Pienten Helsinki
What to do with children during Epiphany weekend 2020
LUX Helsinki illuminates the city again 4.1.-8.1.2020. Read more on LUX Helsinki's website. This year's route runs from Senate Square to Kaisaniemi Park and from there to Tokoinranta, so the route also passes several playgrounds!
Playgrounds along the LUX Helsinki route include at least the Säätytalo playground, Kaisaniemi Park playground, Tokoinranta playground, and the nearby Linja play park.
Lux Korkeasaari light art event takes over the zoo 25.12.2019-8.1.2020. The zoo is open daily 10am-6pm (4-8.1.2020 from 10am–8pm). Admission fee applies.
Fallkullan farm is open every day until Epiphany 6.1.2020 from 10am-3pm daily. Free admission to the farm. Read more on Fallkullan's website.
Haltiala farm Some of the farm's animals also enjoy outdoor time in winter, and the farm has a nice playground.
Espoo: Oittaa family Saturday on Saturday 4.1.2020 from 11am-2pm. More information on the event's Facebook page.
Winter Garden is filled with Christmas decorations and Christmas spirit, which can be enjoyed until Epiphany. During Christmas, the Winter Garden has programs: Christmas concerts, Christmas carols, and children's puppet theater performances. Check the Winter Garden's special opening hours on the City of Helsinki's website. Free admission.
Puppet Theater Sytkytin's Children's Flower Ballet Stories can be seen at the Winter Garden between Christmas and New Year. Admission to the performance is free and it is suitable for all ages.
Sytkytin puppet theater performances at the Winter Garden at Christmas 2019:Thursday 26.12. 2019 at 1pm and 3pm
Sunday 29.12.2019 at 1pm and 3pm
Monday 6.1.2020 at 1pm and 3pm
Fortress Elf's self-guided route in Suomenlinna 30.11.2019-6.1.2020.
Read more about the self-guided elf adventure on Suomenlinna's website.
Suomenlinna Fortress Christmas offers experiences and Christmas atmosphere until 6.1.2020. A wonderful destination for the whole family with plenty to see and marvel at! Read more and check the island's service opening hours on Suomenlinna's website.
Manta Market around the Havis Amanda statue until 8.1.2020. Read more on the event's Facebook page.
Have you already voted in Pienten Helsinki's Child-Friendly Actions 2019 voting?
Epiphany events, Monday 6.1.2020
Epiphany Ice Skating at Kaarela Ice Hall on Monday 6.1.2020 from 9am-1pm. More information on the event's Facebook page.
Puppet Theater Sytkytin's Children's Flower Ballet Stories at the Winter Garden. Admission to the performance is free and it is suitable for all ages.
Monday 6.1.2020 at 1pm and 3pm
Espoo: Epiphany Fun at Keski-Espoo's artificial ice rink on Monday 6.1.2020 from 11am-12:30pm. More information on the event's Facebook page.
Tuusula: Children's Epiphany Fun at the Swimming Hall area on Monday from 12pm-3:30pm. Read more on the event's Facebook page.
To the Museum
Check detailed opening hours on the museums' own websites under "special opening hours" or similar.
Helsinki City Museum and its Children's City is always a safe bet for young museum visitors. Here too you can play with history! The City Museum is open until 10pm during LUX Helsinki and the museum courtyard also features light art. Free admission.
Fun Christmas orienteering at Helsinki City Museum 1.12.2019-6.1.2020 during museum opening hours. Free admission.
Tram Museum in Töölö is also worth a visit. Free admission. Please note, however, that the museum is not open on public holidays; more detailed opening hours can be found here.
Suomenlinna Toy Museum and the Café Samovarbar located next to the museum are open in December from 30.11.2019 – 8.1.2020 daily (not on Christmas holidays). Museum admission €3-7.
Kaisaniemi Botanical Garden delights in winter darkness. Admission fee applies.
National Museum lets you wonder about Finnish history and the museum's Vintage corner offers play. Admission fee applies.
Natural History Museum is an absolute must-visit museum destination with children. Admission fee applies.
Newspaper Museum lets you marvel at typewriters, fax machines and other old journalistic tools, browse old newspapers and learn about newspaper work in many ways. Free admission.
Hotel and Restaurant Museum and Theater Museum at Kaapelitehdas have lots to do and experience for children. Admission fee applies.
Also remember: Toy Museum Horseshoe, House Museum Glims and Haltia Nature Center in Espoo
Going to a museum with children? Read Pienten Helsinki's article series My Museum Friend and I, in which we explore Helsinki's museums with children.
Outdoor Activities
Uutela Star Trail takes you on an adventure into nature in December's darkness, as the Uutela trails are explored by flashlight and starlight in December. Read more about the Star Trail on the event's Facebook page.
Uutela Hut is also open during the Epiphany weekend on Saturday and Sunday from 12pm-3pm.
Ice Park at Rautatientori is open between Christmas and New Year's and skating is possible daily (weather permitting). Fee applies. Read more on Ice Park's own website.
Ice skating is possible at several of the city's artificial ice rinks. There is a small admission fee for artificial ice rinks. Read more about admission fees and opening hours on the City of Helsinki's website.
Laajasalo Sports Park has a new artificial ice rink, which has no admission fee and no reserved turns or stick turns required.
Current ice conditions can be found in the ulkoliikunta.fi service (change the activity to ice skating).
You can also hike at Christmas! Sipoonkorpi, Nuuksio, Luukki, Talosaari, Lammassaari and even Suomenlinna are wonderful hiking destinations in winter too. Pack a lunch and dress warmly! Read tips about hiking destinations for example from Pienten Helsinki's day trip articles.
Sipoonkorpi has for example an easy-to-access Pony's Heritage Post route and Storträsk's accessible outdoor trail, which lead to a grill site and a cabin for warming up. A tip based on experience: With small children, the Pony's Heritage Post route should be walked from the beginning to the grill site and back the same way, not as a full loop. The grill site usually has plenty of firewood ready, so bring matches and food. A new bridge connection from Kuusijärvi to Sipoonkorpi has been opened.
Helsinki's outdoor recreation areas can be found on the Helsinki Moving website. Have you for example already visited Uutela's new hut or the university's arboretum in Viik?
Interesting, new hiking destinations can also be found among Uusimaa Recreation Area Association's destinations.
New Year's first tip takes you on a nature adventure to Laajasalo, Kruunuvuorenranta.
The old mines of the Kaivokallio nature reserve and the surroundings of Kruunuvuorenlammit offer adventure in Helsinki within easy reach. There is also bus 88/88B from Herttoniemi metro station to the location.
For those looking for park destinations, in the same area there are two wonderful parks: Stansvika Manor Park and Tullisaari, which also has a small playground.
The park destinations are also suitable for traveling with strollers; Kruunuvuorenlammit is accessible with strollers with minor challenges via an old forest path, Kaivokallio is a destination for older adventurers with more challenging terrain.
Locations on a map (link opens to Google Maps)
Day Trips
Day trip destinations for in-between holiday fun within an hour's travel from Helsinki include several options.
Charming Porvoo, Lahti and Laune Family Park, Espoo's many possibilities, Loviisa's old houses and Onnelin and Annelin playgrounds, Vantaa Heureka and spa...
Other Ideas
First ballet experience with children on the home sofa? National Ballet's Pippi Longstocking ballet can now be watched in full on Yle Areena. A strong recommendation from the Pienten Helsinki team on this!
