The rich nature of the Helsinki Metropolitan Area and its diverse habitats provide a setting for a wide range of excursions. Held between April and November, the nature excursions teach about the values of local nature and encourage trips to the nature sites of the neighbouring cities as well. The knowledgeable guides will familiarise attendees with new nature reserves, the range of species and nature services.
The nature excursion calendar teaches about moving about responsibly in nature and provides information about concrete actions to benefit biodiversity. The sites are easy to reach by public transport for both guided and independent excursions. On a guided excursion, you may even find company for nature activities.
Bird-themed excursions, family excursions and wellbeing from nature
Spring is an opportune time to start a birdwatching hobby. This year, the nature excursion calendar features a particularly wide range of birdwatching trips. The excursions will involve birdwatching by protected bird wetlands, in the local nature and in an urban environment in Kauniainen, as well as in Kallio and at the Market Square in Helsinki.
Many sites provide family excursions catering specifically to children. Adventures are provided on Harakka Island in Helsinki, Villa Elfvik in Espoo provides exciting bug trips and a fairy school, and the Finnish Nature Centre Haltia takes visitors on a nature trail in its surroundings to spot flying squirrels. A Bug Safari event will be held in Kauniainen, and schoolchildren can have a digital herbarium trip in Espoo. To celebrate Mother’s Day, you can take a trip to the Koivuhaka arboretum in Vantaa and to the Mustavuori grove in Helsinki.
Biodiversity forms the basis of our wellbeing. The 2025 excursions will take attendees to see new nature reserves, such as those in Vaskivuori, Vantaa and Tali, Helsinki. Two new wellbeing-themed forest excursions have been added to the selection provided by Kauniainen. An excursion to the Olari health nature trail will also be available in Espoo, and visitors to Haltia will have an opportunity to recharge their brains on a wellbeing trip in nature. Vantaa invites visitors to come and refresh themselves on local nature hikes.
No park walks will be held in Helsinki this year. The excursion selection features six nomenclature walks as part of the Nomenclature Committee of Helsinki’s 80th anniversary celebration programme. The nomenclature walks focusing on place names in suburban areas will involve hearing and sharing stories about places and their names.
Basics of the trips featured in the nature excursion calendar
- The excursions are free of charge.
- If the excursion involves a connection boat trip, the participants must pay for the trip themselves.
- A few special excursions require advance registration, but most excursions can be attended without registration.
- The guided excursions are primarily in Finnish, but some excursions have a Swedish-speaking guide as well.
- You can find more extensive advance information about the excursions in the electronic excursion notifications of the municipalities and the Finnish Nature Centre Haltia.
- Taking part in the excursions does not require athleticism; a normal physical condition will suffice.
- The family excursions cater to children specifically. Some of the excursions are also accessible.
The printed nature excursion calendar is available at the libraries, customer service points and nature houses of Helsinki, Espoo, Kauniainen and Vantaa, as well as the Finnish Nature Centre Haltia, in early April at the latest. The calendar has already been published as a PDF file on the websites of the Cities and Haltia.
The Cities of the Helsinki Metropolitan Area – Espoo, Helsinki, Kauniainen and Vantaa – have been providing their residents with free-of-charge guided nature excursions for more than 30 years. This year, the Cities will jointly collect feedback on the excursions to develop their nature excursion operations and communication.
