Child-Friendly Swimming Beaches in Helsinki and the Greater Capital Area

Which swimming beach is best in Helsinki for children? Where can you find a playground at a beach? Which beach is easily accessible by metro? The Pienet Helsinki team has compiled their favorite child-friendly swimming spots in Helsinki and Espoo.

Current blue-green algae information from Helsinki's swimming beaches can be found at ulkoliikunta.fi service

Child-Friendly Swimming Beaches in Helsinki and the Greater Capital Area

Helsinki

Kallahti Beach

Kallahti Beach located between Vuosaari and Meri-Rastila is excellent for small children.
Kallahti Point's beach extends very shallowly for a long distance, and the water is often warmer than other beaches as a result. However, watch out for sudden deep spots further along the beach! There's a kiosk-café, a large climbing ship as a playground, and public grills on the beach (bring your own charcoal). You can also enjoy snacks in the nearby forest sitting on tree trunks, avoiding the beach seagull problem. A magnificent natural spot and a lovely archipelago beach—a Helsinki gem! The surroundings offer easily accessible nature trails and stunning views. From the nearest bus stop, it's a few kilometers away, so unfortunately Kallahti is not easily accessible by public transport.

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Kallahti beach extends shallowly for a long distance.[/caption]

Kivinkka Beach

Kivinkka Beach between Herttoniemi and Kulosaari is a beach located in the middle of a summer cottage area, which is child-friendly and a good destination for families. The beach has sand toys for children, changing rooms, and nearby the former Maija's summer café, now Kivinkka kiosk. Surrounded by nature, nature trails, and a nearby bird tower. Urban views towards Kalasatama—here you can also spot cranes and see the metro crossing the Kulosaari bridge. From the nearest bus stop to Kivinkka beach is just over a kilometer, and from Kulosaari metro station about two kilometers. Kivinkka beach will also have lifeguard supervision for the first time in summer 2025.

Laajasalo Beach

Laajasalo Beach in Yliskylä is a traditional beach with archipelago views. The beach has a café building and changing rooms. Surrounded by beautiful old forest and nice trails for exploration. You'll find a playground at the beginning of the path leading to the beach, near the Reposalmentie parking area. It's also a short walk from here to Kiiltomadon playground.
Next to the beach are also beach volleyball courts. You can reach Laajasalo Beach by bus 89 from Herttoniemi metro station, and from the stop to the beach is about 500 meters. With other buses going to Laajasalo (from Herttoniemi metro station: 84, 85, 86, 87, and 88), you can get relatively close by getting off at the Saari shopping center area. If driving, parking is available at Laajasalo Primary School parking lot (Holmanmoisionpolku).

Near Laajasalo Beach runs a paid ferry service to Vartiosaar, which is also a wonderful natural and archipelago destination worth experiencing and seeing.

Mustikkamaа Beach

Mustikkamaа Beach is now even more easily accessible thanks to the new Isoisänsilta Bridge: you can easily reach the beach, for example from Kalasatama metro station. Mustikkamaа Beach is located near Korkeasaari Bridge, on the south edge of the island. The café operating in conjunction with Korkeasaari's ticket office provides service with extended hours, so you can stop for ice cream even on the way back. Great views of the Kruunuvuoren Bridge construction site, where large machinery moves about.

Remember also: near Mustikkamaа Beach you can also see chickens! Read more in the Animals in the City article!

Kasinonranta Beach

Kasinonranta Beach in Lauttasaari is a shallowly sloping beach where wading with small children works great. The beach also has swings and a large climbing ship that works well for slightly older children, but the ship also has a slide suitable for smaller ones and smaller climbing sections.
Kasinonranta has plenty of open grassy areas (though often with geese and crows that eagerly hoard snacks). Next to it is a beach café and ice cream kiosk. From Lauttasaari metro station, from the Gyldenintie entrance, it's a few hundred meters to the beach. Lahnalahti Playground is located near the beach and Lauttasaari metro station.

Veijarivuori Beach

Veijarivuori Beach at the tip of Lauttasaari is a nice excursion destination. The beach is located in a summer cottage area and nearby you'll find a fenced playground and Paseo beach café-restaurant. Veijarivuori Beach is surrounded by a park area where you can move around easily with strollers. The area also has wartime cannons and caves. From the Veijarivuori outdoor area you can also find the secret island Sisä-Hattu, where you can walk to with almost dry feet during low water (suitable for slightly older adventurers). There's a nearby bus stop, with about 200 meters to the beach; from Lauttasaari metro station, it's just over a kilometer walk to Veijarivuori Beach.

Aurinkolahti Beach

Aurinkolahti Beach is a long beach lined by a beautiful beach boulevard. If you're craving southern holiday vibes, head here on a sunny day! Along the beach boulevard there's a playground, cafés and an ice cream kiosk, many restaurants in building ground floors, and a grocery store nearby. Aurinkolahti Beach has steep drop-offs, so keep this in mind with small children. Aurinkolahti Beach is definitely worth seeing!
From near Aurinkolahti Beach there's a path leading to Uutela Outdoor Area, which has numerous good picnic spots and shady nap places, as well as Uutela Cottage (opening hours can be found on the cottage's Facebook page).

Remember also: near Aurinkolahti Beach you can see sheep! Read more in the Animals in the City article!

Tuorinniemi Beach

Tuorinniemi Beach on Herttoniemenranta is an ideal place for children: a perfectly sized beach that does deepen, but next to it is an excellent playground. The beach has an ice cream kiosk and nearby shops and several restaurants. Right next to the beach is Tuorinniemi Playground. On sunny days, you can easily spend many hours here.

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Tuorinniemi Beach.[/caption]

Pirkkola Plot

Pirkkola Sports Park's local activity spot Plot is a sand-bottomed shallow swimming area for children in the middle of Pirkkola Sports Park. Plot's water is chlorinated.

The algae situation at Helsinki and greater capital area beaches can be found in the Outdoor Activity Service, where, for example, the city's beach lifeguards report sensory observations.

Summer in Helsinki?

Espoo

Westend Beach is located in sight of Helsinki. The beach is shallow and sheltered for a long stretch and has showers and toilet facilities. At one end of the beach is a good playground for children. From the parking lot, it's about 100 meters to the beach, and the nearest bus stop is near the parking area. Along the beach path you can walk towards Helsinki and Espoo, for example towards Helsinki's direction to Koivusaari metro station is about three kilometers from here. Also remember the Karhusaari island on the Helsinki-Espoo border and the island's secret beach!

Tapiola paddling pool is closed at least for summers 2025-2026 due to renovations of the adjacent swimming hall.

The children's paddling pool next to Tapiola swimming hall is open in summer 2023 as well. The paddling pool has a lifeguard on duty daily 10am-6pm (except Midsummer), swimming is also allowed at other times. Weather permitting, people splash here until September. Free admission.

Summer in Helsinki?

Pienten Helsinki's Summer in Helsinki series and many, many summer activity tips for Helsinki have now been published! The summer tips are also suitable for tourists visiting the city.