about Berlin-style mega-orgy warehouses here. Nope, the scene is small, discreet, and mostly revolves around private swinger events that are invite-only or couple-focused.
If you’re looking to get involved with swinging in Helsinki, we suggest you join an online community like SDC where local events are posted regularly.
WildClub
WildClub is the best-known operation in the country. It’s not a club in the usual sense, but rather a monthly swinger party held at a rented venue (usually a manor in Kirkkonummi, 30 minutes from Helsinki). These parties attract everyone from tattooed kinksters to vanilla-curious couples in their 40s; it’s a real mix.
They previously used a 600 sq. m club spread over three floors, offering an up-market experience for couples and selected singles looking to share a night of open-minded exploration.
You’re not expected to get naked unless you want to, though, fair warning, it is Finland, and someone is probably gonna be in a sauna within 45 minutes of arrival.
Villi Kartanoon
The legendary Villi Ira’s parties are also part of the Helsinki scene.
She’s got a new website being launched soon with talk of BDSM workshops and yet more parties (pretty sure she handles most of the WildClub events).
Helsinki Strip Clubs
Strip clubs in Helsinki are of two types; one is the the type that most European travelers would recognize as a gentleman’s club, whilst the second is a private, one-woman show similar to those you might find in a sex shop or cabin in a sex cinema.
Kallio is a popular area for these private shows and you can find most located in Vaasankatu. Head for the crowds and look out for the magic words ‘private show’ or ‘privatshowpaikka’ and you won’t be disappointed.
Popular private show venues include The Queen’s Show, the oldest such venue in the city and Magic Life on Aleksis Kivenkatu.
There’s also Hot Girls over on Kustaankatu.
As for traditional strip clubs, you’ve got a few good options:
Gentlemen’s Club Helsinki
Iso Roobertinkatu 4-6, 00120 Helsinki
https://www.gentlemansclub.fi/en/main/
Probably the best-known and most professional venue in the city.
A popular stag destination.
Private shows start at €100 for 20 minutes and the dancers are a mix of Eastern European and Finnish girls. Very safe, very foreigner-friendly… but don’t expect extras. The bouncers are ex-military and the dancers sure don’t fuck around if you step out of line.
Crystal Show Club
Lönnrotinkatu 19A, 00120 Helsinki
https://www.crystalshowclub.com
One of the most popular traditional strip clubs in Helsinki, the Crystal Show Club is a gentleman’s club style strip joint set over two floors.
Modern in design and providing full bar service along with table, pole and private dancing… the venue appeals to a slightly younger crowd. You can arrange for a limousine pick up service to make your evening a little more special. Expect plenty of business travellers in addition to the capital’s high-flyers.
Rumor has it some dancers also work on escort sites, but nothing’s guaranteed!
Alcatraz Club
Eerikinkatu 3, 00100 Helsinki
Originally opening in 1997, the Alcatraz Club is a popular venue for locals and tourists. It is also a busy venue during the week, with plenty of business tourists lapping up the eye candy.
Offering live dance performances, full bar service in addition to private entertainment and VIP lounges, Alcatraz is a modern and stylish club with some cracking eye candy.
Local Sex Shops and Adult Stores
Kallio is Helsinki’s unofficial adult retail zone. If you want to buy toys, porn, lubes, leather cuffs, or novelty condoms shaped like Moomins… this is your ideal hunting ground.
Some notable stores to check out:
Amatsoonit
Pengerkatu 18, 00500 Helsinki
Amatsoonit has two locations in Finland with the Helsinki store being the flagship site.
As well as stocking a wide range of bedroom accessories including toys, DVDs and books the store also runs private peep/strip shows. You simply slip inside the private room with whoever is on rota and enjoy a private dance. Though extras aren’t a guarantee, we’ve seen reports of girls delivering a handjob or even a blowjob for extra tips.
Amatsoonit has a special S&M room to entertain those with an eye for the fet life.
Aikuisten Lelukauppa
Viides linja 7, 00530 Helsinki
https://www.aikuistenlelukauppa.fi
Opening in 1991, this quaint sex boutique is a traditional sex shop with welcoming staff, a great range of products and some unusual treats. It’s one of Helsinki’s longest-running adult retailers… and probably the classiest of the bunch. Think quality vibrators (Lelo, Fun Factory), BDSM accessories that won’t fall apart mid-session, and a surprisingly solid range of prostate massagers for the guys.
Susanna Q / Sex-Tavaratalo Susanna
Kustaankatu 2, 00500 Helsinki (Kallio)
This place is something of a Helsinki legend.
Part sex shop, part strip club, part time machine. Susanna Q… also known as the “Sex Department Store”… has been open for decades and is known not just for selling toys but for offering live private strip shows on site.
The retail floor sells everything from whips and gags to lingerie and rubber wear. Upstairs you’ll find one-on-one show booths where performers will dance, tease and chat topless.
Keltainen Ruusu
Malminrinne 2-4, 00100 Helsinki
Another sex shop which combines a sex cinema with private viewing cabins, there is plenty going on at this centrally located sex shop.
The product range is good to browse (sex dolls, fetish goods and pharmacy items) and should cover most bases but it is the lure of cruising which has locals coming back for more as well as proving an unlikely tourist hot spot.
To access the cinema area you will need to pay an entry fee of €15 and then the range of entertainment is limited to either the 30 titles on offer in the private screens or your own imagination. Back rooms are men only, and cater heavily to the local gay and bi crowd. Expect dark lighting, grunts from behind curtains, and the occasional glory hole surprise.
Cleanliness is… subjective, but the regulars don’t seem to mind!
Other Notable Adult Attractions
Beyond the usual commercial sex, Helsinki’s adult scene has a few other little things worth mentioning:
Sexhibition
Helsinki hosts an annual erotic trade show called Sexhibition. It’s usually held in late October at the Kaapelitehdas (Cable Factory) event center. The last one featured some erotic performances, vendor booths (toys, lingerie, art), and even some international porn stars as guests.
It’s basically an erotic carnival meets expo. There are also afterparties at local nightclubs during the expo weekend, which are definitely worth attending if this kind of crowd is your thing.
Top Pickup Destinations
Not everyone in Helsinki is looking to pay for fun, right? Sure enough, the city has a very active hookup culture. Casual sex is relatively common and socially accepted. In fact, Finland has a bit of a reputation for its one-night stands and that famous matter-of-fact approach to sex.
The general rule in night spots: people are shy when sober, but very friendly when drunk.
Kamppi has the highest concentration of clubs and late-night bars.
Big clubs like Apollo Live Club (a combo nightclub and live music venue) draw a mid-20s to 30s crowd, with pop/rock music and a lively dance floor. Skohan (not far from the railway station) is a trendy club with EDM/house music… lots of stylish young Finns, and a decent spot to meet outgoing types. Teatteri (at the Swedish Theatre building) and nearby Kämp Bar are for a slightly fancier, late-20s crowd; rumour has it you’ll find a few “sugar babies” and gold diggers there!
Oh, and don’t forget the nicely-named Granny tunnel (Mummotunneli)!
Nope, this isn’t a single bar, but a nickname for a cluster of outdoor bar terraces in an alley (officially called Mikonkatu Yards, near Mikonkatu 8). In summer, it’s a prime spot for the 30+ and 40+ crowd to drink and flirt. The joke is that “grannies” go there, but it’s actually a mix of ages (with a lot of middle-aged singles).
If you’re older and looking to meet someone in your age range, Mummotunneli could be fertile ground. 😂
Are there any great adult services or attractions in Helsinki that we’ve missed? Have you experienced any of those above and want to leave a review?
Let us know your thoughts.
