Entry must take place Mon-Fri between 11.00 and 15.00, and after entry you may stay in the hall for the normal swimming time, which is two hours. Regular customers can make their visits easier by procuring a customer card, which can be topped up with the free swimming privileges for one year at a time. The first time that you top up the card, you are required to present an identity document (passport, ID card or driving licence), Kela card or reception centre client card to verify your age.
A requested reform
The City Council decided on free swimming for older people when it approved the new Helsinki City Strategy. "Free swimming is one of the many measures that the City of Helsinki is taking to reduce wellbeing inequalities and promote physically active lifestyles. Free swimming for older people has been requested for a long time. Hopefully this will encourage not only the existing customer of swimming halls to swim more, but also new people to take up swimming,” says Deputy Mayor for Culture and Leisure Paavo Arhinmäki.
Free swimming hours at four swimming halls
The City's own swimming halls at which older people can now more easily enjoy the benefits of aquatic exercise are the Itäkeskus, Jakomäki, Pirkkola and Yrjönkatu swimming halls.
At Yrjönkatu Swimming Hall, free swimming is only available on the 1st floor of the hall and the benefit available to men and women on alternating days of the week. Yrjönkatu Swimming Hall has been under renovation since January 2024 and is expected to reopen in early 2026.
At Jakomäki Swimming Hall, free swimming is limited on weekdays at 11.00–15.00, as the hall is used for swimming lessons for schoolchildren on weekdays.
At Itäkeskus, Pirkkola and Jakomäki swimming halls, customers also have the option of using the gym during their two-hour visit.
Free swimming is not available at Helsinki's outdoor swimming pools, sports halls and Urheiluhallit Oy's swimming halls.
