Pienten Helsinki
What to do during autumn break in Helsinki?
Helsinki schools celebrate autumn break in week 42. The number of days off varies: for example, in Finnish-language city schools you typically have the whole week off, while Swedish-language schools have only a few days. During autumn break week, many family centers and activities close for vacation, but many organizations also arrange special autumn break activities and programs for children and youth.
Little Helsinki's activity tips for autumn break have been compiled with small children and their families as well as elementary school children in mind.
Daily activity tips can be found in the Autumn Break Week article.
NOTE! Always check the latest information and instructions
from the organizer's website, as sudden cancellations are
possible due to the current situation.
Animals and farms
Fallkullan farm's outdoor areas are open during autumn break. Animals go outside weather permitting, usually around 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Fallkullan youth café is open on Sundays from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Haltiala farm's courtyard can be visited at your own pace, you can play at the outdoor playground and grill food in the farm's grill at your own initiative. The farm animals go outside even in October if weather permits.
Korkeasaari Zoo is open all autumn break week October 10-18, 2020. The island also has many grilling areas, a warm shelter for eating packed lunches, an indoor area next to the bear enclosure for eating, and great playgrounds. Admission fee.
At the Winter Gardens you can admire carp swimming in the greenhouse pond. The Winter Gardens are also an excellent packed lunch hiking destination.
To the library
City libraries throughout Helsinki offer activities for children during autumn break: story times, workshops and themed days.
The playroom Loru located in the Central Library Oodi offers activities for vacationers of all ages. Note: Some programs require advance registration.
The Nordic Library on Kaisaniemenkatu is also open during autumn break week.
Playrooms and playgrounds
Some of Helsinki's city playrooms are open during autumn break Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and offer activities and programs for families with young children and schoolchildren. School-aged children have their own activities (advance registration required), families have other autumn break activities Monday to Friday. Playrooms announce their autumn break programs in the city's event calendar and on the playrooms' own Facebook pages.
Note: Some programs require advance registration.
The playroom Loru located in the Central Library Oodi offers activities for vacationers of all ages. Note: Some programs require advance registration.
Helsinki has hundreds of playgrounds that are always open. All playgrounds can be found using the map service here.
Also remember Little Helsinki's Great Playground Guide!
Children's culture
Helsinki's cultural centers
At Annantalo during autumn break week there are, among other things, orienteering for families, Moomin word art workshops and a celebration of Story Day.
Exhibition: Paths to Ecology exhibition in Annantalo's Art Gallery until January 31, 2021. Open according to Annantalo's opening hours.
Malmitalo's autumn break films include Paddington 2 (rated PG) on Tuesday, October 13, 2020 at 1 p.m., Rascal the Raccoon (rated G) on Wednesday, October 14, 2020 at 1 p.m., and Frozen 2 (rated PG) on Thursday, October 15, 2020 at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Participation requires advance registration. Free admission.
Vuotalo offers many activities during autumn break week. Also Swedish-language programs available.
At cultural center Stoa autumn break week features Africa in East Helsinki – a themed week.
Go orienteering during autumn break at cultural center courtyards! Orienteering is aimed at children and families. Maps and scorecards for independent orienteering are distributed in the halls of cultural centers and on the EasySport website. You can go orienteering at Annantalo, Kanneltalo, Stoa and Vuotalo all week during autumn break (week 42). Free admission.
To the circus
Sirkus Finlandia at Kaisaniemi field until November 1, 2020. Paid admission.
To the movies
Malmitalo's autumn break films include Paddington 2 (rated PG) on Tuesday, October 13, 2020 at 1 p.m., Rascal the Raccoon (rated G) on Wednesday, October 14, 2020 at 1 p.m., and Frozen 2 (rated PG) on Thursday, October 15, 2020 at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Participation requires advance registration. Free admission.
Espoo: Children's autumn break movie: Eemeli of Vaahteranmäki at the Children's Cultural Center Aurora on Tuesday at 2 p.m. Free admission.
Espoo: Children's autumn break movie: Dumbo live-action (rated PG) at the Children's Cultural Center Aurora on Wednesday at 2 p.m. Free admission.
Espoo: Children's autumn break movie: Zootopia – Animal City (rated PG) at Espoo Cultural Center's Louhisali on Thursday at 2 p.m. Free admission.
To a concert
Robin Hund & Hans Glada Orkester concert at Stoa on Wednesday at 2 p.m. Free admission.
Robin Hund & Hans Glada Orkester concert at Vuotalo on Thursday at 2 p.m. Free admission.
