Fall Break in Helsinki 2019

Helsinki schools celebrate fall break during week 42. The number of vacation days varies: for example, Finnish-speaking city schools typically have the whole week off, while Swedish-speaking schools have only a few days. During fall break week, many family centers and activities are closed, but many organizations also arrange special fall break activities and programs for children and young people.

Small Helsinki's activity tips for fall break have been compiled with young children and their families as well as elementary school-age children in mind.

WISH: #smallhelsinki can be found on Instagram among other places, and behind the hashtag you'll find experiences and tips from other families for activities with children. Feel free to use the #smallhelsinki hashtag ;)

The article's cover image is from Kruunuvuori Beach.

Also read: Small Helsinki's fall break tips for neighboring cities and Where this week article for week 42.

Animals and farms

Fallkulla Farm is open during fall break every day from Monday to Sunday from 10 am to 3 pm.

At Haltiala Farm you can visit year-round, but during cold weather, domestic animals can be viewed during the opening hours found at the link.

Korkeasaari Zoo is open throughout the fall break week Monday to Sunday October 12-20, 2019 from 10 am to 6 pm. The island also features many grilling spots, a warm hut for eating packed lunches, an indoor area for eating packed lunches next to Bear Castle (newly renovated this year), and beautiful playgrounds. Korkeasaari's fall break program can be found here. Admission fee.

Hara Island Nature Center and Aquarium are open during fall break week Monday to Thursday (October 14-17) from 10 am to 3 pm. The connecting boat operates from 9 am to 9 pm on every hour and half-hour (12:30 pm driver's lunch break, 4-8 pm boat operates at 20-minute intervals at 20 minutes past, 20 minutes to the hour). Remember to raise the flag at the dock as a signal to the driver. Free access to the island, ferry fee €2 for children and €5 for adults. More information on Hara's Facebook page.

To the library

City libraries throughout Helsinki offer fall break activities for children: story hours, workshops, and themed days. Tip: libraries also have board games and, for example, musical instruments for rainy days.
Check out Helsinki's libraries' fall break week activity tips from the Helmet portal.

Also remember: The Nordic Library on Kaisaniemenkatu.

Playgrounds and play areas

Playgrounds are open during fall break Monday to Friday from 9 am to 4 pm and offer activities and programs for families with young children and schoolchildren. Read more on the playground activities pages. Day camps and trips are organized for schoolchildren (advance registration required), and other fall break programs are offered for families Monday to Friday.
Playgrounds inform about their fall break programs on the city's event calendar and on their own pages.

Helsinki has hundreds of play areas that are always open. All play areas can be found using the map service here.

Children's culture

At Annantalo

Annantalo organizes workshops such as The World of Characters, celebrates Story Day, and shows Naperocinema films during fall break week. The week's program can be found on Annantalo's pages.

Fall break Naperocinema features the theme of friends and family. Naperocinema at Annantalo on Fridays at 10 am. The age recommendation is 0-3 years with an adult, older children are also welcome. Admission to films is free. More information on Annantalo's pages.

To the circus

Sirkus Finlandia at Kaisaniemi Field October 4 - November 3, 2019. Ticket prices and performance schedule can be found on the circus's own pages.

Story Day

Story Day is celebrated throughout the country on Thursday, October 18, 2018. The day's events can be found on Story Day's pages.

To the movies

Malmitalo's fall break movies include Onneli, Anneli and the Sleepy Bell (S) on Tuesday, October 13, 2019 at 1 pm, Ralph Breaks the Internet (K7) on Wednesday, October 14, 2019 at 1 pm, and Lego 2 (K7) on Thursday, October 15, 2019 at 1 pm. Admission to films is free. More information on Malmitalo's pages.

To a concert

Fall break concert: Robin Hund (in Swedish) at Vuotalo on Tuesday at 10 am (free admission) and at 6 pm (€6 tickets). More information on Vuotalo's pages.

Children's traffic city

Children's Traffic City is open for families during fall break week Monday to Friday from 9 am to 3 pm. At the traffic city, children with an adult can learn traffic rules and drive around in the traffic park in a pedal car. Check out more information on Traffic City's Facebook page.

Small Helsinki's Helsinki Places article contains over a hundred tips for activities around the city.

Visit a museum

Helsinki City Museum and Children's City, Natural History Museum, Kaisaniemi Botanical Museum, Amos Rex, HAM Helsinki, Newspaper Museum, Theater Museum, National Museum, Fire Museum, Tram Museum, Museum of Technology... There are many options for museum visits with children. Small Helsinki's Museum Buddy and Me series takes you on museum adventures with children. Note that many museums are closed on Mondays, but at least the Newspaper Museum, City Museum, and Amos Rex are open on Mondays too (Amos Rex closed on Tuesdays!).

