Midsummer in Helsinki 2025

What to do and where to go with children at Midsummer?

What to do or where to go during Midsummer in Helsinki and the metropolitan area? Where can you see Midsummer bonfires?
At Midsummer, many travel to the countryside to celebrate midsummer, and the quieting Helsinki brings its own charm to urban Midsummer celebration. Small Helsinki has compiled tips for celebrating Midsummer Eve and Midsummer Day in the city with children. The tips include both events and other activities during midsummer, as well as a list of Midsummer bonfires in Helsinki.

Small Helsinki wishes you a happy Midsummer!

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Family celebration cruise on M/S Admiral on Midsummer Eve

JT-Line's Midsummer cruises are sold out, but JT-Line transports passengers to Pihlajasaari on Midsummer Eve from Ruoholahti and Merisatamanranta. Tickets can also be purchased in advance!

The M/s Admiral Midsummer cruise is tailored to the family's smallest members! The route runs through the Helsinki archipelago taking weather conditions into account, and along the way you'll see at least icebreakers and the Suomenlinna sea fortress. This cruise won't be boring for children either! Departure from Kauppatori's Cholera basin on Friday, June 20, 2025 at 5:00 PM and return to Kauppatori at 7:00 PM.

Family celebration cruise program on Midsummer Eve (included in the cruise ticket price):
- Glitter tattoo station
- Ferris wheel (one spin included in children's cruise ticket)
- Soft ice cream bar (one serving included in children's cruise ticket)
- Coffee/tea and small treats for adults

Midsummer cruise ticket prices:
- Adults: 24 €
- Students & pensioners: 20 €
- Children 4-17 years: 16 €
- Children 0-3 years: passenger fee 4 €

Midsummer Eve cruise passengers can continue on M/S Admiral to Pihlajasaari without additional charge, where the Midsummer bonfire is lit at 8 PM. Return to the mainland is also free of charge, either to Ruoholahti or Merisatama.

*M/S Admiral takes families on a Midsummer cruise to the Helsinki archipelago. Photo: Omar El Mrabt*

Midsummer week events in Helsinki

Helsinki City Folk on Espa stage on Monday, June 16, 2025, 6-8 PM. Folk dancers and folk musicians from the metropolitan area in colorful national costumes bring their Midsummer greetings to Espa stage. Free admission.
Midsummer get-togethers at Siratori in Kannelmäki on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, 3-7 PM. Free admission.

Meilahti rose garden blooms with Midsummer roses. Free admission.

Traditional Midsummer celebrations are held at playgrounds mostly during Midsummer week on Wednesday and Thursday. For exact details, see the playgrounds' own websites and the City of Helsinki's event calendar.

Midsummer Eve events

Small Helsinki recommends: Midsummer Eve morning should start at Hakaniemi Hall and the market in a midsummer market atmosphere. The market sells midsummer delicacies, strawberries, and birch twigs to decorate urban Midsummer celebrations. At the coffee sisters' tent, accordion music usually plays.

Porvoo: Archipelago atmosphere for Midsummer at Pellinki summer market on Midsummer Eve, Friday, June 20, 2025, 9 AM-12 PM. The trip also includes a short ferry ride, so the outing is sure to be an adventure for the little ones.

Porvoo: Children's Midsummer party at Runeberg's house garden on Friday, June 20, 2025, 12-3 PM. Free admission. Note! The home museum is closed on Midsummer Eve.

Mustasaari Midsummer is celebrated on Friday, June 20, 2025, 12-8 PM.
The Midsummer celebration for families includes sauna time, swimming, treats, and summer activities on a wonderful summer island. Mustasaari is also home to farm animals during the summer months, and sheep live on the nearby island. A ferry to the island departs from Taivallahti beach (paid ferry, free island access). Mustasaari is owned by the Helsinki Ecumenical Council.
Read more from Small Helsinki: A hot day at Mustasaari

Espoo/Kirkkonummi: Family Midsummer picnic at Hvittorp in Masala on Midsummer Eve, June 20, 2025, 2-5 PM. The event is organized by Church in Espoo. Free admission.

Vantaa: Midsummer celebration for the whole family at St. Lawrence Church Park on Midsummer Eve, Friday, June 20, 2025, 3-5 PM. The event is organized by Church in Vantaa. Free admission.

Espoo: Kivenlahtі beach Midsummer at Kivenlahtі beach and Marin field on Midsummer Eve, Friday, June 20, 2025, 4-8 PM. The program includes, for example, Skidit Disco at 4 PM and 5:45 PM. Free admission.

Midsummer celebration at Laajarandta in Laajasalo on Midsummer Eve, June 20, 2025, 6-8 PM. Men's sauna turn starts at 4:30 PM. The event is organized by Roihuvuoren parish. Free admission.
- The Helsinki Ecumenical Council's Midsummer celebrations are also held on Friday at Pitäjänmäki, Oulunkylä, and Malmi churches.

Karelian summer home Villa Salmela Midsummer celebration is held on Friday, June 20, 2025. Various programs, sauna sessions (paid), café treats, and flag hoisting at 6 PM. A bonfire will be lit if permitted. Free admission, voluntary program fee.
Note that there is limited parking near Villa Salmela.

