Pienten Helsinki
Tips for spending winter break in Helsinki and the surrounding area
Winter break is celebrated in schools in the capital region during week eight. Move, spend time outdoors, adventure, experience and see - Helsinki and the surrounding area have plenty to do during the break week. Winter break in February 2020 is different from previous years, as there is no sign of winter skiing conditions in Helsinki.
In addition to event tips, Little Helsinki recommends day trip destinations and other self-guided adventure spots. Winter break week tips have been compiled with preschool-age children in mind, but there are also activities for school-age children.
Find daily activity tips for winter break week in the Where to go during winter break 17-23.2.2020 article!
Outdoors and on excursions
Excursion to Uutela and at least on weekends to Uutela hut, where hut caretakers are on duty mostly on Saturdays and Sundays. In the hut you can warm up and cook things like sausages and stick pastries. The hut is located next to Skatan farm, about a kilometer from Kampela café.
Uutela hut is open during winter break 2020 as follows:
Wednesday 19.2. 11am-3pm
Thursday 20.2. 11am-5pm
Saturday 22.2. 12pm-3pm
Sunday 23.2. 11am-5pm
From the Uutela outdoor area you can also find Niemenaapa fireplace (bring your own wood). Also, you can adventure on Uutela Star Trail, with route markers now available virtually here.
Photo: Maria Ilvonen
From Vuosaari, near the corners of Uutela hut, you can also find during winter break week from Wednesday to Sunday 19-23.2.2020 Villa Vuosanna winter break café. Offering at least lunch soup and sweet and salty treats. The café is open daily 10:30am-5pm, on Laskiainen Sunday 23.2. 10:30am-8pm. Read more from the café's Facebook page.
You can also go on excursions in winter! Have you ever been to Lammassaari, the top of Kruununvuori, or Stansviken Manor Park? Sipoonkorpi, Nuuksio, Talosaari, Vartiosaari, Uunisaari, Tullisaari, Seurasaari, Lammassaari, and even Suomenlinna are also wonderful excursion destinations in winter. Pack snacks in your backpack and dress warmly! Read tips about excursion destinations for example in Little Helsinki's Day Trips articles.
Helsinki's outdoor areas can be found on the Helsinki on the Move website.
Trip tip to Espoo: Villa Elfvik invites you to adventure even during winter break. The nature center and its surroundings offer great places to explore with small children.
Winter games for the whole family at Villa Elfvik on Sunday 23.2.2020 11am-1pm.
Moving around Helsinki
Ice skating at Helsinki's artificial ice rinks! This winter, skating is only available at artificial ice rinks and ice hall public skating sessions. The locations, opening hours, and more detailed information about admission fees for artificial ice rinks can be found on Helsinki City's website. Current information about ice rink conditions can be found at www.ulkoliikunta.fi.
Skating is free at Laajasalo, Lassila, and Pukinmäki artificial ice rinks.
Note any stick hockey schedules and exceptional opening hours.
Helsinki Skaters' event at Paloheinä ice hall on Wednesday 3:30pm-6:30pm. The program includes skaters' performances, an obstacle course, fitness skating, skating lessons, competitions, and free skating. Free admission to the event, bring your own skates and helmet.
Ice carousel skating event and Kikattava Kakkiainen's children's disco at Kontula artificial ice rink on Thursday 20.2. 2pm−5pm. Read more from Helsinki City's website.
Ice Park at Rautatientori is open daily. Ice Park also hosts changing programs and themed days. Skating at the Ice Park is paid.
On the Espoo side, skating at the city's artificial ice rinks is free. Tapiola Ice Garden also has skate rentals and a café.
Snow line
Several ski centers in Southern Finland are open thanks to machine-made snow, and for example Sipoo Talma Ski has its own Verneri Park for children, where you can also go sledding (paid).
Currently, you need to travel almost to Central Finland to find natural snow.
Espoo has created a small sledding hill from machine-made snow at Oittaa outdoor area for winter break visitors, a style example of sledding can be found on Espoo On the Move Facebook page.
Swimming
Swimming halls throughout Helsinki are also open during winter break week. More detailed opening hours and admission fees for swimming halls can be found on Helsinki City's website.
Water sports track at Itäkeskus swimming hall Monday to Wednesday 17-19.2. and Friday 21.2. 10am-4pm. Wibit Aquatrack is suitable for those with swimming skills.
Watching animals
Fallkulla farm is open to the public during winter break week Monday through Sunday 10am-3pm.
