Winter Break in Helsinki and the Greater Helsinki Area 2025

What to do and where to go during winter break with children in Helsinki and the greater Helsinki area? Winter break is celebrated in the capital region schools during week eight. Move, spend time outdoors, have adventures, experience and explore – Helsinki and the surrounding area offer plenty to do during the break. Small Helsinki tips for winter break have been compiled with small children and their families as well as primary school-aged children in mind.

The article cover image is from the Winter Garden, where winter break can be enjoyed under palm trees.

Winter break events and activities

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

Helsinki City Libraries throughout Helsinki offer winter break activities for children: story times, workshops and themed days.

Exhibition: Representatives Through the Eyes of Art Students at the Parliament Library Monday to Thursday 12-18. Free admission. There is a security check at the library entrance.

Activities and programs at Kalasataman Vapaakaupunki during winter break week Monday to Saturday. Free admission.
Vantaa: Winter break at children's culture center Pyykkituva at Håkansbolen manor grounds. See the detailed program on Vantaa city's website.

Espoo: Researcher Pii: Winter break science workshops at Children's Culture Center Aurora Tuesday to Thursday 18.-20.2.2025 10-13. Free admission.

Stadin Winter Fun at Paloheinä on Wednesday 19.2.2025 15.30-18.30. Free admission.
Vantaa: Winter Fun Day at Katrineberga Manor Thursday 11-15. Free admission.
Open Doors at Finlandia Hall. Special program for children: Ski Parties at Finlandia Hall 11-14. Free admission.

Picnic excursion to the Winter Garden is also open during winter break! The Winter Garden on the north side of Töölönlahti is open during winter break Monday to Thursday 10-16 and Saturday and Sunday 10-16. Closed on Friday! Free admission.
Espoo: Espoo city's comprehensive winter break events can be found listed on Espoo city's website. Includes lots of free activities and for example film screenings.

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

Get moving during winter break

Espoo: Sustainable Living Mystery for Families and Friend Groups Monday to Friday at Villa Elfvik 17.-21.2.2025 9-15. Free admission.

Linnanmäki Family Circus Workshops at Tapiola Circus Hall Monday 17-19. Tickets 5 €.

Sports Trials at Töölö Sports Hall Monday to Wednesday 17.-19.2.2025 11-14. The event is especially suitable for primary school children. Tickets 2.10€ (children) and 3.60€ (adults).

Espoo: Hop On Hop Off winter sports at Leppävaara Sports Park's multi-sport indoor hall Kameleontti Monday to Thursday 17.2.-20.2.2025 10–15 and Friday 21.2.2025 10–14. Free admission.

Espoo: Hop On Hop Off sports at Tapiola Esport Arena Monday to Friday 17.-21.2.2025 10-14. Free admission. Bring indoor sports shoes, a water bottle and snacks or money if you wish.
Espoo: Children's Lion Ski at Oittaa outdoor area Tuesday 18.2.2025 15-17. Lion Skiing is not a competition and suits best 1st and 2nd graders and pre-school children – there is no strict age limit. Free admission.

Vantaa: Winter break fun at Energia Arena Thursday 20.2.2025 9-13. Free admission.
National Skiing Day main event at Helsinki's Paloheinä Saturday 11-15. Free admission.

Go swimming at a pool! Helsinki's swimming pools are open normally during winter break and for example at Urheiluhallit swimming pools there is also winter break program.

Espoo: Espoo city's swimming pool camps have free admission for 7–17-year-olds Monday to Friday 17.2.-21.2.2025. Swimming pools also have varied programs during winter break.

Want to ice skate at an ice hall? Open public skating sessions are arranged at several ice halls. Also note the public skating sessions at Espoo, Vantaa and Kerava ice halls during winter break!
Espoo: Winter break public skating times at Espoo ice halls can be found ice hall by ice hall behind this link. Free admission.

Want to skate on outdoor ice? Helsinki's, Espoo's and Vantaa's ice rink conditions can be found in the Ulkoliikunta.fi service. Skating on artificial ice rinks is free this year too.

Long-distance skating trails can be found at least at Kauniainen's Gallträsk and Tuusulanjärvi Lake. At Tuusulanjärvi it's also possible to rent equipment and kicksleds from Hotel Gustavelund.
Always check the current ice conditions!
At Tuusulanjärvi at Gustavelund beach there's also an ice carousel and dog sledding!

Sledding hills situation in the greater Helsinki area is unfortunate at least for now due to mild winter weather, but it MAY be possible to go sledding at Paloheinä and ski center sledding hills with artificial snow (no certainty about this).

