Helsingin Saaret on Pienten Helsinki

Helsinki's Islands: Uunisaari

Sun, 22 Mar 2026 23:34:57 +0200

Helsinki's Islands is a series of easy island destinations to visit with children. The series introduces favorites from the Little Helsinki background team around Helsinki. Uunisaari is a small rocky island in front of Kaivopuisto.

This article was first published in 2023.

Update November 2025:
A pontoon bridge for pedestrians will be installed again from Merisatama wharf to Northern
Uunisaari on Monday 17.11.2025 (the bridge will be in use by Monday at the latest at 2 PM) and will be removed on 15.4.2026.

Other parts of the Helsinki's Islands article series

Uunisaari in front of Kaivopuisto is an easily accessible excursion destination from autumn to spring (November-April), when a pontoon bridge runs from Merisatamanranta on Ehrenströmintie to Uunisaari. The walking bridge is removed around mid-April so that boat traffic from Kaivopuisto can pass by the island. During the summer season, Uunisaari is accessible a short boat ride away, and a shuttle service between the island and mainland charges a small fee for the journey. Visiting Uunisaari is also possible and worthwhile in summer, as the island has beautiful rocky shores perfect for picnicking, as well as a municipally maintained swimming beach. The beach also has some playground equipment for children, though its condition and quantity decrease year after year.

Helsinki Islands: A Hot Summer Day at Mustasaari

Tue, 04 Jun 2024 11:00:44 +0200

A Hot Summer Day at Mustasaari in Helsinki

This article was first published on 1.7.2018 and updated on 3.6.2024.

If you're looking for activities and an outing destination for a summer day with children, summer Mustasaari in Seurasaarenlahti is an excellent choice! An island full of summer activities perfect for kids, sunshine and sea breeze, and delicious giant cardamom pastries!

Mustasaari is open 4.6.–11.8.2024 as follows:
Tuesday and Friday to Sunday 9 am–5 pm
Wednesday and Thursday 9 am–8 pm
The island is closed on Mondays.

Helsinki's Islands: Lammassaari and Kuusiluoto

Sat, 11 May 2024 21:00:00 +0200

An Autumn Adventure to Lammassaari and Kuusiluoto

Published 25.8.2018

Helsinki's Islands is a series of easy island destinations for children. The series showcases the favorites of the Small Helsinki team across the city.

Update 2025: The summer sheep have left Kuusiluoto to spend winter elsewhere and will return in early June 2026.
Please note that the summer sheep are initially shy in their new environment, so approach them calmly.
The photos in this article from Lammassaari and Kuusiluoto are from June and autumn 2017.

Helsinki's Islands: Matosaari

Sat, 04 May 2024 09:38:44 +0200

Helsinki's Islands: Matosaari

Published 8.7.2018

Helsinki's Islands is a series of easy island destinations for visiting with children. The series presents the favorite locations of the Little Helsinki team around the city.
This time we're visiting Matosaari in Jollaksessa, which is like a hidden gem in the eastern archipelago. It offers peace, spectacular views, adventure on the small island's paths, garden plants from decades past, and the opportunity to see the Finnish Maritime Rescue Association's vessels at the island's dock.

Family City Routes: Oil Tank 468

Fri, 30 Sep 2022 09:00:00 +0200

Do you want to get lost on new paths and discover something new? Look at Helsinki with fresh eyes? Turn in a different direction at an intersection? Family City Routes are exactly for that! The city routes take you to new neighborhoods, new places and help and inspire you to explore your home city or visit new corners as a tourist. Family City Routes are a new type of tourism concept in Helsinki neighborhoods developed by hospitality student Heidi Säynätkari as her thesis work. The four city routes created as a thesis work are now joined by new and different routes throughout the city.

Picnic at the Summit of Kruunuvuori

Sun, 25 Sep 2022 08:00:00 +0200

Kruunuvuori Villa Area in Laajasalo

Published 4.10.2017

The Kruunuvuori villa area is located in Kaitalahtipuisto in Laajasalo. The area gets its informal name from the wooden villas built in the early 20th century, unfortunately almost all of which have been destroyed. From the summit of Kruunuvuori, spectacular views open up to Suomenlinna, the city center and downtown skyline, Korkeasaari, Mustikkamaa, and numerous other islands and well-known landmarks.

