Summer Activities in Helsinki 2025

Helsinki Summer ABC - What you can do with children in Helsinki during summer

What to do and where to go with children in Helsinki in summer? What sights and experiences does Helsinki offer for children? The Little Helsinki Summer Activities article lists everything you should know about summer in Helsinki when adventuring with children.

The article was first published in 2019 and updated with summer 2025 information on May 28, 2025.

Summer in Helsinki:
What to do today? Summer events and activities in Helsinki

Little Helsinki's Summer in Helsinki series offers hundreds of tips for spending summer in Helsinki. The summer tips are also suitable for those visiting the city as tourists.

Helsinki Secrets article reveals little and big secrets about Helsinki!

*Fan mail for icebreakers? You can do that in Katajanokka!*

Little Helsinki's Where This Week article series suggests child-friendly events and activity tips weekly! Weekly tips are published on Sunday evenings.

What free activities are available in Helsinki for children? The Free Activities for Children in Helsinki article can help!

Children's Traffic Town at Auroranportti is closed until 2028. The Traffic Town moves around playgrounds and invites pedal car driving to Tattarisuo in June. More detailed information can be found behind this link about the Traffic Town's 2025 summer program.

Mustasaari is open to the public during the summer season from June 3 to August 10, 2025, and also on August 30, 2025, to mark the end of the season. Mustasaari is closed on Mondays. Mustasaari is owned by the Helsinki Church Association, which includes the evangelical-Lutheran congregations in the city. Ferry transport to the island departs from Taivallahti dock. You cannot reach Mustasaari from the mainland, even though the map suggests otherwise, as the land connection is only for emergency vehicles and maintenance purposes. You can also reach Mustasaari by your own boat. Free admission to the island, ferry ride is paid.
Also read: Little Helsinki's article about Mustasaari from a few years ago

Skateboard Container at Eläintarha skate park (Nordenskiöldinkatu 20) is open on weekdays from 2-8 pm. Free skateboard introductions in June-July on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12-2 pm. The Skateboard Container serves not only beginner skateboarders but also other skate enthusiasts who need water bottle refills between sessions, phone charging, tips for tricks, or just company. Free admission.

Vantaa: Skateboard Container at Myyrmäki skate park (Raappavuorentie 8-10) opens on June 2, 2025. Myyrmäki also has a free skateboard loan service. Skateboard introductions are held in June and July on Mondays and Wednesdays from 12-2 pm. Myyrmäki's Skateboard Container is open on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 2-8 pm. Free admission.

Art Stories at Annantalo on weekdays throughout June-July
Free art activities are held in Annantalo's courtyard (Annankatu 30) from June 2 to July 18, 2025. Open art workshops run from 10 am-12 pm and 1-3 pm. The activities are suitable for children under 8 years old accompanied by an adult, and for older children with or without an adult. You can drop by for Art Stories anytime or stay longer. The activities combine different art forms and are led by Annantalo's art educators. Free admission.

Little Helsinki's What to Do article suggests twenty easy and free places for children in Helsinki.

Libraries are also open in summer - though with summer hours! Almost every Helsinki library has its own children's section, and special children's libraries can be found in Kalasatama in the Redii shopping center and in Jätkäsaari.

Nordic Library on Kaisaniemenkatu is open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 12-7 pm. Wonderful children's section and many children's books available for loan in all Nordic languages. The Nordic Library has its own library card, which you can obtain with a valid ID. However, do check the library's website for any summer hour exceptions!

Free concerts are available during the summer season at Espa Stage and at the Music Centre terrace.

Also remember Helsinki's summer classics:
Linnanmäki amusement park (six free amusement rides suitable for small children during the 2025 season), Korkeasaari Zoo, the many opportunities of Suomenlinna, Central Library Oodi, summer islands Pihlajasaari and Vallisaari (with the Helsinki Biennial exhibition on the island in summer 2025), Kaivopuisto beaches, Hakaniemi and Market Square summer markets and market halls, Allas Sea Pool...

Animals in the City article suggests where you can see chickens, sheep, horses, cows, dinosaurs in Helsinki and the metropolitan area...