Other activities
Children's Traffic City is open to families during autumn break week Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. At Traffic City, with an adult, you can learn traffic rules and practice driving in the traffic park with pedal cars.
Story Wall in the lower level of the Music Hall October 10 - November 10, 2020. Free admission.
From Little Helsinki's Helsinki Places article you'll find over 120 tips for activities all around the city.
The traditional Linnanmäki Carnival of Lights will not be held this year.
Visit a museum
The Natural History Museum, Kaisaniemi Botanical Garden, Amos Rex, HAM Helsinki, Newspaper Museum, City Museum, Theatre Museum, National Museum, Fire Museum, Tram Museum, Museum of Technology... There are many options for museum visits with children. Little Helsinki's Museum Friends and I series takes you on museum adventures with children. Note that many museums are closed on Mondays, but at least the Newspaper Museum, City Museum and Amos Rex are open on Mondays (Amos Rex is closed on Tuesdays!).
Museums' autumn break week
The Newspaper Museum features the Seven Dog Brothers exhibition June 1 - December 31, 2020. Free admission, also open on Mondays.
At the National Museum you follow the Moomin trail during autumn break week. Museum admission fee.
The Natural History Museum is open as usual. Museum admission fee.
Kaisaniemi Botanical Garden is open as usual. Free admission to the outdoor garden, admission fee for greenhouses.
Kindergarten Museum in Sörnäinen is open on Tuesday from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. and Wednesday from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. during autumn break week. Small admission fee.
Fire Museum is open on Wednesday and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. during autumn break week. The museum at Erottaja rescue station has a small admission fee.
Hotel and Restaurant Museum at Kaapelitehtaa is open normally during autumn break week. Self-guided photo orienteering for children. Museum admission fee.
At the Theatre Museum at Kaapelitehtaa, a brand new exhibition has just opened: Props in the Leading Role. Museum admission fee.
Helsinki City Museum autumn break workshop where you create an old-fashioned selfie Monday to Sunday October 12-18, 2020. Workshops are held on the hour at 12 p.m., 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. Each workshop accommodates 10 people at a time. Register on the sign-in list at the museum's info desk. Always free admission.
Note: The Children's City is still closed due to the exceptional circumstances.
Tram Museum in Töölö is open daily from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free admission.
Museum of Technology at Vanhankaupunginlahti offers self-guided video activities during autumn break week at the Phantom's Invention Machine exhibition. Museum admission fee.
Toy Museum Horseshoe in Espoo also offers autumn break activities. Museum admission fee.
Get active
Family recreation programs and family sports are held normally also during autumn break week. Find daily activity tips in the Autumn Break Week article.
You can swim normally at Helsinki's swimming pools. Admission fee.
Kontulan Skate Park and the skate and scooter hall at shopping center Redi are also open during autumn break. Free admission.
Free public skating times schedule can be found on the Helsinki Active website. Espoo's ice rink public skating times can be found on Espoo city website.
Kivi ski resort has opened its doors to skiers of all ages. Admission fee.
Explore Helsinki
Go for an autumn colors hike! Helsinki's parks and forests are now glowing in beautiful autumn colors! Little Helsinki recommends hiking at least to Tullisaari and Stansvik manor park in Laajasalo, Herttoniemi manor park and Sibelius Park in Töölö. Also Espoo's Träskanda manor park is a beautiful place!
Sheep Island and Kuusiluoto, Talosaari, Seurasaari, Suomenlinna, Kruunuvuori... there are countless places suitable for hiking. You can create your own theme for the hike or follow a planned route. For example, you can explore Suomenlinna in many different ways.
Also remember nearby cities and municipalities: Sipoo, Porvoo and Loviisa to the east, Espoo, Kirkkonummi and Inkoo to the west. In addition to a beautiful setting, Fiskars has an excellent playground.
There are also two national parks near Helsinki: Nuuksio and Sipoonkorpi are excellent family hiking destinations.
Many Uusimaa recreation areas allow grilling in beautiful settings.
All of Little Helsinki's day trip tips can be found here.
The Spotting article takes you to machines and gadgets in Helsinki.
From Little Helsinki's Helsinki Places article you'll find over 120 tips for activities all around the city.
DAILY ACTIVITY TIPS
Daily activity tips can be found in the Autumn Break Week article.
A WISH: #littlehelsinki can be found on, among others, Instagram
and behind the hashtag you'll find other families' experiences and tips for activities with children. You're welcome to use the #littlehelsinki hashtag.
