Nature & Wildlife Areas in Helsinki
THE 10 BEST Helsinki Nature & Wildlife Areas
Nature & Wildlife Areas in Helsinki
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13 places sorted by traveller favourites
- Things to do ranked using Tripadvisor data including reviews, ratings, number of page views, and user location.
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Nature & Wildlife Areas • Scenic Walking Areas
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Nature & Wildlife Areas • Parks
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Nature & Wildlife Areas • Scenic Walking Areas
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Nature & Wildlife Areas • Hiking Trails
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National Parks • Nature & Wildlife Areas
Nature & Wildlife Areas • Parks
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Nature & Wildlife Areas • Scenic Walking Areas
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National Parks • Nature & Wildlife Areas
Historic Walking Areas • Islands
What travellers are saying
- Mikael FHelsinki, Finland31,139 contributionsThe Central Park of Helsinki is a huge 1000-hectare park, running ten kilometers from Töölönlahti Bay to Haltiala on the northern outskirts of the city. Actually, it is a forest for the most part.
The park offers excellent opportunities for outdoor sports and recreation. There is about a hundred kilometer of outdoor trails. It is easy to get lost. It is good to have some kind of navigation device with you.Written 2 June 2020This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Harri VKotka, Finland12 contributionsThis island is called Kuusisaari or Kuusiluoto, which is the official name. However, I like the name Kuusisaari more, because saari means an island and luoto means an islet. This is an island, not just an islet. I still admit that the name Kuusisaari is confusing, because there is another island named Kuusisaari in Helsinki, next to Seurasaari island.
There is a small dock in Kuusisaari, but it is easy to walk from the mainland to Kuusisaari. You have to follow the duckboards from Pornaistenniemi (Vanhankaupunginlahti) to Lammassaari island and further to Kuusisaari. This walking route is scenic and so is the island of Kuusisaari. It is an excellent place to watch views, have a picnic and take some photos. Kids also love sheep on the island. They are there until October.
It is a good idea to take your binoculars or telescope with you, because this is a great area to watch birds. But if you don't like bird watching, you can just walk, relax and admire the scenery. This is an excellent nature and wildlife area near the center of the capital.Written 2 November 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Mikael FHelsinki, Finland31,139 contributionsThe 3.3 km long trail starts and ends at the Maunula hiking lodge. From the lodge, you can find a cafe, a sauna, and picnic tables outside.
The trail shows you the picturesque and diverse nature of Helsinki's Central Park. There are 11 nature trail boards in the terrain, from which you can learn more about the plants and the animals.Written 2 June 2020This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - JariJKKouvola, Finland6,907 contributionsLammassaari Area is a marvelous recreation area with nice walking routes. I especially love wide, accessible duckboards (suitable for wheelchairs and baby buggies, too). They begin from Pornaistenniemi near Vanhankaupunginkoski and the museum of technology. These duckboards are almost one kilometer long. It is extremely relaxing to walk on them and watch beautiful views. These duckboards end to Lammasaari Island.
You find Lammassaari Bird Watching Tower, Lammassaari Bird Watching Platform (accessible), Lammassaari Bird Hide and the historical wooden building named Pohjolan Pirtti (built in 1905) on Lammassaari Island. There are also over 100 small summer cottages on the island. Lammassaari was already inhabited in the late 19th century and the workers of Helsinki used to do recreational trips to Lammassaari in large rowing boats. Most summer cottages have been built in the 1940's and in the 1950's. However, these summer cottages are private and you may not walk in their yards.
Lammassaari is an excellent birdwatching place. It provides good views of the bay's numerous waterfowl as well as the waders feeding in the coastal meadows. Lammassaari Tower is also ideal for observing grey herons nesting on the nearby Loppi island and the cattle grazing on the pastures. In winter it is possible to catch a glimpse of an eagle owl resting in one of the thick spruces.
Lammassaari means literally Sheep Island. That is very funny because there aren't any sheep on Lammassaari Island nowadays. However, there really are sheep on the neighboring island named Kuusisaari. You can walk to Kuusisaari along narrow duckboards from Lammassaari. Duckboards to Kuusisaari are not accessible with wheelchairs or baby buggies. Read separate Tripadvisor reviews about Kuusisaari.
Before you enter the start of Lammassaari duckboards it is possible to turn left and you find Pornaistenniemi nature trail named The Lap of Nature (Luonnon syli in Finnish). It is a short circle trail with picnic tables, a natural playground, a bird watching tower and an additional route with narrow duckboards to Pornaistenniemi Bird Hide.
