Helsinki kids can get close to animals all year: bears seen through glass on a zoo island, sharks swimming over a tunnel, sheep in a winter barn and reindeer taking lichen from small hands. The farms keep native Finnish breeds and traditional domestic animals, and some are free to walk into. Here's what we checked, from Korkeasaari Zoo to the reindeer park in Nuuksio.
Korkeasaari Zoo sits on its own island in the Baltic Sea, linked to the mainland by three bridges, and is home to more than 150 animal species. Indoor stops include the tropical house Amazonia and the Bear Castle, whose picnic room looks straight into the bear enclosure. Paved, hilly paths lead past Finnish forest animals such as reindeer, and grill huts with charcoal let families cook their own lunch.
An indoor aquarium beside the Linnanmäki amusement park. The biggest tank holds 250,000 liters, with an underwater tunnel through it where blacktip reef sharks and snapper swim overhead. Other zones hold rays, a coral reef with clownfish, rainforest piranhas and seahorses.
Staff run feedings through the day, and at the Discovery Pool kids can touch sea urchins with staff. A small play corner by the ocean tank suits toddlers.
Haltiala Farm is a working farm with pastures along the river, reopened in June 2026 under new owners. The petting zoo keeps native Finncattle, Finnsheep, Finngoats and Finnish Landrace chickens, plus alpacas, ponies and summer pigs.
Paid extras include pony rides, a pedal car track, 18-hole minigolf, a trampoline park, a treasure hunt and electric ATVs for kids. A café, pizzeria, waffle shack and burger truck share the courtyard.
A fenced forest park of about 2 hectares inside Nuuksio National Park, home to a herd of 11 reindeer, including Helmi, a rare white reindeer, and two calves born in spring 2026.
Kids feed the reindeer lichen from a terrace while a guide talks about their lives, then warm up with campfire coffee, tea or juice and a cinnamon bun in a traditional Lappish kota hut.
Fallkulla is a city-run farm on the northern edge of Malmi where families can meet traditional domestic animals: sheep, goats, cattle, hens, rabbits and horses. There is a riding arena next to the horse paddocks, and the farm has its own café, Kahvila Kilikuppila.
Helsinki's youth services run the farm, so older kids can come back for hands-on animal-care sessions, courses, small groups and camps.
Helsinki kids can get close to animals all year: bears seen through glass on a zoo island, sharks swimming over a tunnel, sheep in a winter barn and reindeer taking lichen from small hands. The farms keep native Finnish breeds and traditional domestic animals, and some are free to walk into. Here's what we checked, from Korkeasaari Zoo to the reindeer park in Nuuksio.
Korkeasaari Zoo sits on its own island in the Baltic Sea, linked to the mainland by three bridges, and is home to more than 150 animal species. Indoor stops include the tropical house Amazonia and the Bear Castle, whose picnic room looks straight into the bear enclosure. Paved, hilly paths lead past Finnish forest animals such as reindeer, and grill huts with charcoal let families cook their own lunch.
An indoor aquarium beside the Linnanmäki amusement park. The biggest tank holds 250,000 liters, with an underwater tunnel through it where blacktip reef sharks and snapper swim overhead. Other zones hold rays, a coral reef with clownfish, rainforest piranhas and seahorses.
Staff run feedings through the day, and at the Discovery Pool kids can touch sea urchins with staff. A small play corner by the ocean tank suits toddlers.
Haltiala Farm is a working farm with pastures along the river, reopened in June 2026 under new owners. The petting zoo keeps native Finncattle, Finnsheep, Finngoats and Finnish Landrace chickens, plus alpacas, ponies and summer pigs.
Paid extras include pony rides, a pedal car track, 18-hole minigolf, a trampoline park, a treasure hunt and electric ATVs for kids. A café, pizzeria, waffle shack and burger truck share the courtyard.
A fenced forest park of about 2 hectares inside Nuuksio National Park, home to a herd of 11 reindeer, including Helmi, a rare white reindeer, and two calves born in spring 2026.
Kids feed the reindeer lichen from a terrace while a guide talks about their lives, then warm up with campfire coffee, tea or juice and a cinnamon bun in a traditional Lappish kota hut.
Fallkulla is a city-run farm on the northern edge of Malmi where families can meet traditional domestic animals: sheep, goats, cattle, hens, rabbits and horses. There is a riding arena next to the horse paddocks, and the farm has its own café, Kahvila Kilikuppila.
Helsinki's youth services run the farm, so older kids can come back for hands-on animal-care sessions, courses, small groups and camps.
