Helsinki now has nearly 20 winter swimming places. However, not everyone looking to enjoy winter swimming has been able to find a place or join a winter swimming club, as many clubs have maxed out their membership capacity.
The City of Helsinki does not maintain winter swimming places but leases them out to winter swimming clubs. For the coming winter swimming seasons, the City of Helsinki and Helsinki-based winter swimming clubs are renewing their lease agreements in order for more people to be able to enjoy winter swimming. In the new winter swimming place lease agreement, winter swimming opportunities will be increased by means such as enabling clubs to increase their membership capacity. Additionally, Munkkiniemen Avantouimarit will provide winter swimming sessions for a one-off fee from November onwards, on Wednesdays at 10.00–13.00 and Mondays at 16.00–20.00. The one-off winter swimming session fee in Munkkiniemi is €5.
“These new winter swimming place lease agreements will enable us to bring this hobby to even more people. Winter swimming has been constantly gaining popularity, as evidenced by indicators such as the numerous winter swimming proposals submitted to the City’s participatory budgeting system, OmaStadi. We have been collaborating with clubs to come up with solutions for increasing Helsinki residents’ winter swimming opportunities. Expanding the clubs’ membership capacity and providing swimming sessions for a one-off fee are two concrete examples,” explains Team Leader Jukka Lundgren from the City of Helsinki’s Sports Services.
Winter swimming for a one-off fee in other locations as well
Five new winter swimming places were opened in Helsinki in the previous winter swimming season. The winter swimming places of Aurinkolahti, Iso Kallahti, Kruunuvuorenranta, Vartiokylänranta and Sarvasto will provide winter swimming sessions for a one-off fee at least for the winter swimming season of 2023–2024.
Winter swimming places in Helsinki
- Aurinkolahti winter swimming spot (The link leads to an external service)(Link leads to external service)
- Iso Kallahti winter swimming spot (The link leads to an external service)(Link leads to external service)
- Katajanokka winter swimming place (The link leads to an external service)(Link leads to external service)
- Kruunuvuorenranta winter swimming spot (The link leads to an external service)(Link leads to external service)
- Marjaniemi winter swimming spot (The link leads to an external service)(Link leads to external service)
- Munkkiniemi winter swimming place (The link leads to an external service)(Link leads to external service)
- Ourit winter swimming place (The link leads to an external service)(Link leads to external service)
- Pikkukoski winter swimming place (The link leads to an external service)(Link leads to external service)
- Rajasaari winter swimming spot (The link leads to an external service)(Link leads to external service)
- Rastila winter swimming spot (The link leads to an external service)(Link leads to external service)
- Sarvasto harbour winter swimming spot (The link leads to an external service)(Link leads to external service)
- Seurasaari winter swimming spot (The link leads to an external service)(Link leads to external service)
- Soutustadion winter swimming spot (The link leads to an external service)(Link leads to external service)
- Tuorinniemi winter swimming spot (The link leads to an external service)(Link leads to external service)
- Uunisaari winter swimming spot (The link leads to an external service)(Link leads to external service)
- Vartiokylä winter swimming spot (The link leads to an external service)(Link leads to external service)
- Vaskiniemi winter swimming spot (The link leads to an external service)(Link leads to external service)
- Veijarivuori park winter swimming spot (The link leads to an external service)(Link leads to external service)
The winter swimming place links will take you to the Service Map, which shows the location of the place and the contact information of the operator maintaining the place. The winter swimming places have varying services; some also have a sauna. The most basic winter swimming places include a warm changing area, a hole in the ice and stairs that lead into the water.
