Nuuksio National Park: Day Trips and Tours from Helsinki

Nuuksio is one of Finland’s top natural attractions and makes for a beautiful day trip from Helsinki. Spread over the towns of Kirkkonummi, Vihti and Espoo, Nuuksio National Park is the perfect place to explore Finland's magical forests and lakes.

One of 40 national parks in Finland, Nuuksio is the most visited for many reasons and the journey itself is worth the trip. As well as the impressive trees and plants, look out for a wide variety of native animals and birds, including the famous Siberian flying squirrel.

Discover the healing power of Finnish nature with a Nuuksio National Park day trip from Helsinki.

How to get to Nuuksio National Park from Helsinki?

You can reach Nuuksio National Park through a 40-kilometer journey north-west of Helsinki, just outside of the city. The park sits close to Espoo.

From Helsinki to Nuuksio National Park by train or bus

Take a commuter train from Helsinki Central Railway Station to Espoo, then transfer to Bus 245. Get off at Kattila, the last stop, to visit the northern part of the park. This route only runs from May to October. Train tickets cost between €2 and €10, and bus tickets are around €5.

To reach the southern side of the park, take a train to Leppavaara and transfer to buses 238, 238K or 242. The southwestern side of the park is accessible via Bus 280 or Bus 290 from Helsinki City Bus Terminal. Get off at Veikkola koulu and take a taxi for the final few kilometers to the park.

To reach the western side of the park, take Bus 280 or Bus 290 from the bus terminal and to Tervalammen kartano and walk several kilometers to the marked path. Those wanting to reach the northeastern side of the park, should take Bus 346 from the bus terminal to Pyyslampi instead.

From Helsinki to Nuuksio National Park by car

Nuuksio National Park is a 30-minute drive from central Helsinki. Take Highway 110 directly to the park. A taxi from central Helsinki takes around 40 minutes to reach the park. Expect to pay around €55 to €70.

Guided tour to Nuuksio National Park from Helsinki

A fantastic way to spend a day at Nuuksio National Park is to join a guided excursion. You’ll either get there by train or get on a comfortable tour bus. Your guide will be at your side throughout the day, telling you interesting anecdotes and showing you the best hikes.

What is the typical itinerary of a day tour to Nuuksio National Park from Helsinki?

A typical Nuuksio National Park day trip leaves at 9 AM from central Helsinki and lasts around five or six hours. There is usually a group meeting point instead of hotel pickups. Most half-day tours are in small groups of only eight people to minimize the impact on the environment.

If the Nuuksio National Park excursion is by train and taxi, it will be a two-hour round trip. A private guided tour will take 30 minutes to reach the park, a one-hour round trip. It will take longer if your tour involves the train and a bus resulting in a three-hour round trip.

Tours normally spend three to four hours in the park and include a forest hiking tour. Some half-day and most full-day tours include time for a lake swim and a picnic before returning to Helsinki.

What kind of tours are available to go to Nuuksio National Park?

Half-day guided tours to Nuuksio National Park from Helsinki

Leave Helsinki early in the morning and travel to the park via train and local bus.

Most half-day trips include professional biologists as guides, who will share their knowledge of the forests, flora and fauna. See rare animals such as the Siberian flying squirrel, which can only be found in Finland and Estonia.

Enjoy the beauty of the many different types of trees and small forest lakes where you can swim.

Guided full-day hike to Nuuksio National Park from Helsinki

This guided hike includes more time in the park, and this Nuuksio National Park jaunt lasts around eight hours. Experience the captivating wilderness that Finland has to offer and discover remote corners of the Nuuksio lake uplands.

Reach the park by public transport, meet your knowledgeable guide and hike through the evergreen forest. Discover ancient stones and cliffs, as well as scenic lakes. Most full-day hiking tours include a lake swim and a picnic. Public transport costs are not included.

Private tour to Nuuksio National Park from Helsinki

Enjoy a private Nuuksio National Park day tour with the full attention of your guide. Arrange pickup from your central Helsinki hotel and travel to the park in comfort.

Explore the forest paths and discover the diverse wildlife. Spend three hours in the park, then visit Haltia, the Finnish Nature Center. Keep in mind that this tour may not include entry fees to Haltia.

Day Trip to Nuuksio National Park plus Reindeer Park from Helsinki

Animal lovers will enjoy the opportunity to meet these creatures from Lapland, including a rare white reindeer. This tour includes transport to the park and the entrance fee.

Learn about the native animals and feed them their favorite food, lichen. Find out about the traditional Sami campfire and sample some campfire food. Take a walk into the Nuuksio woods and spend a total of 1.5 hours in the park.

How much does a tour to Nuuksio National Park from Helsinki cost?

A full-day Nuuksio National Park day tour generally costs around €90 to €100. Half-day tours are in the range of €60 to €70.

The reindeer park day tour costs approximately €100, including transport and entrance tickets.

Expect to pay around €700 for a private Nuuksio National Park day tour. Private tours are more expensive as there are fewer people on the tour. They can include a hotel pickup, drinks, entrance fees to attractions and a teepee visit.

What will you see and do in Nuuksio National Park?

The Blue Route

Many tours include the Blue Route, also known as Haukenkierros which is a 4-kilometer loop around Lake Haukkalampi. This is the best route for lake views, cliffs and rocky boulders. Experience the conifer and birch forests and even some swamps.

Boulders and rock formations

In some areas of the park, there are large areas of rock and boulders. They are often covered with lichen and moss, creating a beautiful green carpet. In some places, you can see the granite bedrock exposed by the vast ice sheets from the last ice age.

Lakes

There are around 40 natural lakes and pools in the park, many of which are 50 meters to 500 meters wide. Hynkanlampi lake is a small picturesque lake surrounded by forest and is popular with tourists. Suolikas lake is another much-visited spot.

The Reindeer Park

The Nuuksio Reindeer Park is part of the park, but isn’t generally included in day trips to the area. Here you can get close to the reindeer and find out more about their habits.

There is a teepee restaurant that serves lunch and dinner, as well as a souvenir shop. Dig for a precious stone at the amethyst mine or spend the night in the Iglu Hut.

Haltia Exhibition Center

Some tours include a visit to this exhibition center which is also home to a cafe and restaurant. The gallery includes videos of birds, nature photographs and an interactive game for children. Take panoramic photos from the viewing platform called Pohjannaula, meaning North Star in Finnish.

Nature photography and multimedia exhibitions show visitors more of the Finnish wilderness. Admission is €13 for adults, €8 for children aged between 7 and 17, and children under 7 go free.

When is Nuuksio National Park open over the year?

The park is open all year round, but check the weather for rain or snow before your Nuuksio National Park jaunt.

What are the opening times?

The park is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

When is the best time to visit Nuuksio National Park?

The high season is summer, however April and May are ideal times to visit the park. It is less likely to rain in these months, and there will be fewer mosquitos, which can be a minor nuisance from June to August.

Spring and autumn weekends are very popular visiting times for local families.

Travel tips

• Take plenty of water and food as there are no shops and very few cafes in the park.
• Make sure you pack a first aid kit for your Nuuksio National Park journey in case you injure yourself during a hike.
• Wear comfortable shoes or, ideally, hiking boots, as the terrain can be rocky.
• There are some areas in the park without a phone signal. If you can’t get a signal, try to move to a higher place or an open area. Download an offline map before you go.