Best things to do in Helsinki with kids

What is it? Part of the Helsinki City Museum, Children’s Town (Lasten kaupunki) sits just off Senate Square and lets kids step right into history. They can sit at old school desks, play in a 1970s granny flat or dress up in vintage clothes.

Why go? This is a museum where touching is encouraged. Kids can play with old-fashioned toys, run a shop or stage a classroom play at the chalkboard. For adults, it’s a nostalgic trip down memory lane – maybe even to your own childhood, or your parents’. It’s the perfect rainy-day spot and one of the easiest attractions to reach in the city centre.

Time Out tip: Pushchairs aren’t allowed inside Children’s Town itself, but you can use them in the rest of the City Museum.

Address: Aleksanterinkatu 16–18

Opening hours: Mon–Fri 11.00–19.00, Sat–Sun 11.00–17.00

Expect to pay: Free

What is it? Helsinki’s Central Library Oodi is not just a library – it’s the city’s living room. The children’s area on the third floor features colourful story zones, art carpets, soft reading corners and plenty of space to play. From the same floor’s terrace, you can enjoy sweeping views over Kansalaistori Square.

Why go? Oodi is the kind of place you can drop into anytime. Kids can dive into books and play, while parents enjoy the café and admire the stunning architecture. It’s part indoor playground, part cultural centre, part city sanctuary – and entirely free. There’s even a long communal dining table with highchairs, so you can bring your own snacks.

Time Out tip: Visit on a weekday morning with little ones – Loru hosts open sessions like music circles and storytime.

Address: Töölönlahdenkatu 4

Opening hours: Mon–Fri 08.00–22.00, Sat 10.00–20.00, Sun 10.00–20.00

Expect to pay: Free

What is it? Annantalo is a children’s and youth arts centre in Kamppi, housed in a beautiful old school building. It hosts exhibitions, theatre, film screenings and workshops where art is something to do, not just look at. On the ground floor you’ll find Napero Café, a family-friendly hub with highchairs, a microwave for baby food and space to play.

Why go? Annantalo lets kids truly get hands-on with art. Little ones can play in the café area, while older children join courses and workshops in painting, movement and crafts. On Wednesdays, Naperokino screens short animations for under-threes, and on Saturdays the whole family can join drop-in art sessions.

Time Out tip: Before your workshop, check out the lobby gallery – it often showcases artworks by children and young people, guaranteed to inspire your own masterpiece.

Address: Annankatu 30

Opening hours: Mon–Fri 08.00–20.00, Sat–Sun 10.00–17.00

Expect to pay: Most exhibitions and events are free

What is it? Next to Töölönlahti Bay stands Helsinki’s very own Winter Garden – a glass oasis that’s been delighting visitors since the 1890s. Its Palm Room is filled with tall trees, the Cactus Room with spiky oddities, and a small pond shimmers with bright orange koi fish. Outside, the rose garden often blooms well into autumn.

Why go? The warm, lush garden is the perfect escape when it’s freezing or raining outside. Kids can marvel at more than 200 plant species, climb up to the balcony and wonder how palm trees can grow in Finland. For adults, it’s a peaceful pause; for children, it’s a mini jungle adventure in the city. There are toilets on-site and tables for picnicking in the side wing, though no highchairs – and prams must be parked outside, even in winter.

Time Out tip: Visit at Christmas time, when the Winter Garden glows with lights and poinsettias – the atmosphere is pure magic.

Address: Hammarskjöldintie 1 A

Opening hours: Mon–Thu 10.00–16.00, Fri closed, Sat–Sun 10.00–16.00

Expect to pay: Free

What is it? Spread across several islands just off Helsinki’s coast, Suomenlinna is both a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a dream come true for adventurous kids. The ferry ride from the Market Square takes just 15 minutes but feels like a journey to another era – surrounded by the sea, cannons, stone walls and echoing tunnels.

Why go? Suomenlinna is a rare place where history is hands-on. Kids can walk the ramparts, wander through tunnels and imagine themselves as knights, pirates or treasure hunters. Adults can enjoy scenic walks, cosy cafés and a dose of sea air. The fortress is open year-round: a picnic spot in summer, a colourful playground in autumn and a snow-covered stronghold in winter. Oh, and don’t forget – there’s a real submarine on the island.

Time Out tip: Bring a torch – exploring the dark tunnels with kids in charge of the light makes the adventure all the more thrilling.

Address: Suomenlinna

Opening hours: The HSL ferry runs daily from early morning until late night

Expect to pay: The ferry costs the same as a regular public transport ticket; entry to the island itself is free. Suomenlinna Church has a small admission fee in summer, and most museums require a separate ticket (the Customs Museum is free).

