The Best Guide to Visiting Helsinki with Kids in 2024 (Written by a Local Mom)

Helsinki is overall a very family-friendly destination and offers something for every family. Whether you're a city person or a nature enthusiast, you will find something to love in Helsinki with your kids. I add to this page frequently, so make sure to bookmark it for any future updates.

Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post. All recommendations are based on my own opinions, and I only recommend services I have personally used.

Getting to and Around Helsinki with Kids (and Strollers)

Depending on where you are travelling from, you can book a direct flight to Helsinki Airport, take a cruise over from Sweden or Estonia, or drive to Finland from Sweden or Norway.

If you fly in to Helsinki Airport and want to continue to Helsinki city center, I always recommend using the local train service instead of taking a cab. You will find the Helsinki Airport train station under the terminal and it's also easy to access by elevator.

The train ride from Helsinki Airport to Helsinki Central Station is about 30 minutes and a local train ticket is very affordable compared to a cab ride. On the other hand, if you have a lot of stuff with you (like kids travel beds, strollers, car seats etc.), it might not be a bad idea to pay a little extra for a taxi and prioritise your mental health!

As you get settled to your accommodation in Helsinki and want to start looking for things to do and places to see with your kids, I highly recommend using the public transportation system for traveling around Helsinki.

The local transportation system in Helsinki is called HSL and it consists of a very simple metro line, trams, buses, local trains as well as two ferries operating to Suomenlinna and Kruunuvuorenranta. All of these means of transportation operate within the same system, which means you only need one ticket to access all of them.

Using public transportation in Helsinki with kids is also very budget-friendly: a person can ride for free, when transporting a 0-6-year-old child in a stroller or wheelchair.

Please note that some ferries are operated by private companies and will require a separate ticket.

Hopping on and off local Helsinki trains, buses, trams etc. is very easy even with a stroller. The connections are for the most part well planned out and logical. All metro stations have elevators (although some stations are better than others when it comes to accessibility factors). Trains, trams and buses are also stroller friendly.

It's normal to see Helsinki families using 3 to 4 different means of transportation during one single day trip, depending on where they are departing from. We take ferries, trams, buses and use the metro line very frequently and they are all very safe and well connected, making transitions smooth.

Family-Friendly Accommodation in Helsinki

Because we live in Helsinki, we rarely stay in local hotels or other accommodation outside our own home. Most if not all hotel chains in Helsinki provide travel cribs for babies and extra beds for older children. Hotel breakfasts in Finland are usually fantastic, providing a large variety of breakfast foods suitable for all eaters.

Finnish hotel chains we have personally stayed at in various cities are e.g. Sokos hotels and Lapland hotels. Sokos hotels have always provided us with a baby crib with a ready-made bed and even a little teddy bear! They also hand out activity packs for kids, such as coloring pages. The Lapland hotels chain is especially interesting because it's Arctic themed (think reindeer, traditional foods etc.), which means you can soak in the atmosphere of Northern Finland even if you're only staying in Helsinki.

Finland is overall a very family-oriented country and amenities, such as changing rooms or high chairs, are generally easy to find anywhere you go. As a good alternative to the basic hotel chains I suggest to also check out short term rentals, such as airbnb, and look for family-friendly homes, which might even provide travel cribs, toys for kids etc. Finnish people in general are very hospitable and accommodating, so don't be afraid to ask if you have questions or concerns!

Personally, I would prioritise location, and choose an accommodation which suits your family's itinerary the best and provides easy access for kids naps and bedtimes. If you're unsure about where to book your accommodation, don't hesitate to contact me, and I can give you more specific advice based on the needs of your family.

Child-Friendly Attractions and Activities in Helsinki

Outdoor Activities

Adventure Activities (e.g. Nature Park Korkee at Mustikkamaa or Paloheinä, Adventure Park Zippy, Linnanmäki Amusement Park).

