Winter Holiday in Helsinki and the Metropolitan Area 2026

What to do and where to go during winter break with children in Helsinki and the metropolitan area? Winter break or ski week is celebrated in South Finland schools in week eight, February 16-22, 2026. Move, go outdoors, have adventures, experience and discover - Helsinki and the surrounding area offer plenty to do during the holiday week. Small Helsinki activity tips for winter break have been compiled from the perspective of families with children.

The article cover image is from Porvoo, showing Linnamäki's beautiful sledding hill.

The article contains a commercial collaboration advertisement and activity tip.

Winter Break Week Events and Activities

From Pienten Helsinki's "Where This Week" article you'll find daily activity tips!

Helsinki city libraries throughout Helsinki offer winter break activities for children: storytelling sessions, workshops and theme days.

Activities and programs at Kalasatama's Vapaakaupunki during ski week Monday to Saturday. Free entry.
Vantaa: Non-stop art workshops during winter break at Pyykkitupa Children's Cultural Center on the grounds of Håkansbolen Manor Monday to Friday 16-20.2.2026 9.30 am-12 pm. Free entry.
Espoo: Winter break workshops at Aurora Children's Cultural Center Tuesday to Thursday 17-19.2.2026 10 am-1 pm. Free entry.
Espoo: Alpine Railway Enthusiasts' miniature railway exhibition on the 3rd floor of Sello shopping center (at the end of the corridor near RAX pizza restaurant and Tokmann store). Open Wednesdays and Fridays 3-7 pm and Saturdays 11 am-5 pm. Free entry.
Espoo: Sustainable Living Mystery for families and friend groups at Villa Elfvik Monday to Friday 16-20.2.2026 9 am-3 pm (Friday 9 am-2 pm!). Free entry, self-service activity.
Porvoo: Skidimarket invites new shelf stockers, cashiers and grill stand workers for ski week activities at Porvoo Art Factory Wednesday to Sunday 18-22.2.2026. Skidimarket is open Wednesday to Friday 10 am-6 pm and Saturday and Sunday 11 am-4 pm. Free entry.
Stadin Talvirieha in Paloheinä Thursday 19.2.2026 3:30 pm-6:30 pm. Free entry.
A picnic trip to the Winter Garden is like a moment in the tropics in the snow! The Winter Garden on the north side of Töölönlahti is open during winter break Monday to Thursday 10 am-4 pm and Saturday and Sunday 10 am-4 pm. Closed Fridays! Free entry.
Helsinki city highlights for winter break especially for young people can be found on the Helsinki Youth pages.
Espoo: Comprehensive winter break week events in Espoo can be found listed on the Espoo city website.

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

Activities During Winter Break Week

Winter break children's sports event at Töölö competition hall Monday to Wednesday 16.2-18.2.2026 11 am-2 pm. Tickets €2.10 (children) and €3.60 (adults).
Espoo: Free Hoppari sports at Esport Arena in Tapiola Monday to Friday 16.2-20.2.2026 10 am-2 pm. Free entry. Bring indoor shoes, drinking bottle and snacks or money if desired.
Vantaa: Winter break activities at Energia Arena Thursday 19.2.2026 9 am-1 pm. Free entry.
Stadin Talvirieha in Paloheinä Thursday 19.2.2026 3:30 pm-6:30 pm. Free entry.
Helsinki swimming halls are open during winter break mostly as usual and for example swimming halls at Urheiluhallit also offer holiday week programs
Espoo: Free admission to Espoo city swimming halls for ages 7-17 Monday to Friday 16.2-20.2.2026. Swimming halls also have programs during winter break week.
Sledding hills? The article has the Pienten Helsinki team's favorite sledding hills!
Family-friendly National Skiing Day final event at Helsinki's Paloheinä Saturday 21.2.2026 11 am-3 pm. Free entry.
Ice skating at the ice hall? Open public skating sessions are held at several ice halls. Free entry.
- Extra public skating sessions at Espoo ice halls during school winter break.
- Extra public skating sessions at Vantaa ice halls during school winter break.
- Extra public skating sessions at Kerava ice hall during school winter break.

