Pia’s Guide to Fun
Local Espoo Fun
You can walk over to the nearby golf course and shoot a bucket of range balls (and enjoy a break at the nice club restaurant called Vista). There is a lit bike/walk path around the golf course. In the winter there is a city maintained cross-country ski track around the golf course - and an ice skating rink between it and the local schools.
Tapiola Golf
17 TurveradantieYou can walk over to the nearby golf course and shoot a bucket of range balls (and enjoy a break at the nice club restaurant called Vista). There is a lit bike/walk path around the golf course. In the winter there is a city maintained cross-country ski track around the golf course - and an ice skating rink between it and the local schools.
Small local beach, a bit more secluded than some of the bigger ones like Westend Beach.
Karhusaaren uimaranta
3 KarhusaarenpihaSmall local beach, a bit more secluded than some of the bigger ones like Westend Beach.
Hikes and nice views, some sausage grilling spots, within about 20 minute drive for nature lovers.
150 kohalikku soovitavad
Nuuksio Rahvuspark
84 NuuksiontieHikes and nice views, some sausage grilling spots, within about 20 minute drive for nature lovers.
Large indoor shopping mall with eateries. Two other similar shopping malls are Ainoa and Sello.
66 kohalikku soovitavad
Iso Omena
Large indoor shopping mall with eateries. Two other similar shopping malls are Ainoa and Sello.
Beatiful coastal area about 40 minutes away by the ocean. There are easy hikes starting from few km loops by the ocean. There are also firepits along the hiking routes so bring your own makkara (sausage), sinappi (mustard) and matches.
12 kohalikku soovitavad
Porkkalanniemen virkistysalue
2 OmsatuntieBeatiful coastal area about 40 minutes away by the ocean. There are easy hikes starting from few km loops by the ocean. There are also firepits along the hiking routes so bring your own makkara (sausage), sinappi (mustard) and matches.
Sightseeing
Take the city/public ferry (same cost as any bus/metro) from far end of Helsinki market place (look where the locals go) to the great fortress island, Suomenlinna. Pick up a picnic ingredients from the market place merchants, don't forget fresh peas on the pod, and head over for a nice walk, swim or picnic with a view.
430 kohalikku soovitavad
Suomenlinna
Take the city/public ferry (same cost as any bus/metro) from far end of Helsinki market place (look where the locals go) to the great fortress island, Suomenlinna. Pick up a picnic ingredients from the market place merchants, don't forget fresh peas on the pod, and head over for a nice walk, swim or picnic with a view.
a fabulous outdoor museum which offers guided tours in English to give insight to Finnish history and way of life
174 kohalikku soovitavad
Seurasaari
15 Seurasaarentiea fabulous outdoor museum which offers guided tours in English to give insight to Finnish history and way of life
The National Museum of Finland
34 MannerheimintieThe national museum
Great place to buy a snack of fresh snap peas or strawberries or fresh ingredients for cooking. You can also taste fried "muikku", an excellent little fish you eat whole. You can take the public ferry (same cost as local bus) to Suomenlinna at the far end of the market or book a sighseeing boat tour.
125 kohalikku soovitavad
Kauppatori
EtelärantaGreat place to buy a snack of fresh snap peas or strawberries or fresh ingredients for cooking. You can also taste fried "muikku", an excellent little fish you eat whole. You can take the public ferry (same cost as local bus) to Suomenlinna at the far end of the market or book a sighseeing boat tour.
Museum of modern art right in downtown Helsinki
384 kohalikku soovitavad
Kaasaegse Kunsti Muuseum Kiasma
2 MannerheiminaukioMuseum of modern art right in downtown Helsinki
Not promoting any particular company but there are many nice cruises that take off from Kauppatori (Market Place) to enjoy the Helsinki archipelago and get a different view of the city and its neighborhoods e.g. Suomenlinna. For example the "canal" tour that circles Laajasalo is nice.
Note that there are boat tours out of Nokkala in Espoo also.
Stromma - Helsinki Sightseeing by boat
EteläesplanadiNot promoting any particular company but there are many nice cruises that take off from Kauppatori (Market Place) to enjoy the Helsinki archipelago and get a different view of the city and its neighborhoods e.g. Suomenlinna. For example the "canal" tour that circles Laajasalo is nice.
Note that there are boat tours out of Nokkala in Espoo also.
Fun Activity
A fantastic large trampoline park that allows you to do tricks never allowed in the US at least...