Haltiala farm is home to animals year-round and Old Farmer Restaurant also serves in winter. The farm's playground can be visited at other times as well.
Korkeasaari is open during winter break week daily 10am-6pm (ticket sales close at 5pm). Check out the winter break week program on Korkeasaari's website. Zoo admission €14/€8, under 4 years free.
Winter Garden and the garden's carp await winter break week picnickers. The garden is open Tuesdays 9am-3pm, Wednesday to Friday 12pm-3pm, and Saturday and Sunday 12pm-4pm. Free admission.
Libraries during winter break
Libraries throughout Helsinki offer story times and other programs for children during winter break week. Children's departments also have self-guided reading time, games, and play. All of Helsinki's libraries and winter break week events can be found listed on the Helmet website.
Central Library Oodi's events can be found on Oodi's own calendar.
Also remember the Nordic Library on Kaisaniemenkatu.
Play parks during winter break
Helsinki's play parks winter break week event information can be found on the city's event calendar and on the play parks' own websites.
Come enjoy winter break at a play park article on the city's website.
Winter break week events and activity tips
Find daily activity tips for winter break week in the Where to go during winter break article!
Helsinki spots article is a lifesaver for boring days with kids!
Children's Traffic City is open to families 17-21.2.2020 daily 9am-3pm. In Traffic City you can drive pedal cars under an adult's supervision, have the opportunity to eat your own food indoors, and there's a small play area. Free admission.
Winter Jams at Music Center - music for children and vacationers Monday through Sunday 17-23.2.2020. Check out the week's program on Music Center's website. Events are free to attend.
Family winter break movies at Malmitalo and Vuotalo. Free admission.
Aalto University Junior science workshops at Oodi Wednesday to Friday 19-21.2.2020 12pm-4pm.
Ice carousel skating event and Kikattava Kakkiainen's children's disco at Kontula artificial ice rink on Thursday 20.2. 2pm−5pm.
Winter Garden and the garden's carp await winter break week picnickers. Open Tuesdays 9am-3pm, Wednesday to Friday 12pm-3pm, and Saturday and Sunday 12pm-4pm. Free admission.
Haltiala's traditional Laskiainen festivities at Haltiala farm on Sunday 23.2.2020 11am-6pm.
Laskiainen Sunday circus event at Stoa square on Sunday 23.2.2020 12pm-3pm.
To the movies! At least Hattifnat, Viltenisse and the Energetic Schoolgirl, Frozen 2, Ella Bella Bingo, and Paw Patrol On the Road are showing in cinemas during winter break week. Paid.
To museums during winter break
For those looking for indoor activities, many museums in Helsinki and the surrounding area are open during winter break week. Please note that many museums are closed on Mondays.
Winter break design workshops for children and families at Design Museum Tuesday to Friday 18-21.2.2020 2pm-4pm. Museum admission fee, under 18s free. Recommended age: over 4 years old with an adult.
At Amos Rex, below Lasipalatsi square, there is a major exhibition of young artists aged 15-23, and you can get to know the exhibition interactively or using children's own maps or task sheets. Amos Rex also provides little ones with hugging friends to bring to the exhibition.
Also read Children's Amos Rex, which offers tips for a museum visit with kids. Little Helsinki's background team also recommends exploring the museum's courtyard rooster roosting area.
Helsinki City Museum and its Children's City is always a safe choice for visiting museums with little ones. Here you play history! Always free admission. Winter break week program for school-age children is a Knit graffiti workshop daily 12pm-3pm. The workshop is free and open to everyone.
Hotel and Restaurant Museum at Cable Factory offers winter break activities Tuesday through Sunday 11am-6pm, Wednesday 11am-8pm. Museum admission €10/€5, under 15s free.
Kaisaniemi Botanical Garden delights even in winter. Admission fee, under 7s free.
National Museum where you can marvel at Finland's history and play in the museum's Vinti. The Finnish Story exhibition also works well with children. During winter break weeks 15.2-8.3.2020, the National Museum offers cultural travels around the world. Museum admission €14/€10, under 18s free.
Kindergarten Museum has activities during winter break week Wednesday 12pm–7pm. Small admission fee.
Natural History Museum is a must-see museum for children. During winter break weeks 8 and 9, the museum hosts Dinosaurs Unleashed! event weeks Tuesday to Saturday 11am-3pm. Museum admission fee, under 7s free.
Fire Museum next to Erottaja Fire Station is a great destination just for its location. The museum is open Wednesday and Sunday 12pm-4pm. Museum admission €2, under 15s free.
