Where to go with children in Helsinki? What kid-friendly activities can you find in Helsinki this week? Pienten Helsinki's weekly "Where to go this week" series finds activity tips and recommends family-friendly events and things to do in Helsinki and the surrounding area.

This article contains commercial collaboration advertising and activity tips.

Article cover image: Water lilies blooming on Kruunuvuorenlammeen

Advertisement / Commercial collaboration with JT-Line

How does a journey back in time sound? JT-Line operates a total of ten archipelago cruises in July and August 2025 from Helsinki Market Square to the Archipelago Museum Pentala.

A trip to Pentala island and the archipelago museum is full of experiences, beautiful scenery, and interesting history.
And sheep that spend the summer on Pentala island!

This week cruises to Pentala depart on Thursday, July 24, 2025 and Sunday, July 27, 2025. The half-day adventure starts from Market Square at 10 a.m. and returns at 3 p.m. You'll have two hours to explore Pentala. The archipelago cruise is also suitable for families with children.
Tickets starting from: adults 44.50€, children 7-16 years 19.50€, pensioners/students 39.50€.

Read more about adventures in the archipelagos of Helsinki and Espoo and book your place for a summer journey to the past at JT-Line's website.

A half-day trip from Market Square to the Pentala Archipelago Museum is a
journey back in time. Photo: Remu Shemeikka

News and Updates

  • Playpark summer meal menu this week:
    - Monday, July 21, 2025: Ground meat soup (M G S K)
    - Tuesday, July 22, 2025: Härkis-pasta casserole (M N K Veg)
    - Wednesday, July 23, 2025: Fish soup (L G N S K)
    - Thursday, July 24, 2025: Sweet potato and potato cream soup (M G K Veg)
    - Friday, July 25, 2025: Chicken sausage soup (M G N S K)

MONDAY, JULY 21, 2025

Events and
activity tips

  • Playpark meal menu on Monday: Ground meat soup (M G S K).
    Lunch is available at all open playparks. Bring your own food container, utensils, and drink!
  • Playparks open in July:
    Playparks Etupelto, Filpus, Intia, Iso-Antti, Isoneva, Kannelmäki, Kiikku, Kurranummi, Lehdokki, Linja, Linnunrata, Lohikäärmepuisto, Maunula, Mellunmäki, Orava, Piika, Rudolf, Ruoholahti, Rusthollari, Seppä, Tuorinniemi, Ulvila Viikkari, Kankarepuisto, Salpausselkä, and Vähätupa.
  • Helmet library events for children can be found on Helmet's events page.
  • Tuusula: Come to the Museum weeks July 21–August 3, 2025 at museums in the Tuusula area. Partially paid.
  • Explore Animals! workshop at the Natural History Museum Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Museum admission fee applies.
  • Musiikkitalo Concert Hall Open Doors Monday through Saturday until July 26, 2025, 1–5 p.m. Free admission.
  • Vantaa: Skatan 4H farm pasture visit Mondays 3:30–4:30 p.m. Free admission.
  • Vantaa: Katrineberg 4H farm pasture visit Mondays 3:30–4:30 p.m. Free admission.
  • Open Air Cinema: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban at Market Square Pier Monday at 6 p.m. Free admission.
  • Helsinki MUSEUMS open Mondays include the Mark and Pippi Longstocking exhibition, Helsinki City Museum and Children's City, Tram Museum, Amos Rex, and during the summer season also the Natural History Museum and Seurasaari open-air museum. Kaisaniemi Botanical Garden's outdoor gardens now have beautiful flower displays (free admission to outdoor gardens!). More museum tips for visiting with children can be found in Pienten Helsinki's theme article!

TUESDAY, JULY 22, 2025

Events and
activity tips

  • Playpark meal menu on Tuesday: Härkis-pasta casserole (M N K Veg).
    Lunch is available at all open playparks. Bring your own food container, utensils, and drink!
  • Playparks open in July:
    Playparks Etupelto, Filpus, Intia, Iso-Antti, Isoneva, Kannelmäki, Kiikku, Kurranummi, Lehdokki, Linja, Linnunrata, Lohikäärmepuisto, Maunula, Mellunmäki, Orava, Piika, Rudolf, Ruoholahti, Rusthollari, Seppä, Tuorinniemi, Ulvila Viikkari, Kankarepuisto, Salpausselkä, and Vähätupa.
  • Helmet library events for children can be found on Helmet's events page.
  • Tuusula: Come to the Museum weeks July 21–August 3, 2025 at museums in the Tuusula area. Partially paid.
  • Tuusula: Tuusula Day comprehensive program can be found on Tuusula municipality's website.
  • Explore Animals! workshop at the Natural History Museum Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Museum admission fee applies.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 23, 2025

Events and
activity tips

  • Playpark meal menu on Wednesday: Fish soup (L G N S K).
    Lunch is available at all open playparks. Bring your own food container, utensils, and drink!
  • Playparks open in July:
    Playparks Etupelto, Filpus, Intia, Iso-Antti, Isoneva, Kannelmäki, Kiikku, Kurranummi, Lehdokki, Linja, Linnunrata, Lohikäärmepuisto, Maunula, Mellunmäki, Orava, Piika, Rudolf, Ruoholahti, Rusthollari, Seppä, Tuorinniemi, Ulvila Viikkari, Kankarepuisto, Salpausselkä, and Vähätupa.
  • Helmet library events for children can be found on Helmet's events page.
  • Tuusula: Come to the Museum weeks July 21–August 3, 2025 at museums in the Tuusula area. Partially paid.
  • Little Italy Festival at Citizens' Square July 23–26, 2025, 11 a.m.–midnight. Free admission.
  • Explore Animals! workshop at the Natural History Museum Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Museum admission fee applies.
  • Musiikkitalo Concert Hall Open Doors Monday through Saturday until July 26, 2025, 1–5 p.m. Free admission.

