Winter Break in Helsinki 2023

What to do during the ski week in Helsinki and surrounding areas?

Winter break or ski week is celebrated in metropolitan area schools during week eight. Move, get outdoors, adventure, experience and discover - Helsinki and the surrounding area have plenty to do during the break week. Small Helsinki tips for ski week have been compiled with small children and their families as well as primary school-aged children in mind.

Outdoors and on excursions

You can hike even in winter! Have you ever been to Lammassaari, Kruunuvuorenlammella, Matosaari or Stansvik Manor Park? Also Talosaari, Vartiosaari (weather permitting), Tullisaari, Seurasaari and Pukkisaari, Uunisaari and even Suomenlinna are wonderful excursion destinations in winter too. Pack your snacks and dress warmly!

Sipoonkorvi offers, for example, an easy-to-walk Tasakallio - Storträsk route as well as the Byabäcken nature trail, formerly known as Pun's traditional post route, which leads to a grilling spot and a cabin for warming up. Tip from experience: with small children, this route is best done from the beginning to the grilling spot and return the same way, not around the route via the road. The grilling spot usually has plenty of ready-made firewood, so bring matches and snacks. Update: Some routes are slippery with the new snow!
Also worth trying is the route from Kuusijärvi to Sipoonkorpi and experience a nice bridge connection to the national park at the same time. The routes in Sipoonkorvi are not maintained in winter.

Helsinki City outdoor areas can be found on the Helsinki on the Move page.

New and interesting excursion spots can also be found in Uusimaa Recreation Area Association's destinations.

You can go grilling after outdoor activities, for example, at Uutela Niemenapaja's fireplace and at Seurasaari. Bring your own firewood!

Also remember: Little Finland - over 700 reasons to travel in Finland with children!

Stay active during ski week

Sledding hills? Small Helsinki's themed article recommends the city's best spots for sledding!

Ice skating and skiing in the metro area
Current information about ice skating rinks and ski trails in the metro area can be found at ulkoliikunta.fi service.
Keep in mind possible stick hours. In Espoo, Tapiola ice garden also has skate rental and a café. At least at Helsinki's and Espoo's ice rinks skating is free this season as well.

Long-distance skating routes can be found at least at Tuusulanjärvi.

Playgrounds? Tips for the best play areas as well as introduction to the newest play areas can be found in Small Helsinki.

Espoo: Hop on Hop off sports event at Esport Arena Monday to Friday 10 a.m.–3 p.m. You can come to exercise whenever you want and stay as long as suits you. You'll need indoor sports shoes, a water bottle, and snacks or money if you wish. Free admission.

Espoo: Espoo City organizes a wide variety of programs during ski week for all ages! Read more on Espoo City's pages!

EasySport Week at Töölö Sports Hall for ages 6-13 Monday to Friday 11 a.m.–2 p.m. Tickets €2/€3.50.

Vantaa: Winter break fun at Energia Arena Wednesday 10 a.m.–1 p.m. Free admission.

Stadi Winter Fun at Paloheinä Wednesday 3:30–6:30 p.m. Free admission.

Helsinki's only officially maintained sledding hill is located in the Paloheinä outdoor area.

Animals

Haltia farm and Fallkulla farm allow you to see farm animals on outdoor pastures even in winter. At Fallkulla, cows and horses usually graze outdoors daily around 10 a.m.–2 p.m. weather permitting, at Haltia throughout the day. Haltia's playground is also open, though covered in snow. The farm interiors are closed during winter break.

Winter Garden is open during winter break, and the garden's carp pond and warmth are good reasons to visit the Winter Garden! You can enjoy your own snacks under the palms. The garden is open Monday to Thursday 10 a.m.–4 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m.–4 p.m. (closed Fridays). Free admission.

Korkeasaari Zoo is open normally and Korkeasaari's bears have woken up from their winter sleep too. Zoo admission fee.

Also remember: Small Helsinki's Animals in the city article!

Husö riding school horses can be seen along the Talosaari outdoor trail (owned by Helsinki City) also during winter season.

