Espoo · FI

Haltia - The Finnish Nature Centre

Haltia – The Finnish Nature Centre is where a day in the outdoors and a day in a museum become the same thing. Set on the shore of Lake Pitkäjärvi in Espoo, just a 30-minute drive from Helsinki and right on the edge of Nuuksio National Park, this striking all-wood building gathers Finland's wilderness under one roof: panoramic nature exhibitions, a gateway to tens of kilometres of hiking trails, gear rental, a nature shop and a restaurant serving local, organic food. Operated by the state agency Metsähallitus, which manages all 41 of Finland's national parks, Haltia is both an exhibition centre and a working visitor base for Nuuksio. You can come in from a forest walk to warm up and explore the displays, or come to the displays first and step straight out onto the trails. It is an easy, family-friendly and fully accessible outing that works in any season.