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THURSDAY, JULY 24, 2025

Events and
activity tips

  • Playpark meal menu on Thursday: Sweet potato and potato cream soup (M G K Veg).
    Lunch is available at all open playparks. Bring your own food container, utensils, and drink!
  • Playparks open in July:
    - Playparks Etupelto, Filpus, Intia, Iso-Antti, Isoneva, Kannelmäki, Kiikku, Kurranummi, Lehdokki, Linja, Linnunrata, Lohikäärmepuisto, Maunula, Mellunmäki, Orava, Piika, Rudolf, Ruoholahti, Rusthollari, Seppä, Tuorinniemi, Ulvila Viikkari, Kankarepuisto, Salpausselkä, and Vähätupa.
  • Helmet library events for children can be found on Helmet's events page.
  • Tuusula: Come to the Museum weeks July 21–August 3, 2025 at museums in the Tuusula area. Partially paid.
  • Musiikkitalo Concert Hall Open Doors Monday through Saturday until July 26, 2025, 1–5 p.m. Free admission.
  • Espoo: Glims 4H farm sheep pasture visit Thursdays 3:30–4:30 p.m. Free admission.
  • Little Italy Festival at Citizens' Square July 23–26, 2025, 11 a.m.–midnight. Free admission.

FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2025

Events and
activity tips

Advertisement / Commercial collaboration with JT-Line

Korkeasaari Summer Evenings are celebrated on Friday, July 25, 2025, and JT-Line's water buses operate extra runs between the island and Market Square. The paddlewheel boat Vispilä operates as a café at Korkeasaari's boat dock during summer evenings 6–10 p.m., as many of Korkeasaari's other restaurants close earlier.

During summer evenings Korkeasaari is open extended hours until 10 p.m. (last admission 9 p.m.) with lots of special programming for the bright summer nights. Summer evening programming includes hosted animal feedings, insect tours, and guided evening walks through the Cat Forest. At the same time, you should check out the new Magnificent Insects exhibition. Summer evenings don't require separate event tickets; you enjoy the extended hours with regular zoo admission.

Pienten Helsinki recommends! We visited Korkeasaari's summer evening in mid-July and the experience was lovely! The island was peaceful and serene in the evening!

Find the ferry schedule to Korkeasaari and prices on JT-Line's website!

Advertisement: Korkeasaari Summer Evenings are celebrated on three Fridays and
you can reach the animal island by boat then too. Photo: Omar El Mrabt.
  • Summer in Helsinki - series already has over 70 articles full of ideas for summer activities!
  • Playpark meal menu on Friday: Chicken sausage soup (M G N S K).
    Lunch is available at all open playparks. Bring your own food container, utensils, and drink!
  • Playparks open in July:
    - Playparks Etupelto, Filpus, Intia, Iso-Antti, Isoneva, Kannelmäki, Kiikku, Kurranummi, Lehdokki, Linja, Linnunrata, Lohikäärmepuisto, Maunula, Mellunmäki, Orava, Piika, Rudolf, Ruoholahti, Rusthollari, Seppä, Tuorinniemi, Ulvila Viikkari, Kankarepuisto, Salpausselkä, and Vähätupa.
  • Helmet library events for children can be found on Helmet's events page.
  • Tuusula: Come to the Museum weeks July 21–August 3, 2025 at museums in the Tuusula area. Partially paid.
  • Guard Parade: Finnish Defence Forces conscript band Friday at 12:20 p.m. Summer 2025 guard parades begin at Senate Square with entertainment music, formation marches, and weapon drills. The parade then continues to the rhythm of march music around Esplanade Park and past the main guard station. From the main guard, the parade travels along North Esplanade back to Senate Square, where the parade ends.
  • MIL-Espa: Finnish Defence Forces conscript band showband at Espa Stage at 2 p.m. Free admission.
  • Musiikkitalo Concert Hall Open Doors Monday through Saturday until July 26, 2025, 1–5 p.m. Free admission.

SATURDAY, JULY 26, 2025

Events and
activity tips

SUNDAY, JULY 27, 2025

Events and
activity tips

  • Espoo: Forest Adventures at Villa Elvfvik's grounds Sunday 10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Free admission.
  • Vantaa: Håkansböle summer exhibitions are open at Håkansböle manor grounds Saturdays and Sundays 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Free admission.
  • Children's island adventure on Hara island Sunday 12–2 p.m. Free admission; ferry trip to the island is paid. Pack your own snacks. Merenkävijät ferries depart for Hara from Ullanlinnanranta pier, next to Café Ursula (Ehrenströmintie 3). Round trip: adults 9€, children (7–17 years) and pensioners 6€, under 7 free.
  • Odd Socks Parade craft activity at Museum Mark Sunday 2–4 p.m. The craft is part of Mark Museum's Vinkki in the Vortex – Pippi Longstocking 80 Years exhibition. Free admission.
  • Järvenpää: Our Festival: Children's Concert Ammuu! at Kallio-Kuninkala's Leonora hall Sunday at 3 p.m. Tickets 10€/16€.
  • Tuusula: Come to the Museum weeks July 21–August 3, 2025 at museums in the Tuusula area. Partially paid.
  • Finland's Tallest Benji visible at Kaivopuisto beach next to Cafe Ursula starting Friday.

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