Helsinki's Islands: An Early Fall Trip to Suomenlinna

Peaceful Suomenlinna

First published 31.8.2017.

A calm Wednesday in late summer and early fall took us on a trip to Suomenlinna, when the playgrounds weren’t calling but the weather was just right for outdoor adventures. In late summer, Suomenlinna feels spacious—we got window seats on the ferry better than expected and explored in complete peace. Besides the island’s residents, there was just us and some tourists visiting Finland.

Another great thing about late summer trips is that you can grab fresh provisions from the Market Square. Suomenlinna’s shop is open year-round and some of the cafes stay open quite late, so there are plenty of options for snacks.

[caption id=“attachment_1288” align=“aligncenter” width=“1334”] The ferry ride to Suomenlinna is an adventure for little ones.[/caption]

The ferry ride to Suomenlinna itself is an experience for kids—sometimes on boring days we’ve just done the round trip to watch the ships and see Helsinki from a different perspective. On this peaceful Wednesday, we traveled on the Suomenlinna ferry with noses pressed to the windows inside, admiring the whitecaps, seagulls, and large cruise ships. Even our smallest adventurer was enchanted.

Our route at Suomenlinna usually follows the same pattern: First to the playpark next to the Officers’ Club, then from there we head to the Suomenlinna Centre to admire the gift shop and a scale model of Suomenlinna (tip: the Suomenlinna Centre has an excellent childcare room!). You can visit the Suomenlinna Museum with an admission fee or Museum Card, but I haven’t managed to convince my trip companions to go there yet.

[caption id=“attachment_1292” align=“aligncenter” width=“1334”] At the Suomenlinna Centre, you can marvel at a scale model of the island.[/caption]

From the Suomenlinna Centre, you can continue in many directions all the way to Kustaanmiekka. There are many hilly paths there, though, so when I’m exploring with two little ones, I’ve often chosen the easier route: We look at the submarine, explore a few caves, wonder at the dry dock, or pop into the unique library. Suomenlinna is inspiring, and there’s always something new to marvel at. The highlight of our peaceful Wednesday trip was the spider web in the bridge railing for one of the little ones.

[caption id=“attachment_1293” align=“aligncenter” width=“1334”] The submarine Vesikko is worth seeing.[/caption]

You can add extra fun to the trip by packing a flashlight and using it to explore the island and its secrets more closely. This tip works especially well to tempt older children on an island adventure. For the little machine fans among us, it’s worth noting that in the fall, Suomenlinna is actively maintained and repaired, so you can spot tractors and other work vehicles.

[caption id=“attachment_1290” align=“aligncenter” width=“1105”] Suomenlinna’s caves invite exploration.[/caption]

Even a short visit to Suomenlinna feels refreshing and seems like you’ve been away much longer. The sea air, beautiful setting, international atmosphere, and exploring together are absolutely good reasons to visit Suomenlinna. You can set out on a trip on a whim without elaborate planning, since the island has all the necessary services. As long as you stay on clear paths, there are few hazards. I can honestly recommend a Suomenlinna trip to everyone! Late summer and early fall are the best times to visit Suomenlinna with children.

You can get to know Suomenlinna from a child’s perspective too. The Suomenlinna Board has produced a Children’s Suomenlinna brochure, which you can get for example from the info desk at the ferry terminal and from the Suomenlinna Centre. Using the map in the children’s brochure, you can find great adventure routes.

[caption id=“attachment_1291” align=“aligncenter” width=“1000”] With the Children’s Suomenlinna map, you can navigate the island.[/caption]