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.

At Tapiola metro station, travelers are greeted by artist
Kim Simonsson's artwork Emma Leaves Her Mark.

Karhusaari

Karhusaari is a wonderful nature island right next to Helsinki, within walking distance of Koivusaari and Keilaniemi metro stations along Länsiväylä. The island's nature, a secret beach on the southern edge, a large pine tree growing over the sea, and the beautiful old sleeping garden of Villa Sinebrychoff are worth experiencing. Bring a picnic to Karhusaari, explore the forest and splash in the sandy beach. A wonderful island of contrasts. Nearby on Hanasaari is the Swedish-Finnish cultural center.

At Karhusaari, you can also visit the secret garden.

Swimming Beaches

Espoo city maintains both sea and lake swimming beaches throughout the city. For example, Westend beach has a playground, Haukilahti's long beach is great for sand play and has a popular beach restaurant, Suvisaaristo's small beach offers peace and quiet, and Oittaa lake beach has a large Angry Birds playground. Also worth mentioning is Helsinki's recreation area Luukki in Espoo.
Read more: Espoo beaches
Additional information on water temperatures and quality: www.ulkoliikunta.fi

At Westend beach.

Tapiola

Around Tapiola Center, in addition to diverse services, there's plenty for little ones to do and experience. The center has a small traffic park called MiniTapiola, a playground, changing rooms in the shopping centers (Ainoa also has a playroom), and near the adjacent swimming hall (now closed) there's a large water pool where you can paddle boats and paddle boards in summer and ice skate in winter, plus a wading pool for little ones that reopened in July 2019. The wading pool is open daily 10am-6pm with a lifeguard on duty.
Tapiola Center also houses Espoo Cultural Center, which offers year-round programs for children. Special mention goes to Kaisa's Cafe on the ground floor of the Ainoa shopping center, whose large (and reasonably-priced) cake slices and other treats are famous throughout Espoo.

Toy Museum Horseshoe

In Tapiola, on the second floor of the WeeGee exhibition center, you'll find a children's dream museum: Toy Museum Horseshoe. A museum where you can play, but which also offers a look at the history of toys and nostalgia for adults. This place is one of the Little Helsinki team's rainy day saviors—for example, it's often peaceful here on weekdays for young players. Admission to the toy museum and all WeeGee museums is free for children under 18; adults pay admission to visit all exhibitions in the WeeGee building.
Read more: Toy Museum Horseshoe
Also read: Little Helsinki's article about Toy Museum Horseshoe

Toy Museum Horseshoe is located in the WeeGee building in Tapiola.

Angry Birds Playgrounds

In Espoo, you can also go playpark tourism and visit at least three Angry Birds playgrounds in Leppävaara, Oittaa, and Suurpelto.
Leppävaara Angry Birds Playground is located in a sports park and offers the opportunity on the same outing to skateboard and scooter, play football, or take a swimming trip to Leppävaara swimming hall and summer outdoor pool. The park is versatile but very small children can easily get lost here.
Suurpelto Angry Birds Playground is clearly a playground for older kids, with lots of climbing and high places. In the evenings and weekends, the adjacent daycare yard entertains smaller players.
Note that Suurpelto has area parking restrictions in place, so when arriving by car, park only in marked spaces.
Oittaa outdoor recreation area, right next to the beach, has a two-part Angry Birds playground, with a fenced area for smaller kids and another section for older ones. Nearby is the popular Oittaa lake beach, next door is Oittaa cafe-restaurant, and close by are many grass fields and other outdoor activity options. On warm summer days it can get crowded here.
Read more: Oittaa outdoor recreation area

Other Playgrounds

Other notable playgrounds and residential parks in Espoo include Niitty Park next to Niittykumpu metro station and the playground in Tapiola's residential park.
Read more: Espoo city playgrounds and residential parks

Iso Omenia Library

Iso Omenia shopping center's library is quite an interesting experience from a Helsinki resident's perspective: under one roof you'll find both a health clinic and a laboratory, a comprehensive library, and other Espoo city services. The children's section of the library is a great place to stop during shopping or an excellent destination in its own right just a metro ride away. In the children's section, you can read, play, crawl and roll on soft mats, play games, eat (and at least previously warm up) your own snacks and rest for a moment. There are also two child care rooms next to the children's section. The space is accessible and the library can be reached by two elevators directly from the metro station.
On the Iso Omenia shopping center side, there are climbing and play areas for kids, aquarium fish to marvel at, good changing facilities, and diverse services.

