Home by Evening – Day Trip Tips with Children:

Lahti

Article first published in 2018

Lahti has been the go-to destination for the Small Helsinki team for many summers: when it rains and is windy in Helsinki, the sun often shines in Lahti and it’s even pleasantly warm. Lahti has proven to be a charming city that offers plenty to see and do for children. The journey from Helsinki is conveniently covered not only by car but also by train, and many attractions, such as Lahti harbour and Launee Family Park, are within a reasonable walking distance from Lahti railway station. The city’s architecture also pleasantly surprised us.

What to do in Lahti with children?

Launee Family Park

Launee Family Park is a large three-hectare playground where you can spend several hours. The park is divided into different sections and features a separate play area for the youngest children, slightly older kids, and more thrilling slides and climbing structures for school-aged children. Launee’s traffic park is highly functional and the park has plenty of pedal cars and scooters available for everyone to use.

[caption id=“attachment_4908” align=“aligncenter” width=“2000”] Launee Family Park’s traffic village.[/caption]

Additionally, the park features a water play area, various playgrounds, a scooter and skateboard park, a mini golf course (fee-based), and much more. Near the park you’ll find an ice cream kiosk, Yli-Marola Farm Animals Park, and other (partly fee-based) summer activities. The park also has shaded spots and nice grassy areas for a picnic or afternoon naps.

[caption id=“attachment_4906” align=“aligncenter” width=“2000”] Launee Family Park has playgrounds for children of all ages.[/caption]

The facilities at Launee Family Park, including toilets, grills, and pedal cars for the traffic park, are free to use when staff is present. During the summer season, the park has staff on duty Monday to Friday from 9 AM to 7 PM and Saturday and Sunday from 10 AM to 4 PM. The park also offers organized activities during the summer vacation.

Read more about Launee Family Park on Lahti city’s website and from the 4H Association’s website that runs the park. Entry to the family park is free.

Other Attractions

You must see Lahti’s ski jumping towers at least once in your life! The view from the base of the jumping towers is impressive, and during the summer the area is very peaceful, so it’s worth visiting the towers with children. The area is also home to Lahti Ski Museum. In the summer months, you can swim in the Lahti Sports Centre’s outdoor swimming pool located in the landing area of the ski jump.

Lahti also has great swimming spots on the shores of its lakes.

The Lahti harbour area is charming and over several summers the harbour waterfront has featured restaurant boats as well as an ice cream boat. The harbour café has an outdoor play area, as does the activity park near the square in the city centre.

Also remember: Nature attractions in the Lahti region and Pajulahti sports academy services for families.

[caption id=“attachment_4902” align=“aligncenter” width=“3024”] Ice cream boat on the Vesijärvi waterfront in Lahti harbour during summer 2017.[/caption]

Lahti’s best cultural attraction is the Water Organ musical fountain found in Pikku-Vesijärvi Park, which particularly delighted the younger visitors. The park as a whole is a nice destination between the Lahti Sports Centre and the harbour area. The area has easy-to-walk waterfront and park paths.

[caption id=“attachment_4907” align=“aligncenter” width=“2000”] Romances Bridge on Pikku-Vesijärvi.[/caption]