Pienten Helsinki
Activity tips for the first week of July in Helsinki (and surrounding areas) with children.
How does seal spotting in the heart of the city sound?
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| Little Helsinki challenges everyone to #sealspotting! |
Notable playground programs include, for example, Linja playground’s singing time on Monday at 10:30 (Linja has the best open music class in winter, so singing time is sure to be fun!), on Tuesday Ruoholahti playground’s sports stations at 10:30-11:15, on Wednesday an art session for babies and toddlers at Kannelmäki playground at 10 o’clock. Herttoniemi playground is celebrating woodwork week and Rusthollari playground is having orienteering week. It’s worth following the Facebook pages and websites of Helsinki’s city playgrounds actively, as there is plenty of organized activities open to everyone. The indoor facilities of the parks are also available for play, for example on rainy days.
Monday July 3 brings a rain forecast, which is a good reason to plan a library visit. If your local library gets boring, Helsinki has 36 other city libraries, almost all of which have children’s sections. Have you ever visited the children’s section of Kallio library, where there’s plenty to do and experience? Or did you know that Suomenlinna also has a library (though it’s not open on Mondays)? Malmi library has Helsinki’s newest children’s section and Roihuvuori library has a wonderfully atmospheric children’s area and especially child-friendly staff. Jätkäsaari library’s surroundings offer countless cranes to spot. Libraries also serve in summer, though opening hours are shorter than in winter. More information about Helsinki’s city libraries and opening hours can be found here.
Incidentally, a comprehensive list of children’s books featuring Helsinki has been compiled on the Helsinki City Library’s website. You can find the list here.
Tuesday July 4 promises at least partly clear weather according to the forecast, so an absolute must-do city activity is seal spotting. The couple-meter-long seal sculptures designed by Stefan Lindforss and decorated by various Finnish artists are scattered around Helsinki for everyone’s enjoyment, and finding all forty seals in the city hustle is quite a task. Fortunately, you don’t have to find them all in one day, and tips for their locations can be found here. Little Helsinki challenges everyone to seal spotting! Spot one or more artworks and share your pictures of these characters on Instagram. #sealspot #hejhylje.
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| HejHylje artworks can be found throughout Helsinki. |
Wednesday July 5 tip takes you to Espoo, where you can hear the Käpylehmä children’s orchestra as part of the Cultural Container’s program. On Wednesday, children’s music will be heard at 11 at the nature center Haltia. Admission to the concert is free. More information about the event.
You should also pop into nature center Haltia’s exhibitions, which are very child-friendly. The facilities are also in good order, with excellent childcare facilities in the building and a nice restaurant with great views. Admission to exhibitions 12 €/5 €, under 7 years old free. Museum card also works.
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| At nature center Haltia you can learn about Finland's nature. |
Thursday July 6 celebrates Summer Day in the castle courtyard, where Suomenlinna offers a chance to dive into 18th-century life. The event is suitable for the whole family and the day includes both paid and free programs. More information about the event and today’s program can be found here. Suomenlinna has wonderful spots for picnics and atmospheric cafes and restaurants. A childcare room can be found, for example, at Suomenlinna Center.
Friday July 7 is free entry evening at the Natural History Museum from 14-17. The Natural History Museum can be recommended as a destination on other days as well, as the beautifully renovated and completely updated museum works great with both small and older children and there’s plenty to see and experience. Admission 13 €/6 €, under 7 years old free. Museum card also works.
Summer Fridays in downtown Helsinki feature a changing of the guard at 12:30 and a MIL-Espa concert at 14 on Espa’s stage. The parade departs from Senate Square, marches through Market Square to the main guard, and then along Esplanade to Barracks Square. For Friday July 7, the parade is cancelled, but the Armed Forces Band will entertain on Espa’s stage starting at 14. The next parade is on Friday, July 16. Worth seeing for all ages! More information about parades and MIL-Espa.
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| Changing of the guard at Espa. |
Saturday: To the playground at Kaivari corner! Around Kaivopuisto there are nearly ten very well-equipped and beautiful playgrounds within walking distance of each other. For example, Kapteeninpuistik’s black and white playground, Kaivopuisto waterfront’s Meripuisto’s playground and Seppä playground work well even with smaller children. l
Espa’s stage hosts Pop Saturday on Saturday July 8.
Sunday July 9, music lovers should visit Espoo, where the Cultural Container has stopped at Espoo Center’s Asematori. On Sunday there’s a fast-paced children’s concert featuring Mr. Kivi’s garden gnomes’ music show. The concert starts at 17 and admission is free. More information about the Cultural Container’s program can be found here.
The children’s traffic city celebrates family days every Friday and Sunday from 10-16, when under an adult’s supervision you can steer around the traffic city and learn about traffic rules and pedal cars. Free admission.
Remember these too
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| In Stansvik's archipelago landscapes you can hike and enjoy nature. |
Explore an unfamiliar playground! In July, many local parks are on holiday, so it’s the perfect reason to venture to an unfamiliar playground. Options abound, find the open parks here! Did you know, for example, that Linnunrata playground is home to rabbits, chickens and sheep during the summer?
Nature hiking destination: Viik arboretum and the university experimental farm’s grazing cows. You can escape the hustle and bustle of the city to the fields of Viik to watch herds of grazing cows and hike to the beautiful arboretum park. The park has benches and tables for snack breaks and a bird tower with views of the Vanhakaupunki nature reserve and all the way to the city center. A lovely wooded park to explore. A bicycle path also runs through the area, so keep this in mind when moving with very small children.
Going swimming? Kumpula outdoor pool is also suitable for small swimmers. Fee required.
For animal lovers: Korkeasaari Zoo can be visited to marvel at primarily indoor animals. A different, rainy day approach shows the island in a new light. Fee required.
This week’s museum tip: The attic at the National Museum, which also serves in summer Tuesday through Sunday from 12-16. The Attic, located on the third floor of the museum, is an interactive exhibition designed for children that explores Finnish history through doing. Here you can, for example, play store, build a brick and log house, do assembly line work and write on a typewriter. Suitable for children of all ages. Admission 10 €, under 18 years old free. Museum card also works.
