Helsinki's playgrounds offer free-of-charge activities for families with children all over the city.
In summer, Helsinki’s playgrounds are full of activity.
Holidaying children and families gather at their local playgrounds for a shared lunch or go on excursions to playgrounds around Helsinki they have not visited before.
In Helsinki, a playground means a park that has a yard area with play equipment and a building with indoor facilities for play and childcare. In the event of rain or if you need shelter from the sun, you can continue playing indoors.
The indoor facilities of playgrounds are open on from Monday to Friday from 9.00 to 17.00. Children can always play in the yard even when the playground building is closed.
Playgrounds have trained instructors who organise and supervise activities. In the summer, playgrounds offer a wide range of activities for children of all ages, day camps for schoolchildren and, of course, the much-loved and appreciated playground summer meals, free of charge.
Summer meals make it easier for many families in Helsinki to provide food for their children during the summer holidays. This summer, free lunch will be served to children under 16 in all open playgrounds at 12.00 noon from Monday to Friday between 1 June and 7 August 2026.
Children should bring their own utensils, meaning a plate, mug and spoon. Water will be served as a beverage with the meals.
Having children eat a hot lunch at the playground provides the parents with a solution to a challenge families with children face on holiday – what shall we do with the children in Helsinki today?
Most of the playground activities in Helsinki are in Finnish, but a few organise fun activities also in Swedish between 1 and 18 June!
Playground Lahnalahti in Lauttasaari, Playground Seppä in Punavuori, Playground Ruoholahti and Playground Taivallahti in Töölö will offer sessions in Swedish that feature play, music, crafts, nursery rhymes, exercise, and singing.
See the details for the sessions in Swedish on the playgrounds’ summer website under section “Swedish playground activities in summer 2026”.
The paddling pools that are found in many Helsinki playgrounds are especially popular with older children. The playgrounds have water toys, and some playgrounds offer activities such as water aerobics that are suitable for children. All you need is your own swimsuit!
The paddling pools are supervised by playground staff during opening hours, but children under school age or who are unable to swim must always have an adult at the pool to keep them safe. The water in the pools is changed a couple of times a week.
Younger children may be shy about going in the paddling pools. Luckily many playgrounds also offer other water activities that are more suitable for younger children, such as pools or canals where they can float boats and rubber ducks.
In the summer, playgrounds also offer the chance to let loose a bit. Many parks around the city will be hosting foam parties once again this summer!
Despite the special summer activities, many of the so-called winter season favourites are also part of the summer programme. For example, some playgrounds organise baby dates in the summer, which are important for many families with babies.
You can find out more about the playgrounds' weekly programme either on the playgrounds’ own web pages or in the Helsinki events calendar(Link leads to external service). For more information about your local playground's summer programme, contact the playground staff.
The last summer activity day for playgrounds in 2026 is Friday 7 August.
During the summer, did you get an idea of what you would like to do at the playground in the autumn? You can share your ideas directly with the staff of your local playground during August or by responding to the playgrounds’ summer activity feedback survey.
Many playgrounds will be closed on either 10 or 11 August. This is when the playgrounds hold development days to start planning their autumn programmes. After-school clubs start on 12 August.
The autumn programmes of playgrounds start on the week commencing 24 August. The autumn programme includes morning activity sessions for families with babies and children, playground club activities as well as Café Tänään Tavataan and KOTIVA club activities that support integration into Finland.