Parks and Playgrounds (e.g. Children's Traffic Park,Flower of Life, Art Park for children)

Islands (e.g. Suomenlinna Island and Suomenlinna Sea Fortress, Seurasaari Island and Seurasaari Open-Air Museum, Lammassaari Island)

Beaches and Outdoor Swimming Pools (e.g. Allas Sea Pool)

Spotting Animals (e.g. Helsinki Zoo, Fallkulla Domestic Animal Farm, Haltiala Farm).

Indoor Activities

Indoor Adventure Activities (e.g. Free flight wind tunnel Fööni, Lasertag Megazone, Rush trampoline park)

Museums with Kid-Friendly Exhibits (e.g. Annantalo Arts Center, Finnish Nature Center Haltia, Helsinki City Museum, Finnish Science Center Heureka, Museum of Play Leikki, MiniSuomi "MiniFinland" Museum, Fire Museum, Museum of Natural History)

Indoor Play Areas and Activity Centers (e.g. HopLop, Leikkiluola, Playground Loru at Helsinki Central Library Oodi)

Indoor Pools and Waterparks (e.g. Flamingo Spa and Waterpark)

Libraries and Storytelling Sessions (e.g. Helsinki Central Library Oodi, Nordic Culture Point Library)

Indoor Gardens (e.g. Winter Garden and Greenhouses at Kaisaniemi Botanic Garden).

Seasonal Activities

Winter Activities and Events (e.g. ice skating, Helsinki Christmas Markets and Christmas Street Opening Event)

Spring Events (e.g. 1st of May festivities, Helsinki Cherry Blossom Festival)

Summer Festivals and Events (e.g. Helsinki Samba Carnaval, Midsummer festivities).

Where to Eat with Kids in Helsinki

There are plenty of family-friendly restaurants and cafés in Helsinki. As I already mentioned above, most restaurants provide high chairs for kids as well as kids menu's to better suit picky eaters. Some restaurants even provide play areas and accessible changing rooms for kids. It's always okay to bring your own baby food to restaurants in Finland. The staff will heat up the baby food for you, if you ask.

Having said this, please note that some restaurants are still better suited for kids than others. Some restaurants may be too small and not fit your stroller inside or they might not offer high chairs.

If you want to have a lot of restaurant options to browse through I would suggest to head over to one of our many shopping centers (e.g. Kamppi Shopping Center or Forum Shopping Center) to find a place that suits your kids and yourselves best. Shopping centers also provide play areas and changing rooms, which are not necessarily available in smaller restaurants or cafés.

One of our go-to restaurants, which can be found at most shopping centers, is the Picnic chain. They offer a large variety of different salad options, baked potatoes, and baguettes. They also serve baked goods, cinnamon buns, and smoothies. You can choose your own toppings for salads or baked potatoes, or select something from the menu. Our toddler usually loves the kid-sized serving of baked potatoes together with some salmon and avocado.

You can also find several family-friendly food markets in Helsinki in the summertime, such as Helsinki Market Square, which is located right by the sea and usually has several stalls serving traditional Finnish dishes, desserts, and berries to be enjoyed outdoors while enjoying the sea breeze. Look out for seagulls, though!

If you're visiting Helsinki during summer, there are also many lovely picnic spots all around the city, because parks and green areas are everywhere! If you're kids are into picnics, I highly recommend grabbing some quick lunch from any nearby supermarket and heading down to any of our parks, outdoor playgrounds, islands or nature reserves.

Worried about finding baby food in Helsinki? You can find a large variety of high quality baby foods at any supermarket in Helsinki. There are also many different brands of infant formula available, both in liquid and powdered form. If you're still worried and wish you had someone to check things for you in advance, don't hesitate to contact me, and I'll gladly help you find what you need!

Another thing you might be worried about is whether the tap water in Helsinki is safe to drink. Tap water in Finland is very safe and you don't have to buy bottled water from supermarkets. I highly recommend bringing a reusable water bottle for yourselves and your kids and refill whenever you have access to a faucet.

Conclusion

Helsinki is a great destination for families any time of year and there is interesting stuff to do and see in every season. Make sure to follow my blog for more content related to visiting or living in Helsinki with kids.