Discover Espoo: nature, islands and culture

Espoo can be explored in many different ways: through exhibitions on the city’s history, trails in Nuuksio National Park and a visit to the island of Pentala. When choosing a holiday rental, you can consider whether nature trails, culture or the archipelago should be the main focus of your trip. These experiences offer different highlights and give you practical ideas for planning your days.

Nature trails around Nuuksio

The Finnish Nature Centre Haltia is right next to Nuuksio National Park. Trails of varying lengths start there: Päivättärenpolku is 1.4 kilometres long and begins next to the nature centre’s courtyard. The 4.6-kilometre connecting trail from Haltia to Haukkalampi leads to the national park. For a longer hike, a 14-kilometre trail runs through Nuuksio National Park from Siikaniemi in Espoo towards Nuuksio North Gate.

Punarinnankierros also offers a clearly defined hiking option: the easy circular trail is 2 kilometres long and starts at Haukkalampi in Espoo. Korpinkierros is longer, at 6–7.2 kilometres, and passes through herb-rich forests, by ponds and over rocks. Haltia also runs seasonal events and courses and offers equipment rental.

Pentala: museum and island nature

The Pentala Archipelago Museum combines a sea journey with a museum visit and the island’s unique natural environment. The Gurli House local history museum preserves the life of the fisherman's widow Gurli Nyholm up to her last summer in 1986. A 2.3-kilometre nature trail leads from the museum area to Lake Pentala and Diksand Beach. Those interested in island history and nature will find two distinct themes here: the life of one resident and a trail through the island landscape.

City history, play and art

The Exhibition Centre WeeGee in Tapiola is a museum, exhibition and events centre. The KAMU exhibition “A Thousand Stories About Espoo” tells the city’s story from the Stone Age to the present day. Temporary special exhibitions explore international and local historical themes, and visitors can see, touch and try things out for themselves. Also in Tapiola, the Leikki Museum focuses on childhood, toys and play. It offers cultural experiences for all ages, providing a distinct perspective on Espoo’s culture.

The Gallen-Kallela Museum presents changing exhibitions on the life and art of Akseli Gallen-Kallela and his contemporaries, as well as on modern art. Its collections include artworks, artefacts, archival materials and the house library of Akseli and Mary Gallen-Kallela. Matti Suuronen’s Futuro House (1933–2013) offers a different perspective on design: an icon of space-age architecture and a vision of its time, its exhibitions represent experimental forms and the optimistic ideas of modernism.

Parkland and getting there

Träskända Manor Park is a nationally significant cultural and historical environment. A nature trail through the park’s woodland offers a variety of nature experiences. If you want to discover Espoo through more than just its museums, you can include this park in your trip as another natural and cultural highlight.

For journeys to Nuuksionpää or Kattila, buses 245, 245A and 245K depart from Espoo Centre or Espoo station, platform 32. Together with the different hiking routes, this information helps you plan the nature-focused part of your trip. Whether you prefer short walks, longer routes, museums or the island of Pentala, choose your holiday rental based on what matters most to you during your stay in Espoo.

Discover more places

You can also discover Klaukkala, Kurkimäki, Billnäs, Siuntio, Hattom, Mäntsälä, Ingå and Rajamäki.

For the broader travel overview: Uusimaa.