Current condition information for all outdoor skating rinks in the metropolitan area maintained by the cities can be found on the ulkoliikunta.fi map service. Skating on artificial ice rinks is also free for the 2025-2026 season!
Cross-country skiing routes can be found at least at Gallträsk in Kauniainen, Oittaa in Espoo, Lake Lohja and Lake Tuusula. At Lake Tuusula it's also possible to rent equipment and kick sleds.
Always check current ice conditions and remember safety equipment!

Museum Activities During Winter Break

Note that many museums are closed on Mondays!
Museums in Helsinki and the metropolitan area that are open on Mondays include Museo Merkki, Helsinki City Museum and Children's City, Tram Museum, TAHTO and Amos Rex. During winter break week on Monday, February 16, the Museum of Technology in Helsinki, Haltia Nature Center and Museo Leikki in Espoo are also open, as well as the Aviation Museum in Vantaa.

Advertisement / Commercial collaboration with Science Museum Liekki.

Winter Break Activities at Science Museum Liekki - Cut and Paste a Memory Collage!

Long ago, children used to collect shiny pictures and poems in memory books. What memory would you preserve from a lovely day?

Come craft a collage about the atmosphere of your winter break day at Science Museum Liekki's exhibition center Tuesday to Saturday 17-21.2.2026! We'll craft in the Angeloscope exhibition, which tells about angel images and their cultural history. While crafting, you can create an imaginative reflection image at the exhibition workshop station.

The self-service craft workshop operates on a non-stop basis during museum hours (Tuesday-Wednesday 12 pm-4 pm, Thursday 12 pm-8 pm and Friday-Saturday 12 pm-4 pm). No advance registration needed. The workshop is suitable for preschool and school-age children as well as adults.
Admission to Science Museum Liekki is free for under 18s, adults pay regular admission price or with a Museum Card.

Science Museum Liekki
Main Building of the University, Fabianinkatu 33, 1st floor, left from the main entrance

*Winter break activities at Science Museum Liekki Tuesday to Saturday! Photo: Science Museum Liekki*

Remember also: The magnificent Observatory at Tähtitorninmäki is open Thursdays 12 pm-8 pm and Friday and Saturday 12 pm-4 pm. Museum admission fee, under 18s free.

The best museum tips for adventures with children can be found in Pienten Helsinki's theme article!

Funny Helsinkers - Mask Workshop Monday to Friday 16-20.2.2026 12 pm-3 pm. Always free entry.
Winter Break Week Program at the Museum of Technology Monday to Friday 16.2-20.2.2026. Museum admission fee.
Winter Break at Sports Museum TAHTO all week (also open Monday!). Museum admission fee.
Winter Break Adventure: Missing Food! at the Hotel and Restaurant Museum Tuesday to Sunday 17.2-22.2.2026. Museum admission fee.
Kindergarten Museum is open during winter break with extended hours Tuesday to Thursday 17-19.2.2026 12 pm-7 pm. Winter break week also offers programs for vacationers.Museum admission fee.
Many Words of the Night - Winter Break Non-Stop Poetry Workshops at Sinebrychoff Art Museum Tuesday to Saturday 17-21.2.2026 1 pm-4 pm. Museum admission fee.
Circus Magenta Workshop for Winter Break Visitors at the Theater Museum at Kaapelitehdas Wednesday 18.2.2026 and Thursday 19.2.2026 12 pm-1:15 pm and 1:45 pm-3 pm. Museum admission fee.
Fire Museum at Erottaja Fire Station is open Wednesday and Sunday 12 pm-4 pm. The museum is undergoing renovation work in February and two exhibition rooms are closed due to the work. Small admission fee.
Free Admission Day at Ateneum Art Museum Friday 10 am-6 pm.
I love 8-bit - Playable Computer Exhibition at Kallio Computer Museum (Alppikatu 17) Saturday and Sunday. Museum admission fee.

