Outdoor activities in the capital
Whether you are out and about on foot or by bicycle, the metropolitan area offers fantastic opportunities for outdoor activities throughout the year.
There are 490 kilometres of recreation trails in Helsinki alone. In order to ensure the future of the trails, a comprehensive regional master plan for recreational trails has been drawn up for the entire metropolitan area.
Conveniently in the city
The maritime scenery of Töölönlahti and Kaivopuisto right in the centre of the capital is an all-year favourite among outdoor enthusiasts. The green parks of the city are great places for jogging and Nordic walking.
Seurasaari is another unique recreational area. The island is full of criss-crossing walkways and footpaths and in winter one can go ice swimming.
A quarter of an hour's drive away from the centre of Helsinki is the Paloheinä Outdoor Centre, which during the summer serves as a sawdust running track and as a skiing centre in the winter. You can reach it conveniently by bus.
The bike paths in the Metropolitan Area are clearly marked with signs and road markings. By following the signs, you may choose your own bike and roller-skating route or follow home district routes drawn up by the City Planning Department.
Experiences in surrounding regions
If the overtly urban environment is not to your liking, the Nuuksio National Park, just a thirty-minute drive from the centre of Helsinki, is a piece of untouched wilderness right beside a big city. According to the seasons, the forests of Nuuksio are frequented by hikers, campers, berry and mushroom pickers, as well as skiers.
Luukki recreational area, a thirty-minute drive from Helsinki off Vihdintie, offers an excellent environment for outdoor activities. In the summer, nearby lakes with clean waters invite bathers in for a swim.
In the winter, many of the municipalities in the Metropolitan Area provide ice trails for Nordic skating. Well-maintained trails of differing lengths can be found, for example, from Hietalahti, Puotila in East Helsinki, and Laajalahti and Suvisaaristo in Espoo.
Links:
Outdoor map of Helsinki Metropolitan Area
Text: Minna Rauhansalo
Photo: Helsingin kaupunki
Töölö sports hall
