On 23 December 2021, the Regional State Administrative Agency for Southern Finland decided on new guidelines restricting cultural and leisure services. As a result, indoor sports facilities and swimming pools managed by the City of Helsinki are closed from 28 December 2021 to 11 January 2022 to all but those under the age of 18 participating in supervised recreational activities.
There will be no performances or other public events between 28 December and 17 January in cultural centres, libraries, youth centres and museums. Libraries, museums, youth centres and gallery facilities in cultural centres are open to all ages. The current decisions have been taken to contain the spread of the coronavirus.
Swimming pools and indoor sports facilities closed from 28 December 2021 to 10 January 2022
Of the sports services managed by the City of Helsinki, the closure concerns indoor sports facilities and swimming pools. However, in line with Helsinki’s “children and young people first” principle, decisions do not apply to those born in 2004 and younger (aged 18 and under). Therefore, supervised recreational activities for children and young people, such as swimming school groups, will continue to operate. Indoors, young people aged 16-18 are required to have a COVID-19 passport.
Indoor sports facilities also allow the training of professional athletes of all ages as well as matches, competitions and tournaments that are part of professional sports, without the presence of an audience. Young people aged 16–18 in professional sports are not required to have a COVID-19 passport indoors, unlike their peers.
Kela rehabilitation customers are also entitled to use the services of swimming pools and indoor sports facilities.
The validity of multi-visit cards and monthly pass cards for customers of indoor sports facilities in the City of Helsinki will be extended by as many days as the closure period prevents the use of the cards.
Outdoor sports facilities available for all ages
Artificial ice, artificial turf fields and other outdoor sports facilities are open to all. However, outdoors and in changing rooms, it is important to remember to keep adequate safe distances and avoid congestion.
Libraries open to all ages
Libraries are open as usual, but do not organise public events or activities such as author visits or supervised activities for people over the age of 18 or families. Day care and school groups can visit the libraries.
In Helsinki, you can visit five libraries during the Christmas holidays. On Christmas Eve, the Kallio and Rikhardinkatu libraries are open 10:00–16:00. The Laajasalo, Lauttasaari and Viikki libraries can be used independently on public holidays. You can access self-service libraries with a library card and PIN code.
Opening
hours of self-service libraries:
Laajasalo 24–26 December 10:00–18:00
Lauttasaari 25–26 December 12:00–18:00
Viikki 25–26 December 10:00–18:00
Christmas and New Year opening hours in HelMet libraries(Link leads to external service)
Museums open to all ages
Helsinki City Museum, Burgher’s House and HAM Helsinki Art Museum will open their doors to visitors after the Christmas holidays, HAM already on Boxing Day 26 December and the Helsinki City Museum and the Burgher’s House on 27 December.
We will limit the museum's customer numbers to ensure health safety. In addition, we also require a COVID-19 passport from those over 16-years-old and above.
Helsinki City Museum and Burgher’s House will be open on New Year's Eve 31 December from 11:00–15:00 and HAM from 11:30–17:00. On New Year's Day 1 January, the museums are closed. On Epiphany 6 January, the museums are open.
There will be no events, guided tours or workshops in the museums between 28 December 2021 and 17 January 2022.
Youth centres continue to operate as usual
Youth centres are open as usual for young people of all ages. There will be no performances, events or other public events in the youth centres between 28 December 2021 and 17 January 2022.
Youth centres will be open after the Christmas holidays. During the Christmas holidays, places such as the Jakomäki Youth Centre and the Tattarisuo Engine Workshop are open. Opening hours of all youth centres in Helsinki can be found at:
nuorten.helsinki/en/things-to-do-and-places/our-places/(Link leads to external service)
Cultural centres open for limited hours
There are no performances in the cultural centres between 28 December and 17 January. There will only be supervised recreational activities for people born in 2004 and younger (aged 18 and under), not for family groups. Indoors, young people aged 16-18 are required to have a COVID-19 passport. Gallery facilities in cultural centres are open to all ages.
General health safety instructions still in place
In all indoor facilities of the City of Helsinki, it is recommended that people over 12 years of age wear a face mask, unless they cannot do so for health-related reasons. In addition, good hand hygiene and sufficient distance from others must be ensured indoors.
Additional information
Helsinki
– coronavirus updates