The Doggy Route to Happiness | The world’s first sightseeing tour for dogs
The Doggy Route to Happiness - credits Helsinki Partners
Café Doggata at The Doggy Route to Happiness - credits Helsinki Partners
Stickelius Monument with dog - Helsinki Partners - The Doggy Route to Happiness
Dog Portrait Collage - The Doggy Route to Happiness - credits Helsinki Partners
Outdoor advertisement for the Doggy Route to Happiness - Helsinki Partners
Le Pipi - The Doggy Route to Happiness - credits Helsinki Partners
Last weekend, Helsinki, known as the happiest capital in the world, launched The Doggy Route to Happiness, believed to be the world’s first sightseeing tour designed especially for dogs. The event coincided with the World Dog Show 2025 and attracted over 1,000 dogs and their owners.
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Highlights included the Stickelius Monument
The Stickelius Monument is a canine-sized tribute to the iconic Sibelius Monument, built entirely from sticks collected by Neris, a local rescue dog famous for his “Stick Gallery” art installations. This 1:4 scale version drew media attention and calls for it to become a permanent feature.
Café Dogatta part of The Doggy Route to Happiness
The route also featured Café Dogatta, a “pup-up” café next to the popular seaside Café Regatta, and Rajasaari Island, a unique dog-only island in the heart of Helsinki. Open year-round and accessible on foot, Rajasaari offers forests, beaches, and swimming spots – with the President and Prime Minister living just across the water. While the route itself was created for the launch weekend, Dogatta and Rajasaari remain open permanently for locals and visitors.
About happiness in Finland
Finland, home to 5.6 million people and around 800,000 dogs, has the highest number of dogs per person in the world. Helsinki alone has an estimated 40,000 dogs, and the city offers over 90 dog parks, several dog beaches, a 50-hectare dog forest, and numerous training fields. Dogs are welcome in most shops, cafés, and restaurants – some with special dog menus – and even in libraries, where “reading dogs” help children practise reading. Dogs also travel for free on all public transport.
According to Soila Lehkonen, Head of Brand & PR at Helsinki Partners, the initiative aimed to showcase beloved outdoor spots from a dog’s perspective: “Pets boost happiness. We wanted to create attractions both dog owners and their pets could enjoy together.”
The Doggy Route to Happiness reflects Helsinki’s inclusive approach to well-being – extending its world-renowned quality of life not just to humans, but also to their four-legged companions.
We recently wrote an article about HosPETality!
Website: Helsinki Partners
