Vinkkipankki on Pienten Helsinki

Animals in the City

Sun, 28 Sep 2025 23:30:26 +0200

Animals in Helsinki and the Capital Region

Article published 22.7.2017, updated 28.9.2025

Sheep, cows, horses, chickens... In Helsinki and its surroundings, you can see and pet farm animals in several places. Summer sheep and cows doing landscape maintenance can be found just a stone's throw from Helsinki's city center. The cover image of this article is from Bosgården farm in Porvoo.

Note! Always check opening hours and other current information before visiting.

Child-Friendly Swimming Beaches in Helsinki and the Greater Capital Area

Sun, 13 Jul 2025 00:02:46 +0200

Which swimming beach is best in Helsinki for children? Where can you find a playground at a beach? Which beach is easily accessible by metro? The Pienet Helsinki team has compiled their favorite child-friendly swimming spots in Helsinki and Espoo.

Current blue-green algae information from Helsinki's swimming beaches can be found at ulkoliikunta.fi service

Child-Friendly Swimming Beaches in Helsinki and the Greater Capital Area

Helsinki

Kallahti Beach

Kallahti Beach located between Vuosaari and Meri-Rastila is excellent for small children.
Kallahti Point's beach extends very shallowly for a long distance, and the water is often warmer than other beaches as a result. However, watch out for sudden deep spots further along the beach! There's a kiosk-café, a large climbing ship as a playground, and public grills on the beach (bring your own charcoal). You can also enjoy snacks in the nearby forest sitting on tree trunks, avoiding the beach seagull problem. A magnificent natural spot and a lovely archipelago beach—a Helsinki gem! The surroundings offer easily accessible nature trails and stunning views. From the nearest bus stop, it's a few kilometers away, so unfortunately Kallahti is not easily accessible by public transport.

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.

Where to Go This Week? February 3-9, 2025

Sun, 02 Feb 2025 22:57:35 +0200

Where can you take children in Helsinki? What kid-friendly activities can you find in Helsinki this week? Pienten Helsinki's weekly "Where to Go This Week" series looks for fun tips and highlights family-friendly events and activities in Helsinki and the surrounding area.

The cover image is from Tapiola Ice Garden, where you can skate on Saturday to the rhythm of music.

What's Happening Right Now

Museum tips for children in Pienten Helsinki's theme article!
You can also borrow museum passes to the Natural History Museum or entrance tickets to Korkeasaari from the library! From Viikki Library you can borrow an entrance ticket to the Natural History Museum. From Kalasatama Library you can borrow an entrance ticket to Korkeasaari Zoo.

Go ice skating at an ice rink? Public skating sessions are available at several ice rinks.
Artificial ice rinks in the Helsinki metropolitan area, Tapiola Ice Garden and some other outdoor skating places are open!
Ice rink skating times can be found on the cities' own websites and information about skating rinks and hiking trails at Ulkoliikunta.fi website.

Go on an adventure to Uunisaari Island located off Kaivopuisto Park – you can reach it via a bridge!

All of Pienten Helsinki's playground tips can be found via this link.
- The newly renovated playgrounds at Filpus in Malmi and Ruoholahti have also opened!

Pienten Suomi - over 800 reasons to explore Finland with children!

MLL's Family Home Unikko (Unikkotie 8, Pukinmäki) is an open meeting place for families and children aged 0-12. Read more on the family home's Facebook page!

Schedule for MLL's family cafés can be found on the MLL Uusimaa website.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2025

Events and
Activity Tips

Helmet Library events for children can be found at Helmet's event page.

Albert's Living Room is open on Mondays 9:30–14 (International Monday).

Family Library Mornings at Puistokatu on Monday 10 am-noon. A wonderful meeting place for young children and their parents in Kaivopuisto Park offering fun and play.

Korkeasaari Free Day on Monday 10 am-3 pm (the zoo closes at 4 pm).

At Loru Playground in Central Library Oodi's program on Monday:
- 10:30–11 Loru's Fun, physical play for children over 1 year old, Oodi 3rd floor event space
- 1–1:30 pm Kukkuluuruu Baby Session, Oodi 3rd floor event space
- 3–3:30 pm Kukkuluuruu Baby Session, Oodi 3rd floor event space

School Children's Donald Duck Reading Circle at Kallio Library on Monday 4-5 pm.

