Guidebook for Helsinki
Parks & Nature
This is one of Helsinki's hidden gems! The Rhododendron park, which blossoms in June. Check out the small wooden paths, bridges and viewpoints among the 2-meter high rhododendrons!
11 locals recommend
Haaga Rhododendron Park
37 LaajasuontieThis is one of Helsinki's hidden gems! The Rhododendron park, which blossoms in June. Check out the small wooden paths, bridges and viewpoints among the 2-meter high rhododendrons!
The Central Park is actually more of a forest. Crossing the pedestrian bridge in Haaga, you may chose to turn
Left = Northbound: a calmer route with forests, fields and nature protection areas.
Right = South towards the city centre. It’s a route full of hustle and bustle, passing several shared city gardens, horse stables, and eventually it arrives by the swimming stadium or Olympic Stadium
The park is 10km long and nothing really beats seeing Helsinki by biking or running through the central park!
111 locals recommend
Central Park
The Central Park is actually more of a forest. Crossing the pedestrian bridge in Haaga, you may chose to turn
Left = Northbound: a calmer route with forests, fields and nature protection areas.
Right = South towards the city centre. It’s a route full of hustle and bustle, passing several shared city gardens, horse stables, and eventually it arrives by the swimming stadium or Olympic Stadium
The park is 10km long and nothing really beats seeing Helsinki by biking or running through the central park!
Interested in visiting Nuuksio, the nearest National Park? Start out from the Haltia visitors' centre. They have exhibitions, guided tours, and a restaurant. Several nature trails start from here. Only around 30 mins drive from our house
29 locals recommend
Haltia - The Finnish Nature Centre
84 NuuksiontieInterested in visiting Nuuksio, the nearest National Park? Start out from the Haltia visitors' centre. They have exhibitions, guided tours, and a restaurant. Several nature trails start from here. Only around 30 mins drive from our house
Entertainment & Activities
This is a super great adventure park, where you will move and climb in the park on different courses with zip-lines. Recommended for all ages, but especially for the older kids & Teens! 12+ year olds can do this on their own, with a written parental permission
11 locals recommend
Adventure Park Zippy
28 HuopalahdentieThis is a super great adventure park, where you will move and climb in the park on different courses with zip-lines. Recommended for all ages, but especially for the older kids & Teens! 12+ year olds can do this on their own, with a written parental permission
This is a top spot for rainy days with the kids! Who would not want to try an entire sports hall full of trampolines? On Friday & Saturday evenings you can do your jumping in night mode, blinking lights and disco music!
9 locals recommend
Rush Helsinki
25 ValimotieThis is a top spot for rainy days with the kids! Who would not want to try an entire sports hall full of trampolines? On Friday & Saturday evenings you can do your jumping in night mode, blinking lights and disco music!
After our family went to Disney World in Florida, the kids said: Linnanmäki is 10 times better! It's the nicest amusement park, so much exciting rides, almost no queues if you go there during a weekday, lush park-like surroundings. And it's not far from our place! However, don't expect too much from the food
220 locals recommend
Linnanmaki
1 TivolikujaAfter our family went to Disney World in Florida, the kids said: Linnanmäki is 10 times better! It's the nicest amusement park, so much exciting rides, almost no queues if you go there during a weekday, lush park-like surroundings. And it's not far from our place! However, don't expect too much from the food
This is one of the greatest spots in town for a warm summer day. This outdoor swimming stadium was built for the Helsinki olympics in 1952, and the architecture is typical 1950s modernism. Men and women have separate locker rooms and saunas. Pro tip: there are 3 great waterslides for kids! You need to buy the waterslide tickets already at the entrance.
62 locals recommend
Helsinki Swimming Stadium
5 HammarskjöldintieThis is one of the greatest spots in town for a warm summer day. This outdoor swimming stadium was built for the Helsinki olympics in 1952, and the architecture is typical 1950s modernism. Men and women have separate locker rooms and saunas. Pro tip: there are 3 great waterslides for kids! You need to buy the waterslide tickets already at the entrance.
Arts & Culture
Alvar Aalto was a world-famous Finnish modernist architect, and this is his house, designed for his own family in Munkkiniemi in 1936. A must-visit for any Aalto or Scandiavian architecture fan! At our place, you can also find a table and 3 stools designed by Aalto.
18 locals recommend
Alvar Aalto's studio
20 RiihitieAlvar Aalto was a world-famous Finnish modernist architect, and this is his house, designed for his own family in Munkkiniemi in 1936. A must-visit for any Aalto or Scandiavian architecture fan! At our place, you can also find a table and 3 stools designed by Aalto.
Famous Finnish architect Alvar Aalto's working studio in Munkkiniemi. Nearby was his home, which you can visit!
15 locals recommend
Studio Aalto
20 TiilimäkiFamous Finnish architect Alvar Aalto's working studio in Munkkiniemi. Nearby was his home, which you can visit!
The newest Art museum in town! Opened in late 2018. It's underground with funny windows looking up to the street level. So popular that people are queuing to get in!
61 locals recommend
Amos Rex
22-24 MannerheimintieThe newest Art museum in town! Opened in late 2018. It's underground with funny windows looking up to the street level. So popular that people are queuing to get in!
Must-see while in Helsinki! A place to relax, for free, in the middle of a busy day, and admire the latest Nordic architectural wonder. This library has been designed as a living-room for all! And there is a small café on the top floor.
93 locals recommend
Oodi Central Library
4 TöölönlahdenkatuMust-see while in Helsinki! A place to relax, for free, in the middle of a busy day, and admire the latest Nordic architectural wonder. This library has been designed as a living-room for all! And there is a small café on the top floor.
Essentials
K-market Tunnelitie
10 TunnelitieOur nearest supermarket, open 7-23
K-Supermarket Haga
5 TunnelitieThis grocery store really has all you need!
Shopping
This is the nearest mall, where you find one of Finland's biggest supermarkets and some basic specialty stores. 8 minutes by car from the house, and several buses go there directly
29 locals recommend
Kauppakeskus Kaari
1 KantelettarentieThis is the nearest mall, where you find one of Finland's biggest supermarkets and some basic specialty stores. 8 minutes by car from the house, and several buses go there directly
Sello is one of the biggest shopping malls in Helsinki. It's not far away by car from our house.
73 locals recommend
Sello
3-9 LeppävaarankatuSello is one of the biggest shopping malls in Helsinki. It's not far away by car from our house.
MIA Design Shop
33 FredrikinkatuThis is my favourite store for Scandinavian home decoration stuff in Helsinki!
Getting Around
The nearest train station! Trains go to the airport and to the city center
14 locals recommend
Huopalahti Train Station
The nearest train station! Trains go to the airport and to the city center