What does Harakka offer?
Harakka island is located near Kaivopuisto, approximately 5 minutes away from the mainland by sea.
Waterway transport connections
Harakka island has a waterway transport connection during the summer season from the Ullanlinna pier, next to the café Ursula (Ehrenströmintie 3). The ferry runs from April to October. The operator is Merenkävijät(Link leads to external service)By favouring MobilePay during public events, you can make connection boat traffic to the islands smoother.
The ferry is not accessible. If necessary, the driver can help to lift a stroller aboard. Raise the white wood signal at the pier 5 minutes before the scheduled departure time.
Visitors’ marina and mooring points
Harakka does not have a visitors’ marina, and you cannot travel to the island using your own boat.
Harakka island trails
There is a route of approximately one kilometre in length around the island of Harakka. The route includes a sandy beach path for part of the journey, where you can also use a stroller. A longer part of the route runs on the cliffs and is more difficult to navigate. The part of the route running on the cliffs on the west side of the island is not suitable for a stroller or wheelchair.
Parts of the route and the central part of the island are occasionally closed during the nesting season of the birds. You can talk to the staff of the Nature House in May–June before touring the island and ask for route recommendations. In July, the mother birds are calm as their offspring have left the nest.
Harakka trails, location on map(Link leads to external service)
Harakka island nature trails in the mobile guide
There is a mobile map of the nature trail that circles Harakka island, as well as the Harakka geological trail. The geological trail extends to the nature reserve at the southern tip of Harakka and is only accessible after the birds’ nesting season, starting on 15 August.
Harakka nature trails in the Citynature mobile nature guide(Link leads to external service)
Fire place
The Harakka campfire site is part of the facilities of the Nature Centre. You can heat up your own food by the fire. Bring your own wood to the campfire site. Please carefully clean up after yourself and take your rubbish with you back to the mainland.
Making a fire is strictly prohibited during forest and grass fire warnings. Check any active warnings in advance on the Finnish Meteorological Institute's website(Link leads to external service).
Please note that the nesting season of the birds continues until Midsummer. Mother birds with nests near the campfire site must also be left in peace. You can ask the staff of the Nature Centre for more information on the use of the campfire site.
The campfire site is located on the west side of the island, quite close to the bunker building and birdwatching platform.
There is no café on Harakka
Harakka is a picnic site. The island offers stunning seascapes and picnic spots, as well as groups of tables for enjoying snacks. Please clean up your rubbish carefully and take it back with you to the mainland. We recommend that you pack your meals in boxes and bottles at home to prevent waste.
The island does not have a café or kiosk. Pop-up cafés are occasionally held in connection with events. The nearest café is Café Ursula(Link leads to external service), located next to the departure point of the ferry, Ullanlinna pier. The Harakka ferry also goes to the island of Särkkä, where the summer restaurant Särkänlinna(Link leads to external service) operates.
Heating up food at the Nature House
The Nature House has a microwave, which is available during the Nature Centre's opening hours from Tuesday to Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. If necessary, do not hesitate to ask the staff of the Nature House for help.
Toilets
There are toilets next to the Harakka ferry pier. There is a ramp to the toilets and a diaper changing station in the larger toilet. There are also two outhouses in front of the Nature House.
Harakka Nature Centre
Harakka Nature Centre is the base camp for a trip to the island. Explore the Nature House's archipelago nature exhibition and borrow research equipment for your excursion. Identify the inhabitants of the brackish aquariums in Akvaariotalo and spend time playing in Satutalo Vellamo. The permanent exhibitions of the Harakka Nature Centre present underwater nature and the colourful history of the island.
The Harakka Nature Centre is open from May to the end of September from Tuesday to Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed on Mondays and Midsummer). Read more about the services on the Nature Centre’s webpage.
Guided tours and events
During summertime there are many guided tours and events on Harakka.
Guided tours and events in Harakka (tapahtumat.hel.fi, in Finnish)(Link leads to external service)
Birdwatching
There are few places where you can observe the life of birds and their young as closely as on the island of Harakka. In spring and summer, the sounds of birds dominate the soundscape of the island. You can borrow binoculars and bird identification materials from the Nature House for the duration of your excursion. Good birdwatching spots include the island's hide, birdwatching platform and sheepback cliffs.
There are an exceptionally large number of birds on the island. You can also see birds very close to the trails. The nests are fenced off to facilitate passing them by. During the nesting season, the birds defend their nests and young. Visitors should move around the island calmly and only along marked trails. From time to time, parts of the island's routes are closed and marked off with tape due to nesting.
You can talk to the staff of the Nature House particularly in May–June before touring the island. In July, fewer groups visit the island and the mother birds are also calmer as their offspring have left the nest.
Public beach
There is no public beach or shower on the island of Harakka. You can take a dip on the west side of the island, from the rocky beach next to the sheepback cliffs.
Harakka artists' community
There are artists' workspaces on the island of Harakka. You can see the artists’ changing exhibitions in Galleria Lennätin and, sometimes, in the former ammunition warehouses, in the casemates. Information on changing exhibitions can be found on the artists' website.
Harakka’s artists (harakka.fi)(Link leads to external service)
Helsinki City lends artist studios at the Harakka Island.
