This Saturday, as I was roaming around the city center, like I often do, I found myself visiting a few bookstores. It’s a weekend ritual for me. But this weekend, I wandered into Rosebud Sivullinen, a well-loved bookstore I don’t visit as often as I should.

As I browsed the shelves, my eye caught a yellow paper notice taped near the cashier. Thanks to my modest understanding of Finnish, I immediately recognized the words Helsingin Antikvaariset Kirjapäivät, which means Helsinki Antiquarian Book Days! The dates printed on the flyer: 25–27 April 2025. Today was the 26th. So, it was happening right now!

From Bookstore to Bus Ride

I didn’t think twice about my next destination. After finishing up at Rosebud, I headed straight to the nearest bus stop and made my way toward Suvilahden Kattilahalli, the venue for the event. On the bus, I quickly pulled up their website to learn more. I found out that this was the third annual gathering where antiquarian booksellers, small publishers, and the Rosebud bookstore itself brought together their unique selections from all over Finland. Visitors could expect to find a treasure of older and newer literature, plus comics.

Upstairs, the Finnish Comic Strip Society (Suomen sarjakuvaseura) and the Finnish Comic Strip Artists Association (Sarjakuvantekijät ry) were hosting a special exhibition.This collection showcased every comic strip artist who has ever received the Puupäähattu award, which is presented annually to distinguished Finnish comic artists. It offered a fascinating and colorful glimpse into the rich world of Finnish comics.

Exploring a Hidden World of Books (and Much More!)

When I finally arrived and stepped into Kattilahalli, I was immediately swept up by the atmosphere. Determined to see as much as possible, I did my best to explore every table and every shelf. Most of the books were in Finnish, of course, but there were still plenty of English-language treasures tucked among them, spanning all sorts of genres.

Rosebud had brought a large selection of both new and antiquarian books. They used different-colored price labels to distinguish them. From what I could tell, many of the antiquarian books were priced around 5 euros (if my excitement didn’t trick my memory into rounding prices too generously)!

But it wasn’t just books. As soon as you entered the hall, you were greeted by a vibrant collection of vintage movie posters. Magazines, old comics, and even DVDs were on offer too, giving the whole event a wonderful, nostalgic feeling.

A Perfect Weekend for Book Lovers and Collectors

Helsingin Antikvaariset Kirjapäivät was a fantastic way to spend weekend, especially if you’re a book lover, a collector, or simply someone who enjoys getting lost among stories from the past.