Father's Day in Helsinki – make it one to remember

Why wait until Sunday? Kick things off on Saturday with a hotel stay, so you can wake up in peace and head straight to breakfast. A perfect staycation spot is the art-filled Hotel Hanasaari, located on its own island in Espoo – just six kilometres from central Helsinki.  The room rate includes access to the morning sauna.

Find more staycation inspiration in Time Out’s hotel recommendations.

What better way to start the morning than with a perfect croissant? The best croissants in Helsinki come from Layers Bakery, whose tiny bakery cafés can be found in Töölö and on Bulevardi.

Check out our guide to the best cafés in Helsinki for more sweet ideas.

When the clock strikes 12.00, the best brunch in the capital region is served in Helsingin pitäjän kirkonkylä in Vantaa. At Kahvitupa Laurentius, the buffet table groans under the weight of Italian delicacies. 

After brunch, why not head to Heureka Science Centre to marvel at the dinosaurs in its brand-new exhibition?

Solving puzzles in escape rooms is one of the best things you can do as a family. The fiendishly tricky challenges get the adrenaline pumping and Dad's brain working overtime. The kids, meanwhile, often seem to crack the puzzles more easily than the grown-ups.

In Helsinki's best escape rooms, you can escape from the sinking Titanic or pull off the perfect heist. A particularly fitting choice for Father's Day is Huone Escapes in Tapiola, where you can solve a mystery set in a young boy's bedroom in the 1980s. In other words, just like stepping back into Dad's childhood.

At Föön, inside the Redi shopping centre, you can experience what it feels like to fly – and feel like Superman, or at least Superdad. Giant fans generate enough wind resistance in the flight chamber to make you float weightlessly. The experience usually includes two flights: the first to learn the basics with an instructor, and the second to try spins and dives. It’s especially fun on Father’s Day, when the place is full of families cheering their dads on from behind the glass.

Did your dad sport a mohawk back in his youth? Or are you simply craving a bit of three-chord rebellion this Father's Day? A new exhibition at Hakasalmi Villa, PUNK! 50 Years of Mayhem on the Streets of Helsinki, celebrates half a century of Finnish punk through photographs, video interviews, record sleeves, fanzines, gig posters, clothes and instruments. Naturally, there's also the legendary chainsaw wielded by Finnish punk icon Maukka Perusjätkä.

Punk classics blast from a jukebox, you can pogo to your heart's content in the mosh pit room, or pick up an instrument and make some noise in the rehearsal space. The exhibition runs until 29 August 2027.

If your dad has a soft spot for classical music, treat him to a concert at Lauttasaari Church this Father's Day. On Sunday 8 November, the Lauttasaari Orchestra will perform a free Father's Day concert from 6pm to 7pm, featuring Jean Sibelius's Violin Concerto and music by Richard Strauss.

Admission is free.

Father's Day is the perfect excuse to catch this autumn's must-see family film. Wildwood is a breathtaking fantasy adventure brought to life using traditional stop-motion animation. Cleverly blending the atmosphere and storytelling of familiar fantasy classics, Wildwood is a magnificent showcase of filmmaking craftsmanship – and the perfect antidote to the flood of AI-generated imagery. There's plenty of danger and excitement along the way, so the film is recommended for ages 12 and up.

This visually spectacular film deserves to be experienced on the big screen. For Father's Day, we'd particularly recommend the wonderfully comfy cinema beds, where kids can snuggle up next to Dad while enjoying the film. You'll find them in Screen 3 at Tennispalatsi and Screen 2 at Itis.

Sundays can be tricky when it comes to dining out in Helsinki, as many restaurants are closed. But don't worry! We've rounded up the best restaurants that are open on Sundays.

For Father's Day, we'd particularly recommend Laivakoira and the stylish yet lively Alexanderplats. Classic Helsinki restaurants such as Sea Horse are also perfect for the occasion.

How does a traditional Finnish sauna whisking sound, but instead of a sauna at a summer cottage, you’re at a hotel spa (meaning someone else gets to clean up afterwards)? Usva spa by Terhen, located at NH Collection Helsinki Grand Hansa on Mannerheimintie, offers not only pampering treatments, saunas, a cold plunge pool and wonderfully relaxing heated loungers, but also sauna whisking rituals. You can whisk to your heart’s content while learning about the Finnish sauna whisking tradition under expert guidance. Get Dad settled on the sauna bench and start whisking!

Mannerheimintie 5. Sauna whisking ritual €75 per person, bookings for groups of 4–10 people. The price includes a 30-minute sauna whisking ritual and a total of two hours’ access to the spa and gym.

There's some fantastic live music in Helsinki this Father's Day, whether Dad is a serious jazz aficionado or prefers to let loose to infectious Latin rhythms.

At Tavastia, Japanese saxophonist and composer Yasuaki Shimizu makes his Finnish debut. Over a career spanning nearly 50 years, he's collaborated with the likes of Björk and Ryuichi Sakamoto.

Meanwhile, Cuban band Elito Revé y su Charangón will be getting hips swaying and feet moving at Korjaamo.

Does your family have a dad who wears the same pair of jeans for a decade straight, even if they’ve been looking worse for wear for years? The place to find the best-quality jeans in town is on Mechelininkatu. Opened in 2025, Lasso is a shop specialising in cowboy and western wear, selling new and second-hand clothing and accessories. It also stocks jeans made from high-quality Japanese denim that promise to stay in good shape for at least ten years. Other great finds include quality work gloves at affordable prices, but the real draw is the cowboy gear. The beautifully kitted-out shop is packed with gorgeous hats, shirts, accessories and, of course, cowboy boots. The atmosphere tops it all off: naturally, there’s country music playing in the background, and everyone who walks through the door is offered a coffee. Even if Dad doesn’t need anything, it’s worth popping in just for the experience – and, of course, to finally get him that new pair of jeans.

Mechelininkatu 42, Töölö. Open Tue–Sat 12:00–19:00.