Harakka Nature Centre operates in historical premises on the lovely island of Harakka, which has an unparalleled richness of vegetation and birds. At just a stone's throw away from Kaivopuisto, you are by the open sea, in the delicate nature of the archipelago.
We organise free nature tours, island adventures and public events during the summer season. The Nature Centre's facilities and exhibitions offer a great setting for visiting the island and getting to know the archipelago's nature. Some of the exhibition spaces are not fully accessible.
Contact information
The Harakka Nature Centre is open from May to the end of September from Tuesday to Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed on Mondays and Midsummer).
Harakka Nature Centre
+358 9 310 31535, +358 9 310 32056
Harakka Nature Centre
+358 9 310 31535, +358 9 310 32056
Harakka Nature Centre facilities and opening hours
The facilities of the Nature Centre are open from the beginning of May to the end of September from Tuesday to Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed on Mondays). The Nature Centre is closed during Midsummer 21 June–23 June 2024. Admission to the Nature Centre’s facilities is free.
Open the map brochure and contact information (pdf)
The heart of Harakka Nature Centre is the Nature House in an old renovated garrison building. Come and explore the Nature House's renewed archipelago nature exhibition and borrow research equipment for your excursion on the island. The Nature House is open to all, including during Nature School days.
Classes visiting the Harakka Nature School use the Nature House as a base camp for learning. Visit the Nature House and learn about the organisms in water samples. In the afternoons and weekends, microscopes are not in use by the Nature School. The Nature House has a lot of interesting things to explore for visitors of all ages. Plants of the island are also often on display.
The Harakka Nature Centre's office is located in the Nature House. When the staff of the Nature Centre is not guiding groups, you can usually find the employees near the Nature House.
The Nature House does not have a café. You can eat your own food at the groups of tables in front of the Nature House.
Fairy tale house Vellamo is a marine fairytale world, aimed especially for children. In Vellamo, you can get to know the life and experiences of the Baltic Sea through play. Dress up in sea creatures' costumes, stop by the sand goby's nest, colour photos of different species and rest for a moment by reading the books in the fairytale house. You can eat under the shelter of Vellamo’s porch.
Vellamo is open according to the Nature Centre's opening hours, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
From the bird hide, you can observe the life in the surrounding water area. The bird hide is located right on the edge of the nature reserve, and is also a good observation spot for birdwatching in the spring. In the bird hide, there are information boards presenting the species in the area.
You can also visit the bird hide outside the Nature Centre's opening hours.
There is a photo exhibition in the Harakka bunker building: Harakka – Onnellisten saari (The Island of the Happy). The photo exhibition tells the colourful history of the Finnish Defence Forces' chemistry laboratory on the island. On top of the bunker, there is a birdwatching and landscape platform, which opens up a beautiful view of the sea and the surrounding archipelago. The platform is accessed by stairs.
You can also visit the bunker and birdwatching platform outside the Nature Centre's opening hours.
The Harakka campfire site is part of the facilities of the Nature Centre. You can heat your own food by the fire. Bring your own wood to the campfire site and take care when putting the fire out. Please carefully clean up after yourself and take your rubbish with you to the mainland.
Making a fire is strictly prohibited during forest and grass fire warnings. Check any active warnings in advance on the Finnish Meteorological Institute's website(Link leads to external service).
Please note that the nesting season of the birds continues intensely until Midsummer. Mother birds with nests near the campfire site must also be left in peace. You can ask the staff of the Nature Centre for more information on the use of the campfire site.
The casemates on the embankments of the island of Harakka are former ammunition warehouses. Some of the casemates are occasionally used as exhibition spaces for Harakka’s artists. Casemate III is a tunnel with a permanent photo exhibition by Visa Hietalahti, Meren sisäiset maisemat (Landscapes in the Sea).
Note! Casemate III is currently closed for safety reasons during the lighting renovation. Normally, casemate III is open according to the Nature Centre's opening hours, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The brackish aquariums in aquarium shed display the life of algae zones – fish, algae and crustaceans. The fish in the Gulf of Finland are also presented as life-size models. You can try angling with a fish game – which species did you catch? Aquarium shed is open according to the Nature Centre's opening hours, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
During the spring season, aquarium shed often opens slightly later than the other facilities of the Nature Centre, as the brackish water aquariums are remade every spring.
A photo exhibition has been set up at the beach shelter next to the Harakka pier. The photographs tell about Harakka’s history, nature and the activities of the Nature Centre.
The beach shelter is also open outside the Nature Centre's opening hours.
Harakka is a nesting island for birds
During the bird nesting period 1.4.–15.8. Harakka’s southern end is closed. The nature reserve is marked off by a rope. During the nesting season, the birds defend their nests and young. Move around the island calmly and only along marked trails. From time to time, parts of the island's routes are closed and marked off with tape. You can talk to the staff of the Nature House in May–June before touring the island. In July, the mother birds are calm as their offspring have left the nest.
