Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki
City Guide
City Guide
City Guide
City Guide
City Guide
Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki
City Guide
City Guide
City Guide
City Guide
City Guide
Table of Contents
IN A NUTSHELL
Visit Helsinki with Kids
Helsinki is a wonderful destination for families travelling with kids. With its stunning architecture, beautiful parks and family-friendly attractions, there’s always something to do. Your kids will love visiting the Helsinki Zoo, which is home to over 150 animal species, or exploring the interactive exhibits at the Helsinki Science Centre. Take a leisurely stroll through the Helsinki Central Park or enjoy the views from the SkyWheel Helsinki ferris wheel. And don’t forget to sample some traditional Finnish treats like reindeer sausage or sweet cinnamon buns. With so much to see and do, Helsinki with kids is sure to be a tantrum-free travel experience that everyone will enjoy!
Discover more on visiting Helsinki as a family.
The Best Time to Visit Helsinki with Kids
Although most Finns will tell you that the best time to visit anywhere in Finland is during summer.This is when the weather is warm and the days are long, allowing you to make the most of the city’s outdoor attractions. You can take a ferry to the Suomenlinna Sea Fortress and explore the historic buildings, or head to the Helsinki Zoo and see the animals basking in the sunshine. The beaches and parks are also perfect for picnics and outdoor activities. Additionally, during this time, the city hosts a range of family-friendly events, including the Helsinki Day celebrations and the Helsinki Festival.
However, one of the best parts of Finland is the seasons. Even in the darkest, greyest times of the year you can find indoor activities in Helsinki as well as outdoor activities in Helsinki. Helsinki has plenty of nature that is easily accessible by everyone. There are also plenty of guided or self-guided activities and tours in nature all year round from enjoying the seaside in summer to ice-skating and saunas in winter, to berry or mushroom picking in fall.
© Jussi Hellsten
How to Get to Helsinki with Kids
You can get to Helsinki with kids from many countries by plane. From Tallinn, Estonia and Stockholm, Sweden it is also possible to arrive by ferry. From other places in Finland you can travel to Helsinki by bus and train. Discover more about getting to Helsinki.
Must Dos When in Helsinki with Kids
- Visit the UNESCO world heritage site Suomenlinna Sea Fortress. It is fun for all ages and open every day of the year. You can get the public ferry which will take you there from the Market Square. On Suomenlinna you will find museums, restaurants and cute cafés. The Sea Fortress itself is the main reason to visit Suomenlinna and its tunnels are exciting for children. In summer it is also fun to visit the Toy Museum and the submarine Vesikko.
- Visit different neighbourhoods in Helsinki.
- Visit the city centre – You can download online maps and brochures. For example “4 walking routes in Helsinki” is convenient if you want to start exploring Helsinki.
- Visit the historic center of Helsinki.
- Visit the Töölönlahti Bay area, where you will also find plenty of things to do for families.
Discover more must-sees in Helsinki.
LOCATION
Hotels in Helsinki
Our Top Family-Friendly Hotels in Helsinki
Scandic Grand Central Helsinki **** – The hotel offers a range of amenities to ensure a comfortable and enjoyable stay. Families can take advantage of the free WiFi and kids up to and including 12 years old stay at no cost, making it an affordable option for families. The family room is spacious and can accommodate up to four people. Guests can also enjoy pancakes at breakfast and kids-friendly dishes on the restaurant menu. Kids can even order half portion meals at half the price from the à la carte menu. To keep kids entertained, crayons and coloring activities are available in the reception and restaurant.
Original Sokos Hotel Vaakuna **** – Centrally located making it ideal to get to the various activities nearby. You can also rent out Finnish hobbyhorses from this hotel.
Clarion Hotel Helsinki **** – Located on the seaside, this hotel features an outdoor swimming pool and great views.
Glo Hotel Art **** – Glo Hotel Art, located in Helsinki’s chic Design District, is an ideal family-friendly accommodation option. The hotel offers adjoining rooms, ensuring that families can stay close together. Kids will be thrilled with the stone castle’s thousands of art nouveau details, making it one of Helsinki’s most beloved buildings. Upon arrival, children are given colouring pens and paper to keep them entertained, and when it’s time to leave, they receive soap bubble bottles as a sweet parting gift. To add to the excitement, lollipops are thoughtfully placed in their bedrooms, creating an extra special touch.
Discover more accommodations in Helsinki for families.
© Julia Kivelä
© Tuomas Uusheimo
PLAY
Activities for children ages 0-5
Tiring our babies and toddlers whilst they absorb all that is around them.
Oodi Library – Located in the heart of the city center. At the Oodi Library, you will find various spaces and activities designed for families.
Helsinki City Museum – This is free of charge and here you will find a fun exhibition for children called Children’s Town.
Museum Leikki – This is the Museum of Play. Located just a short metro ride away from Espoo (region in Helsinki). There are different exhibitions to explore, including one about how kids used to play in the past. The museum has a big collection of toys from all over the country, and it’s a great place to have fun and play.
SeaLife– They offer interesting talks and activities that let you get a closer look at the incredible world underwater.
PLAY
Activities for older kids
Keeping the older kids happy, entertained, and reducing the amount of times they ask for a screen or complain about being bored.
