Where to go in Helsinki between Christmas and New Year

Christmas and New Year tips for 2018 can be found here.

Between Christmas and New Year in Helsinki, you can explore, experience and see all sorts of things. In addition to event tips, Pienten Helsinki’s Christmas in Helsinki article suggests day trips and other independent adventure ideas all the way to Epiphany. At the end of the article, there are also tips for celebrating New Year in Helsinki with children.

Where to Go This Week 18.12-24.12.2017 article for Christmas week can be found here.

Christmas atmosphere

Christmas Eve skating for the whole family at Malmi ice hall on 24.12.2017 from 9-12. Free entry. Read more from the event's Facebook page.

Fallkulla farm is open on Christmas Eve 24.12.2017 and Christmas Day 25.12.2017 from 10-15. Free entry. Read more from Fallkulla’s website.

Sleigh rides on Boxing Day 26.12.2017 on Seurasaari island (fee applies). Read more from the Seurasaari Foundation’s website.

Christmas tree forest in the National Museum courtyard until Epiphany 6.1.2018. Free entry to the tree forest. Read more from the National Museum’s website.

Winter Garden is filled with Christmas spirit and decorations and you can enjoy the Christmas atmosphere until Epiphany. During Christmas, the Winter Garden offers programs: Christmas concerts, Christmas carols and children’s puppet theater performances. Check the Winter Garden’s Christmas opening hours from the City of Helsinki website. Free entry. Sytkytin puppet theater performance The Nutcracker can be seen in the Winter Garden between Christmas and New Year. Admission is free and it suits all ages. Sytkytin puppet theater performances in the Winter Garden at Christmas 2017: 19.12.2017 at 10 26.12.2017 at 13 and 15 28.12.2017 at 13 6.1.2018 at 13 and 15 7.1.2018 at 13 and 15

Manta Markets around the Havis Amanda statue until 9.1.2018. Read more from the event’s Facebook page.

Fortress Elf Trail on Suomenlinna until 7.1.2017. Read more about the independent elf adventure from Suomenlinna’s website.

Suomenlinna Fortress Christmas offers experiences and Christmas atmosphere until 7.1.2017. The island’s museums, cafés and restaurants are open, you can sing Christmas carols during the holiday period as well, and the island’s Christmas trees delight visitors until Epiphany. A lovely destination for the whole family with plenty to see and wonder at! Read more and check the island’s service opening hours from Suomenlinna’s website.

Most Beautiful Christmas Carols are also sung during Christmas and on Epiphany. Read more from the Helsinki Parishes website.

Activities

Ice Park at Rautatientori is open between Christmas and New Year and skating is available daily from 10-21 (closed on Christmas Eve 24.12.2017). Fee applies. Read more from the Ice Park's own website.

At the Ski Hall in Kivikko you can also ski on holiday weekdays, so you can try out new skis received as gifts right after Christmas, even if the ground isn’t white yet. Fee applies. Read more about Christmas opening hours and admission prices from the City of Helsinki website.

Artificial ice rinks are also open during Christmas throughout Helsinki. Fee applies. Read more about admission prices and opening hours from the City of Helsinki website.

Swimming halls throughout Helsinki are open between Christmas and New Year. Fee applies. Check the more detailed opening hours of the swimming halls from the City of Helsinki website.

When a white Christmas arrives, sledding hills such as Paloheinä, Kivikko Sports Park, Kaivopuisto and Myllypuro’s Alakivenpuisto all invite sledding.

Hiking trips are also great in winter! Sipoonkorpi, Nuuksio, Talosaari, Lammassaari and even Suomenlinna are wonderful hiking destinations in winter too. Pack your provisions and dress warmly! Read tips for hiking destinations, for example, from Pienten Helsinki’s day trip articles.

Helsinki City outdoor areas can be found on the Helsinki on the Move website. Have you, for example, already visited Uutellan’s new home or the university arboretum in Viikki?

Tip for Espoo: Villa Elfvik invites you to explore also between Christmas and New Year!

Day trips

There are several day trip destinations within an hour's travel from Helsinki for the holiday period. Atmospheric Porvoo, Lahti and Launee Family Park, many possibilities in Espoo, old houses in Loviisa and Onneli and Anneli playgrounds, in Vantaa Heureka and a spa...

Museums

Most museums in Helsinki are open between Christmas and New Year. Check the more detailed opening hours on the museums' own websites under "special opening hours".

For example:

At the Ateneum you can marvel at the Ankallsgallery treasures and drive Donald Duck’s car and admire the von Wright brothers’ works. Admission fee.

Design Museum’s California exhibition is well suited for a children’s museum visit. Admission fee.

HAM Helsinki you can see Pekka Kauhanen’s sculptures and Tove Jansson’s art, including the Moomins. Admission fee.

Helsinki City Museum and its Children’s City is always a safe choice for a small museum visit. You also play with history here! Free entry.

Kaisaniemi Botanical Garden charms in the darkness of winter. Admission fee.

At the National Museum you can marvel at Finnish history and play at the museum’s Vintilli. Admission fee.

Natural History Museum is a must-visit museum destination for children. Admission fee.

Fire Museum next to the Erottaja fire station is a wonderful destination if only for its location. Admission fee.

At the Newspaper Museum you can, for example, marvel at typewriters, faxes and other old journalists’ tools, browse old newspapers and learn about newspaper work comprehensively. Free entry.

Theatre Museum at Kaapelitehdas has plenty for children to do and experience. Admission fee.

Don’t forget: Toy Museum Horseshoe and Glims House Museum in Espoo!

Museum with children? Read Pienten Helsinki’s article series My Museum Friend and I, where you explore Helsinki’s museums with children.

