The City has spaces for a wide variety of uses, and organisations, associations and other operators can book them for regular weekly activities. Even unregistered groups may book the City’s facilities for organisational and civic activities.
Spaces for hobby group meetings — from gyms to studios and from craft workshops to theatre facilities
The application period for seasonal bookings in Varaamo includes around 250 spaces in over 60 locations around the city. These include spaces at youth centres, Helsinki’s community houses, and some schools and playgrounds in Western Helsinki.
Youth centres house multifunctional spaces, meeting rooms, craft and art spaces, studios, kitchen premises, halls and sports facilities for a wide range of recreational and other activities. Schools’ classrooms and canteens, and playgrounds’ and community houses' living-room-like spaces with kitchens are also ideal for hobby group meetings and other group activities.
You can check the priority groups, the criteria for free use of the spaces and the fees for use in Varaamo during the application period.
Apply for a seasonal booking easily in Varaamo
The application period for the seasonal booking of youth centres, Helsinki’s community houses and the schools and playgrounds of Western Helsinki for autumn 2025 and spring 2026 starts on Thursday 3 April 2025 at 9:00 and ends on Wednesday 30 April 2025 at 16:00.
Apply for a seasonal booking easily in Varaamo at varaamo.hel.fi. To access the service, you need to identify yourself with your online banking credentials or mobile certificate. To make a booking, you must accept the terms of agreement for booking the City of Helsinki’s spaces and equipment. The applicant and the person in charge of the use of the space must be 18 or older.
You can submit all your seasonal booking requests with a single application. By indicating multiple spaces and time slots, you will improve your chances of getting the spaces and times you want. Please read the application instructions in Varaamo before applying.
The staff at each location are happy to provide more information about the spaces available for booking and help with any questions you may have about applying. The City will inform the applicants of the decisions by the end of May 2025.
School facilities also bookable in Timmi, school gyms and other indoor sports facilities at liikuntakauppa.hel.fi
You can also book school classrooms, dining halls and assembly halls via the Timmi system. The application period for seasonal bookings in 2025–2026 will start in the Timmi system on Thursday 3 April 2025 at 9:00 and end on Wednesday 30 April 2025 at 16:00. Please check the application instructions and the rates for the evening and leisure use of the Education Division’s facilities before applying.
You can apply for the use of school gyms and other indoor sports facilities in the 2025–2026 winter season at liikuntakauppa.hel.fi. The deadline for applications for the indoor facilities of Sports Services is Tuesday 15 April 2025 at 16:00. Please check the price list and application instructions for Sports Services facilities before applying.