At Iso Omenia library's children's section, you can also play.

Villa Elfvik Nature Center

Villa Elfvik nature center, located on the edge of Laajalahti nature conservation area, is not only a beautiful Art Nouveau villa but also Espoo city's nature center, which hosts events, various exhibitions, guided tours, and nature education for children. A cafe operates at Elfvik on Sundays and holidays.
Villa Elfvik has easy-access nature trails, lots to marvel at, and bird towers in the reed beds where you can spot birds and, in summer, also Laajalahti's grazing cattle. The nature center is open Monday to Friday 9am-4pm and Saturday and Sunday 10am-4pm. On the upper floor there's a children's playroom called Badger's Forest.
Read more: Villa Elfvik
Also see: Villa Elfvik event calendar

Espoo Archipelago

In recent years, Espoo has invested particularly in opening up its outer archipelago destinations. There are many wonderful island attractions, so it's worth spending several days exploring them. The Little Helsinki team dreams of at least an archipelago cruise and a trip to the Archipelago Museum Pentala.
Read more: Espoo archipelago destinations
Also read: Espoo archipelago transport schedules for summer 2019

Finland's Nature Center Haltia

In the midst of Nuuksio National Park, surrounded by beautiful nature and wonderful landscapes, you'll find the relatively new Finland's Nature Center Haltia, which presents Finland's nature and its wonders. The nature center isn't huge, but its architecture is impressive and the exhibitions are designed with children in mind. Visit on a rainy day or during a Nuuksio outing otherwise. The nature center also has a restaurant and a small nature-themed shop. There is an admission fee for the nature center; children under 7 enter free.
From the Nature Center Haltia you can also rent equipment for Nuuksio trips, such as baby carriers and rubber boots.
Haltia's nearby nature trails are also suitable for hiking with children.
Read more: Finland's Nature Center Haltia
Also see: Nature Center Haltia events

Nature Center Haltia showcases Finnish nature and its uniqueness.

Nuuksio National Park

Nuuksio National Park has several prepared and varying difficulty trails, many of which also have, for example, fire pits, cooking shelters, and lean-tos. It's a wonderful nature destination close to the city and the area is accessible by public transportation.
Also remember: The Uusimaa Recreation Area Association's Yli-Takkula outdoor area in Espoo

Aurora Children's Culture Center

Located in Järvenperä, in the Espoo countryside, Aurora Children's Culture Center hosts many children's events and themed events. Aurora's yard and surrounding area are idyllic playgrounds for little ones.
Read more: Aurora Children's Culture Center
Also see: Aurora Children's Culture Center events
Also remember: Aurora summer yard 2019

Träskändan Manor Park

Espoo's well-kept secret is found at Träskändan Manor Park, where magnificent old deciduous trees provide shade on hot days and the sound of a stream flows in the background. We first discovered this place while searching for park sculptures and found it so wonderful that we'll definitely return often. The area also has a nature trail and neighboring it is the Aurora Children's Culture Center. This place is worth experiencing!
Read more: Träskändan manor park and nature conservation area

Träskändan Manor Park

Glims House Museum

Glims House Museum next to Jorvi Hospital in Bemböle is a dive into history and life in the old days. During the summer season, Glims also hosts a 4H association-run farm animal yard, where open pasture visits are held twice a week. Glims also has its own cafe, and on the other side of the old Turku road you'll find Bemböle Cafe, which serves lunch and dinner for bigger appetites.
Admission to Glims House Museum is small; anyone under 18 explores history for free.
Read more: Glims House Museum
Also see: Glims House Museum events

Follow Little Helsinki:
Little Helsinki on Facebook!
Little Helsinki on Instagram!
Little Helsinki on Twitter!