9 kohalikku soovitavad
Rush Helsinki
25 ValimotieA fantastic large trampoline park that allows you to do tricks never allowed in the US at least...
Great waterpark with slides for kids and/or quasi "wakeboarding" for more serious athletes https://laguuniin.fi/en/
8 kohalikku soovitavad
Laguuni
8 KeilalahdentieGreat waterpark with slides for kids and/or quasi "wakeboarding" for more serious athletes https://laguuniin.fi/en/
Fun escape room game - different levels offer fun for the whole family. We did the level 2 Orient Express train themed game with a bunch of 11 year olds - it wouldn't have been too easy for adults either.
Trap Factory - Escape Room Espoossa
6 D MetallimiehenkujaFun escape room game - different levels offer fun for the whole family. We did the level 2 Orient Express train themed game with a bunch of 11 year olds - it wouldn't have been too easy for adults either.
Seikkailupuisto Huippu
15 Vanha maantieA fun treetop zipline park for the whole family.
The Zoo is a fun place to visit with kids. If you go, make it more fun by taking the ferry from the market place vs just driving up to it.
108 kohalikku soovitavad
Helsingi loomaaed
12 MustikkamaanpolkuThe Zoo is a fun place to visit with kids. If you go, make it more fun by taking the ferry from the market place vs just driving up to it.
For hot summer days, outdoor water park about 30 minute drive away
18 kohalikku soovitavad
Serena veepark
10 TornimäentieFor hot summer days, outdoor water park about 30 minute drive away
Small downhill ski place with affordable rates and rentals about 25 minute drive away - easy to pop over for an evening ski.
7 kohalikku soovitavad
Peuramaa Ski Oy
114 PeuramaantieSmall downhill ski place with affordable rates and rentals about 25 minute drive away - easy to pop over for an evening ski.
Free iceskating rink with skate rental and a cafe. (There is an ice skating rink close to the house too if you have your own skates.=
Tapiolan jääpuutarha
KirkkopolkuFree iceskating rink with skate rental and a cafe. (There is an ice skating rink close to the house too if you have your own skates.=
Food/Drink scene
A popular local Espoo restaurant/coffee shop with a patio by the ocean about 15 minutes away. There is also an ice cream stand outside.
18 kohalikku soovitavad
Nokkalan Majakka
2 NokkalanniemiA popular local Espoo restaurant/coffee shop with a patio by the ocean about 15 minutes away. There is also an ice cream stand outside.
Local pizzeria... you can order online and have free delivery (need to create a login for this) or walk 5 minutes to pick a pizza (or kebab etc) up. Don't forget to ask for "oregano" on top of your European style thin pizza.
Pizzataxim
2-4 MankkaantieLocal pizzeria... you can order online and have free delivery (need to create a login for this) or walk 5 minutes to pick a pizza (or kebab etc) up. Don't forget to ask for "oregano" on top of your European style thin pizza.
Ravintola Vista / TAGi
215 HirsalantieThe local golf course restaurant with surprisingly nice entrees.
a "gastro pub" in Otaniemi Espoo by the Aalto University... my husband had fried cochroaches (!) as an appetizer which he surprisinglly liked
Fat Lizard Brewing Company
3 Lämpömiehenkujaa "gastro pub" in Otaniemi Espoo by the Aalto University... my husband had fried cochroaches (!) as an appetizer which he surprisinglly liked
A convenient (and popular/busy) outdoor coffee shop by the Sibelius monument in Helsinki. In the winter there is a bonfire and you can buy sausages (makkara) to grill from the cafe.
225 kohalikku soovitavad
Regatta
8 MerikannontieA convenient (and popular/busy) outdoor coffee shop by the Sibelius monument in Helsinki. In the winter there is a bonfire and you can buy sausages (makkara) to grill from the cafe.
A great tiny bar (often crowded) on top of the tower hotel in downtown Helsinki. Nice views even from the women's bathroom.
40 kohalikku soovitavad
Ateljee Bar
26 YrjönkatuA great tiny bar (often crowded) on top of the tower hotel in downtown Helsinki. Nice views even from the women's bathroom.
A popular ocean side bar in Hernesaari, Helsinki with a unique side offering: sauna you can book for 2 hours. It is public/co-ed (so you wear a swim suit unlike private saunas) and you can go for a dip in the ocean and sun tan on the deck if good weather. Then go sip an Aperol Spritz on the bar side.
322 kohalikku soovitavad
Löyly Helsinki
4 HernesaarenrantaA popular ocean side bar in Hernesaari, Helsinki with a unique side offering: sauna you can book for 2 hours. It is public/co-ed (so you wear a swim suit unlike private saunas) and you can go for a dip in the ocean and sun tan on the deck if good weather. Then go sip an Aperol Spritz on the bar side.
SpåraKOFF
17 MikonkatuSee the sights on a moving pub.