Our tips for more responsible water activities
Maritime character is an integral part of our city’s identity and offers memorable recreational opportunities for both residents and visitors. At the same time, maritime Helsinki is a habitat for a diverse range of species. With these tips, you can enjoy the water and be respectful of nature.
Would you like to prepare your own lunch over a campfire, go camping, or spend the night on an island in your own boat? By familiarising yourself with nature destinations in advance, you will be able to find destinations, routes and any available services that suit your needs. Not all islands have waste management services, so please make sure you take your rubbish back with you to the mainland. During the summer season, some of Helsinki’s islands can be easily reached by ferry. Find out more about waterway transport in the Helsinki archipelago.
Learn more about nature destinations, islands and hiking services on the outdoor activities website: Outdoor activities, parks and nature destinations On this page, you will also find Helsinki’s waterfront routes and free guided nature walks. You can also find a summary of Helsinki’s most popular island destinations.
Helsinki’s stunning islands are a wonderful place to spend some leisurely time and go camping. There are a number of things to bear in mind when it comes to camping and making a fire.
Read more about this topic on the camping page.
Travelling by motorboat or jet ski can impact the marine environment in many ways. The sounds of motor vehicles carry surprisingly far underwater. Motorboat users and jet ski riders should stay in areas with existing traffic, such as near the fairways. In areas where the use of jet skis is otherwise prohibited, jet skis may only be used on fairways and to travel to a destination such as a marina.
You can check prohibition and restriction areas in the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency’s map service(Link leads to external service).
Low speeds improve safety, prevent accidents and generate less noise. It is important to comply with the ban on creating wash, as strong waves may cause dangerous situations. They also erode the shoreline and can cause damage to boats and jetty structures.
In the outer waters off Helsinki, there is a speed limit of 30 kilometres per hour on the shipping lanes leading to the ports, extending as far south as Suomenlinna and Pihlajasaari. In most coastal and bay areas, the speed limit is 10 kilometres per hour. In most speed-restricted zones, creating wash is also prohibited.
Motorised vessels are prohibited in the waters of Töölönlahti Bay and along the western shore of the far end of Porvarinlahti Bay. Access to the Vanhankaupunginlahti Nature Reserve is strictly prohibited when the waters are unfrozen. The aim is to ensure the safety of boat traffic and to protect the natural environment.
In the Helsinki archipelago and along the coast, there are cooking shelters and open-air grilling spots without flues. It is forbidden to light fires in the terrain, for example on rocky outcrops and other coastal areas. If you see a wildfire in a nature area, always call the national emergency number 112. You can also contact the boat police by calling the same emergency number if needed.
If you see people landing on protected islands or moving about in the water of protected bird areas in the summer season between 1 April and 15 August, please call 112.
You can send us a message about unauthorised fires and littered cooking shelters via our feedback system(Link leads to external service).
Let’s work together to protect the archipelago
There are many valuable marine areas in Helsinki. Around half of Helsinki’s nature reserves are located in the archipelago. Protected marine areas include environments such as valuable coastal meadows and bird nesting sites. Restrictions on movement have been put into place in some protected areas in order to safeguard nature. By clicking on protected areas in the map service, you can also find area-specific protection regulations and any restrictions on movement.
View Helsinki’s current and future protected sites on the map(Link leads to external service).
Under the new Nature Conservation Programme, which covers the period 2025–2038, the total area of protected marine areas will increase tenfold, from the current one per cent to 11 per cent. Most protected marine areas have been established to protect nesting bird populations, but some are home to valuable plant species both on land and beneath the water surface.
Visit the page on responsible outdoor recreation to find out what general guidelines apply to visiting nature reserves.
Helsinki has a population of 700,000 and attracts many visitors. It is up to all of us to ensure the sustainable use of recreational areas and to look after biodiversity and the condition of our waterways. Even small actions make a difference.