Helsinki, Finland

Helsinki suffers from lack of snow in recent years, but has been included for completeness of information. If you're there and it has snow, that's great - but don't plan it into your itinerary.

Getting to Helsinki by Air

Helsinki is a hub for flights to the rest of Finland. You can get flights with  Finnair, KLM, Aeroflot, Lufthansa and a host of others.

Cross Country Ski Map of Helsinki

 

Helsinki Cross Country Ski Routes
  • Paloheinä - Various distances, Various grades

    Starting at Suomen Latu Paloheinä, Pakilantie 124.

    Distances amongst these forest trails range from 1.8K to 7.5K, and the longest trails are  the most demanding. In addition there is a 10K  trail that crosses the fields. These are popular trails  in the region so are usually well groomed.

  • Tali - 6.5K - Blue

    Start at Talin Puistotie

    This 6.5K cross country ski trail covers the golf course so the tracks are quite flat for the most part, making them suitable for beginners, but there are also trails that climb up a hill if you are looking for more of a challenge.



  • Herttoniemi Sports Park

    Start at Maunula Recreational Hut, Pirkkolan Metsätie 6 (outside swimming centre)

    The Pirkkola Sports Park is an ideal place to head out onto the trails in Central Park (Keskuspuisto). It covering a total area of 66 hectares of forests, and the sports park offers 3K and 5.5K  trails. When snow conditions allow, you can ski along connecting trails all the way to Paloheinä, Tali and Laakso. You can access the trail from the Maunula Recreational Hut, which is also popular for its delicious donuts.

  • Malmi Airport and Kivikko - 5.7K

    Start at Tattariharjunkuja (Malmi Airport) ja Savikiekontie (Kivikko).

    This trail circles Malmi Airport, and in Kivikko there is another 3.75K trail. Both trails can be skied in traditional or skating techniques. Best of all, if it’s a bad winter or the snow conditions are just bad, you can ski indoors at the Kivikko Ski Hall. The indoor ski track is around 1000 metres long and the conditions are always perfect!

  • Full list of cross country ski tracks in Helsinki
    • Herttoniemi sports park skiing track 1 km
    • Herttoniemi sports park skiing track 2 km
    • Herttoniemi sports park skiing track 3 km
    • Herttoniemi sports park skiing track 5 km
    • Heteniitty sports field skiing track 1 km
    • Kivinokka – Kehä 1 skiing track
    • Malmi airfield skiing track 5.7 km
    • Maunula skiing track 1.5 km
    • Meri-Rastila skiing track 2.5 km
    • Mustavuori skiing track 2.4 km
    • Oulunkylä sports park skiing track 1.8 km
    • Paloheinä skiing track 1.8 km
    • Paloheinä skiing track 3 km
    • Paloheinä skiing track 5.2 km
    • Paloheinä skiing track 7.5 km
    • Pirkkola sports park skiing track 3 km
    • Pitäjänmäki skiing track 1.3 km
    • Puistola sports park skiing track 1 km
    • Siltamäki sports park skiing track 2.8 km
    • Tali skiing track 6.5 km
    • Tapulikaupunki sports park skiing track 1 km
Cross country track maintenance
The condition of the ski tracks can be monitored through the ski track service, which includes the following, track-specific information: the date the track was last maintained or its state inspected, its lengths and lighting, and the recommended skiing style. Ski tracks are prepared and maintained regularly in Helsinki from autumn to spring.

When the temperatures fall in the last week of December, snow making machines go to work to lay a 1.0-kilometre track. Snow making gives Paloheinä high-quality and durable ski track foundations that will allow skiing even when the weather becomes warmer. In the event that there is still no natural snow in Helsinki in January, snow making machines will be used to produce at least one track in Eastern Helsinki – the alternatives include Laajasalo, Herttoniemi and Mustavuori. After a long period of cold weather and heavy snowfall, ski tracks will be produced throughout the city with the help of seven ski track machines.
The development of the ski track situation can be monitored in the ski track service which is available in Finnish and Swedish.
Kivikko Ski Hall


You will find the Helsinki indoor ski hall at Savikiekontie 4, 00940 Helsinki.

Kivikko is 15 minutes from the centre of Helsinki and Helsinki-Vantaa airport. A basic circuit of the ski track is 850 metres, with the additional loop adding another 200 metres. The width of the tracks is 6-8 metres. The Ski Hall is home to a range of services, including a café in the foyer, gym, a ski rental and other winter hobby opportunities and experiences in Winter World.


The skiing season starts as early as late September to mid winter in the Kivikko Skiing Hall. This indoor hall makes skiing possible during the mild and largely snow-less early winter. The Kivikko Hall will be open for as long as there is no proper winter with heavy snowfall in Helsinki and before outdoor ski tracks can be prepared.