Family Playtime Sessions offer children under school age and their parents a space to move together freely and free of charge. On Mondays, Family Playtime is held:

- At Tapanila Primary School (Veljestenpiha 2) on Mondays 5-6:30 pm from January 13 to April 28 (no sessions week 8 and April 21).

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2025

Events and
Activity Tips

Helmet Library events for children can be found at Helmet's event page.

Pienten Helsinki recommends! Metropolia's HyMy Village Family Group Metku at Myllypuro Metropolia UAS (next to the metro station) on Tuesday 9-11 am. Each session also features varying programs for families led by early childhood education, social services, health care, and culture students.

Albert's Living Room's Clinic Park at Kamppi Family Center on Tuesdays 9:30 am-noon.

At Loru Playground in Central Library Oodi's program on Tuesday:
- 10–10:30 am Loru Moves, gentle movement with baby, Oodi 3rd floor children's area loft
- 1–1:30 pm In Loru's Warmth, musical baby session, Oodi 3rd floor children's area loft
- 3–3:30 pm In Loru's Warmth, musical baby session, Oodi 3rd floor children's area loft

Vantaa: The "Joy is Being" Exhibition at Children's Culture Center Toteemi (Myyrmäki) is open on Tuesdays 11 am-4 pm. Free admission.

Kindergarten Museum is open on Tuesdays 12-7 pm. Museum admission fee applies.

Art for Toddlers Workshop (Open Studio for Toddlers Workshops) at Caisa Cultural Center (Kaikukatu 4 B) on Tuesdays 1:30-3:30 pm. Workshops are suitable for children aged 1.5–3 with their own adult. No prior registration, free admission. You can participate for the entire session or just drop in.

Alpine Railway Enthusiasts Miniature Railway Exhibition is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays 3-6 pm and Saturdays 11 am-5 pm at Redi shopping center in Kalasatama. The exhibition space is located on Redi's second floor, next to Specsavers and across from Synsam. Free admission.

Family Playtime Sessions offer children under school age and their parents a space to move together freely and free of charge. On Tuesdays, Family Playtime is held:

- At Pallomylly Indoor Hall in Myllypuro Sports Park (Pikajuoksijankuja 9) on Tuesdays 9:30-11:30 am and 4-6 pm from January 7 to April 24, 2025 (no sessions week 8).

- At Käpylä Primary School (Mäkelänkatu 89) on Tuesdays 4:30-6 pm from January 7 to April 22, 2025 (no sessions week 8).

- At Sakarinmäki Primary School (Knutersintie 924) on Tuesday 5-6:30 pm from January 7 to April 24, 2025 (no sessions week 8).

- At Kannelmäki Primary School (Kuninkaantammenkierto 22) on Tuesdays 5-6:30 pm from January 7 to April 22, 2025 (no sessions week 8).

- At Malminkartano Primary School (Puustellintie 6) on Tuesdays 5–6:30 pm from January 7 to April 24, 2025 (no sessions week 8).

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2025

J.L. Runeberg's Day

The Great Playground Story

Sun, 09 Jul 2023 11:29:41 +0200

Looking for the best playground in the city? Pienten Helsinki has been exploring Helsinki's playgrounds and play areas throughout its history and asked readers for help with this story. The result is the Great Playground Story, which lists the best places to play with both small and older children in Helsinki according to experienced users.

Published 19.8.2019

Find all of Pienten Helsinki's playground stories HERE!

Featured: Helsinki's newest playgrounds in 2024

First, it's worth explaining Helsinki's playground culture. Helsinki has both playgrounds and play areas. The difference between a play park and a play area is that play parks offer supervised activities on weekdays and mostly have indoor facilities and outdoor toys available. Play parks have their own staff. Play areas are self-managed spaces, but they are still maintained by the city or other operators. Helsinki has playgrounds and play areas in many forms: new, old, diverse, very simple, well-maintained and poorly maintained, actively run and very quiet...

Baby-Friendly Helsinki

Sat, 25 Mar 2023 12:00:00 +0200

Helsinki with a baby. Tips, events, activities and suggestions for getting around with a baby. Pienten Helsinki creates an overview of Helsinki on a baby's terms. The article encourages getting out and about with a baby and takes you on adventures around Helsinki. Tips have been gathered through personal experiences and ideas can be found for general getting around, hobbies, culture and city life with a baby.

