Helsinki’s top outdoor trails: 10 from forest to sea

What is it? One of Helsinki’s most distinctive walking routes begins on the northern shore of Vanhankaupunginlahti: a boardwalk stretching almost a kilometre through towering reed beds to Lammassaari. The island is home to around a hundred privately owned summer cottages, and a path continues on to neighbouring Kuusiluoto, where sheep graze during the summer months. The boardwalks were renovated in 2018 and are fully accessible.

Why we love it? The contrast is what makes this route so memorable. Standing on the boardwalk, you’re surrounded by swaying reeds taller than your head, but look towards the horizon and the high-rises of Kalasatama come into view. In Kuusiluoto, sheep spend their summers from May to October, helping to preserve the traditional coastal meadow landscape. Just remember to close the gate behind you so they stay on their island. Meanwhile, the cottage community on Lammassaari feels like a small time capsule from the early twentieth century, when the temperance society Koitto leased the island from the city as a summer retreat for its members.

Time Out tip: Near the boardwalks, you’ll also find the accessible Nature’s Embrace trail, a route of around one kilometre that’s well worth adding to the same outing. Along the way are ten wellbeing-themed information boards encouraging visitors to slow down, listen and take in their surroundings. It’s a short detour that complements the boardwalk scenery perfectly.

Starting point: Katariina Saksilaisen katu 11, 00560 Helsinki

What is it? At the tip of Vuosaari lies the Uutela Recreation Area, a landscape of more than one hundred hectares where forest, sea and meadows blend seamlessly into one another. The most popular routes are the Uutela Forest Nature Trail (2 km) and the Herppi Trail (1.4 km), the latter introducing visitors to the area’s reptiles and amphibians.

Why we love it? Uutela is popular, yet it never feels crowded. The area is large enough for visitors to spread out, and there’s something for everyone. Some head for the seaside cliffs, others stop in the meadows to spot butterflies, while more adventurous walkers continue along the trail to Skatanniemi to explore a coastal fortress dating back to the First World War. The constantly changing scenery makes Uutela a place you can return to again and again, with each route offering a slightly different experience.

Time Out tip: The Uutela hut is a popular stop for grilling sausages. Volunteer hut hosts usually open it on Sundays and have a fire ready to go. If the hut is closed, you’ll find self-service barbecue facilities at the cooking shelters in Nuottaniemi and Niemenapaja.

Starting point: Uutelantie 1, 00990 Helsinki

What is it? A ten-kilometre coastal trail circles Lauttasaari, the island affectionately known as the Island of the Happy. Part of Helsinki’s extensive waterfront trail network, the route follows the shoreline for almost its entire length and is equally suited to walkers, runners and cyclists. You can start wherever you like along the coast, and both Lauttasaari and Koivusaari metro stations provide easy access.

Why we love it? One of the trail’s greatest strengths is its variety. On the northern side, you’ll follow the sheltered inner archipelago of Seurasaarenselkä. At the island’s southern tip, the open sea stretches out before you, while the western section passes summer cottage communities dating back to the early twentieth century. Along the way, it’s easy to stop for a swim at Kasinonranta or Veijarivuori Beach, or climb up to the birdwatching tower at Myllykallio for views across the rooftops and out to sea.

Time Out tip: Near Lauttasaari Bridge, you’ll find Café Mutteri, a much-loved local institution that has been serving visitors since 1927. Shaped like a giant nut and surprisingly spacious inside, the nearly century-old building is at its best in summer, when the terrace beside the bridge becomes one of the area’s most pleasant places to linger. A warm cinnamon bun and a cup of coffee make an ideal break during the walk.

Starting point: Anywhere along the Lauttasaari shoreline

What is it? Located on the grounds of the University of Helsinki’s Viikki teaching and research farm, the Viikki Arboretum is a tree park covering around 20 hectares and home to approximately 250 species of trees and shrubs from across the Northern Hemisphere. The routes follow gravel paths through university fields, experimental farms and the Vanhankaupunginlahti Natura area, with flat terrain that’s easy to navigate.

