Christmas in Helsinki offers diverse tips on what to do and where to go with children in December 2022 in Helsinki and the surrounding area. Where can you find Christmas atmosphere and activities for the Christmas waiting period, and even for Christmas day itself? From the Little Helsinki Christmas in Helsinki series, you'll find the best tips for celebrating Christmas the Helsinki way and traditional customs.

Lights in the City

Helsinki's parks and streets as well as buildings are lit up to bring light to the darkness and Christmas atmosphere to the city. The illuminated Christmas trees on Keskuskatu, the lights and animal figures in Espa Park, the Christmas lights on Aleksanterinkatu and numerous Christmas lights and various Christmas decorations shining in many shopping centers and their surroundings.

Flowers of Life at Stoa Square 19.12.2022-1.1.2023. Free admission.

Espoo: Rainbow River light installation at Espoo Cathedral and along the river until 6.1.2023 during dusk. Free admission.

Light House - Annantalo's community facade art installation 10.12.2022-23.1.2023.

Lux Korkeasaari is held 26.12.2022-8.1.2023, when the zoo is open daily 10am-7pm. Admission fee.

Lux Helsinki is held again in January 4.-8.1.2023. Free admission.

Christmas Windows

Large shopping centers have traditionally decorated their Christmas windows to suit children's tastes as well. The Christmas classic, the Stockmann fairy tale window in the center, is a wonderful experience this year too, and you can admire the Christmas window until Epiphany at the corner of Aleksanterinkatu and Keskuskatu. For example, Fazer's Christmas window on Kluuvikatu has often been a hit!

Christmas Events and Activities

From Little Helsinki's Where This Week article series you'll find daily activity tips for adventures with children.

Little Helsinki's Christmas Markets and Sales listing suggests Christmas markets and other sales events that often feature special programs for children as well.

St. Thomas's Market returns to Senate Square 1.12.-22.12.2022. This year too, the market will delight children with a traditional carousel. Free admission.

Poetry Christmas Calendar at Malmitalo 1.-23.12.2022.

Malmitalo's Christmas 1.-20.12.2022.

Tapiola's Living Advent Calendar 1.-15-12.2022.

Vuosaari Little Christmas around Kampela café Saturday 10.12.2022 12-6pm.

Children's Christmas Carols sing-along event led by Siina and Taikaradio at Temppeliaukio Church Saturday 10.12.2022 at 2pm. Free admission.

Seurasaari Christmas Trail is held this year on Sunday 11.12.2022 12-5pm. Free admission.

Light in darkness is brought by the Lucia procession, which travels through the city on Tuesday 13.12.2022. Finland's Lucia in 2022 is Wilma Grönqvist.

In libraries small Christmas events for children are organized and for example Christmas crafts. More information from the Helmet library events calendar. Some libraries are also open during Christmas.

Most Beautiful Christmas Carols events can be found on the Helsinki parishes website.

Lighthouse Keeper's Trail on Suomenlinna 26.11.2022 – 6.1.2023. You can get a map for the self-guided Lighthouse Keeper's Trail from Suomenlinna's tourist information. You'll find it in the pale pink Rantakasarmi building right near the HSL ferry dock. When the tourist information is closed, you can get a map from the ferry waiting hall.

Lighthouse Keeper's Guided Tours on Suomenlinna Saturdays 3.12., 10.12. and 17.12.2022 at 11am. Tickets 9 €.

Fortress Christmas on Suomenlinna 26.11.2022-6.1.2023.

Sledge Rides on Boxing Day at Seurasaari on Boxing Day 26.12.2022 12-4pm. Weather permitting, sledge rides are paid.

Commercial cooperation
TsigaBoom! Circus, tivoli and fun at Messukeskus 26.12.2022.-8.1.2023. Messukeskus has free admission, tickets to Sirkus Suomi shows and Tivoli Sariola rides are paid.

Puppet Theater Sytkyt: Christmas Tale - puppet theater performance at Winter Garden (Hammarskjöldintie 1 A). Performances are free admission.
Performance times:
Tuesday 29.11.2022 at 10.30am
Thursday 8.12.2022 at 9.30am and 10.30am
On Boxing Day (Monday) 26.12.2022 at 1pm and 3pm
Tuesday 27.12.2022 at 1pm
On Epiphany (Friday) 6.1.2023 at 1pm and 3pm

The Winter Garden decorated in Christmas attire is also open to the public in December and during the Christmas break. Check the garden's website for more detailed opening hours. Free admission.