I think that Lammassaari Area is the most exotic walking area in Helsinki. You definitely should visit here. Besides, it is totally free.Written 30 October 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - JariJKKouvola, Finland6,907 contributionsFastholma Bird Watching Tower (Fastholman lintutorni in Finnish) is situated in Herttoniemi. Notice that Fastholma Bird Watching Tower isn't the same bird watching place as Kivinokka Bird Watching Platform (Kivinokka Outdoor Recreation Area). Fastholma Bird Watching Tower is located two kilometers from Herttoniemi Metro Station. I recommend that you choose the walking route next to Saunalahti Bay (from Hiihtäjäntie Street). This route is very beautiful and so is the bird watching tower. There is a private house next to the tower. Don't disturb the private area, please. Follow the sign "Lintutorni". If you keep walking north towards Viikki Arboretum, you find several other bird watching towers, too.Written 26 October 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- JariJKKouvola, Finland6,907 contributionsViikki Arboretum (Viikin puulajipuisto in Finnish) was founded in 1969. The area of the arboretum is about 23 hectares. You find many different trees and bushes from all over the world there. Totally there are over 250 different taxa there. The arboretum is also a bird paradise and you find some bird watching towers there. There isn't any admission fee and the arboretum is open 24/7. So it is a popular recreation area. You find many beautiful walking routes and some picnic tables there but it isn't allowed to make any fire. It is also forbidden to take any parts of living trees. However, you may collect fallen leaves, acorns, cones etc. I love the arboretum but name plates of trees could be in better condition and there could be more information about trees, not just names on plaques.Written 28 October 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Allar AVantaa, Finland175 contributionsNature reserve with hiking trails and varied landscapes near the Vuosaari and Mellunmäki neighbourhoods in East Helsinki. Situated a few km from either of the eastern termini of the metro, a connecting bus (97/560 from Mellunmäki and 96/560 from Vuosaari) can bring you near the area.
Traffic is quite light compared to other nature reserves within the city. It is located right at the eastern border of the Helsinki urban area.
There are plenty of valuable environments, coniferous and deciduous forests, bogs and fields. At the eastern part of the area bordering the harbour, there is an old landfill site that is almost completely restaurated, and the 60m high artificial hill is now a recreational area, with excellent views and lots of rare plant and animal species. Definitely worth the climb (accessible only from the north side, marked route going some distance through the woods beginning from the parking lot along Niinisaarentie).Written 28 November 2018This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - JariJKKouvola, Finland6,907 contributionsHakala Bird Watching Tower and Hakala Bird Watching Platform are situated almost side by side in Hakalanniemi, Viikki Arboretum, Helsinki. There are also several other bird watching towers near Hakala Tower: Lammassaari Tower, Keinumäki Tower, Purolahti Tower and Fastholma Tower. This is the densest bird tower concentration in Finland - and it is situated less than ten kilometers from the city center of Helsinki. Besides, there are also bird watching platforms and bird hides in the area. So this area is a paradise for everyone who is interested in birdwatching. By the way, there are more bird watching towers per person in Finland than in any other country in the whole world. Hakala Bird Watching Tower was built in the 1980's and it is very popular. If you are not interested in birds, you may still use the tower as a sightseeing tower. It is free and it is open 24/7.Written 28 October 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- JariJKKouvola, Finland6,907 contributionsKeinumäki Bird Watching Tower is situated in Hakalanniemi, Viikki Arboretum. The tower has two floors and there is a picnic table next to the tower. This is a beautiful place and you have good opportunities to see many different bird species. There are also several other bird observation towers near Keinumäki Bird Watching Tower.Written 28 October 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- JariJKKouvola, Finland6,907 contributionsPurolahti Bird Watching Tower (Purolahden lintutorni in Finnish) is situated in Hakalanniemi, Vanhankaupunginlahti Nature Reserve, Helsinki. There are several bird watching towers and bird watching platforms in the area. Trails are very good for walking, jogging and biking. Besides, views are quite beautiful and there are tables for a picnic there. So it is easy to combine birdwatching with other activities there.Written 28 October 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Alina HCluj-Napoca, Romania14 contributionsResidential area and a construction site. Not for tourists, only if you're in passing . No attractions here, the Google maps is misleadingWritten 27 May 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