[caption id=“attachment_2342” align=“aligncenter” width=“1024”] Christmas in the grandma’s house at the Helsinki City Museum’s Children’s City![/caption]

Animals

Fallkulla farm is open until 7.1.2018 daily from 10-15, also on Christmas Eve 24.12.2017 and Christmas Day 25.12.2017. Read more from Fallkulla's website.

Regarding Haltiala farm opening information will be updated soon. Update: Despite inquiries, opening times have not been confirmed from Haltiala.

Korkeasaari Zoo is open between Christmas and New Year daily from 10-16 (closed on Christmas Eve 24.12.2017). Fee applies. Read more from the zoo’s own website.

Playgrounds

Some of Helsinki's city playgrounds are open between Christmas and New Year on weekdays from 9-16. Open playgrounds offer activities and guided programs under the Ipanakimara theme for all ages. Check out for example what playgrounds Line, Arabia, Lehdokki and India offer and what great ideas playgrounds Nurkka, Jalopeura, Jakomäki and Tapuli have come up with. Also playgrounds Ruoholahti, Seppä and Lahnalahti are open for most of the holiday period.

Libraries

Library story times and rhyme sessions are on Christmas break, but the children's departments offer independent reading time, games, play and drawing. You can find all Helsinki City libraries listed on the Helmet website.

BabyKino at Töölö Library is held between Christmas and New Year on Wednesdays at 12 and 14.30. Read more from the library’s website.

Library 10 opens its third children’s own art exhibition on 27.12.2017. Sisters Aava and Armas open their art exhibition right after Christmas and a grand opening celebration will be held on 27.12.2017 at 17 in the children’s department exhibition space. Aava and Armas’s art can be admired during the library’s opening hours. Children’s own art exhibition activities are reportedly a unique concept in Finland and any child can hold the exhibition. More information about the event and Library 10’s exhibition activities.

Other events

To the cinema: Heinähattu, Vilttitossu and Rubensin brothers and Moomins' Winter Magic are currently showing in cinemas and are suitable for children's first film experience. Finnkino cinemas are open on Christmas Day and on Boxing Day and New Year's Eve and Day.

To the theater: Beloved fairy tale classic The Happy Prince can be seen as a puppet theater interpretation at National Theater’s Grand Stage foyer between Christmas 28.12-30.12.2017. Tickets 15 €. The performance is aimed at 2-7-year-olds. Read more from the National Theater’s website.

To the circus: Dance theater Hurjaruuthi’s Winter Circus Play performances continue until mid-January at Kaapelitehdas. Fee applies. Check the performance schedule and ticket prices on Hurjaruuthi’s website.

In Swedish: Arne Alligator has caught Jungle Fever / Arne Alligator’s Concert at Swedish Theater on 27.12.2017 at 18 and 28.12.2017 at 11. Tickets 16 €, children under 2 years free. Read more from Swedish Theater’s website.

Magic Forest performance in Korjaamo yard on Saturday 30.12.2017 from 16-19. Free entry. Read more from the event’s Facebook page.

Theater Cat’s vacation at Theater Museum 2.-5.1.2018 from 12-16 and offers programs for vacationers at the museum’s admission price. Read more about Theater Cat’s vacation adventures on the museum’s website.

Jumping around: Finland’s largest indoor amusement park takes over Messukeskus 26.12.2017-7.1.2018. Read more from Finland’s largest indoor amusement park’s website. The event is fee-based.

Free family Christmas holiday movies at Kanneltalo 3.-4.1.2018. The program includes Onneli and Anneli’s Winter and Kanelia kainaloon, Tatu and Patu. Read more from Kanneltalo’s website.

Adventure course for children on Friday 5.1.2017 at Circus Helsinki’s premises in Suvilahdella. Price 10 €/child. Read more about schedules and pre-registration from Circus Helsinki’s website.

LUX Helsinki illuminates the city again 6.1.-10.1.2018. Read more from Lux Helsinki’s website, where you can see light art. Light Paint Box at Senate Square during all Lux festival days from 17-21. In the light studio, a light artist group paints light paintings around the audience. Read more from the festival’s own website.

In Espoo: Finland’s largest miniature railway in Sellos shopping center December-January. Exact opening hours on the Alpine Railway Enthusiasts’ website.

New Year in Helsinki with children

Sky of Wishes - Children's New Year 31.12.2017 Children's New Year celebrations are held this year by the city at Citizens' Square from 16-18. The program includes a wish tent from 16-17, a fire circus performance at 17 and fireworks at 17.30. Read more from My Helsinki's website.

For adults: Helsinki’s New Year at Citizens’ Square continues from 22-01 and culminates in a midnight fireworks display. Celebrations can also be watched on TV1 starting at 23. More details on My Helsinki’s website.

New Year’s dances at Music Hall on 31.12.2017 from 15-17. Everyone from babies to grandparents is welcome to dance to Kyösti Mäkimattila’s rhythm. Read more from Music Hall’s website.

In many Helsinki neighborhoods, informal gatherings are organized during the early evening with fireworks in mind. More information can be found in your neighborhood’s Facebook groups. For example:

Ice Park, Winter Circus Play at Kaapelitehdas, Finland’s largest indoor amusement park at Messukeskus and many other programs mentioned in the article are also suitable for New Year’s Eve program in Helsinki.

Children’s New Year’s Party at Art Hall Pessi in Vantaa on Monday 1.1.2018 from 15-16. The program includes Watchdog’s Guest - Music Theater Adventure. Free entry, but note that only 80 viewers fit inside.

What kind of New Year program would you like? How do you celebrate New Year’s Eve with children? Comment, suggest and criticize, feedback might reach the ears of city officials ;)

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