You don’t have to leave the city to experience the wild side of Finland. Helsinki is one of the greenest capitals in the world, where national parks, quiet forests, wild islands, and scenic seaside trails are all just a bus or subway ride away. Whether you want to hike, swim, paddle, picnic, or just breathe in some pine-scented air, the city is packed with places to enjoy the outdoors year-round.
From kayaking between the islands to skating on frozen sea in winter, these are the best outdoor and nature activities in Helsinki.
Nuuksio National Park – Hiking Just Outside Helsinki
Just under an hour from central Helsinki, on the border of Espoo, lies Nuuksio National Park—a rugged patchwork of forested hills, rocky cliffs, and mirror-like ponds. Despite being Finland’s third-most-visited national park, Nuuksio still manages to feel wonderfully wild and peaceful, especially if you wander just a bit off the main routes.
Yes, the most popular trails like Haukankierros (4 km) and Korpinkierros (8 km) can get a little busy—at least by Finnish standards. That means you might occasionally see other people. But these well-marked routes remain excellent introductions to the Finnish outdoors, especially for beginners. They’re easy to follow, scenic in all seasons, and offer a comforting sense of structure for first-time hikers. Getting lost is highly unlikely.
Beyond hiking, Nuuksio has plenty to offer. You can join guided nature walks that focus on everything from birdwatching to mushroom and berry picking, or try your hand at wilderness skills. For those looking for a bit more adventure, it’s possible to rent kayaks, canoes, and mountain bikes in the area.
A perfect starting point for any visit is the Haltia Nature Centre, a striking wooden building at the edge of the park. Built entirely from Finnish timber, Haltia serves as an interactive introduction to the nature of all Finland’s national parks. Inside, you’ll find immersive exhibitions, panoramic views over the forest, and a cozy café that makes for a great pre- or post-hike stop. It’s also where you’ll find info on trails, rentals, and guided tours.
Sipoonkorpi – The Quieter National Park Next to Helsinki
On the northeastern edge of Helsinki, Sipoonkorpi National Park offers a quieter, wilder alternative to Nuuksio. The park’s trails are often blissfully empty, especially on weekdays. It’s the kind of place where you might walk for an hour and encounter nothing but the whisper of wind in the treetops and the occasional startled bird. If you’re looking for a peaceful forest experience just outside the city, this is it.
The easiest way to reach it is by bus via Kuusijärvi, a popular entry point known for its traditional smoke saunas—perfect for a post-hike ritual. Just a heads-up: the area around Kuusijärvi can be quite worn from heavy use, but the park’s most beautiful scenery awaits deeper in the forest, where peaceful trails wind through spruce woods and mossy hills.
Among the standout hikes is Kalkinpolttajanpolku (5 km), a scenic circular trail that takes you through hills, rocky outcrops, and dense spruce groves. In autumn, it’s an excellent place for mushroom picking—and there’s a well-equipped campfire site for roasting your findings (or just your sandwiches).
Another scenic route is the atmospheric nature trail that begins at the Byabäcken parking area on the northern edge of the park. As you step into the moss-covered groves, it feels like entering a fairytale forest.
Sipoonkorpi doesn’t have a flashy visitor center, but that’s part of its low-key appeal. It’s less polished, more untamed. You won’t find souvenir shops or guided tours on every corner—but you will find tranquil trails, clean air, and a real sense of escape. And yet, it’s all just a city bus ride away.
Eastern City Archipelago – Best Place to Kayak in Helsinki
Just off the coast of eastern Helsinki lies a string of green, rocky islands, scattered across the sea like nature’s stepping stones. This is the Eastern City Archipelago, a lesser-known but wonderfully accessible escape for anyone craving a bit of Baltic adventure.
Many of the islands here are public recreation spots—untamed enough to feel wild, yet equipped with essentials like fireplaces, compost toilets, and in some cases, even a shared public sauna. Islands like Malkasaari and Pikku Leikosaari are local favorites, perfect for a low-key picnic, a swim in the sea, or just a day of doing nothing much at all.
The best way to explore the area? By kayak, without question. Gliding between islands gives you a fresh perspective on the city and lets you discover quiet coves and hidden beaches you can’t reach on foot. If you don’t have your own gear, head to Natura Viva’s base in Vuosaari, where you can rent kayaks, SUP boards, or join one of their beginner-friendly guided tours. They’ll get you paddling safely—even if your only prior experience is balancing a coffee cup.
