Tips for activities from Christmas to Epiphany 24.12.2024-6.1.2025 in the Helsinki region for families with children

Pienten Helsinki's Christmas to Epiphany article offers versatile ideas and tips mainly for independent activities in Helsinki between Christmas and New Year, 24.12.2024-6.1.2025. So what to do and where to go with children in Helsinki and the surrounding area during Christmas and New Year.

This article replaces the regular weekly "Where to Go This Week" tips for the Christmas-New Year period due to the small number of actual events.
The article's cover image is from Stockmann's Christmas window on Aleksanterinkatu in Helsinki.

Where to Go on Christmas Eve 24.12.2024?

Pienten Helsinki wishes you a very wonderful and peaceful Christmas!

Family Christmas Eve Ice Skating at Malmi Ice Hall on Christmas Eve 9am-1pm. Free entry.
Fallkulla Farm Animals is open to the public on Christmas Eve 10am-2pm. Free entry.
Korkeasaari Zoo is open on Christmas Eve 10am-2pm. Zoo admission fee applies.
Libraries open on Christmas Eve are Itäkeskus, Kallio and Rikhardinkatu libraries in Helsinki 10am–4pm and self-service libraries.
Käpylä Living Christmas Calendar Christmas Eve at Käpylä village square on Christmas Eve at 6pm.
Lighthouse Keeper's Route in Suomenlinna 29.11.2024-30.1.2025. You can get a map for the Lighthouse Keeper's Route from the Suomenlinna Visitor Center, located in the pale pink Rantakasarmi building near the HSL ferry pier.
Tuusula: Lotta Museum self-guided Gnome Trail can be experienced until 6.1.2025.

Things to Do and Events

Going sledding? A list of great sledding spots according to the Pienten Helsinki team can be found here!

Helmet Library children's events can be found on Helmet's events page.

Boxing Day Sleigh Rides in Seurasaari on Thursday 26.12.2024 10am-4pm. Sleigh rides are paid, entry to the island is free.

Some of Helsinki's playgrounds are open during the Christmas and New Year period (on weekdays).
For example, the Loru playground in the Oodi central library has a weekly program that can be found on the Oodi's page.
Lighthouse Keeper's Route in Suomenlinna 29.11.2024-30.1.2025. You can get a map for the Lighthouse Keeper's Route from the Suomenlinna Visitor Center, located in the pale pink Rantakasarmi building near the HSL ferry pier.

Tuusula: Lotta Museum self-guided Gnome Trail can be experienced until 6.1.2025.

Espoo: Children's Culture Center Aurora offers workshops during the break days. Free entry.
- Playing Shadows self-guided workshop on Monday 30.12.2024 and Tuesday 31.12.2024 10–1pm.
- Bird of Hope workshop on Thursday 2.1.2025 and Friday 3.1.2025 10am–1pm.

Christmas-decorated Winter Garden is open to the public through Epiphany. Free entry.
Winter Garden opening hours:
- Monday to Thursday 10am-4pm
- Friday closed
- Saturday and Sunday and public holidays 10am-4pm
NOTE! There is no certain information about opening hours on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day at the time of writing this article.

Haltiala Farm Animals' stable Christmas atmosphere can be viewed during Christmas and New Year. The stable is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays 9am-1pm and Saturdays and Sundays 10am-2pm (closed 23.-27.12.2024). Free entry.

Fallkulla Farm Animals is open to the public during Christmas and New Year as follows:
Week 51: open Wednesday to Sunday 18.-22.12.2024 10am-2pm
Week 52: open Monday to Sunday 23.-29.12.2024 10am-2pm
Week 1: open on New Year's Day 1.1.2025 10am-2pm and Sat-Sun 4.-5.1.2025 10am-2pm.
Free entry to the site.

Alppirai Railway Club's model railway exhibition in Redi shopping center in Kalasatama. The exhibition space is located on the second floor of Redi, next to Specsavers, opposite Synsamia. Check the detailed opening hours during Christmas and New Year from the organizer's website (closed 24.-26.12.2024). Free entry.

Espoo: Espoo City offers diverse programs during the break days. Programs include, for example, Ice Disco. Read more from Espoo City's website.

Christmas in Helsinki article series brings together the best tips for Christmas adventures in Helsinki with children under one link.
Secret Helsinki article reveals little and big secrets about Helsinki!
What should we do today? Check out tips for boring days from Pienten Helsinki!

Lights in the City

Helsinki's parks, streets and buildings are illuminated 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's Christmas street and numerous Christmas lights and various Christmas decorations in many shopping centers and their surroundings delight small and large passersby.

Espoo: Rest Space. Light and Sound Artwork in the environment of Espoo Cathedral and along the river 20.12.2024-1.1.2025. Free entry.

Lux Helsinki will be held 8.-12.1.2025. Artworks will be on display this year in central Helsinki from Rautatientori to Kaivopuisto Observatory. Additional artworks can be found in Tripla Shopping Center, Kannelmäki, Espoo's Tapionpuisto and in the Lux In exhibition at the Cable Factory. Free entry.