Why we love it? The landscape here is unlike almost anywhere else in Helsinki. Fields, pastures and the peaceful woodland of the arboretum stretch out before you, with the reed beds of Vanhankaupunginlahti visible in the distance. Walking through the arboretum also feels like a miniature journey across the forests of the Northern Hemisphere. The area is divided into geographical collections, allowing visitors to explore the tree species of Finland, Europe, Siberia, East Asia, and eastern and western North America all in a single visit.

Time Out tip: There are two birdwatching towers within the arboretum, and neighbouring Vanhankaupunginlahti is one of the most popular birdwatching spots in the Helsinki region. In spring, the songs of migrating birds carry from every direction, while enthusiasts with telephoto lenses seem to appear around every bend. Early morning is the best time to visit, when birdsong is at its most vibrant and a packed breakfast enjoyed at the picnic tables by the Keinumäki tower tastes especially good.

Starting point: Viikintie, 00790 Helsinki

What is it? Central Park stretches all the way from Töölönlahti to the Vantaa River, and its northern end offers the park’s most forested and natural landscapes. The Haltiavuori Nature Trail (around 7 km), which starts at the Paloheinä Recreation Lodge, follows the edge of the Haltiala old-growth forest area before reaching Pitkäkoski on the Vantaa River. The route is well signposted, with terrain ranging from wide gravel paths to narrower woodland trails, including sections of boardwalk.

Why we love it? For a while, it feels as though you’ve stepped into an entirely different world. The Haltiala old-growth forest has been left largely untouched since the 1930s and feels more like something from a fairytale than an urban park. Moss-covered fallen trees, weathered deadwood pines and towering old spruces create an atmospheric backdrop on both sides of the trail. At Pitkäkoski, a set of wooden steps leads down to the riverbank, where you can listen to the roar of the rapids from right beside the water.

Time Out tip: The doughnuts at the Pitkäkoski Recreation Lodge are the stuff of local legend, and queues often form for them at weekends. Opening hours can vary, so it’s worth checking the lodge’s Facebook page before setting off.

Starting point: Paloheinä Recreation Lodge, Pakilantie 124, 00670 Helsinki

What is it? Cross the white wooden bridge from Meilahti and you’ll arrive on Seurasaari, an island that combines coastal trails, old-growth woodland and the open-air museum of the National Museum of Finland. A 3.1-kilometre loop circles the island, with numerous smaller paths branching off towards its centre. The open-air museum features 88 historic buildings from across Finland, dating from the late seventeenth century to the twentieth century.

Why we love it? On the trails of Seurasaari, it’s easy to forget you’re still in Helsinki. The path winds between smooth coastal rocks and enormous pine trees, while historic wooden buildings appear around almost every corner, each seemingly older than the last. The shoreline rocks at the island’s southern tip are a particularly good place to pause and take in the open-sea views. During the summer season, you can also stop by Antin Kaffeliiteri, a charming café beside the open-air museum serving coffee and traditional homemade bakes.

Time Out tip: Put your fitness to the test on the Kekkonen Steps at the island’s southern tip. This seven-step stone staircase was where President Urho Kekkonen trained his explosive power during his daily morning runs, aiming to clear all the steps in a single leap. Despite trying throughout his presidency, he never managed to reach the top without using the handrail. Can you do better than the former president?

Starting point: Seurasaarentie 15, 00250 Helsinki

What is it? Kuusijärvi in Vantaa is one of the most popular outdoor destinations in the Helsinki region. An easy lakeside trail circles the lake, part of which is fully accessible: a 300-metre route running from the beach past the new smoke saunas to an accessible campfire area. Most of the area’s paths are easy to navigate, although there are a few inclines along the way. The route continues across the Wolf’s Paw Bridge into Sipoonkorpi National Park, where a short stroll can easily turn into a hike lasting several hours.

Why we love it? Kuusijärvi offers a rare combination of attractions in one place: an easy starting point, family-friendly trails, fitness facilities and access to genuine wilderness, all from the same car park. You can spend the day exploring the trails of Sipoonkorpi before returning to the lakeshore. Here, the outdoor experience doesn’t end when the walking is done. It continues in the sauna. The new smoke saunas, Havu and Pihka, which opened in August 2025, doubled the site’s smoke sauna capacity. A single entry to the smoke sauna costs €16 for adults, and the saunas are particularly popular with walkers during the winter season.