Espoo: Winter Break Fun at Glims Sunday to Sunday (closed Monday!) 15.2-22.2.2026 11 am-4 pm. Museum admission fee.

Espoo: Winter Break at Haltia Nature Center throughout the winter break week (also open Monday!). Museum admission fee, some free programs also available.

Espoo: Winter Break at Museo Leikki throughout the winter break week (also open Monday!) 14-22.2.2026. Museum admission fee.
Espoo: School Museum Lagstad Opening Day Saturday 21.2.2026 11 am-4 pm. Free entry.
Vantaa: Winter Break Art Fun at Arts at Vantaa Art Museum Arts Tuesday to Thursday 17-19.2.2026 1 pm-3 pm. Free entry.

Vantaa: Winter Break at the Aviation Museum throughout the winter break week (also open Monday!) 16-22.2.2026. Museum admission fee.

Hyvinkää: Winter Break Week at the Finnish Railway Museum Tuesday to Sunday 17-22.2.2026 10 am-6 pm. Museum admission fee.

Animals in the City

At Haltiala Farm you can see farm animals on outdoor pastures even in winter. The farm also has a playground. The farm's indoor facilities are closed during winter break. Free entry.

Fallkullan Farm's barn, stables and indoor facilities are open to visitors during winter break only on Sunday 15.2 and Sunday 22.2.2026 10 am-2 pm.
Free entry. However, Fallkullan Farm's outdoor areas can be accessed freely at other times as well.

A picnic trip to the Winter Garden also works during winter break and the garden's carp swim under the palms in the warmth. The Winter Garden on the north side of Töölönlahti is open during winter break Monday to Thursday 10 am-4 pm and Saturday and Sunday 10 am-4 pm. Closed Fridays! Free entry.

Husön Riding School's horses can sometimes be seen along the Talosaari outdoor trail (owned by Helsinki city) also during winter season. The area has a partially accessible outdoor trail.

Korkeasaari Zoo is open normally during winter break week. Zoo admission fee.

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

Helsinki City Playgrounds During Winter Break

Links to playgrounds' winter break programs can be found in a separate article via the link.

Open Helsinki city playgrounds during winter break 16-20.2.2026:
(information retrieved manually from the early childhood education director's decision document 8.2.2026)

Southern District
Playroom Loru (Central Library Oodi, Helsinki Center)
Playroom Ruoholahti (Ruoholahti)

Central District
Playroom Brahe (Kallio)
Playroom Intia (Kumpula)
Playroom Sanna (Pasila)

Western District
Playroom Iida (North Haaga)
Playroom Viiri (Little Huopalahti)
Playroom Ulvila (Munkkivuori)

Kaarela
Playroom Trumpetti (Kannelmäki)
Playroom Strömberg (Pitäjänmäki)

Northern District
Playroom Mäkitorppa (Oulunkylä)

Northeast District
Playroom Kotinummi (Ylä-Malmi)
Playroom Maasälpä (Pihlajanmäki)
Playroom Viikkari (Viikki)

Puistola-Suutarila-Jakomäki
Playroom Kankarepuisto (Jakomäki)
Playroom Kotinummi (Malmi)

Southeast District
Playroom Rudolf (Laajasalo)
Playroom Orava (Herttoniemi)
Playroom Tuorinniemi (Herttoniemenranta)

East District
Playroom Kipinä (Kivikko)
Playroom Dragon Park (Vuosaari)

Myllypuro-Vartiokylä
Playroom Rusthollari (Puotila)
Playroom Mustakivi (Vuosaari)

Did you know? During winter break week in 2025, 32 playgrounds were open, but during the 2026 winter break week only 23 are open.

Playgrounds announce their programs in the Helsinki city event calendar and on the playgrounds' own Facebook pages.

All of Pienten Helsinki's play area tips can be found via this link.

In Espoo, all the city's resident parks are open normally during winter break week and offer varied programs Monday to Friday.