Museum events during fall break week

Fire Museum is open during fall break week on Sundays and Wednesdays from 12 pm to 4 pm. The admission fee for the museum at the Erottaja Rescue Station is €2, children under 15 free of charge. Read more on Fire Museum's pages.

Mix and match strange creatures at the Natural History Museum during weeks 42 and 43 Tuesday to Friday during the museum's opening hours. Admission fee. More information on the museum's pages.

On Wednesday, October 16, 2019, during Wihuri Day, the Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation offers every visitor free admission to Ateneum, Kiasma, and Sinebrychoff Art Museums. More information, for example, on Ateneum's pages.

Kindergarten Museum in Sörnäinen is open on Wednesdays from 12 pm to 6 pm. Small admission fee, a Museum Card venue. Read more on the museum's pages.

Hotel and Restaurant Museum offers fall break activities for little bakers during fall break week. More information and opening hours on the museum's pages. Museum admission fee.

Story Day at Theater Museum: Transformations – When Magic Happens! on Friday from 11 am to 4 pm. In honor of Story Day, museum admission is €1. More information on Theater Museum's pages.

Fall break workshop: On Signe's Corner at Helsinki City Museum during fall break week Monday to Sunday, October 14-20, from 12 pm to 3 pm. Read more on the museum's pages. Always free admission.

Musical Taste: Vicka & Väinö is a bilingual children's opera at City Museum on Wednesday at 3:30 pm. Free admission. More information on the museum's pages.

Toy Museum Horse Shoe in Espoo also offers fall break activities. More detailed information can be found on the museum's pages. Museum admission fee.

Linnanmäki and Merimaailma Sealife

Linnanmäki celebrates Light Carnival in October, October 10-20, 2019. Enjoy an amusement park bathed in beautiful atmospheric lighting, performers, and the atmosphere of darkening evenings. Read more about Light Carnival on Linnanmäki's pages. Admission to the amusement park area and small rides is free, fun rides for larger rides is paid.
Light Carnival culminates in fireworks on Sunday, October 20, 2019 at 9:50 pm.

Merimaailma Sealife is also open during fall break week. Admission fee.

Get active

Helsinki also organizes sports activities during fall break:

Sports Fun on Sundays at Sports Mill from 9 am to 10:45 am.

Family water sports day at Itiksen swimming hall on Sunday from 1 pm to 5 pm. Swimming hall admission fee. More information on Helsinki moves pages.

Also remember other Helsinki swimming halls and, for example, Vantaa's Flamingo Spa.

EasySport Week Monday to Friday from 11 am to 2 pm at Töölö Arena Hall offers children diverse sports stations and activity tryouts at Arena Hall's admission fee. More information on the event page.

Family ball games at Ball Mill on Thursday from 4 pm to 5 pm. Adults pay the venue's single visit fee (€3.50).

From Small Helsinki's Helsinki moves article you'll find many tips for getting active in Helsinki with children.

Ice skating and skiing

Free public skating hours schedule can be found on Helsinki moves pages.

Kivikko Ski Hall has opened its doors and serves both small and larger skiers. Read more about Kivikko Ski Hall and opening hours on Helsinki city pages. Admission fee.

From Small Helsinki's Helsinki moves article you'll find many tips for getting active in Helsinki with children.

Go on excursions in Helsinki

Go on a fall foliage hike! Helsinki's parks and forests are glowing with beautiful autumn colors! Small Helsinki recommends a hike to at least Tullisaari in Laajasalo, Herttoniemi Manor Park, and Sibelius Monument Park in Töölö. Espoo's Träskanda Manor Park is also wonderful!

Sheep Island and Kuusiluoto, Talosaari, Suomenlinna, Kruunuvuori,... There are countless places suitable for excursions. You can create your own theme for the hike or follow a planned route. For example, you can explore Suomenlinna in many different ways.
Also remember nearby city and regional excursion sites: Sipoo, Porvoo, and Loviisa to the east, Espoo, Kirkkonummi, and Inkoo to the west. Fiskars offers a beautiful environment plus an excellent playground. There are also two national parks near Helsinki: Nuuksio and Sipoonkorpi are excellent family excursion destinations.

Find all of Small Helsinki's day trip tips here.

Activities at your own pace

Family city walks
Small Helsinki's Family City Walks take you on adventures to new neighborhoods, new places, and help inspire you to explore your home city or visit new corners as a tourist.
The first Family City Walks lead to adventures in Haaga, Pitäjänmäki, Ruskeasuo, and Vuosaari.
CHALLENGE: Create your own fall break week city walk and share it with others. Small Helsinki is happy to publish explorers' own city walks too!
Read more: Small Helsinki's Family City Walks

Small Helsinki's Helsinki Places article contains over a hundred tips for activities around the city.

Spot article takes you to machines and gadgets in Helsinki.

Rainy day joys article is a collection of ideas for rainy days.