In Helsinki, you can also visit the library on Christmas Eve, as the Itäkeskus, Kallio and Rikhardinkatu libraries are open on 24 December from 10.00 to 16.00. On Christmas Eve, these libraries offer warm atmosphere and glögg in addition to their usual services.
Libraries in Helsinki are closed on Christmas Day 25 December, Boxing Day 26 December and New Year's Day 1 January. On Epiphany 6 January, Central Library Oodi is open from 12.00 to 18.00. Helsinki's self-service libraries are open according to their normal opening hours even during Christmas, New Year and Epiphany. These include the Herttoniemi, Jakomäki, Laajasalo, Lauttasaari, Myllypuro, Paloheinä, Suomenlinna and Viikki libraries.
Sports and exercise regardless of the weather
The City offers plenty of opportunities for exercise during Christmas and the turn of the year. The only day that Helsinki's artificial ice rinks are closed is Christmas Eve. On all other days, they are open for skating free of charge. For public ice skating times and exceptions for each rink, please visit liikunta.hel.fi. (Link leads to external service)
Should there be any snowfall at the end of the year, you can check the cross-country skiing conditions in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area at ulkoliikunta.fi.(Link leads to external service)
Indoor sports facilities, such as swimming and sports halls and gyms, have exceptional opening hours. Most indoor sports facilities are closed 24–26 December and 1 January, but e.g. Itäkeskus Swimming Hall is open on Boxing Day 26 December. You can find the opening hours of swimming and sports halls at liikunta.hel.fi.(Link leads to external service)
Activities for young people over the Christmas holidays and New Year's Eve
Some youth centres are closed for the holidays from 22 December to 7 January, but Luuppi in Kontula, for example, is open every day from 22 to 26 December. In Vuosaari, Merirasti Youth Centre is open on 22–23 December and Kallahti Youth Centre on 25–26 December. The youth space in Oodi is open on Monday 22 December, Tuesday 23 December, Saturday 27 December, Monday 29 December and Tuesday 30 December.
Fallkulla Domestic Animal Farm welcomes visitors on 24–26 December and 28 December, as well as 1 January, 4 January and 6 January from 10.00 to 14.00. Fallkulla's Café Kilikuppila is closed during the holidays and will reopen in March.
On New Year's Eve, 31 December, several youth centres around the city invite young people to get together. Maunula Youth Centre is open on New Year's Eve from 12.00 to 18.00. Malmi Youth Centre hosts a New Year's party for early adolescents from 14.00 to 18.00. The Kallahti, Pihlajanmäki and Myllypuro youth centres are open on New Year's Eve from 18.00 to midnight. Pukinmäki Youth Centre hosts a New Year's party for young people from 19.00 to 1.00.
At Tiivistämö in Suvilahti, DJ Sateenkaarivelho hosts SÄILIÖ Junior, a special party for the little ones, on New Year's Eve from 18.00 to 20.00. Admission to the party is free.
Films for the whole family and Lux Helsinki experiences at cultural centres
Helsinki's cultural centres also offer cultural experiences around the holidays. The whole family can enjoy free holiday film screenings at Malmitalo on Tuesday 30 December and Friday 2 January. Kino Helios will also be showing films with an admission fee from 2 January onwards. Behind Malmitalo, you can visit the Mun Malmi photo exhibition, which pays tribute to the diversity of Malmi. Meanwhile, Vuotalo’s gallery is hosting a group exhibition curated by Yasmin Ibrahim on the themes of light and memory,
The Lux Helsinki light art festival, starting on Epiphany, fills Kanneltalo and Annantalo with light and experiences from Tuesday 6 January to Sunday 11 January. The gallery at Kanneltalo will feature two works of art that play with light, sound and glass. In the art workshop, you can create your own light art piece and project it in the lobby of Kanneltalo. The courtyard of Annantalo will feature a light installation consisting of narrative animations, while indoors, Annantalo will host Lux-themed workshops and multisensory experiences. Annantalo’s Café Napero will be open throughout the festival. Both Kanneltalo and Annantalo have exceptional opening hours during the festival week, which you can find on the cultural centres’ websites.
Cultural centres also have other exceptions to their opening hours during the Christmas and New Year holidays. Malmitalo, Maunula House, Stoa and Vuotalo are closed from Wednesday 24 to Friday 26 December and on Thursday 1 January and Tuesday 6 January. Kanneltalo is closed from Wednesday 24 to Friday 26 December and on Tuesday 1 January. Annantalo closes for Christmas from Sunday 21 December onwards. Cultural Centre Caisa is closed from Sunday 21 December to Tuesday 6 January.
Free admission to Stefan Bremer's photo exhibition on Boxing Day
Helsinki City Museum, Villa Hakasalmi and Burgher's House Museum are closed on 24–25 December and 1 January. On Boxing Day and New Year's Eve, you can visit the museums from 11.00 to 17.00. Villa Hakasalmi has free admission on Friday 26 December, offering visitors the chance to view Stefan Bremer's popular Helsinki by Night photography exhibition free of charge.