Playgrounds' ski week

Play Park Loru at the central library Oodi organizes many activities also during ski week:

Playgrounds open during ski week Feb. 20-24, 2023 are:
Taivallahti, Loru, Piika, Vähätupa, Arabia, Brahe, Orava, Kiiltotähti, Kotinummi, Viikkari, Etupelto, Maunula, Lohikäärmepuisto, Myllynsiipi, Isonneva, Ida and Kesanto. All playgrounds' outdoor areas are always in free use.

Playgrounds announce their programs in Helsinki City's event calendar and on the playgrounds' own Facebook pages.

Tips for Helsinki's best playgrounds as well as introduction to the newest playgrounds can be found in Small Helsinki.

Ski week events and activities

From Small Helsinki's Where to go this week article you'll find daily activity tips!

City libraries around Helsinki offer activities for children during fall break: story hours, workshops and themed days.

Traffic City family days during ski week Monday to Friday and Sunday 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Free admission.

Espoo: Light sculpture winter break workshops at Children's Culture Center Aurora Tuesday to Thursday Feb. 21-23, 2023 daily 11 a.m.–2 p.m. Free admission.

What should we do today? Check out tips for boring days from Small Helsinki!

Museums in the metro area during ski week

Note! Many museums are closed on Mondays! (At least the following are open on Mondays: Amos Rex (closed Tuesdays), Helsinki City Museum, Streetcar Museum or Newspaper Museum)

The best museum tips for adventure with children can be found in Small Helsinki's themed article!

Snow into the cabin! workshops at Helsinki City Museum Feb. 20-26, 2023. Free admission.

Ski week fun for families at War Museum in Suomenlinna Feb. 20-26, 2023. Free admission to the museum during ski week.

At the National Museum there are activities for children during ski week too. Museum admission fee.

Espoo: Ski week at Glims Feb. 20-26, 2023. Museum admission fee, free admission on Wednesday.

Espoo: Winter break activities at Haltia Nature Center Feb. 20-26, 2023. Partially paid.

Suomenlinna Museum has free admission for children Feb. 20-Mar. 12, 2023.

Kindergarten Museum is open Tuesdays and Wednesdays 12 p.m.–7 p.m. Small admission fee.

Theatre Cat's ski week adventure: With style at Theatre Museum Feb. 21-24, 2023, 11 a.m.–2 p.m. Museum admission fee.

Ski week general tour at Museum of Technology Feb. 22-24, 2023 at 1 p.m. Museum admission fee.

Free admission to Cable Museums Wednesday Feb. 22, 2023, 5 p.m.–8 p.m.

Vantaa: Winter break at Aviation Museum Feb. 20-24, 2023. Museum admission fee.

Vantaa: 1000 Spots Winter Break Workshop at Vantaa Art Museum Artsi in the Warm Room Feb. 21-23, 2023.Museum admission fee.

Vantaa: Science Center Heureka has opened a new Power of Play exhibition. Science Center admission fee.

Järvenpää: Winter break fun for children at Järvenpää Art Museum Feb. 22-24, 2023. Museum admission fee.

Hyvinkää: Winter break activities at Railway Museum Feb. 21-26, 2023. Museum admission fee.

Day trips

Day trip tips for ski week within about an hour's drive from Helsinki include several options!

In Espoo, Angry Birds playgrounds, numerous outdoor destinations and for example the magnificent Träskanda Manor Park are excellent excursion destinations with children. Espoo City also organizes a wide variety of programs during ski week for all ages! Read more on Espoo City's pages!

Porvoo and for example old Porvoo attractions, a magnificent sledding hill in national landscapes and Moomin Playground.

Lahti and Launee family park and large ski jumps in Olympic spirit.

Loviisa's old buildings and Onni and Anni playgrounds.

Kirkkonummi and Linloo and Porkkal outdoor areas.

At Degerby in Inkoo nature and grilling at Kopparnäs recreation area.

Also remember Small Finland's travel tips map, which has suitable destination tips also for winter season! Small Finland is Small Helsinki's sister site, which recommends things to do and experience throughout Finland. Also includes many tips for nearby areas and day trips as well as a comprehensive list of the best playgrounds throughout Finland!