Time Out tip: Cross the Wolf’s Paw Bridge into Sipoonkorpi and continue along the trail to the campfire site at Bisajärvi. It’s around two kilometres each way, making it an ideal turnaround point for a day hike and a great spot to stop for a snack.

Starting point: Kuusijärventie 3, 01260 Vantaa

What is it? One of the most popular routes in Nuuksio National Park is the Raven Trail (Korpinkierros), an eight-kilometre loop that passes through Haukkalampi and winds between ponds, rocky outcrops and old-growth forest. The route is marked with yellow signposts and is suitable for anyone with a reasonable level of fitness. Allow two to three hours including a break for snacks, although if you take your time to enjoy the scenery, it can easily stretch to four hours. The terrain varies from wide gravel paths to root-covered woodland trails.

Why we love it? There’s a reason the Raven Trail is one of southern Finland’s most popular day hikes. In a relatively short distance, it showcases everything Nuuksio is known for: secluded forest ponds, rocky ridges, pine woodland and moss-covered spruce bogs. One of the highlights is the shore of Holma-Saarijärvi, where many walkers stop to brew coffee at the campfire sites before heading back. The bridge at Kolmoislampi, roughly halfway along the route, offers one of the most beautiful waterside views in the entire park.

Time Out tip: The Haukkalampi car park often fills up by late morning on sunny weekends. Arrive early if you can, or avoid the busiest times by starting from Siikaniemi instead, where parking is usually easier to find.

Starting point: Haukkalampi (Haukkalammentie 32, 02820 Espoo) or Siikaniemi (Kolmoislammenranta, 02860 Espoo)

What is it? Just a 20-minute ferry ride from Market Square, Vallisaari was a restricted military island for decades and only opened to the public in 2016. The island’s three-kilometre Alexander Trail (Aleksanterinkierros) follows woodland paths and former military roads around the island. The route’s highlight is the Alexander Battery, an artillery fortification built at the island’s highest point in the nineteenth century. From its viewing platform, you can look out over Suomenlinna, the open sea and all the way back to Helsinki’s Market Square.

Why we love it? Vallisaari is one of the most surprising nature destinations in the capital region. Because the island remained closed to the public for military reasons, its natural environment was left largely undisturbed for decades. Today, more than 400 plant species grow here, and the island is known for its exceptionally rich butterfly population. Along the Alexander Trail, wild woodland, butterfly meadows, old gunpowder magazines and other remnants of the Russian military era appear one after another.

Time Out tip: Before catching the ferry back, continue across the narrow isthmus to neighbouring Kuninkaansaari. The island has its own 2.5-kilometre walking route and feels quieter than Vallisaari. Along the way, you’ll pass well-preserved Russian-era artillery batteries and cave barracks hidden among the trees.

Starting point: Vallisaari Harbour, Luotsipiha. Ferry from Market Square from May to September.

What is it? Helsinki’s easternmost recreational island lies in the Sipoo archipelago, almost out on the open sea. A scheduled boat service reaches the island from Vuosaari in around an hour. Once there, you’ll find varied landscapes ranging from dramatic coastal rocks to sandy beaches and spruce forests, all connected by a marked four-kilometre nature trail.

Why we love it? Kaunissaari packs a remarkable variety of scenery into a single outing. Along the same route, you’ll encounter open-sea views, sandy shores and the historic homesteads of a former fishing community. The island’s four-kilometre nature trail introduces both its natural environment and its history. Numbered information posts share stories of seal hunting, shipwrecks from the age of sailing vessels and local smuggling traditions. There are also six cooking shelters equipped with firewood and drinking water, making it easy to enjoy a campfire lunch if you bring your own supplies.

Time Out tip: The ferry from Vuosaari’s Hiekkalaituri operates from mid-May until mid-September, and it’s worth arriving early at weekends as sailings can be busy. A popular option is to take the 11.00 departure and return on the 17.00 ferry, giving you around five hours to explore the island. Be sure to check the latest timetable on the FRS Finland website before travelling.

Starting point: Vuosaari Hiekkalaituri, Hiekkalaituri 1. Ferry services operate from May to September.