What is it? Set by the banks of Vanhankaupunginkoski – where Helsinki was first founded – the Museum of Technology (Tekniikan museo) occupies a handsome old brick waterworks building. Inside, kids can touch, twist and tinker with hands-on exhibits full of buttons, levers and gadgets that reveal how everyday inventions work. Outside, the rapids roar and a boardwalk trail leads through a nearby nature reserve.

Why go? The museum’s Kummituksen keksintökoje exhibition is designed especially for children, making technology feel like magic. It encourages curiosity and experimentation, showing how inventions are born and how they change the world – and honestly, adults will be just as fascinated.

Time Out tip: After your visit, follow the wooden boardwalk trail that starts right next to the museum. It leads through the reeds all the way to Lammassaari island, where you can walk to birdwatching towers and leave the bustle of the city behind in minutes.

Address: Viikintie 1

Opening hours: Tue 11.00–17.00, Wed–Thu 11.00–20.00, Fri 11.00–17.00, Sat 11.00–18.00, Sun 11.00–17.00

Expect to pay: Adults €15, children (7–17) €6. Often “Pay what you want” on Thursdays; free with the Muse

What is it? Located in Kamppi, the Natural History Museum (Luonnontieteellinen museo) is one of Helsinki’s most popular family attractions. The first thing you’ll see on entry is the huge African elephant, but the real showstopper is the dinosaur hall. Each floor takes you through a different chapter of Earth’s story.

Why go? This classic museum makes science an adventure. Kids love the skeletons and taxidermy animals, while adults rediscover childhood favourites and notice new details. The old school building, with its grand staircases and sunlit halls, adds to the magic.

Time Out tip: Don’t skip the ground-floor Gymnasium Hall, which hosts changing exhibitions – often interactive and popular with little ones. Currently, The Forest Home exhibition (on until April 5 2026) invites visitors to explore the magic of Finland’s natural forests.

Address: Pohjoinen Rautatiekatu 13

Opening hours: Mon closed, Tue–Fri 11.00–17.00, Sat 10.00–18.00, Sun 10.00–16.00

Expect to pay: Adults €20, children (7–17) €7, free with the Museum Card

What is it? Helsinki boasts more than 60 playgrounds, each with its own twist. At Kurranummi in Tapanila you’ll find one of the city’s longest slides, Leikkipuisto Orava in Itä-Pasila has colourful outdoor instruments, and Bryga Park Deck atop the Redi shopping centre lets kids play high above the city. Newer spots like Vennynpuisto in Kuninkaantammi are climbing favourites for little adventurers.

Why go? Playgrounds are the heart of family life in Helsinki and the perfect pitstop for visitors with kids. They’re safe, imaginative spaces for running, climbing and socialising. Many have indoor huts for warming up and picnicking, and some offer free music sessions and craft clubs on weekdays.

Time Out tip: When the parks freeze over, head underground – Leikkiluola in Hakaniemi turns a civil defence shelter into an indoor wonderland with slides and bouncy castles.

Expect to pay: Free

What is it? Just a 20-minute drive from the city centre, Haltialan kotieläintila is a slice of countryside within Helsinki. The farmyard is home to cows, sheep, pigs and chickens, and in summer you can see tractors and farm machinery in action. Surrounding fields and forests offer plenty of space to run, play and breathe in the country air.

Why go? Animals and open space make Haltiala the ideal escape for city kids. The nearby trails are great for family walks and picnics, and in summer the grazing animals and golden fields create postcard-perfect views. It’s lovely year-round – peaceful in autumn and crisp in winter.

Time Out tip: Don’t stop at the main yard – follow the path behind the barns toward the River Vantaa for a beautiful rural walk through farmland and forest.

Address: Laamannintie 17

Opening hours: Daily 07.00–20.00

Expect to pay: Free

What is it? Housed in an old depot in Töölö, the Tram Museum (Ratikkamuseo) tells the story of Helsinki’s trams over more than a century. Here, kids can do what most museums forbid – step inside historic tram cars, sit on the seats and even try the driver’s or conductor’s position. The exhibits trace the evolution of city travel from the 1890s to today.

Why go? Children love transport, and this is the real deal – they can explore the trams up close. The museum is compact enough for small kids to manage easily, and adults will enjoy the nostalgic trip back in time, from wooden benches to ticket clippers. Fun fact: Helsinki’s first trams were pulled by horses!

Time Out tip: After your visit, hop on tram line 2 from nearby Töölö for a scenic ride through the city centre.

Address: Töölönkatu 51 A

Opening hours: Tue–Sun 11.00–17.00

Expect to pay: Free