Accessible activities in Helsinki: 7 must-dos
Accessible activities in Helsinki offer lots to see and experience for all tastes and needs of people with reduced mobility. Thanks to the compact size of the city, many of the sights can be taken in even during a short stay, while there’s also plenty to do for longer visits. Here are 7 accessible activities that wheelchair users highly recommend.
1. Temppeliaukio Rock Church
Let’s get started with the accessible activities in Helsinki list! Excavated out of solid granite, Temppeliaukio Rock Church is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Helsinki thanks to its stunning architecture and acoustics. The church is fully accessible, and the entrance is on the same level as the church floor. There is also an accessible WC. The church is situated 1.5 kilometres from the Central Railway Station, and you can get all the way to the front door by taxi. The nearest tram stop is around a hundred metres away, but there is quite a climb up the hill to get to the church.
2. Helsinki Central Library Oodi
Helsinki’s central library opened to the public in 2018 and is well worth a visit, even if you aren’t interested in borrowing books. Oodi has been designed as a “living meeting place” that houses not only books but also a café, a restaurant, art and lots of different workspaces. Each of its three floors has its own character, and the building as a whole is an architectural work of art. The design plays with all kinds of levels and steps, but also with ramps. Several accessible WCs can be found inside the building. From the top floor you can enjoy beautiful views over the city and to Parliament House across the street.
Adventure awaits
Wheels off
3. Old Market Hall
The atmosphere inside the Old Market Hall next to the Market Square is always delightful. The indoor market hall has served customers since 1889 and today sells the finest cheeses, meats, vegetables and sweet treats too. There are several cafés where you can sit and enjoy the food. The hall is accessible and there is an accessible WC. At the same time you can visit the Market Square, although the cobblestones can make it tricky for wheelchairs and mobility scooters. From the Market Square you can admire Uspenski Cathedral, the Presidential Palace and the Allas Sea Pool.
4. Mall of Tripla
There are numerous malls that make perfect destinations as fully accessible activities in Helsinki, especially on rainy days. They also house many great cafés and restaurants, as well as a whole range of other services. My personal favourite is the Mall of Tripla in Pasila.
The biggest shopping centre in the entire Nordic region, Tripla has lots of shops and restaurants, a hotel, a cinema, the Music Museum Fame and lots more. One of the unique offerings at Tripla is Surf House Helsinki, where the temperature is a steady +27C all year round. It’s fun to watch the surfers riding the waves while enjoying a drink at the beach bar. Tripla is connected to Pasila train station, making it easy to get to by commuter train from the city centre.
5. Helsinki City Museum
On the corner of Senate Square in the oldest quarter of Helsinki you will find the Helsinki City Museum, which is conveniently located for a shorter or longer visit while sightseeing in the centre of town. The fully accessible museum presents the history of Helsinki and everyday life in the nation’s capital, and admission is always free of charge. The museum can be highly recommended for visitors of all ages, and kids will love the Children’s Town interactive exhibition. It’s easy to get around the museum with a wheelchair or mobility scooter, and there is also an accessible WC.
Opposite the museum you can admire the impressive white Helsinki Cathedral. Helsinki has many other museums that are also fully accessible. Within a kilometre’s radius of the city centre you will find, for example, the Ateneum Art Museum, the Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma, Amos Rex and the Helsinki Art Museum HAM.
6. Teurastamo
Next on the accessible activities list is Teurastamo. Teurastamo is a former abattoir that has been transformed into a centre of urban and food culture. There are several restaurants to choose from, and in summertime the courtyard is filled with terraces and various events. The courtyard is open to the public, and you can even grill there. The area is flat, and you can get there accessibly by metro to the nearby Kalasatama metro station.
7. Accessible guided tours
Happy Guide Helsinki offers accessible guided tours by minibus or public transport. The majority of the sightseeing buses are accessible. There is space downstairs for a wheelchair or mobility scooter, and the door has a ramp. Sightseeing buses make great accessible activities, and are a convenient way of getting an overall picture of the city, as well as getting from one attraction to the next.
