Seurasaari Open Air Museum - Escape Urban Helsinki & Enter A Tranquil Oasis

Seurasaari is a tranquil, beautiful green island only a few kilometres from the humdrum of Helsinki, and is home to the Seurasaari Open-Air Museum.As idyllic oases should be, Seurasaari will teleport you to a rural setting almost within the urban landscape of Finland’s capital, quite like Nuuksio National Park when we stayed there for a couple of nights.One of the main features is the Seurasaari Open-Air Museum, a collection of 87 historic wooden buildings that have been transported from all across Finland.

In fact, each of these buildings, some of which are 400 years old, showcase the traditional Finnish way of life in the various Finnish provinces. Talk about ancient!

log house entrance, Seurasaari Open-Air Museum, Helsinki, Finland

spot wild squirrel, Seurasaari Open-Air Museum, Helsinki

child feed ducks fun, Seurasaari Open-Air Museum, Helsinki

When we were there, we noticed a lot of joggers and families with young children. Seurasaari is certainly a popular recreational island among the locals, perfect for a picnic and for enjoying the rural, peaceful outdoors.

It has plenty of picturesque spots and strolling here in the cool, autumn air was a nice and relaxing affair. Being a part of this oasis, you cannot help but slow down and feel light-hearted.

As an island separated from the main Helsinki city and on its own, it is surrounded by an ocean of blue. I highly recommend grabbing a spot overlooking the sea to have a picnic!

cute cafe shape, Seurasaari Open-Air Museum, Helsinki

A cafe at the entrance of Seurasaari Open-Air Museum

Alternatively, you can stop by the cute cafe at the entrance of the museum for a cuppa and homemade snacks. The owner is a really friendly elderly. Because of its unusual top-heavy construction that seems like it’ll topple over at any time, you will be sure not to miss it!

Things to note before visiting Seurasaari Open Air Museum, Helsinki, Finland

squirrel, Seurasaari Open-Air Museum, Helsinki

Why hello there squirrel!

As an added bonus, you won’t be disappointed if you love small cute animals. It might sound crazy, but the red squirrels, hares and birds here are actually not too afraid of humans – if you’re lucky and don’t scare them, you can get to feed them!I was so close to attracting the little birds to the apple in my hand that I was holding up in the air. You just have to be more patient than me – and you may make a new friend!

Admissions to the island and walking around on the main pathways are totally free, so you can do this even on a shoestring budget. However, to enter the buildings, you will need to buy a ticket. Alternatively, you can sign up for a guided tour!Recommended duration: I recommend setting aside half a day (roughly 2 to 3 hours) to fully soak up the calming atmosphere of the Open-Air Museum, and its tranquil surroundings.