Pienten Helsinki
Spotting Through Helsinki
Published 30.7.2017, updated 19.2.2019.Trains, airplanes, trams, ships, tractors, cranes… These and many other vehicles and machines can be spotted in Helsinki!
Trains
From Linnunlaulu Bridge opens a view of Helsinki Central Railway Station's railway yard, and all trains arriving and departing from the main railway station pass under this bridge. You may also see signals controlling train traffic and other equipment from the bridge. Linnunlaulu has a pleasant walking route and you can continue your journey to Töölönlahti or Hakaniemi playground.[caption id=“attachment_737” align=“aligncenter” width=“1334”]
Linnunlaulu Bridge crosses all the train tracks of the main railway station.[/caption]
You can occasionally see a steam train (more information on the association’s website) at the main railway station when the steam train association arranges opportunities to travel on steam train Ukko-Pekka.
It’s worth taking a train journey on the Circle Line if you want to experience train travel plus visit underground train stations and perhaps stop at the airport to watch airplanes by getting off at the Airport station. The Circle Line runs in a circle, literally, so you don’t have to change trains during your journey if your starting and return station are Central Railway Station or Pasila. Central Railway Station is also a good place to watch stationary trains, though it’s usually quite busy with other passengers, so peaceful spotting will probably be difficult.
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The Circle Line takes you by train to the airport.[/caption]
Airplanes
At Malmi and Helsinki-Vantaa airports you can watch planes taking off and landing.At Malmi Airport the DC Association provides information on their website about DC-3 aircraft flight schedules, so you can see this large plane taking off at the airport. At Malmi Airport you can also spot small aircraft and helicopters. Malmi also has a café-restaurant in the old terminal building with a clear view of the airfield.
Helsinki-Vantaa Airport is located on the Vantaa side, but you can reach it from Helsinki via the Circle Line train or buses to the airport from Itäkeskus or the city center. Helsinki-Vantaa Airport has a public viewing terrace for watching aircraft. The terrace is located next to the actual terminal building. More information about the airport’s viewing terrace can be found on Finavia’s website.
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Helsinki-Vantaa Airport’s train station.[/caption]
There are several good places around Helsinki-Vantaa Airport to see takeoffs and landings. The most famous is probably Lemminkäinen Rock near the airport’s cargo area. More information about places outside the airport for spotting aircraft can be found on Finavia’s website. At these places it’s a good idea to use ear protection, especially for smaller spotters.
The area around the Old Woolen Mill in Viinikkala, Vantaa is a good place to spot aircraft while enjoying the outdoors. This excellent recreational area is located on the banks of the Vantaa River, directly under the flight path, and during busy times planes fly over the area every few minutes. The area also has a café-restaurant.
Aircraft and aviation-related materials can be found at the Aviation Museum in Vantaa. Admission to the museum has a charge; children under 7 are free.
You can marvel at an older fighter aircraft in Jätkäsaari on the roof of Verkkokauppa.com, where a MiG fighter can be admired by all on the observation deck. At the same time, you get a view of the Western Harbor and the open sea for spotting ships. The observation deck is open during store hours and entry is free.
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The MiG fighter can be spotted from Jätkäsaari.[/caption]
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View of the Western Harbor from Verkkokauppa’s observation deck.[/caption]
Trams
A tram ride across the city while enjoying the scenery is an experience for many children.The Tram Museum in Töölö is an excellent place for spotting trams. It has older trams that have been used in Helsinki on display along with related materials. The museum is open daily 11am-5pm and entry is free. The Tram Museum also has a childcare room and next to it is the Korjaamo café.
Additionally, in summer an old historic open-air tram runs through Helsinki on Saturdays and Sundays. Tickets for the trip cost six euros; children aged 0-2 travel free in someone’s lap. The departure stop is near the Havis Amanda statue at the Market Square. More information about the historic tram journey and schedules can be found here.
Metro
A metro journey from end to end takes about 45 minutes since the Western Metro began operations. There is much to see and experience on the metro journey: construction sites with a front-row view at least in Herttoniemi and Kalasatama, underwater crossing by metro from Ruoholahti to Lauttasaari, and Espoo's new metro stations. A journey on the orange train underground, above ground, crossing bridges and diving under the sea is worth experiencing if you haven't already done so.Work Machines
Crane spotting can currently be done at several of Helsinki's large construction sites: in Kalasatama you can spot cranes from a playground, Pasila has a large construction site in the central Pasila area, Kruunuvuorenranta is currently being developed and here you can see work machines as well as beautiful views of the sea and Helsinki's city center and spot boats and ships from the shore. In Jätkäsaari and on the Hietalahti shore you can see traditional construction cranes as well as old port cranes.[caption id=“attachment_746” align=“aligncenter” width=“720”]
Old port cranes can be found on the Jätkäsaari and Hietalahti shores.[/caption]
Tractors can be found at least at several farm animal facilities in the capital region and at the University of Helsinki’s experimental farms in Viikki. However, note that you can move safely in the Viikki area along walking paths past the fields.
The Elma Expo held at Helsinki Messukeskus in November is an excellent destination for work machine spotters!
At Vuosaari Harbor there are places where large port cranes and cargo ships can be seen even from outside the area. At least from the harbor’s Horisontti observation deck you get a view of the harbor. The container area is also visible from the other side of the harbor area near Uutela and from next to the small boat harbor.
Winter machine spotting can be done for example at Rautatientori at the Ice Park, where an ice machine maintains the field every few hours. On snowy days, countless different snow plows maintain Helsinki’s streets and roads.
Ships
Around Market Square and in the Western Harbor at Jätkäsaari are Helsinki's major passenger harbors. Here you can see ships and other port traffic as well as trucks.From SkyWheel Helsinki located next to Market Square you can spot ships and other city bustle from above (fee-based).
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SkyWheel Helsinki at Market Square.[/caption]
Large icebreakers can be seen at Katajanokka’s northern shore, from where ships have their home port. Next to it is also the water police dock. You can spot Katajanokka’s ships and boats here.
In the Northern Harbor at Halkosauna Dock there are often old wooden sailing ships in summer, which you can admire from close range. Sailing trips to Helsinki’s surroundings are arranged by at least Helsinki’s Sailing Ship Office and Tykkisluuppi Diana (fee-based).
Large cargo ships leaving Vuosaari Harbor can be seen at least from the Horisontti observation deck.
On Suomenlinna’s ferry trip you get to sail on the ferry itself and at the same time spot boats or ships at sea. The ferry passes large cruise ships. In Suomenlinna, Kustaanmiekka’s narrow strait is also crossed by large cruise ships, which you can see here very closely. So it’s worth making a trip at the departure or arrival time of ships.
A trip to Suomenlinna in winter is exciting and at least partly icy seas show another side of Helsinki.
In Suomenlinna there is also a large dry dock where you can spot boats and ships under repair on the dock and in winter ships docked there. Suomenlinna also has an old Vesikko submarine.
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Suomenlinna’s dry dock.[/caption]
Fire Trucks and Police
The Helsinki Fire Department Museum at the Erottaja Fire Station presents the history of fire stations and other firefighting equipment. It also displays older fire trucks. Being located in the actual fire department building adds its own charm to the museum visit. The museum is open to the public on Wednesdays and Sundays from 12-4pm. Small admission fee.Fire museums can also be found elsewhere in Finland; more information about museums can be found here.
Many events and neighborhood days often provide an opportunity to get acquainted with fire and police vehicles.
Police cars - and motorcycles and other police-related equipment can certainly be spotted on Police Day, which is celebrated annually in August. More information about Police Day can be found here.