Little Finland – over 800 reasons to travel in Finland with children!

*The Helsinki Secrets article contains*
*tips for a different Helsinki!*

Swimming with children

Want to swim at an outdoor pool? Swimming Stadium, Kumpula outdoor pool, and Leppävaara outdoor pool (in Espoo) are open again! During the 2025 summer season, Helsinki children and teenagers aged 7-19 can visit Helsinki's outdoor pools for free with a youth center membership card.

Little Helsinki's Swimming? article suggests child-friendly swimming beaches in Helsinki.

Swimming places for hot days article collects tips for outdoor pools and other swimming places free of blue-green algae.

Splash pads in playgrounds and water play areas are partly available during summer 2025 in open playgrounds.

*Splash pads in playgrounds are available in some playgrounds during summer 2025.*

Art and museums with children

Little Helsinki's To the Museum with Children article lists child-friendly museums in Helsinki.

Upside Down – Pippi Longstocking 80 Years exhibition at Merkkiin until December 30, 2025. Free admission.

Vantaa: Håkansböle summer exhibitions are open in the Håkansböle manor landscapes on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 am-4 pm, in July also on Wednesdays from 1-6 pm (closed on Midsummer). Free admission.

You can also borrow museum passes from the library!
From Viikki Library you can borrow an admission ticket to the Natural History Museum.

Playgrounds and play areas

Helsinki has nearly 60 playgrounds and over 200 play areas. The difference between a playground and a play area is that playgrounds offer supervised activities on weekdays from 9 am-4 pm (note any possible summer closures) and often have indoor spaces available, while play areas are for self-directed play. In both playgrounds and play areas, the outdoor areas can be used for free play anytime!

All of Little Helsinki's play area tips can be found behind this link.

Helsinki playgrounds' summer meals begin on Monday, June 2, 2025 at 12 pm. Summer meals are also provided in Espoo and Vantaa!

Helsinki city playgrounds open all summer 2025:

Playgrounds Etupelto, Filpus, Intia, Iso-Antti, Isoneva, Kannelmäki, Kiikku, Kurranummi, Lehdokki, Linja, Linnunrata, Lohikäärmepuisto, Maunula, Mellunmäki, Orava, Piika, Rudolf, Ruoholahti, Rusthollari, Seppä, Tuorinniemi, Ulvila, and Viikkari

Helsinki city playgrounds open June 2-27, 2025:

Playgrounds Arabia, Brahe, Ida, Kotinummi, Lahnalahti, Laurinniitty, Maasälpä, Munkki, Mustakivi, Mäkitorppa, Nuoli, Nurkka, Strömberg, Taivallahti, Torpparinämäki, Trumpetti, and Viiri. Summer meals are provided at MLL Family House Unikko from June 2-27, 2025.

Helsinki city playgrounds open June 30 - August 4, 2025:

Playgrounds Kankarepuisto, Salpausselkä, and Vähätupa

Helsinki city playgrounds closed all summer:

Playgrounds Hilleri, Kesanto, Kiiltotähti, Lampi, Loru, Roihuvuori, and Santahamina

Additionally, the following Helsinki city playgrounds are under renovation and therefore closed all summer:

Playgrounds Kimmo, Kipinäpuisto, Maatulli, Myllynsiipi, Sanna, and Traktori

Little Finland – over 800 reasons to travel in Finland with children!

Animals in the city

Little Helsinki's Animals in the City article contains the best tips on where sheep, chickens, cows, and other farm animals live in Helsinki and neighboring cities.

Tickets to Korkeasaari can also be borrowed from the library!
From Kalasatama Library you can borrow an admission ticket to Korkeasaari Zoo.

*Chickens in Mustikkamaa's Edible Garden.*

Little Finland

Little Finland has been updated! A new family travel map service has been launched!

Little Finland suggests activities and experiences for children in Finland. Also includes plenty of tips for nearby areas and day trips, as well as a large list of the best play areas throughout Finland. The map currently has over 800 tips! Little Finland articles can be found under Little Helsinki for now.