Whether you're a student, a senior, or a family traveling with kids, this article is here to help you discover budget-friendly ways to explore destination Espoo. You'll find practical tips for experiencing culture, nature, and exciting activities. Let's dive into free-of-charge and affordable adventures that everyone can enjoy!
Find free-of-charge events and happenings at Visit Espoo Event Calendar
Budget-friendly Cultural Adventures
All year round
EMMA - Espoo Museum of Modern Art = The museum offers discounted tickets of 10€ to adults under 29 years old and free admission on Fridays between 15:00 and 19:00 (check for more info and updates on EMMA's website).
The Museum of Play - Leikki = Students and pensioners are offered a reduced ticket of 7€ to the museum. Children aged 2-17 years old have discounted tickets of 3€, and children under 2 years old are free of charge. The Museum of Play - Leikki offers free admission days every second Tuesday of the month (check the museum website for more info and updates).
WeeGee Exhibition Centre = is a home to EMMA - Espoo Museum of Modern Art, KAMU Espoo City Museum at WeeGee, Futuro house and Mauri Kunnas Exhibition. Visitors can purchase a combined ticket to all museums located in the building for 20€. Visitors between 18-29 years old, students, and pensioners are offered discounted tickets of 10€, and visitors under 18 years old are welcomed free of charge. Besides that, there is free admission on the first Friday of the month between 15:00-17:00 (January- April) and 15:00-19:00 (September to November). Note: check the Weegee's website for more information and updates.
KAMU at WeeGee = Students and pensioners can visit the museum with reduced-price tickets of 10€. Children under 18 years old visit free of charge.
Glims Farmstead Museum = Students and pensioners can visit the museum with reduced-price tickets of 3€. Tickets for groups of at least 10 people are 3€ per person. Children under 18 years old visit free of charge.
Sello (Music) Hall = In addition to plenty of free-of-charge events organized at Sello Hall, students, seniors, and children under 18 may purchase concert tickets at the lower prices indicated in the program. Groups of 10 or more people get a 10% discount.
Summer season
Archipelago Museum Pentala = The entrance to the island and main museum buildings are free of charge. However, Gurli's house can be visited only on guided tours at specified times. Students and pensioners can purchase tickets for a discounted price of 8€. Group tickets are 5€ per person for groups of at least 10 people. Children under 18 years old visit Gurli's house free of charge.
Budget-friendly Nature Adventures
All year round
Espoo Waterfront Walkway = is a 40 km long path along the Baltic Sea connecting Espoo with Helsinki on the east side and with the city of Kirkkonummi on the west. Everybody is welcome to enjoy all or part of the path by walking or cycling. The path takes visitors through different landscapes, from nature sites and forests, over cultural spots and liveable ports to cozy seaside Cafés and Restaurants.
Hiking trails in Nuuksio National Park = Finnish National Parks welcome everybody free of charge 365 days a year. You will find plenty of hiking trails, outdoor cooking areas, and breathtaking views to explore. Start by choosing the area to enter from, and then continue your hiking with the online trail map and descriptions.
Nature trails in Espoo = Although Espoo is the second biggest city in Finland, you may never have to go far to find nature trails and paths. Start by exploring 26 different ones and getting to know Espoo.
Nature House Vila Elfvik = offers free admission and plenty of free of charge and affordable guided tours and events related to Espoo's nature.
Finnish Nature Centre Haltia = To enter the main exhibition on Finnish nature, there are discounted tickets of 8,50€ for students, pensioners, and youth (7-17 years old), and families can purchase a family ticket of 26€ (including a maximum of 2x adults and 4 children). Entering the main exhibition is free of charge during specified hours during the Outdoor Saturday events.
Summer season
Public boats to Espoo islands = During the summer season, you can hop on public boats and explore five different Espoo islands. Students, seniors, and children (7-18 years old) travel for a discounted price 3,5€ / one-way ticket and 7€ / return ticket for scheduled routes from Otaniemi and Kivenlahti. For direct lines to Pentala island and Iso Vasikkasaari island, the discounted ticket is 3,5€ / return ticket.
Bike & Boat Archipelago Boat Line for (not only) cyclists = During July and August, but you can also enjoy a public boat ride along the Espoo Waterfront Walkway with stops in Otaniemi, Nokkala, and Kivenlahti harbors. You can choose to travel in one direction by boat and return by cycling the Espoo Waterfront Walkway. The reduced price for students, seniors, and children (7-18 years old) is 7€ / one-way ticket.
Public boats between Espoo and Helsinki = are available during the summer season (beginning of August - beginning of September) from and to Espoo's harbors Nokkala and Haukilahti. Students and seniors travel with a 10% discount. Family ticket (including ma ax of 2x adults and 3x children aged 7-17 years old) is 60€. Children 7-17 years old travel with a 50% discount of 13€ / return ticket, and children under 7 years old traveling with an adult are free of charge.
SUP boarding, Kayaking, and Canoeing rentals = From the north part of Espoo and Nuuksio National Park to the south part of Espoo and its Espoo Waterfront Walkway, you can find plenty of opportunities to rent SUP boarding, Kayaking and Canoeing equipment for an affordable fee or with a season card.
Explore Canoeing & Rowing Boats
Baltic Sea Plogging = is a great way to explore the Baltic Sea and have a positive impact. It is available during the summer season at Watersport Center Laguuni, where you can rent a cleaning kayak with equipment and spend a couple of hours exploring and cleaning the surroundings of the Baltic Sea.
Winter season
Winter Swimming Areas = For those looking to try out winter swimming, there are approximately 11 different winter swimming areas located by the Baltic Sea and a couple of Espoo's lakes that are available for everyone. Winter Swimming Areas are usually maintained by the City of Espoo or local swimming clubs and associations, and you may need to request the code to enter the changing rooms. Some of the areas also have privately operating saunas that can be booked for a fee.
Ice Skating = In Espoo, you can choose from over 90 natural and artificial ice rings that are free of charge for all types of skaters, from beginners to professionals, including the most famous Tapiola Ice Garden. Ice Skates can be borrowed for a small fee from Café Hile (Tapiola district) or Café-Restaurant Pikkukarhu (Puolarmaari district).
Cross-country Skiing tracks = Up to 200 km of cross-country skiing tracks are available in the capital region, and they are free of charge. Cross-country skiing equipment can be borrowed and serviced at HiihtoCenter Oittaa, located in the Oittaa Recreational Area.
*Prices checked in February 2025.
