Free-time activities in Helsinki – tips for newcomers
Free-time activities in Helsinki – tips for newcomersHelsinki has many free-time activities that allow you to meet new people and have fun.
The city is full of wonderful sports, culture and leisure opportunities. Add to this Helsinki’s adult education courses and an award-winning network of libraries and you will never be short of things to do. Don’t forget that many of these activities are free of charge or available at a very low cost!
Sports
The City of Helsinki is home to dozens of indoor sports facilities with sports halls, swimming halls and gyms. These spacious indoor facilities provide countless opportunities for guided and self-directed exercise. Among other things, the city arranges swimming lessons, exercise classes, water sports and fitness training, as well as no-cost outdoor exercise classes for people of all ages.
Helsinki residents spend lots of time doing outdoor sports, no matter what the weather. In the summer, an outdoor swim and sauna is the peak of outdoor enjoyment and the city's outdoor sports facilities are brimming with activities. In the wintertime, hundreds of residents can be seen ice skating on outdoor rinks and cross-country skiing on Helsinki’s well-groomed trails. The outdoor exercise map shows real-time conditions on the city’s ski trails, ice rinks and beaches.
Outdoor exercise map(Link leads to external service)
In Helsinki, you can enjoy free access to over 40 outdoor gyms!
The city’s outdoor gyms are open around the clock, year-round, making it easier to stay in shape. See more on outdoor gyms on the Sports and recreation website.(Link leads to external service)
Nature
In Helsinki, nature is easily accessible to everyone. Every resident can simply walk out their front door and within minutes find themselves in a calming forest or near a majestic shoreline. This closeness to nature is a defining characteristic of life in Finland’s capital. In addition to this, the city boasts a great network of parks and nature paths that are great for walking, hiking, cycling and just spending time in the fresh air. Make sure to dress appropriately for the weather – the InfoFinland website has some handy tips in the link below.
The Nordic principle of every person’s rights means that everyone is free to roam everywhere, if they leave nature undisturbed. For example, everyone has the right to pick berries and mushrooms in Finnish forests. Making an open fire in nature is prohibited, but Helsinki has plenty of public cooking shelters and grilling spots that can be used year-round. Please note that the right to roam does not apply as such in nature reserves. The dos and don’ts section of the Uuvi website has important info about using Finland’s nature areas and parks, so give it a read before you set out into the wilderness.
Outdoor activities, parks and nature destinations
Every person’s rights (luontoon.fi)(Link leads to external service)
Finnish climate (infofinland.fi)(Link leads to external service)
Culture
Helsinki is home to many impressive art museums and galleries, with plenty of thought-provoking street art at every turn. The Helsinki City Museum, located in the heart of the city near the Senate Square, focuses on the history and culture of Finland’s capital and always has free entry. Next, try the Helsinki Art Museum HAM, which specialises in contemporary art. More comprehensive information on Helsinki’s museums, theatre and dance venues is available at the MyHelsinki website.
Helsinki also has eight cultural centres located throughout the city: Annantalo, Caisa, Kanneltalo, Malmitalo, Maunula-talo, Savoy-teatteri, Stoa and Vuotalo. The centres host theatre, dance and circus performances, in addition to concerts, film screenings, children’s events, indoor and outdoor celebrations, exhibitions and art courses. The selection features plenty of free-of-charge activities that do not require advance registration. Every cultural centre has a pleasant café or a restaurant, and you can often find your local library, youth centre or adult education centre under the same roof.
Libraries
Visiting a library and using its services is one of the top free-time activities in Helsinki. Residents consistently use the close to 40 libraries in the Helsinki City Library network in record numbers. The city actively invests in its libraries, with the eye-popping Oodi Central Library the standout example.
The Helsinki City Library is part of the Helmet library system, a network of over 70 libraries and mobile libraries in the greater metropolitan area. Apply for a Helmet library card and you will have access to all of their services. If you are looking for a specific item, you can reserve it on the Helmet website and the libraries will send the item to your library of choice.
Libraries are not only a place to borrow books in Finland. Computers with internet connections are available for use at no cost and library personnel offer free guidance in the use of ICT and digital tools. What is more, many libraries have rooms for studying, playing music or holding events, such as language cafes and book clubs.
Helmet website(Link leads to external service)
Material in 100+ languages
Are you looking for something to read in different languages? Chances are Helmet libraries have the books, magazines and other materials for you. Do you want to practice speaking Finnish or join other events held at libraries? Read more about library services on the Helmet website.(Link leads to external service)
Things to do and support for children and young people
Finnish schools tend to focus on academics, so the nation has developed a network of municipally run youth services to provide leisure activities for tweens and teens aged 9 to 17.
Helsinki has more than 60 Youth Services locations where young people are welcome to hang out and spend time together. These include youth centres, summer camps, and facilities for supporting different hobbies, such as skateparks, music studios and rooms for doing arts and crafts. Some of Helsinki’s youth centres also provide limited hobby activities for children younger than 9 and young adults.
Located in every major neighbourhood of the city, Helsinki’s youth centres offer young people a place where they can talk with friends, play games and take part in group activities, such as cooking classes. Youth workers plan and implement the activities together with the young people, while also encouraging them to get involved in various groups and local decision-making.
Youth Helsinki(Link leads to external service)
Free-of-charge hobbies
A nationwide programme known as the Finnish Model for Leisure Activities makes it possible for children in grades 3 to 9 (roughly the ages 9–15) to participate in hobbies during the school day free-of-charge. Participants can choose their favourite activity from over 30 options that have been based on the children and young people’s own preferences. Learn more on the school websites or the city’s Hobbies website.
Life-long learning
If you are looking for free-time activities in Helsinki, one great option is to attend low-cost courses and learn something new. The networks of Helsinki’s two Adult Education Centres, the Finnish-language työväenopisto and its Swedish-language equivalent Arbis offer classes for adults who wish to learn a new skill or hobby.
You can learn a new language, make art or cook. Or how about brushing up on your IT skills or joining an amateur theatre troupe or weekly exercise group? Adult education centre classes are held in over 70 convenient locations throughout the city. Many of the classes take place in the evening. A growing number are available in English, and it is worth repeating that they are also a great place to learn Finnish and Swedish!
Check out all of the adult education opportunities available to you at the Ilmonet link below. Our section on Adult Education Centres can also provide you with additional information.
Book a room or equipment
Would you like to hold a meeting, have a band rehearsal or organise an event? Well, lucky for you the city has a wide variety of facilities and equipment that individuals, groups or associations can use to host their free-time activities. Simply visit the city’s Varaamo booking service to see all the locations and tools that are available.
Volunteering
Volunteer activities are a great way to make a difference in the world and meet people. Furthermore, the majority of volunteer opportunities in the city do not require a regular commitment. Find the best fit for you at the Volunteer Helsinki website.