Pienten Helsinki
To Neighboring Cities During Fall Break Week
Go on vacation to neighboring cities during fall break! Little Helsinki's fall break tips within an hour's travel from Helsinki lead to playgrounds, nature hikes, adventures, and cultural experiences.
Little Helsinki's activity tips for fall break have been compiled with young children and their families as well as school-age children in mind.
Also read Little Helsinki's fall break tips for Helsinki and Where this week article for week 42.
ESPOO
Haltia Nature Center in Nuuksio is an excellent family destination. Haltia is exceptionally open during the holiday week on Mondays as well, and the nature center offers special holiday week programs. The complete program can be found on Haltia's website. There is an admission fee to the nature center, but some programs are free.
Also remember the nature trails and routes around the nature center for hikers at various skill levels.
Nuuksio National Park has ready-made trails for people of all ages and fitness levels. An autumn forest hike with beautiful fall colors and picnic food is an experience for the whole family.
Villa Elfvik Nature House has nature trails that are easy to walk for the whole family. Hiking is also possible with strollers. Read more about Villa Elfvik and the nature trails in the area on the nature house website.
Glims Farm Museum in Espoo is open during fall break Tuesday to Friday 10-16 and Sunday 11-16 (closed Monday and Saturday). The museum hosts workshops during the week. Read more about Glims' program on the museum's website. Museum admission fee applies.
Toy Museum Hevosenkenkä in Espoo also offers fall break activities. More detailed information can be found on the museum's website.
WeeGee exhibition center has more to see: Kamu (Espoo City Museum), Emma (Espoo Museum of Modern Art), and the Finnish Clock Museum. The entire museum center's fall break week program can be found here. All museums are accessible with the same ticket. Tickets €12, under 18s free. WeeGee exhibition center is closed on Mondays.
Children's Cultural Center Pikku-Aurora offers Cleaning Fun for holiday visitors Monday to Friday 10-13. Free admission. Read more on Cultura Espoo's website.
In Sellosali (Leppävaara) you can watch fall break movies for children: on Tuesday at 9 o'clock Onneli and Anneli and the Sleepy Clock and Wreck-It Ralph Breaks the Internet at 11. Movies are free, no reservation needed.
Espoo libraries also host activities for holiday visitors during fall break week. Espoo library events for the week can be found here.
Angry Birds parks at Oittaa and Leppävaara Sports Park work well with both younger and older holiday visitors. Next to the Leppävaara AB park is a large sports park and for example scooter ramps and the Leppävaara swimming hall.
Espoo swimming pools also serve during fall break.
Information about public skating times at Espoo ice halls during fall break week is shared on Metro Arena's Facebook page.
Little Helsinki's Evening at Home series article about Espoo can be found here.
KIRKKONUMMI
Porkkala Peninsula and Linloo island (connected by a bridge to the mainland) outdoor recreation areas are excellent hiking destinations for families in good weather.
Rehndahl Farm Animals in Kirkkonummi offers countryside atmosphere and many different activities as well as farm animals. The farm grounds also include a fenced playground, a pirate ship, an obstacle course for hobby horses, and a summer café. Rehndahl farm is open year-round. From October to December, the farm animal park is open Saturday and Sunday 10-14. Winter season admission €5, under 2s free. Family tickets are also available.
Picnic foods for Kirkkonummi hikes can be found, for example, at the lovely Farm Shop in Eestinkyläm.
VANTAA
Aviation Museum hosts fall break programs. Museum admission fee applies. Read more about the holiday week program on the Aviation Museum's own website.
Heureka Science Center in Tikkurila is an excellent destination in Vantaa for chilly autumn days. Admission €22 / €15, under 6s free.
Flamingo Spa Water Park offers southern warmth during chilly autumn days. Admission fee applies.
Little Helsinki's Spot and Explore article also has a tip for Vantaa.
KERAVA
Kerava Kimppa! Children's Culture Week October 9-20, 2019. Read more about the week's exciting program from Kerava City's culture website.
Right next to Kerava, on the Tuusula side, there is an excellent stop for children: Koiramäki Willow Stables offers experiences for the little ones, food from a charming café, and willow decorations to take home. A place worth experiencing!
TUUSULA
Around Lake Tuusula there is much interesting to see. Find tips on Visit Lake Tuusula's website.
Lotta Museum in Tuusula offers fall break activities. This wonderful blue villa setting is worth experiencing, and there is also a small playground on the grounds. Museum admission fee applies. The fall break week program can be found on the museum's website. Like other museums, Lotta Museum is closed on Mondays.
Good outdoor recreation destinations in Tuusula include the recently renovated Fjällbon Park and Sarvikallio Recreation Area.
LAHTI
Launee Family Park in Lahti is an excellent hiking destination about an hour's travel from Helsinki. You can also take a trip to Launee by train: You can travel to Lahti with strollers on VR's local trains for free.
It's important to note here that Launee Park is not just a basic playground but much more. There are activities for all ages: a play area for the little ones, a playground for older children, a traffic town, scooter and skateboard ramps, a wading area in summer, and a mini golf course (fee applies) and much more. Restrooms are available on weekends when staff is present.
SIPOO
Sipoonkorpi National Park offers many opportunities for mushroom picking or admiring fall colors. With small hikers, it's worth heading to, for example, the Punu Heritage Post trail, which is designed to be easy to walk for the little ones. Little Helsinki's background team recommends that those with small hikers pack good snacks in their backpack and head to the campfire and shelter area to enjoy snacks and adventure in the nearby area and return along the same route - since the full trail partially runs along a road at the end and that creates unnecessary challenges for small hikers.
Talma Active Park is open during fall break week Wednesday to Sunday. Read more on Talma's own website. Admission fee applies.
PORVOO, LOVIISA (and Kotka)
Moomin Park in Porvoo is a fun destination for younger holiday visitors.
Toukovuori's new playground is also wonderful, so it's worth stopping by on a Porvoo trip.
Porvoo City's ideas for spending fall break can be found here.
Children's Porvoo tips can be found on Porvoo's tourism website.
Onneli and Anneli's Playground is located at Laivasilla Beach Area and in Loviisa's downtown area.
Strömfors Mill Area is an excellent stop on a trip to Loviisa.
To Kotka it's a bit more than an hour's drive, but Kotka's many parks are worth experiencing someday!
Little Helsinki's Evening at Home series article about Eastern Uusimaa can be found here.
ASKOLA
Peikkorinne Bird Park and Farm Animals is open during fall break week Wednesday to Saturday 11-16. Read more on Peikkorinne's Facebook page.
ALSO REMEMBER
All of Little Helsinki's day trip tips can be found here.
Uusimaa Recreation Area Association's outdoor recreation areas
Family City Routes
Little Helsinki's Family City Routes lead to new neighborhoods, new places, and help inspire and encourage adventuring in your home city or visiting new corners as a tourist.
The first Family City Routes lead on adventures in Helsinki: to Haaga, Pitäjänmäki, Ruskeasuo, and Vuosaari.
CHALLENGE: Create your own fall break week city route to any city and share it with others. Little Helsinki is happy to also publish city routes created by adventurers!
Read more: Little Helsinki's Family City Routes
WISH: #littlehelsinki can be found on, among other places, Instagram, and behind the hashtag you'll find experiences and tips from other families for activities with children. Feel free to use the #littlehelsinki hashtag ;)