This article was first published in 2017, when our own baby was part of Pienten Helsinki's core team. The article was updated with the best information available in April 2022, but without our own baby or toddler, not all tips may be fresh in mind. So please suggest changes to the article (comment below or email mari(a)pientenhelsinki.fi), I promise to investigate new baby-friendly places, care rooms and other tips and add them to the article for others' benefit and help!

Central Library Oodi Through Children's Eyes

Mon, 06 Feb 2023 10:35:42 +0200

First Time at Oodi

Article first published in December 2018.

The long-awaited, Helsinki's newest gem Central Library Oodi opened its doors on 5.12.2018 and invited everyone from babies to grandparents to make the building their own. We had been looking forward to this event with the children for a long time, wondering about Oodi's roof windows being installed with a large crane during the summer heat, thinking about what kind of place it would be, and dreaming about everything Oodi would offer. Our first visit happened on a Friday evening, when the worst of the opening day crowds had passed and we were able to wonder at the gleaming new Oodi in peace.

Rainy Day Joys

Mon, 01 Aug 2022 09:00:00 +0200

What to do with children in Helsinki on a rainy day?

Published 3.8.2017, updated 18.6.2022

When you've jumped in puddles so much that your boots are soaked through, you might be looking for something else to do on a rainy day. On the Little Helsinki list, rainy day joys include low-threshold activity ideas and places where you can easily pop in with the kids without big plans. The article also includes ideas for things to do at home.

Please note, however, that for example sports activities and library story times start only in August-September, so you should make use of this tip during the autumn rains.

Helsinki Places

Tue, 04 Jan 2022 08:30:00 +0200

Little Helsinki's ABC
Published 4.7.2018, updated 1.6.2020 (122 locations)
The Helsinki places featured in Little Helsinki’s stories and articles are now available in one place as a directory. Wonderful places, fun attractions, plenty to see and experience with children - Helsinki’s treasures! The basis for this story is One Hundred and One Places in Helsinki, but good attractions for children are added to the list frequently. The story contains a lot of insider knowledge about Helsinki with the goal of creating a comprehensive directory of Helsinki’s places.

Home by Evening - A Day Trip to Espoo with Kids

Mon, 27 Jul 2020 06:00:00 +0200

Published 12.7.2019

Our dear neighboring city Espoo has invested significantly in recent years in children's culture and activities for kids. The city also attracts playpark tourists with its Angry Birds playgrounds. So it's finally time to list the favorites of the Little Helsinki team and the places that have been on our to-do list for our neighboring city Espoo.

The cover image is from Träskändan Manor Park.

Experience at least these places with kids in Espoo

To Espoo by Metro

Following HSL's zone reform, with an AB-zone ticket you can travel all the way to Matinkylä in Espoo, and there's plenty to see along the metro route. The new west metro stations are attractions in themselves, and much more is being built along the route, so even a little train-spotter will find plenty to marvel at.

Helsinki on the Move - Tips for Activities with Children

Thu, 16 Aug 2018 09:00:07 +0200

Published 17.10.2017, updated 5.10.2018

The City of Helsinki organizes sports activities for children and families weekly. Sports hustle and bustle events are held once a week at Myllypuro’s Liikuntamylly and Maunula sports hall, and family ball play at Myllypuro’s Pallomylly twice a week, now also on Tuesday mornings. Additionally, before winter arrives, in Helsinki you can do things like ice skate at public skating sessions in ice halls, cross-country ski at Kivikko ski hall, enjoy the city’s outdoor recreation areas, and swim at swimming pools.

To Summer Theatre! Summer 2018

Wed, 25 Apr 2018 22:42:35 +0200

Summer theatre with children in summer 2018
Hold on a moment, the 2019 summer theatre listing is being updated right now!
In Helsinki and the metropolitan area, there are several summer theatre performances suitable for children and families during the 2018 summer season.

Article cover image: HIT Helsinki. Photographer Annu Esko. Image from the performance Tomppeli seen at Tervasaari, in the picture Hönö (Eikka Alatalo), Tomppeli (Vilma Putro).

HIT Mini at Tervasaari: Tomppeli
Tervasaari summer theatre is taken over in summer 2018 by Tomppeli, quite a jolly whole family performance about friendship and empathy. The premiere is on 26.5.2018. The performance is recommended for ages 1 and up. Read more: HIT Helsinki
[caption id=“attachment_3964” align=“aligncenter” width=“548”] Image: HIT Helsinki. Photographer Annu Esko. Image from the performance Tomppeli seen at Tervasaari, in the picture Eveliina (Outi Ikonen).[/caption]

Sports hobby for a little one?