Harakka is a nesting island for birds
During the bird nesting period 1.4.–15.8. Harakka’s southern end is closed. The nature reserve is marked off by a rope. During the nesting season, the birds defend their nests and young. Move around the island calmly and only along marked trails. From time to time, parts of the island's routes are closed and marked off with tape. You can talk to the staff of the Nature House in May–June before touring the island. In July, the mother birds are calm as their offspring have left the nest.
Harakka Nature Centre
Harakka Nature Centre is the base camp for a trip to the island. Explore the Nature House's archipelago nature exhibition and borrow research equipment for your excursion. Identify the inhabitants of the brackish aquariums in Akvaariotalo and spend time playing in Satutalo Vellamo. The permanent exhibitions of the Harakka Nature Centre present underwater nature and the colourful history of the island.
The Harakka Nature Centre is open from May to the end of September from Tuesday to Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed on Mondays and Midsummer). Read more about the services on the Nature Centre’s webpage.
Harakka artists' community
There are artists' workspaces on the island of Harakka. You can see the artists’ changing exhibitions in Galleria Lennätin and, sometimes, in the former ammunition warehouses, in the casemates. Information on changing exhibitions can be found on the artists' website.
Harakka’s artists (harakka.fi)(Link leads to external service)
Helsinki City lends artist studios at the Harakka Island.
Artist Studios at Harakka Island
Meeting rooms and sauna
You can book the meeting rooms of the Artists’ House and a small sauna through Harakka's property maintenance. Ask about catering as well.
Harakka Kiinteistöhuolto Oy (in Finnish)(Link leads to external service)
Relative to its area, Harakka has greatest diversity of species of the Helsinki islands and many different habitats. You can walk by the sea on the sheepback cliffs and get to know the life in the cliff ponds and the seashore. Walk along the duckboards across the lush alder grove and explore the pond's micro-organisms and cattails. You can find slime molds on rotten wood and meet a grass snake on the rocks. In front of the Nature House, you can also hear a nightingale on a summer's day.
In terms of bird life and vegetation, the island's nature is an interesting mixture of native archipelago species and old synanthropic species. The island has been under the influence of human activity for at least 200 years, and different phases of history can be seen in the vegetation. The island is also home to some useful wild plants, such as horseradish. You will love visiting the magnificent rock formations, the variety of synanthropic plants and the large number of birds.
Nature on the island of Harakka
Harakka nature reserves
Approximately half of the area of Harakka is protected and there are four nature reserves on the island. In order to protect nature, the use of the areas has been restricted through statutory protection regulations.
Read more about the restrictions in the Rules and recommendations section.
Species observations in Harakka
The iNaturalist application allows you to easily record your species observations on your phone. The artificial intelligence and other application users can help you to identify the species. The confirmed observations are recorded at the Finnish Biodiversity Information Facility (FinBIF), where they serve researchers, authorities and nature enthusiasts.
Species observations in Harakka (inaturalist.laji.fi) (in Finnish)(Link leads to external service)
Species observations in Harakka (laji.fi/en)(Link leads to external service)
Harakka island nature reserves and regulations
In the nature reserves, everyman's rights are limited. Approximately half of the area of Harakka is protected and there are four nature reserves on the island: The field and meadow area of the northern part of Harakka, the embankment to the south of the Harakka Artists’ House, the coastal meadow of the southwestern part of Harakka and the southern tip of Harakka and Vanha-Räntty and the water area between them.
See the Harakka nature reserves and more information on the map (in Finnish)(Link leads to external service)
Please observe the following rules in all the nature reserves of Harakka
- Do not damage the plants, fungi or lichens.
- Do not disturb wildlife or damage nests.
- Do not let pets roam free. You cannot bring dogs to the island.
- No fire-making, barbecuing or camping.
- Do not litter.
- Only travel on marked trails.
Note when at the southern tip of Harakka and Vanha-Räntty, as well as the protected water areas between them
- Movement in the area is prohibited from 1 April to 15 August. From the east and northeast side, the restricted distance is 7 metres and elsewhere 25 metres from the beach.
- Outside the restriction period, i.e. from 16 August to 31 March, fishing is allowed
See all protection regulations for Harakka’s nature reserves
General rules
In all outdoor recreation areas, observe everyman’s rights and rules and move responsibly in nature:
The ferry to the island is not accessible. If necessary, the ferry driver will help to lift a baby stroller or a light wheelchair onto the ferry. There is an accessible toilet and a beach shelter next to the Harakka island waterway transport pier. The Akvaariotalo aquarium can be accessed by ramp. There is a small hill from the pier area to the Nature House. The entrance to the Nature House has several steps.
There is a sand path from the pier area to the Nature House and Satutalo Vellamo. The rest of the island has duckboards and cliffs. On the western shore of the island, the route runs on a cliff and is not suitable for people with difficulty walking, a stroller or a wheelchair. There are benches in the yard of the Nature House, in Satutalo Vellamo as well as in the bird hide and birdwatching platform. Similarly, the vantage point in the central part of the island has two benches.
Harakka’s services and routes on the map
You can circle Harakka by following the trail. Learn more about the services of the Harakka Nature Centre and stop by the hide and birdwatching platform.
Harakka is a nesting island for birds
During the bird nesting period 1.4.–15.8. Harakka’s southern end is closed. The nature reserve is marked off by a rope. During the nesting season, the birds defend their nests and young. Move around the island calmly and only along marked trails. From time to time, parts of the island's routes are closed and marked off with tape. You can talk to the staff of the Nature House in May–June before touring the island. In July, the mother birds are calm as their offspring have left the nest.