What should we do today? Check tips for boring days from Little Helsinki!

Animals' Christmas

Haltiala farm's sheep pasture Christmas atmosphere can be viewed 8.12.2022-7.1.2023. The pasture is open Tuesdays and Thursdays 9am-1pm and Saturdays 10am-1pm (closed 24.12. and 31.12.2022). At Haltiala farm you can see farm animals in outdoor enclosures in December too. Haltiala playground is also open.

At Fallkulla cows and horses exercise outdoors when weather permits, usually daily around 10am-2pm. Fallkulla farm has been open during the Christmas break in previous years and opening hours are usually announced around Christmas.

Korkeasaari Zoo is also open during Christmas.

In the Winter Garden's pond carp swim year-round!

Also remember: Little Helsinki's Animals in the City article!

Outdoors and Getting Active

To a playground? Tips on the best playgrounds and introduction to Helsinki's newest playgrounds can be found in Little Helsinki.

Ice skating? Many of Helsinki's, Espoo's and Vantaa's artificial and natural ice rinks are already available for skating! Ice skating on artificial ice rinks is free this year too. Current information about rink conditions can be found in the Ulkoliikunta.fi service.

Sledding hill? Weather permitting, Helsinki's parks have great slopes for sledding! Helsinki's only official sledding hill is at Paloheinä sports park. Little Helsinki's favorite sledding places are Kaivopuisto, Orava playground (Herttoniemi), Myllypuro landfill hill, Sinebrychoff and Taivaskalli hills! Annala, Alppipuisto and Rudolf playground hills also work well! For more peaceful sledding, you should try for example Tullisaari (Laajasalo) and Topelius Park hills.

Adventure in Helsinki

What should we do today? Check tips for boring days from Little Helsinki!

Uunisaari in front of Kaivopuisto has gotten a bridge connection for the winter months and on the rocky island you can gaze at the horizon and marvel at ships passing by and the roar of the shoreline.

For a self-guided winter hike far from the shopping hustle, you can head for example via boardwalks to Lammassaari, Suomenlinna's fortress, the peace of Kruunuvuorenlampi or Kivinokka trails. More tips for Helsinki adventures can be found in Little Helsinki's Helsinki Places article.

Hike in the Surrounding Area

Hiking is possible in Christmas too! Sipoonkorpi, Nuuksio, Luukki and Talosaari are wonderful hiking destinations in winter as well. Pack snacks and dress warmly!

In Sipoonkorpi you'll find for example an easy-to-walk Tasakallio - Storträsk route and the Byabäcken nature trail, previously known as the Pony's Mail Route, which leads to a grill spot and a cottage for warming up. A tip from experience: with small children, the Byabäcken trail should be walked from the beginning to the grill spot and return the same way, not loop the trail around. The grill site usually has plenty of firewood available, so bring matches and snacks.

You should also try the route from Kuusijärvi to Sipoonkorpi and experience a beautiful bridge route to the national park at the same time.

New and interesting hiking spots can also be found on Uusimaa Recreation Area Association's sites.

Christmas Towns in the Surrounding Area

At least Porvoo, Loviisa, Tammisaari (and Tammisaari's lovely Elf Trail), Fiskars Village (and a beautiful playground in the village center!) in Raasepori and Mathildedal have invested in Christmas atmosphere.

Skärgårdsjul - Archipelago Christmas on Pellinge island (ferry connection!) in Porvoo Sunday 18.12.2022 11am-3pm.

Also remember Little Finland's Travel Tips Map, which has suitable destination tips for winter as well! Little Finland is Little Helsinki's sister site that suggests activities and experiences throughout Finland. Also includes many tips for nearby areas and day trips as well as a large list of the best playgrounds throughout Finland!

Christmas in Helsinki

Little Helsinki's Christmas in Helsinki series tips on everything about finding Christmas atmosphere in the city bustle and what belongs to traditional Helsinki Christmas!