Christmas Windows

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

Animals in the City

Haltiala Farm Animals' stable Christmas atmosphere can be viewed during Christmas and New Year. The stable is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays 9am-1pm and Saturdays and Sundays 10am-2pm (closed 23.-27.12.2024). Free entry.
Fallkulla Farm Animals is open to the public during Christmas and New Year as follows:
Week 51: open Wednesday to Sunday 18.-22.12.2024 10am-2pm
Week 52: open Monday to Sunday 23.-29.12.2024 10am-2pm
Week 1: open on New Year's Day 1.1.2025 10am-2pm and Sat-Sun 4.-5.1.2025 10am-2pm.
Free entry to the site.

Korkeasaari Zoo is open nearly year-round daily. Zoo admission fee applies.

Winter Garden's pond is home to carp swimming year-round!

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

Museums with Children

Museum tips for children can be found in Pienten Helsinki's themed article!

Media Museum and Archive Merkki (formerly Päivälehti Museum) on Ludviginkatu is open except for 24.-26.12.2024 and 31.12.2024–1.1.2025. Free entry.
Helsinki City Museum's Christmas special opening hours:
- 24.–25.12.2024 Christmas Eve and Christmas Day: closed
- 26.12.2024 Boxing Day: open 11am–5pm
- 31.12.2024 New Year's Eve: open 11am–5pm
- 1.1.2025 New Year's Day: closed
- 6.1.2025 Epiphany: open 11am–5pm
Always free entry.
Tram Museum's Christmas special opening hours:
- 24.–25.12.2024 Christmas Eve and Christmas Day: closed
- 26.12.2024 Boxing Day: open 11am–5pm
- 31.12.2024 New Year's Eve: open 11am–5pm
- 1.1.2025 New Year's Day: closed
Always free entry.
Taidehallin children's guided tours for "Art Extends Life" exhibition 26.-29.12.2024 at 2pm. Museum admission fee, under 18s free.

Espoo: Christmas Break at Museo Leikki 21.12.2024-6.1.2025. Museum admission fee applies.

Kerava: Museo Sinko free days during the break 26.–30.12.2024.

Theatre Cat's Christmas Break Game at Theatre Museum on Cable Factory 2.-5.1.2025 11:30am–2:30pm at your own pace. Museum admission fee applies.

Outdoors and Activities

All of Pienten Helsinki's playground tips can be found behind this link.

Where can you find the best sledding hills in the Helsinki region? Check out the sledding hill tips from Pienten Helsinki!

Want to go ice skating at an ice hall? You can find the public skating times for ice halls in Helsinki and the surrounding area from Pienten Helsinki's themed article.
- For example, Vantaa City ice halls and Kerava ice hall offer free public skating sessions during the break.

Want to go outdoor ice skating? Many Helsinki, Espoo and Vantaa artificial and natural ice rinks are already open for skating! Artificial ice rinks are free to skate on this year too. Current condition information for the rinks can be found in the Outdoor Activities.fi service.

Espoo: Espoo City offers sports programs during the break days at ice and swimming halls, for example. Programs include Ice Disco and skating lessons. Read more from Espoo City's website.

Explore Helsinki

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

Secret Helsinki article reveals little and big secrets about Helsinki!

Uunisaari off Kaivopuisto has a bridge connection for the winter months, and on the rocky island you can gaze at the horizon and marvel at passing ships and the waves along the shore.
For an independent winter excursion, you can head along the boardwalks to Lammassaari, to Suomenlinna Fortress, to the peaceful Kruunuvuorenlaksi (with newly built boardwalks!) or to the Kivinokka trails. More tips for Helsinki adventures can be found in Pienten Helsinki's Helsinki Places article.

Explore the Surrounding Area

Excursions are great even in winter! Sipoonkorpi, Nuuksio, Luukki and Talosaari are wonderful hiking spots in winter too. Pack your backpack with snacks and bundle up!
In Sipoonkorpi, you'll find for example an easy-access Tasakallio - Storträsk route and the Byabäcken Nature Trail, formerly known as the Ponu Postman's Heritage Route, which leads to a barbecue spot and a cabin to warm up. A tip from experience: with small children, it's best to hike the Byabäcken route from the beginning to the barbecue spot and return the same way, rather than making a full loop. The barbecue spot usually has plenty of firewood, so bring matches and snacks. However, note that some routes may be slippery due to variable winter weather.
Also worth trying is the route from Kuusijärvi to Sipoonkorpi and experience a beautiful bridge route to the national park.

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

Christmas Towns Nearby

Little Finland - over 800 reasons to explore Finland with children!

At least Porvoo, Loviisa, Tammisaari (and Tammisaari's wonderful Gnome Trail (now paid)), Fiskars Village (with a great playground in the center!) in Raasepori as well as Mathildedal have invested in Christmas atmosphere.