Activities open for everyone organised by the Nature Centre 2024
The trips and events of the Harakka Nature Centre are open to everyone and free of charge. Trips and events do not require registration unless this is specifically mentioned. By favouring MobilePay during public events, you can make connection boat(Link leads to external service) traffic to the islands smoother.
The Island Adventure tours introduce you to the archipelago nature through experience and exploration. The adventures are aimed at children aged 4–10 years in the company of adults. The island adventure tours start from the Harakka island pier area when the ferry arrives at Harakka.
Note that there are trails and cliffs on the island. Strollers can only be used in a very limited part of the island. If necessary, the ferry driver will help lift a stroller aboard. The language of the island adventure tours is Finnish. No registeration. There is no cafe in Harakka, remember to bring your own snacks and a water bottle.
Island Adventure Days 2024
- Sun 2.6. midday–2 p.m. Children's Island Adventure
- Sun 16.6. midday–2 p.m. Children's Island Adventure
- Sun 30.6. midday–2 p.m. Children's Island Adventure
- Sun 14.7. midday–2 p.m. Children's Island Adventure
- Sun 28.7. midday–2 p.m. Children's Island Adventure
- Sun 11.8. midday–2 p.m. Children's Island Adventure
- Sun 25.8. midday–2 p.m. Children's Island Adventure
The tours start from the Harakka island pier area when the ferry arrives at Harakka. The language of the nature tours is Finnish.
Guided nature tours 2024 (Coming soon)
The Harakka Nature Centre is also open on weekends. The guide working on Sundays takes visitors around the island. The guide will tell you about the nature on the island of Harakka, the activities of the Nature Centre and give you tips for hiking and exploring the island's nature. The language of the island tour is Finnish.
- The Sunday tour lasts one hour and you do not need to register for it.
- The guided tour starts in front of the Nature House at around 3 p.m., when the ferry arrives at the island.
- Sunday guided tour is not organised during Midsummer when the nature center is closed.
- Children's archipelago nature camp for 9–13-year-olds 23–26.7.2024, from Tuesday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The language of the camp is Finnish. Camp information: pekka.paaer@hel.fi(Link opens default mail program) Registration: harrastukset.hel.fi
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Baltic Sea camp for general upper secondary school students 29.7.–2.8.2024 Registration: asta.ekman@hel.fi(Link opens default mail program)
Camp information is published on this page annually in the spring, usually in April.
Public events 2024
- Mon 12.6. 2 p.m.–6 p.m. Helsinki Day nature and art event. Organised by Harakka Nature Centre and artists. Free ferry connection for the duration of the event. The event is free of charge.
- Sun 1.9. noon–4 p.m. Fish day for the whole family. Come and learn about fish species, fishing gear and fish handling, not forgetting the tastings. The event is free of charge.
You can order a guided tour, activities for a recreation day or an island adventure guided tour for children's birthdays. Here you will find the contact details of the paid excursion organisers. See also the free services provided to daycare centres and schools in Helsinki.
Nature trips
During the excursions, you will learn about the island's plants, birds and history. The content of the trip can be customised according to the wishes of the group. Orders: tel. 040 719 1908, info@yrjola.fi(Link opens default mail program), www.yrjola.fi(Link leads to external service) .
Well-being trips
Suitable for a workplace recreation day, for example. Enquiries: katja@retkeilykeskeisyys.fi(Link opens default mail program).
Island adventures
The tours introduce you to the archipelago nature through experience and exploration. Aimed at children aged 4–10 years in the company of adults. Suitable for children's birthdays, for example. Orders: tel. 040 719 1908, info@yrjola.fi(Link opens default mail program), www.yrjola.fi(Link leads to external service).
Excursions in Swedish
Swedish-speaking groups who want to come on an excursion to the island of Harakka can book a Swedish-language theme day. Further information and booking: Naturskolan Uttern, nature school teacher Pia Bäckman, tel. 040 462 9947, naturskolanuttern@naturochmiljo.fi(Link opens default mail program).
Learn more about Harakka as a nature trip destination
Welcome to the island of Harakka! Read more about the nature and routes of Harakka on the island’s webpage.
Nature Centre on social media
We update our social media accounts especially during the operating period. Follow the topical issues of the island's nature and the Nature Centre on social media.
Harakka Nature Centre on Instagram(Link leads to external service)
Harakka Nature Centre on Facebook(Link leads to external service)
The route to the main entrance
- The route to the entrance is guided, rough and narrow.
- There is a steep slope on the passage.
- The passage has at least 4 steps.
The main entrance
- The entrance stands out clearly.
- In connection with the entrance, there are at least 4 turning steps with handrails on both sides.
- The doors connected to the entrance stand out clearly. Outside the door there is sufficient room for moving e.g. with a wheelchair. The door opens easily manually.
- The entrance has thresholds over 2 cm high.
In the facility
- The customer service point is located on the entrance floor.
- The facility has thresholds over 2 cm high.
- The indoor walkways have 1 step.
- The doors in the facility are hard to perceive.
- The facility has an accessible toilet.