Best Museums for kids in Helsinki

Shazzer · Post by **Shazzer** » Sat Jun 12, 2010 11:23 am

Our 4-year old loves the Natural History Museum here in Helsinki! It's been recently renovated and refurbished and we think it's simply world class!

We've been there 4 times already and would love to explore other museums here with our child especially during those wet and cold days. Going to the National Museum today. Would appreciate it if you could recommend some museums which would be of interest for the whole family esp the young one. Thank you!

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Pursuivant · Post by **Pursuivant** » Sat Jun 12, 2010 12:00 pm

Heureka (its right close to tikkurila train station) has a lot of "hands-on" stuff.

Shazzer · Post by **Shazzer** » Sat Jun 12, 2010 12:22 pm

Thanks Pursuivant! Yes, Heureka is another firm favourite! Sea Life is also on our favourites list.

BTW, has anyone been to the Botanical Gardens?

Rosamunda · Post by **Rosamunda** » Sat Jun 12, 2010 3:46 pm

Shazzer wrote:
BTW, has anyone been to the Botanical Gardens?

Which one? There are several. From a kids point of view the tropical house at Korkeasaari is probably more fun. The University Botanical Gardens are lovely, a fabulous place to walk around if you are into plants and gardening but I'm not sure if a child would be really interested.

Mine (boys) liked the Mannerheim museum. We had a great guide (very child-friendly) and there is a ton if stuff crammed into his house. But other kids might find it boring. it isn't a hands on place, more of a traditional museum with things Mannerheim brought back from his expedition through Asia, his medals, his office etc. The guide had my kids well and truly captivated, it made all the difference (but they were older maybe 8-12 yrs when we went). Good place to go in winter (all indoors).

There is a submarine on Suomenlinna which is worth a visit. Also a toy museum (mine were interested but only for 20-30 mins max). There is also an artillery museum (DH did that one) and all the underground passages, canons etc. Can easily spend a day there.

The School Museum is very small but primary school kids find it quite fun. Good guides (again) - most school kids go there at least once during their primary years. It's probably more fun to do it with a class of kids since the guides dress up and act as teachers, all the girls have to wear aprons and then there is a roll call and clean hands and fingernails inspection. Anyone messing around gets put in the corner with a dunce cap

In Espoo WeeGee talo houses EMMA (modern art - which most kids find fun cause it's big and weird), also the clock museum and the Rautavaara collection of African and Indian artefacts. And there are some interesting temporary exhibitions (we did one on hats a year or so ago). All in the one building.

Espoo also has a cool automobile museum. Very down-key place run by an enthusiastic bunch of loony amateur car enthusiasts. My boys loved it and have been several times. I seem to remember there is a bus that goes out that way (up towards Bodom lake I think).

One of mine likes rocks, so we did the University museum (just off Senate square) which has a great geological collection (as well as other stuff - laboratories etc).

I guess it depends on what your children enjoy. Any museum can be fun on a good day, they can all be boring on a bad one

Shazzer · Post by **Shazzer** » Sat Jun 12, 2010 6:43 pm

Thanks a bunch Penelope! Where is the University Botanical Gardens you mentioned? Is this the one by Töölönlahti in Hakaniemi? Will definitely take a look at the museums you mentioned. The Mannerheim Museum sounds very interesting!

Today was our lucky day bcos it's Helsinki Day and it was free entrance into all museums in the city! The National Museum turned out to be brilliant for our young one who enjoyed the Ancient Costumes and Clothings made of animal hides, the knights armours, grandfather clocks and wooden chests. Best of all on the topmost floor is a playroom for kids complete with a life-sized plastic horse which the child could mount and ride and of course all the other things to play.

Pursuivant · Post by **Pursuivant** » Sat Jun 12, 2010 8:54 pm

Funky stuff is also in the Tennispalatsi "Kulttuurien Museo" depending though what theme is on.

CH · Post by CH » Sat Jun 12, 2010 9:09 pm

penelope wrote: In Espoo WeeGee talo houses EMMA (modern art - which most kids find fun cause it's big and weird), also the clock museum and the Rautavaara collection of African and Indian artefacts. And there are some interesting temporary exhibitions (we did one on hats a year or so ago). All in the one building.

The WeeGee has also the toy museum. It's not a big exhibition, but about the right size for a child not to get bored.

This year they have as a special exhibition space toys (lots of Star Wars toys).

In WeeGee there is also the Espoo City museum, which shows the history of Espoo. Again, not big, but just the right size for kids. Don't miss the mammoth tooth which was found in Espoo!

We were there today, and I thought it was a very nice museum to visit. Lots of different museums to just pop in, and a nice café to sit down in between museums.

Rip · Post by **Rip** » Sun Jun 13, 2010 9:05 am

Technical museum? (so long time since my last visit that I do not dare to actually recommend)

Had great visit yesterday to the Erottaja rescue station yesterday (Helsinki day) The smallish fire museum (open usually on Sundays 12-16 from in September-May) was OK as such (old fire engines and smaller stuff), but as this was an open air day it was possible (when they were not needed for actual missions) also to climb up to the modern fire trucks and to enjoy the best views of Helsinki (that I know) from the top of the tower.

http://www.hel.fi/hki/pela/fi/Pelastusl ... /Palomuseo
http://www.hel.fi/wps/portal/Pelastusla ... t/Erottaja

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