The Theatre Museum – Found at the Cable Factory
The Tram Museum
Heureka Science Centre – Situated in Vantaa, the region of Helsinki, and only a short ride with the local train to Tikkurila station (tip: Get the ABC ticket on the public transport).
A trip to Lammassaari island
Helsinki’s urban art scene – Perhaps more ideal for older kids and teenagers.
Duudsonit Activity Park in Espoo (a region in Helsinki),
Salmisaari Recreation Centre’s Prison Island
© Laura Dove
© Laura Dove
PLAY
Parks & Playgrounds
Playgrounds in Helsinki
Outdoor playgrounds as well as indoor playgrounds for children.
- The Playground by Töölönlahti Bay – Located in the heart of the city center, with climbing frames, a climbing cube and swings. There are also many cafés and restaurants nearby.
- The Playground at Kaivopuisto park – Located close to sea. This park has green lawns to rocky cliffs, and a beautiful sea view. In summer, you’ll also find various ice-cream kiosks.
- The playground at Pohjoisranta / Liisanpuistikko – The park has a playground for children to play on. Across from the playground, there’s a terrace bar, a café, and a public toilet. If you walk along the nearby Pohjoisranta shoreline, you can cross a bridge to get to Tervasaari island.
Leikkiluola indoor playground – Located close to the city center.
Parks in Helsinki
Discover more parks in Helsinki.
Farms & Zoos in Helsinki
Korkeasaari Zoo – Located on an island. In summer, there is a ferry connection to the island from the Market Square, but the zoo is open all year round and you can always reach it by bus from the Central Railway Station Square (Rautatientori).
SeaLife – Open all year round. In summer it’s nice to combine a visit to SeaLife with the amusement park Linnanmäki, as they are located next to each other.
Linnanmäki – It does not only offer fun rides, but also events that are suitable for children, restaurants and children’s playgrounds. The entrance to the park is free and there are even some free rides for children.
Haltiala Farm – In the green Northern-Helsinki. Say hello to the farm animals such as cows and sheep, and nearby the farm there is also for example a sunflower field as well as beautiful nature trails.
© Karoliina Bärlund
FOOD
Family-friendly cafés & restaurants in Helsinki
Harald – A fun place for children . You can also buy a family package and dine there.
Wanha Mylly – If you’re looking for something outside the city center then try this place located in the 18th century farm steward’s house of the Herttoniemi Manor.
Garden by Olo – The garden setting of this place makes you feel like you’re in Southern Europe. It’s a welcoming environment for everyone, and children too!
Levain – Levain has simple bakery-restaurants in the Punavuori and Töölö areas that serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner for you to eat there or take away. They’re known for their sourdough bread, which is made in a special oven with a stone sole. Families love the delicious bread and other treats, and it’s a great place to bring your kids. The restaurants have highchairs, and you can easily bring your stroller inside.
Krog Roba – Krog Roba is a restaurant located in a former police station near Hotel Lilla Roberts. They serve Nordic food with a Helsinki twist, and it’s a relaxed place to eat. Kids have their own menu, which has been tested and approved by other kids, and they even get some colouring pencils to keep them entertained. During the summer, there’s a lovely courtyard where kids can play safely. High chairs are also available if you need them.
Discover more places where you can eat when in Helsinki with kids.
TRANSPORTATION
How to Get Around Helsinki with Kids
It is very easy to get around in Helsinki using public transport. Trams are a nice and local way of seeing the city. The public transport tickets are good for trams, buses, local trains, metros and the ferry to Suomenlinna. You need an AB zone ticket to travel in Helsinki and the nearby area, and an ABC ticket if you want to travel from the airport or Vantaa to Helsinki. Both adult and children’s tickets are available, and you can find more information about tickets and fares.
As a plus, it is very convenient to travel with a child in a stroller on public transport.
The city center is also quite compact so you can also do a lot of sightseeing on foot around Helsinki.
© Julia Kivelä
TOYS
Toy Shops & Clothing Stores in Helsinki for Kids
Forum shopping centre – Here you can find Reima’s shop (children’s clothes) and also a Moomin shop (Moomin is the beloved characters by Tove Jansson).
Discover more shopping destinations across Helsinki.
Insider Tips
The Olympic Stadium Tower
You can go to the top of the Olympic Stadium’s Tower. In summer it’s popular to go swimming in the outdoor Swimming Stadium nearby. At the Olympic Stadium you will also find TAHTO Center for Finnish Sports.
Nature
Close to Helsinki there is for example a national park called Nuuksio that you can reach by public transport. There you’ll find also the Nature Centre Haltia – a good place for children to learn more about nature and animals, and they also rent equipment for outdoor activities. And although reindeer and huskies are more common in Northern Finland you can find those sorts of activities and guided tours also in Nuuksio.
Fazer Experience Visitor Centre
At Fazer Experience Visitor Centre you can taste some delicious Finnish chocolate here.
TRAVEL TO HELSINKI
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Booking With Kids gives you family travel tips to inspiration on the best places to travel with kids, we’re here to help you make your next trip a positive one.
Booking With Kids gives you family travel tips to inspiration on the best places to travel with kids, we’re here to help you make your next trip a positive one.