Talin allotment garden Midsummer celebration at the community center on June 20, 2025, 6-10 PM. Free admission.

Marjaniemi allotment garden Midsummer on Friday, June 20, 2025, 6-11 PM. Free admission.

Midsummer dances led by Eino Grön at Kivinokka 7-9:30 PM. Free admission.

Seurasaari Midsummer white celebration on Friday, June 20, 2025, 5 PM-1 AM. The celebration lights six different traditional bonfires if a forest fire warning is not in effect. Tickets 25 €, under 12-year-olds free.

Summer in Helsinki – Small Helsinki's summer series contains over 60 articles and hundreds of tips for spending summer in Helsinki!

Secret Helsinki article reveals small and large secrets about Helsinki!

Midsummer bonfires in Helsinki on Midsummer Eve, June 20, 2025

Note! Bonfires can only be lit if a forest fire warning is NOT in effect.

Karelian summer home Villa Salmela in Jollakset bonfire is lit at 8 PM
At Marjaniemi allotment garden Midsummer celebration bonfire lights at about 8 PM
At Pihlajasaari bonfire lights at 8 PM
At Kaivopuisto by Cafe Ursula on the beach rocks at about 9:30 PM
At Lauttasaari's Länsiulapanniemi at HKL's summer cottages area Midsummer bonfire at 10 PM
At the Seurasaari Midsummer white celebration six different traditional bonfires are lit (the event is paid admission)
At Talin allotment garden Midsummer celebration (this year's situation is unknown)
At Särkiniemi bonfire rock in the southern corner of Lauttasaari has traditionally had a Midsummer bonfire (no information found for this year)

Midsummer bonfires elsewhere in the metropolitan area on Friday, June 20, 2025

At Gustavelund shore in Tuusula at 10 PM

However, ALWAYS check the latest information from the organizer's website!

Activities during Midsummer in Helsinki and the metropolitan area

Summer in Helsinki – over 60 articles and hundreds of tips for spending summer in Helsinki!

Linnanmäki amusement park is open during Midsummer as well. Free admission.

Korkeasaari is open during Midsummer as well. Admission fee.

To Vartiosaari a solar-powered ferry transporting visitors operates during Midsummer as well. Ferry fee.

At Seurasaari you can see the Midsummer salon and enjoy the island's atmosphere free of charge on Midsummer Day, June 21, 2025. Only museum buildings have an admission fee for adults; children visit Seurasaari's outdoor museum free of charge.

Meilahti rose garden blooms with Midsummer roses. Free admission.

Helsinki's quieting city center is an experience in itself. Also, for example, Kaisaniemi Botanical Garden's outdoor garden is open during Midsummer holidays daily 9 AM-8 PM. Greenhouses are closed during Midsummer.

Playground during Midsummer? All of Small Helsinki's playground tips can be found behind this link.

Fallkullan and Haltiala farm animal yards allow you to watch outdoor grazing animals throughout Midsummer. At Fallkullan, animals are outside weather permitting daily around 10 AM-2 PM; at Haltiala generally also at other times. Fallkullan farm animal yard's indoor areas are open during Midsummer daily 10 AM-2 PM. Farm animal yards have free admission. Read more from Small Helsinki's Animals in the city article.

Lammassaari and Kuusiluoto offer peace and quiet in nature in the middle of the city! Access to Lammassaari and now also Kuusiluoto is barrier-free even with strollers. Kuusiluoto is home to sheep this summer as well, serving landscape maintenance purposes.

Suomenlinna ferries transport adventurers during Midsummer as well, but some of the island's services may be closed during Midsummer. So pack some snacks and enjoy Suomenlinna's unique atmosphere and explore caves in peace.

Espoo: Espoo's beautiful islands and beaches offer Midsummer atmosphere and activities; read more at Visit Espoo's website.

Uusimaa Recreation Area Association's outdoor areas number dozens near Helsinki. Hiking in beautiful nature spots is a great alternative to spending Midsummer at a cottage.

What should we do today? Check out the tips for boring days from Small Helsinki!

Secret Helsinki article reveals small and large secrets about Helsinki!

Swimming

Small Helsinki's Swimming? -article recommends child-friendly swimming beaches in Helsinki.

Kumpula outdoor pool and Swimming Stadium are open during Midsummer with slightly different hours of operation (admission fee). In Espoo, Leppävaara outdoor pool is open during Midsummer (admission fee).

Small Finland

Small Finland - over 800 reasons to travel around Finland with children!

Small Finland is a jointly developed travel website whose idea is to make it easier to find activities and interesting destinations in Finland when traveling with children. Small Finland is built around a map, which makes it easy to plan your upcoming trip and see along the way what fun things might be found nearby. The map also has a search function and location-based features, making it even easier to find interesting and child-friendly domestic destinations!

Small Finland is a fine example of a community-developed service, as every single destination on the site has been recommended by someone else traveling with children! Thank you if you recommend the site further - let's make Finland adventures together even more popular!