Though this part of Helsinki is just a metro ride from downtown, it feels a world away once you’re out on the water. Seagulls overhead, waves lapping at the rocks, pine trees leaning over silent shorelines—it’s hard to believe the city is still just behind you.
Kallahdenniemi – Tour Skating in Helsinki
When winter grips Helsinki and the sea lies still beneath a frozen shell, something magical happens along the Kallahdenniemi peninsula in Vuosaari. The coastline transforms into a vast, shimmering expanse of natural ice—smooth, silent, and stretching all the way to the horizon. Welcome to the world of tour skating, one of the most fun ways to embrace winter.
Kallahdenniemi is one of the best spots in the city for this otherworldly activity, especially for beginners. When conditions are right, the frozen sea here becomes a natural skating rink that feels at once wild and welcoming. With just a bit of gear and guidance, you can glide across the ice as the wind rushes past and the surface hums, cracks, and sings beneath your blades.
For first-timers, Helsingin Retkiluistelijat (The Helsinki Tour Skaters) offers guided skating tours, complete with safety instructions and rental equipment. No prior experience is needed—just a sense of balance and a taste for adventure. They’ll take you to safe areas and teach you how to read the ice, often stopping for a warm drink and a chat in the middle of this frozen seascape.
The feeling? Like flying, quietly, over a mirror. Like stepping out of the city and into a Nordic dreamscape where everything is blue, white, and wide open.
If you’re in Helsinki in winter and the conditions are right, don’t miss it. Skating on natural sea ice isn’t just a sport—it’s a state of mind.
Vanhankaupunginlahti – Birdwatching in Helsinki
Before Helsinki was Helsinki, it was here. The city’s original 1550 settlement stood at the mouth of the Vantaa River, in what is now the lush, wetland-rich area of Vanhankaupunginlahti Bay. The old town didn’t thrive—but nature certainly did. Today, the bay is one of the top urban birding destinations in all of Finland, with more than 300 bird species recorded and wild beauty just a tram ride from the city center.
The area is a paradise for walkers, photographers, and nature-lovers, with a mix of open meadows, dense woods, and winding boardwalks cutting through vast reed beds. The standout is the Lammassaari boardwalk, a raised, accessible trail that leads visitors over marshland to a small island dotted with traditional summer cottages. It’s peaceful, scenic, and occasionally feels like stepping into a Miyazaki film—especially when the mist rolls in.
Birdwatchers will find plenty of vantage points, including several bird towers, while plant enthusiasts can explore the Viikki Arboretum, home to over 400 species of trees and shrubs from around the world. It’s a pocket-sized forest of global proportions, with great views over the water.
And it’s not just a summer spot. In winter, the frozen wetlands are perfect for snowshoeing or a brisk walk, with snow-covered reeds rustling in the wind and the occasional fox trotting across the ice.
Vanhankaupunginlahti is proof that Helsinki wears its wild side well. Where else can you step off a tram and straight into a nature reserve with herons, hawks, and hares for company?
Vallisaari – Beautiful Island and Nature Escape in Helsinki
Just across a narrow 81-meter channel from the famous Suomenlinna island fortress lies its less known sibling, Vallisaari, an island that was a closed military zone for over a century—off-limits to civilians, dotted with bunkers, tunnels, and watch posts. Today, it has become one of Helsinki’s most intriguing nature escapes, where wildflowers grow through cracked stone walls and seabirds nest beside rusting fortifications.
Vallisaari is now a protected haven of biodiversity, home to rare plants, butterflies, and bats—not to mention a growing list of curious visitors drawn by the island’s haunting beauty and layered past. Trails wind through lush meadows and overgrown forests, past moss-covered bunkers, quiet ponds, and coastal cliffs with views that stretch to open sea.
One of the highlights is the Alexander’s Tour, a circular walking route that takes in many of the island’s best sights, including hidden military ruins and stunning lookouts. In summer, the island also hosts cultural events, including installations from the Helsinki Biennial, which blends contemporary art with the island’s natural and historical setting.
And don’t miss the show at Kustaanmiekka Strait, where massive cruise ships glide past so close you can almost touch them—an oddly meditative spectacle that draws plenty of onlookers to the island’s southern edge.
Ferries to Vallisaari depart from Helsinki’s Market Square between May and September, making it an easy half-day or full-day outing. There’s minimal infrastructure—no cars, few services—so bring water, wear good shoes, and let the island’s strange stillness and overgrown history do the rest.
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