Museums during winter break

Note! Many museums are closed on Mondays!
Open on Mondays are at least Amos Rex (closed Tuesdays), Helsinki City Museum, Tram Museum and Museo Merkki as well as some other museums during winter break.

Best museum tips for adventures with children can be found in Pienten Helsinki's theme article!

Winter break activities at Museo Merkki on Ludviginkatu. Free admission.

Snow Galore - Winter Break Workshop at Helsinki City Museum Monday to Friday 17.-21.2.2025 12-15. Free admission.
Winter Break Activities at the Observatory – Sculpt a Space Creature Tuesday to Saturday 18.-22.2.2025. Self-guided workshop runs on a non-stop basis during museum hours and suits pre-school and school-aged children. The Observatory is open during winter break with extended hours Tue–Wed 12–16, Thu 12–20, Fri–Sat 12–16. Museum admission fee.
Winter Break at Sports Museum TAHDO all week (also open on Monday!). Museum admission fee.

Kindergarten Museum is open Tuesday and Wednesday 12-19. During winter break on Tuesday and Wednesday 14-16 baking takes place at the Kindergarten Museum. Museum admission fee.

Fur and Hooked Beaks Workshops at the Natural History Museum during winter break weeks 8 and 9 Tuesday to Saturday 11-15. Museum admission fee.

*There's plenty to wonder about at the Natural History Museum.*

Detective Agency Cat and the Mystery of the Missing Sparkle at the Theatre Museum at Kaapelitehdas Tuesday to Friday 18.–21.2.2025 11.30–14.30. The museum is open according to normal opening hours, but the game is only running 11.30–14.30. Museum admission fee.

Winter Break Fun for Families: Adventure into Food Tradition at Hotel and Restaurant Museum Wednesday to Friday 19.-21.2.2025 13. Museum admission fee.
Robot Adventure at the Museum of Technology Saturday and Sunday 22.-23.2.2025. RoboAdventure also features the LEGO-Masters winner's work. Admission during ski break on a "pay what you want" basis or with a Museum Card.
I love 8-bit - Playable Computer Exhibition at Kallio Computer Museum (Alppikatu 17) Saturday and Sunday. Museum admission fee.

Espoo: Winter Break Fun at Glims Sunday to Sunday (closed Monday!). Museum admission fee, free admission on Wednesday.

Espoo: Winter Break Activities at Nature Center Haltia all winter break week (also on Monday!). Museum admission fee, also some free programs.

Espoo: Winter Break at Museo Leikki all winter break week (also on Monday!) 15.-23.2.2025. Museum admission fee.

Vantaa: Winter Break Art Workshop at Artsi at Vantaa Art Museum Artsi's studio Tuesday to Thursday 18.-20.2.2025 13-15. Free admission.

Vantaa: Winter Break at the Aviation Museum all winter break week (also on Monday!). Museum admission fee.
Tuusula: Worlds of Imagination Tours for Children and Families at Artist Home Erkko Thursday 14-16. Museum admission fee.

Hyvinkää: Winter Break at the Railway Museum Tuesday to Sunday 10-18. Museum admission fee.

Animals in the city

At Haltialan Farm Animals you can see farm animals in outdoor pastures also in winter. Haltialan playground is also open. The farm animal building is closed during winter break. Free admission.

Fallkulla Farm Animals' barn, horse stable and indoor areas open to visitors during winter break only on Sunday 23.2.2025 10-14. At other times the farm has activities for youth who have registered in advance. However, visitors can move freely in the farm's outdoor areas at other times and the farm's horses and cows are outdoors daily 10-14. Free admission.

Picnic excursion to the Winter Garden is also open during winter break and the garden's carp swim under the palm trees. The Winter Garden on the north side of Töölönlahti is open during winter break Monday to Thursday 10-16 and Saturday and Sunday 10-16. Closed on Friday! Free admission.

Husö Riding School's horses can be seen along the Talosaari outdoor trail (owned by Helsinki city) also in winter. The area has a partially accessible outdoor trail.

Korkeasaari Zoo is open normally during winter break. Zoo admission fee.

Also remember: Pienten Helsinki's Animals in the City article!

