Discover Hyvinkää: Forests, Trails and Museums

Hyvinkää combines a large forest area near the centre with nature trails, winter sports and several museums. This makes it an interesting destination for a trip where you can spend time outdoors while also exploring Finnish railway, local and art history. The holiday apartment that works best as a base depends on whether your plans focus more on Sveitsinpuisto, the museums or the Kytäjä-Usmi forest area to the west.

Forest Trails and Winter Sports in Sveitsinpuisto

Sveitsinpuisto is a 270-hectare wooded area near the centre of Hyvinkää. To the north, it borders Sveitsin Hiihtokeskus, located in the Kulomäki area. There, Sveitsi Snow Plaza offers snowboarding and downhill skiing, with slopes of varying difficulty levels. If you want to include nature and winter sports in your trip planning, both are available here as activities in and around Sveitsinpuisto.

There are two circular trails to choose from for a walk through the nature reserve, both starting at the same point: Lukkojen kierros begins at Sveitsin Maja and is 2 kilometres long, while Harjukierros also starts there and is 4 kilometres long. Both follow the slopes of eskers and kettle holes. The stated distances give you a clear reference when deciding which route fits your day; the trails differ in length by 2 kilometres.

Another nature destination is the Kytäjä-Usmi forest area west of Hyvinkää. The Natura area's value is based mainly on a largely undeveloped natural landscape with numerous small lakes, distinctive rocks, and damp, lushly vegetated hollows. There are about 70 kilometres of marked hiking trails and about 27 kilometres of mountain biking routes. A total of seven well-maintained campfire sites are located along the trails. This gives you a choice of hiking, cycling and exploring an area with a varied forest and lake landscape when planning your outings.

Railway History and Museums

As a National Responsibility Museum, the Finnish Railway Museum is dedicated to railway heritage and presents the history of Finnish railways in an authentic station and depot area along the Hyvinkää–Hanko railway line. Guided tours are available for all age groups. The museum also holds several annual events and open days, mainly in spring and summer. R trains stop at Hyvinkää station; from there, it is a ten-minute walk to the museum. There is a free car park near the museum entrance.

In central Hyvinkää, Museokeskus Taika brings together the Hyvinkää Art Museum and the Hyvinkää City Museum and their exhibitions. The City Museum tells the story of Hyvinkää and its residents. The Art Museum focuses on contemporary art and art phenomena of the 20th and 21st centuries. This lets you include two different perspectives on the town and its art in your trip planning.

The Valvilla Factory Museum is located in the courtyard of the Hyvinkää Wool Factory and tells stories spanning more than a hundred years. Among the machines on display is a loom from the 1950s, made by the Italian manufacturer Nebiolo; the woven fabric is Finnish military cloth. Another exhibit is the fulling machine built in 1910. It remained in use until October 1981, after which it was transferred to the museum. These specific objects bring the town's industrial history to life. A Story Map about the history of the Hyvinkää Wool Factory site and buildings was also published in spring 2024 and can be viewed in a browser or on a mobile phone.

The different destinations offer clear pointers to help you decide what kind of trip is right for your stay in Hyvinkää.

Discover More Places

You can also explore Porvoo, Tuusula, Nurmijärvi, Hanko, Kirkkonummi, Pernå, Karjalohja and Espoo.

For the broader travel overview: Uusimaa.