The city of Helsinki’s sports department operates four swimming halls year-round. There are also outdoor pools for refreshing relaxation during the hot summers. These public swimming pools are open to residents as well as tourists. Each swimming hall has something that makes it unique. Below are brief overviews of each swimming hall and their regular hours of operation. Yrjönkatu Swimming Hall Opened in 1928, Yrjönkatu Swimming Hall was Finland’s first public indoor pool. The building [...]

Go-karting is a wonderful way of enjoying competitive racing on a small budget, meeting friends and having a lot of fun.  Helsinki has several recreation centers that offer guests the chance to race go-karts with their friends and family. Go-kart amusement centers usually allow guests to rent the go-karts for varying lengths of time instead of charging them for individual races. Like almost anything else that charges for admission, group rates are usually cheaper than [...]

Warm summer days are perfect for exploring Eastern Helsinki’s waterways. Calm waters and numerous resting places provide a wonderful kayaking or canoeing experience, even for beginners. Anyone interested in a water-fueled adventure should stop by Finland’s premier kayak rental company and lesson provider, Natura Viva Vuosaari Paddling Center. A leading travel advice website ranks the Vuosaari Paddling Center’s kayak tour of Helsinki as the city’s number one attraction. This three-hour guided trip leads paddlers through [...]

Extreme sports enthusiasts and thrill seekers alike love skydiving. Experienced skydivers claim there is nothing that can compare to the rush of a brief free-fall or the beauty of a controlled descent. Skydiving is much safer than most people think, with a fatality rate of around one in 10,000. To put the numbers into perspective, the odds of dying in a car crash are closer to one in 1,000. People who want to skydive in [...]

It is possible to experience all of the fun that winter has to offer without ever leaving Helsinki. Unique Lapland is an indoor sports hall that is filled with artificial snow and ice. The temperature inside Unique Lapland is always just under freezing; ensuring guests will enjoy a wonderful, chilly adventure. Unique Lapland’s visitors can test their winter driving skills with snowmobiles or experience thrills with the facility’s toboggans. Guests who love animals will love [...]

Tomorrow on January 30, 2012, starts the ticket sales for one of the most awaited sports events of this year, the Ice Hockey World Championship 2012. As Finland won the championship last year, half of the preliminary games, the semi-finals, and the medal games will be played in Hartwall Arena, Helsinki. Sweden, who lost the final game in 2011, will host the other half of the preliminary games. The preliminary games will take place on May [...]

Exercise is one of the best ways to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Helsinki has many gyms and fitness centers to help residents and visitors stay active. Some of Helsinki’s gyms can only be used by members, but others are open to the public. In addition to the gyms listed below, some of Helsinki’s swimming halls and parks offer weightlifting rooms or gyms. Swimming Stadium, Liikuntamylly Gym, Maunula Sports Hall and Pirkkola Sports Park are a [...]

Ice swimming, or avantouinti, is an extreme sport, enjoyed only by Helsinki’s bravest locals and tourists. Ice swimming is believed to rejuvenate the body, improve circulation and lower stress. If nothing else, visitors who plunge into frigid water after spending time in a hot sauna are guaranteed a memorable experience. Ice swimming may not be for everyone, but those who wish to try it have several options to choose from while visiting Helsinki. Kuusijärvi Recreation [...]

Experience the winter in Helsinki on ice skates! This weekend an ice rink with artificial ice was opened on the square next to the Helsinki Central Railway Station. The ice park will be open until late March. The entrance fee allows you to skate for the whole day and if you don’t own skates, they can be rented from the ticket office for a small fee. Helmets and ice sleds are loaned free of charge. [...]