Playgrounds during winter break

During winter break 17.-21.2.2025 the following Helsinki city playgrounds are AT LEAST open:

Southern district
Playroom Loru (Central Library Oodi)
Playroom Taivallahti (Töölö)
Playroom Lahnalahti (Lauttasaari)

Central district
Playroom Linja (Hakaniemi)
Playroom Intia (Kumpula)
Playroom Sanna (Länsi-Pasila)

Western district
Playroom Laurinniitty (Lassila)
Playroom Isonneva (Etelä-Haaga)
Playroom Munkki (Munkkiniemi)
Playroom Ulvila (Munkkivuori)

Kaarela
Playroom Trumpetti (Kannelmäki)
Playroom Piika (Malminkartano)
Playroom Strömberg (Pitäjänmäki)

Northern district
Playroom Etupelto (Pakila)
Playroom Mäkitorppa (Oulunkylä)
Playroom Maunula (Maunula)
Playroom Torpparinmäki (Torpparinmäki)

Northeastern district
Playroom Filpus (Ala-Malmi)
Playroom Kotinummi (Ylä-Malmi)
Playroom Salpausselkä (Pihlajisto)
Playroom Viikkari (Viikki)

Puistola-Suutarila-Jakomäki
Playroom Kankarepuisto (Jakomäki)
Playroom Maatulli (Tapulinkaupunki)

Southeastern district
Playroom Rudolf (Laajasalo)
Playroom Kiiltotähti (Laajasalo / Yliskylä)
Playroom Orava (Herttoniemi)
Playroom Tuorinniemi (Herttoniemenranta)

Eastern district
Playroom Kiikku (Kontula)
Playroom Lohikäärmepuisto (Vuosaari)
Playroom Mellunmäki (Mellunmäki)

Myllypuro-Vartiokylä
Playroom Iso-Antti (Itäkeskus)
Playroom Rusthollari (Puotila)

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

All Pienten Helsinki's playground tips can be found behind this link.

On the Espoo side, all city resident parks are open normally during winter break and offer varied programs Monday to Friday.

*Giant swing at Loviseholmi Park in Sompasaari.*

*Playroom Ruoholahti has the world's first computer-themed playground.*

Adventure and explore during winter break

What should we do today? Check out tips for boring days from Pienten Helsinki!
Secrets of Helsinki article reveals small and big secrets of Helsinki!

Uunisaari in front of Kaivopuisto has been given a bridge connection for winter months and on this rocky island you can gaze at the horizon and marvel at passing ships and shore surges and listen to the sound of ice floes.

Hiking is possible in winter too! Have you ever visited Lammassaari, Kruunuvuorenlahti (thanks to long boardwalks there's also an accessible trail!), Matosaari or Stansvik manor park during winter? Also Talosaari, Tullisaari, Kivinokka, Seurasaari and Pukkisaari and even Suomenlinna are wonderful excursion destinations in winter too. Picnic in your backpack and warm clothes!

More excursion destination tips for Helsinki adventures can be found in Pienten Helsinki's Helsinki places article.
New grilling spots have been built in Laajasalo to Tullisaari manor park and Stansvik. You need to bring your own charcoal/firewood. Older grilling spots can be found at Uutela, Seurasaari and Kallahdenniemi beach in Vuosaari. Uutela cabin is likely open at least part of winter break (opening hours are updated on the cabin's fb page) and Paloheinä outdoor area's grilling cabin is open every day.
From Sipoonkorpi National Park you can find for example the easily accessible Tasakallio – Storträsk trail and the Byabäcken Nature Trail formerly known as Ponun Heritage Trail, which leads to a grilling spot and cabin for warming up. Tip from experience: with small children the Byabäcken trail is best hiked to the grilling spot and back the same way, not as a complete loop. You usually find plenty of ready-made firewood at the grilling spot, so bring matches and food. However note that some trails may be slippery due to variable winter weather.
Also the trail from Kuusijärvi to Sipoonkorpi is worth trying and experiencing a beautiful bridge trail into the national park.
Helsinki city outdoor areas can be found on the Helsinki moves website.
New and interesting excursion destinations can also be found at Uusimaa Recreation Area Association's sites.

Also remember: Pienten Suomi - over 800 reasons to travel in Finland with children!

Day trip tips for winter break to southern Finland

Pienten Suomi: Winter Break in Southern Finland - five tips for the break!

In Espoo Angry Birds playgrounds, numerous outdoor activities and for example Träskanda's beautiful manor park are excellent excursion destinations with children. Espoo city organizes also very varied programs during winter break for all ages! Read more on Espoo city's website!

Porvoo and for example Old Porvoo's attractions and the town center's Moomin playground. Koko Ski Slope is located almost in Porvoo's center and also has a sledding hill there.