Tue, 08 Aug 2017 23:53:15 +0200

Read the updated version of the article here.

The range of sports activities is huge and choosing a sport for a small child is difficult. To help with sport selection and introduce different forms of exercise, there are two opportunities in August. Additionally, the City of Helsinki organizes Sports Fun sessions once a week at Maunula Sports Hall and Myllypuro Liikuntamylly, as well as Family Ball Sports at Myllypuro Pallomylly twice a week, now also in the mornings.

Library Story Hours in Autumn 2017

Wed, 02 Aug 2017 10:03:07 +0200

Helsinki City Libraries Story Hours
Story hours open to everyone are held in libraries throughout the city. At these free story hours, you'll discover fairy tales and stories. Story hours are best suited for children aged 3-6 years, but younger children can also enjoy the stories and the company of other little ones when accompanied by a parent. Rikhardinkaadu Library also offers separate story hours specifically designed for the youngest listeners (ages 1-3). Swedish-language story hours are held at four different libraries throughout the city; a list of these is at the end of this article.
Credit for this list and story hours goes to Library Helsinki, and it has been shared with permission on the Pequeño Helsinki page. Thank you!
Have fun moments with stories!

Vinkkipankki on Pienten Helsinki

Animals in the City

Animals in Helsinki and the Capital Region

Child-Friendly Swimming Beaches in Helsinki and the Greater Capital Area

Child-Friendly Swimming Beaches in Helsinki and the Greater Capital Area

Helsinki

Kallahti Beach

Helsinki's Secrets

Helsinki's Secrets Through Children's Eyes

Fan Mailboxes for Icebreakers

Where to Go This Week? February 3-9, 2025

What's Happening Right Now

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2025

Events and
Activity Tips

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2025

Events and
Activity Tips

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2025

The Great Playground Story

Find all of Pienten Helsinki's playground stories HERE!

Featured: Helsinki's newest playgrounds in 2024

Baby-Friendly Helsinki

Central Library Oodi Through Children's Eyes

First Time at Oodi

Rainy Day Joys

What to do with children in Helsinki on a rainy day?

Helsinki Places

Little Helsinki's ABC

Home by Evening - A Day Trip to Espoo with Kids

Experience at least these places with kids in Espoo

To Espoo by Metro

Helsinki on the Move - Tips for Activities with Children

To Summer Theatre! Summer 2018

Summer theatre with children in summer 2018

HIT Mini at Tervasaari: Tomppeli

Sports hobby for a little one?

Read the updated version of the article here.

Library Story Hours in Autumn 2017

Helsinki City Libraries Story Hours

Vinkkipankki on Pienten Helsinki

Animals in the City

Animals in Helsinki and the Capital Region

Child-Friendly Swimming Beaches in Helsinki and the Greater Capital Area

Child-Friendly Swimming Beaches in Helsinki and the Greater Capital Area

Helsinki

Kallahti Beach

Helsinki's Secrets

Helsinki's Secrets Through Children's Eyes

Fan Mailboxes for Icebreakers

Where to Go This Week? February 3-9, 2025

What's Happening Right Now

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2025

Events and Activity Tips

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2025

Events and Activity Tips

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2025

The Great Playground Story

Find all of Pienten Helsinki's playground stories HERE!Featured: Helsinki's newest playgrounds in 2024

Baby-Friendly Helsinki

Central Library Oodi Through Children's Eyes

First Time at Oodi

Rainy Day Joys

What to do with children in Helsinki on a rainy day?

Helsinki Places

Little Helsinki's ABC

Home by Evening - A Day Trip to Espoo with Kids

Experience at least these places with kids in Espoo

To Espoo by Metro

Helsinki on the Move - Tips for Activities with Children

To Summer Theatre! Summer 2018

Summer theatre with children in summer 2018

HIT Mini at Tervasaari: Tomppeli

Sports hobby for a little one?

Read the updated version of the article here.

Library Story Hours in Autumn 2017

Helsinki City Libraries Story Hours

Events and
Activity Tips

Events and
Activity Tips

Find all of Pienten Helsinki's playground stories HERE!

Featured: Helsinki's newest playgrounds in 2024