Explore and Take Trips During Winter Break

What to do today? Check out tips for boring days from Pienten Helsinki!
Secrets of Helsinki article reveals small and big secrets about Helsinki!
Sledding hills? The article features the Pienten Helsinki team's favorite sledding hills!
Helsinki's perhaps most stunning viewpoint is now more easily accessible, as the old oil tank on top of Kruunuvuori cliff now has stairs! Access to the stairs is from Koirasaarentiie, near the start of Kruunusiltas.

*View towards Kruunusiltas and a picnic spot at Kruunuvuori in December 2025.*

Kruunuvuoren waterfront has many other adventure spots!
- Old Kaivoskalli quarries are now easier to explore with new boardwalks and stairs! The route starts from Koirasaarentiie, at a corner near old cottages across from Stansvikintie intersection.
- Onnentemppeli cottage is an amazing picnic spot at Stansvik!
- Stansvik grill spot by the shore near the restaurant (restaurant closed in winter).
- Kruunuvuori's magical pond is now also more accessible with new boardwalk routes. The accessible route starts from Kultakruununkaar, the more challenging route from Päätiie.
- Also remember the great playgrounds: at Kruunuvuoren waterfront sports park (including skating rink!) and in the north part of Haakoninlahti Park (next to school construction site with big machinery!).

Uunisaari island in front of Kaivopuisto has a bridge connection during winter months and you can gaze toward the horizon on the rocky island, watch passing ships and shore waves, and listen to ice floes sounds.

For a self-guided winter trip it's worth heading along boardwalks to places like Lammassaari island, Suomenlinna fortress, Seurasaari island, and Pukkisaari island, Matosaari island, Tullisaari island and Kivinokka trails. More adventure tips for Helsinki can be found in Pienten Helsinki's Helsinki Places article. Pack snacks and dress warmly!
Grilling spots have been built in areas like Tullisaari Manor Park in Laajasalo and Stansvik. You need to bring your own charcoal/firewood. Older grilling spots can be found at Uutela, Seurasaari and Kallahdennie beach in Vuosaari. Uutela shelter is presumably open at least for part of the winter break (opening days are updated on the shelter's Facebook page) and Paloheinä outdoor area's grill shelter is open (as far as I know) every day.
Also remember: Pienten Suomi - over 1000 reasons to travel in Finland with children!
Sipoonkorpi has for example an easy-access Tasakallio - Storträsk route and Byabäcken nature trail, previously known as Ponun traditional mail trail, which leads to a grill spot and shelter to warm up. Tip from experience: with small children, the Byabäcken route is best walked from the start to the grill spot and back the same way, rather than circling the route as it partly runs along a road. Grilling spot usually has plenty of ready firewood, so bring matches and snacks. However, note that some routes may be very slippery and difficult to access in winter.
The route from Kuusijärvi to Sipoonkorpi is worth trying and experiencing a nice bridge route into the national park.
Helsinki city outdoor areas can be found on the Helsinki Moves pages.
New and interesting trip locations can also be found at Uusimaa Recreation Area Association locations.

Day Trip Ideas for Winter Break in South Finland

Pienten Suomi - over 1000 reasons to travel in Finland with children!
Pienten Suomi: Five Activity Tips for South Finland During Winter Break 2026.

In Espoo, Angry Birds playgrounds, numerous outdoor areas and for example the beautiful Träskanda manor park are excellent trip destinations with children.
Espoo city's comprehensive winter break week events can be found listed on Espoo city website.

Porvoo and for example Old Porvoo attractions and the Moomins playroom in the city center. Finland's or possibly the world's most beautiful sledding hill can be found in Old Porvoo at Linnamäki.
Porvoo: Skidimarket invites new shelf stockers, cashiers and grill stand workers for ski week activities at Porvoo Art Factory Wednesday to Sunday 18-22.2.2026. Skidimarket is open Wednesday to Friday 10 am-6 pm and Saturday and Sunday 11 am-4 pm. Free entry.