Perheiden Kaupunkipolut on Pienten Helsinki

Helsinki in Children's Books

Sun, 14 Sep 2025 21:00:00 +0200

Several children's books about Helsinki have been published with beautiful illustrations. Pienten Helsinki compiles a directory of Helsinki-themed children's books and welcomes suggestions for other children's books that feature Helsinki and Helsinki's children's culture.

Some of the works in this list are already out of print, but they're worth asking for at libraries and used bookstores.

Helsinki in Children's Books - Directory

Hilma-täti ja kuutamoseikkailu
Lehtinen N., Muhonen A. Avain. 2021.

Hooray for Helsinki!
Hämäläinen K. Savolainen S. Kustannusosakeyhtiö Tammi. 2011.

Helsinki's Secrets

Sat, 12 Jul 2025 23:58:25 +0200

Helsinki's Secrets Through Children's Eyes

The Helsinki's Secrets story introduces unique places, experiences, and things you can only experience in Helsinki. Many of these secrets are things few people know about or that guarantee an unforgettable experience. The story offers tips for family-friendly secrets all around Helsinki!

Fan Mailboxes for Icebreakers

The harbor home of the large icebreakers Urho, Kontio, Sisu, and Voima is located in Katajanokka, and you can admire the ships from behind the fence at the harbor. But did you know you can leave fan mail for the icebreakers in Katajanokka? There are four fun mailboxes by the harbor pier where you can leave drawings of the ships, for example. Near the icebreaker pier, you'll also find a coast guard station and a playground.

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]

Family City Paths: Jätkäsaari

Wed, 26 May 2021 09:31:00 +0200

Published in November 2019.

Commercial collaboration with Verkkokauppa.com.

Do you want to get lost on new paths and discover something new? See Helsinki through different eyes? Turn in a different direction at a crossroads? Family City Paths are just for that! City paths lead to new neighborhoods, new places, and help and inspire you to explore your home city or visit new corners as a tourist. Family City Paths is a new type of tourism concept for Helsinki neighborhoods, developed as a final thesis project by hospitality management student Heidi Säynätkari. The four city paths created as a final thesis are now joined by new and different paths around the city.

Family City Routes

Tue, 01 Oct 2019 10:36:38 +0200

The adventure begins now!

The first four city routes from Little Helsinki are being launched on October 1, 2019, and the aim is to develop a comprehensive network of routes across the entire city that offers adventures for all tastes. Family City Routes is part of Heidi Säynätkari's thesis work for her hospitality management studies, which is being carried out in collaboration with Little Helsinki.

The first Family City Routes take you on adventures to Haaga, Pitäjänmäki, Ruskeasuo, and Vuosaari.

Announcement: Family City Routes

Tue, 01 Oct 2019 10:35:06 +0200

The first four Family City Routes of Pienen Helsinki's new urban tourism concept are being launched on 1.10.2019!

Want to explore new routes and discover something new? See Helsinki through different eyes? Turn down a different street at the next intersection? Family City Routes are exactly for this!

City routes take you to new neighborhoods, new places and help and inspire you to explore your home city or visit as a tourist on new corners.

Family City Trails: Vuosaari

Tue, 01 Oct 2019 10:33:08 +0200

Want to explore new trails and discover something new? See Helsinki through fresh eyes? Turn a different direction at the next corner? Family City Trails are exactly for that! These trails lead to new neighborhoods, new places, and help and inspire you to explore your home city or visit familiar corners as a tourist would. Family City Trails are a novel tourism concept for Helsinki neighborhoods developed as a final project by hospitality student Heidi Säynätkari. The four city trails created as a final project now have new and different trails joining them around the city.

Family City Walks: Ruskeasuo

Tue, 01 Oct 2019 10:33:02 +0200

Pieni Helsinki is launching a new city tourism concept as restaurant management student Heidi Säynätkari creates city walks for families in Helsinki neighborhoods as her final project.

Located a short tram ride from Helsinki's city center, Ruskeasuo offers green parks, lovely cafes, and the chance to see horses. You can reach it by trams 10 and 3, as well as any buses running along Mannerheimintie.

Stay at the charming Myö Hostel, where you can prepare your own breakfast or enjoy morning coffee at the trendy Cafe Bon Temps, then explore the Central Park and visit the horses. If hunger strikes, enjoy a delicious lunch at Cafe Blanka, and after a pleasant walk, you can visit a beautiful cottage garden. Dinner tastes wonderful at the traditional White Lady, where children are especially well looked after.

Family City Walks: Pitäjänmäki

Tue, 01 Oct 2019 10:32:29 +0200

Pienten Helsingissä is launching a new urban tourism concept as hospitality management student Heidi Säynätkari creates city walks for families in Helsinki neighborhoods as her thesis project.

Despite its industrial reputation, Pitäjänmäki is a green and vibrant neighborhood with diverse nature and one of Helsinki's most charming single-family home areas. Pitäjänmäki is located at the intersection of many bus lines and is easily accessible by train Line A.

Spend your morning at one of Helsinki's loveliest playgrounds, enjoy delicious Vietnamese lunch, take a walk to the picturesque Marttila neighborhood, explore the trenches at Patterimäki, and treat yourself to afternoon coffee at the charming Pausa café.

Family City Trails: Haaga

Tue, 01 Oct 2019 10:32:12 +0200

Pienten Helsingissä is launching an innovative urban tourism concept as hospitality student Heidi Säynätkari creates city trails for families in Helsinki neighborhoods as her thesis project.

The Haaga area is easily accessible by many different buses and all trains stopping at Huopalahti and North Haaga. Haaga offers families beautiful nature, many playgrounds, and the city's best family-friendly café.
Spend your morning playing in a playground, pick up delicious sushi to go, and enjoy it on the rocks. Afternoon coffee and play happen at the city's coziest family café, and as the evening sun sets, head out to enjoy the atmosphere of Alpine Rose Park.

By Metro West! Lauttasaari and Koivusaari

Fri, 08 Dec 2017 23:18:07 +0200

Published 2017, updated 4/2022

To Lauttasaari by the West Metro

With the West Metro, family-friendly destinations that were previously difficult to reach by bus are now much more accessible. Small Helsinki tips to Lauttasaari and the Espoo-side corners of the West Metro take you to, for example, museums, nature trails, playgrounds and a library. Espoo's investment in family services in recent years is visible in family services at shopping centers, beautiful playgrounds and amazing children's cultural offerings. Small Helsinki's "By Metro West!" series first part takes you to Lauttasaari and Koivusaari, Helsinki's westernmost metro stations.