The terrain is dense, overgrown, and unkempt deciduous forest with rocky ground, steep ascents, and ravines. The route is quite difficult to walk and for small children it's worth bringing a backpack carrier and leaving strollers at home. Due to the difficult terrain, the area cannot be recommended for those taking their first walks in the forest, but for small and large adventurers, Kruunuvuori is all the more fantastic a hiking destination. You can reach Kruunuvuorenranta by bus number 88 from Herttoniemi. A nice cycling route to the area runs from Herttoniemi along the shore through Tullisaari Park.

First Destination: Kruunuvuori Lake

We set our first goal to find a lake from the center of the villa area. We set out from Kaitalahti, following a fairly wide path from the end of the Main Road that led up a steep slope. At this point it was clear that strollers have no business here. The path winding through dense forest is occasionally rocky and at other times completely muddy in the forest, so rubber boots or water-resistant hiking boots are a good choice here, if not a requirement. After walking for a while, we came to a crossroads from which we could see the lake peeking through the trees in the autumn sun. The secret lake had been found!

[caption id=“attachment_1592” align=“alignnone” width=“2000”] Kruunuvuori villa area lake[/caption]

Helsinki's Islands: Autumn Talosaari

Sun, 12 Sep 2021 05:54:00 +0200

Secret Talosaari, Husö

Published 24.9.2017

Autumn Talosaari (Husö) in eastern Helsinki offered a real nature excursion when we headed out to admire autumn nature in hopes of mushroom hunting. The place is familiar from summer outings, so the first autumn visit offered truly unique nature experiences compared to summer. The mushrooms stayed in the forest, but otherwise the trip was unforgettable: horses, migratory birds, snakes, giant ant hills and two beaver lodges (and some beavers lurking somewhere nearby).

Helsinki's Islands: An Early Fall Trip to Suomenlinna

Sun, 29 Aug 2021 23:00:00 +0200

Peaceful Suomenlinna

First published 31.8.2017.

A calm Wednesday in late summer and early fall took us on a trip to Suomenlinna, when the playgrounds weren’t calling but the weather was just right for outdoor adventures. In late summer, Suomenlinna feels spacious—we got window seats on the ferry better than expected and explored in complete peace. Besides the island’s residents, there was just us and some tourists visiting Finland.

Another great thing about late summer trips is that you can grab fresh provisions from the Market Square. Suomenlinna’s shop is open year-round and some of the cafes stay open quite late, so there are plenty of options for snacks.

Helsinki Island Routes

Sat, 31 Jul 2021 09:03:00 +0200

This article was a commercial collaboration with JT-Line in summer 2021
and the island route information is partially outdated.

Published 27.5.2021

Helsinki's marine areas have several different island destinations that you can reach by scheduled boat services during the summer season. Pientenhelsinki compiled Helsinki's island routes and island hopping on one page and offers tips on what you can experience on islands accessible by sea from Helsinki. The article was sponsored in summer 2021 by JT-Line, whose vessels transport passengers this summer to Helsinki's beautiful island destinations.

Scheduled boat services to Helsinki's islands are paid services and tickets as well as any seat reservations should always be checked on the website of the company operating the line. Access to the islands is free, but some islands charge a dock fee from private boats.

Helsingin Saaret on Pienten Helsinki

Helsinki's Islands: Uunisaari

Update November 2025:A pontoon bridge for pedestrians will be installed again from Merisatama wharf to NorthernUunisaari on Monday 17.11.2025 (the bridge will be in use by Monday at the latest at 2 PM) and will be removed on 15.4.2026.

Other parts of the Helsinki's Islands article series

Helsinki Islands: A Hot Summer Day at Mustasaari

A Hot Summer Day at Mustasaari in Helsinki

Helsinki's Islands: Lammassaari and Kuusiluoto

An Autumn Adventure to Lammassaari and Kuusiluoto

Helsinki's Islands: Matosaari

Helsinki's Islands: Matosaari

Family City Routes: Oil Tank 468

Picnic at the Summit of Kruunuvuori

Kruunuvuori Villa Area in Laajasalo

First Destination: Kruunuvuori Lake

Helsinki's Islands: Autumn Talosaari

Secret Talosaari, Husö

Helsinki's Islands: An Early Fall Trip to Suomenlinna

Peaceful Suomenlinna

Helsinki Island Routes

Update November 2025:
A pontoon bridge for pedestrians will be installed again from Merisatama wharf to Northern
Uunisaari on Monday 17.11.2025 (the bridge will be in use by Monday at the latest at 2 PM) and will be removed on 15.4.2026.