Newspaper Museum where you can explore typewriters, faxes, and other old journalists' tools, browse old newspapers, and learn about newspaper work in many ways. Free admission.
NOTE! Museum closed for renovation Monday to Wednesday 17-19.2.20202.
Tram Museum next to Töölö tram halls takes you on a journey through Helsinki's history every day 11am–5pm. Trams from different decades are on display along with other tram-related materials. Free admission.
Art Hall's family day on Saturday 22.2.2020 1pm-5pm. Museum admission fee, free for under 18s.
Theater Museum at Cable Factory has activities and experiences for children. During winter break week, Theater Cat's holiday adventures with the "Driven by Feelings" theme Tuesday to Friday 18-21.2.2020 11am-2pm. You can come at your own pace, but no later than 1:30pm. Museum admission €10/€5, under 3s free.
Espoo: Winter break at WeeGee in Espoo 18-23.2.2020. Activities every day at different locations in the museum center. Read more on Espoo Culture's website. Museum admission fee, under 18s free.
Espoo: Toy Museum Horseshoe winter break week program can be found on the museum's website. Museum admission (same ticket for all Weegee museums), under 18s free.
Espoo: Snow leopards on the loose - winter break activities at Haltia Nature Center 15-23.2.2020. Exceptionally open on Monday of week 8. Museum admission fee, under 7s free.
Also remember in Espoo: Glims Manor Museum winter break workshops and Aviation Museum in Vantaa!
To the museum with kids? In Little Helsinki's article series My Museum Friend and I we adventure in museums with children.
Winter break week in Espoo
Espoo has created a small sledding hill from machine-made snow at Oittaa outdoor area for winter break visitors, a style example can be found on Espoo On the Move Facebook page.
Sottapyttyrumba activity workshops at Children's Culture Center Pikku-Aurora in Espoo Monday to Friday 10am-1pm.
Winter break week program at Espoo swimming halls.
Hop on Hop off - winter break activities at Tapiola Sports Park Monday to Friday 17-21.2.2020 10am-3pm. Free admission to the event (except lock rental).
Winter break at WeeGee in Espoo 18-23.2.2020. Activities every day at different locations in the museum center. Read more on Espoo Culture's website. Museum admission fee, under 18s free.
Toy Museum Horseshoe winter break week program can be found on the museum's website. Museum admission (same ticket for all Weegee museums), under 18s free.
Snow leopards on the loose - winter break activities at Haltia Nature Center 15-23.2.2020. Exceptionally open on Monday of week 8. Museum admission fee, under 7s free.
Winter break movies at Sello Hall on Tuesday 18.2.2020. Movies are free to watch.
Winter break movies at Espoo Culture Center (Tapiola) Tuesday and Wednesday. Free admission.
Espoo: Finland's largest miniature railway on the 2nd floor of Ainoa shopping center Thursday 4pm-7pm, Saturday 11am-5pm, and Sunday 12pm-4pm. Voluntary admission. More information on Alppirautatie enthusiasts' website.
Winter games for the whole family at Villa Elfvik on Sunday 23.2.2020 11am-1pm.
Also remember in Espoo: Angry Birds playgrounds, libraries, numerous outdoor destinations, and for example the beautiful Träskanda manor park.
Little Helsinki's Day Trip to Espoo article.
Day trips
Day trip tips for winter break within about an hour's travel from Helsinki:
Porvoo and for example Old Porvoo's attractions and Moomin Park. Free farm tours are held at Bosgård farm Thursday and Friday 20-21.2.2020 at 11am.
Kimppa! children's culture weeks in Kerava 13-23.2.2020. Workshops, concerts, movies, and themed days for small and older children.
Lahti and Launee Family Park and big ski jumping hills with Olympic spirit.
Lovii's old houses and Emilia and Emily's playgrounds.
Vantaa has for example Heureka Science Center and big dinosaurs as well as Flamingo Spa water park.
Kirkkonummi and Linloo and Porkkala outdoor areas.
Inkoo's Degerby for nature and grilling at Kopparnäs recreation area.
Kotka and Merikeskus Vellamo as well as numerous beautiful parks and playgrounds throughout Kotka.
In Turku a safe choice is for example the beautiful Adventure Park (outdoors, free), where events are held during winter break week. The week is crowned by Adventure Park's Children's Light Festival. City of Turku's winter break tips can be found here.
Disney On Ice show in Turku 20-23.2.2020.
In neighboring Naantali, Moomin World's magical winter is celebrated (paid).
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