The Theatre Museum

Kaapelitehdas (Cable factory), Tallberginkatu 1 G.

Exhibitions open: Tue–Sun 12–19, Mon closed.

Exhibitions devoted to Finnish theatre and magic. Children can also borrow the costumes and wear them in their own stage productions.

Finnish Museum of Natural History

Pohjoinen Rautatiekatu 13. Open: Mon-Fri 9-17. Sat-Sun 11-16.

Finnish and foreign mammals, birds and fishes in natural environments. The Zoological Museum, part of the Finnish Museum of Natural History, has by far the largest animal collection, containing about 8 million items. Every year the collections increase by tens of thousands of specimens. Special children’s events and exhibits

Dance Theatre Hurjaruuth

Kaapelitehdas (Cable factory)

Tallberginkatu 1 A.

A dynamic dance theatre company - founded in 1981. Hurjaruuth has its own studio at Cable factory.

Vihreä Omena (Green Apple) Puppet Theatre

Eläintarhan huvila 7,

09-701 2483, 09-712 818, Fax 09-712 818.

Finland's oldest professional puppet theatre. telephone for times and performances.

Korkeasaari Zoo,

tel. 169 5969

Special admission rates for children, families, seniors.

May-Sept. daily 10-8;Oct.-Feb. daily 10-4;March, April: daily 10-6..

Korkeasaari is an island, which you can reach by water bus from Hakaniemi and the Market Square in May-September or across the bridge at any time of the year.

Take bus 16 to Kulosaari and walk just over a mile. During the summer season, there is a special "zoo bus", which runs from Kulosaari right to the gate of Korkeasaari.

The zoo on the island of Korkeasaari is mainly inhabited by northern species of animals, but it also has the "mini rain forest" Amazonia and Feline House, with creatures from warmer climates than Finland

Korkeasaari, when it opened in 1884, was the first park in Helsinki where anyone, regardless of rank or wealth, was welcome. With the sea all around, it also offered more freedom and open spaces than the parks in the city.

Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma

Mannerheiminaukio 2

00100 Helsinki

Open Tue 9.00 – 17.00Wed - Sun 10 – 22Mon closed

Admission: charged; children under 18 free.

As an architectural creation, Kiasma is exciting. Its creator Steven Holl envisioned it as a structure of intersecting arcs, which would dovetail with the urban structure of the city as well as with the natural environment of the park landscape surrounding Töölönlahti Bay.

The Arctic light was one of Holl’s main sources of inspiration. The light enters the Kiasma building from different sides and at a variety of angles. As the planet rotates and the hours pass, there is constant variation in the influx of light and the effect it creates.

Children have their own center in Kiasma.. There is also a workshop, where courses are arranged. In Kiasma’s philosophy, works of art can be interpreted in more than one correct way, and exploration is encouraged.

Heureka, Finnish Science Centre

Tiedepuisto 1, Tikkurila town centre, Vantaa

There is a good commuter train service between Helsinki and Tikkurila station, which is close to Heureka.

Small children are well provided for. There are special rides for them and a separate area called Satulaakso ("Fairy Tale Valley") with a children’s theater.

Heureka Science Centre

The exhibitions at the Heureka Science Centre are designed for the "hands-on" visitor participation.. The whole idea is to touch things, move them and find out how they work. The basic exhibition presents science from a somewhat different than usual angle. Heureka is entertaining and informative for the whole family. There are frequent changing exhibitions on many subjects. The Verne Theatre presents movies on science-related themes.

Linnanmäki Amusement Park,

Tivolikuja.

Open from the beginning of May to the end of August.

The cliffs of Linnanmäki have been a popular playground for many generations of Helsinki children. Now the amusement park has a museum dedicated to toys and games. It is open all year round.

The Linnanmäki amusement park is a favorite with children and adults alike. The fun begins at the end of April and continues in full swing until the beginning of September. When Linnanmäki opens its gates, everyone in Helsinki knows that summer has arrived!

Water slides, gaming arcade, roller coaster, the Octopus, the Space Shot, the Enterprise, the Rainbow and the Flying Carpet are a few of the favorites.

Linnanmäki has its own theatre, the Peacock, which produces a new revue every summer. Finnish celebrities, current phenomena and, of course, politicians become the subjects of merciless satire

Hundreds of Finnish and international artistes perform on the outdoor stage at Linnanmäki each season: pop singers, acrobats, dancers, magicians and jugglers.