There is no entrance fee for Nuuksio. Guided tours sell transport, a guide and a campfire lunch. Here’s what each tour actually includes and when an HSL ticket and your own snacks are enough.
Kilometres according to the listing3 km easy, 5 km moderate or 7.5 km with ascents; each figure is from the listing for that trip
Departure points namedAleksis Kivi statue, Nervanderinkatu 2, Café Feeniks or hotel pickup
Free cancellation24 hours before, on every trip on this page
Secure bookingBooking on GetYourGuide, ticket on your phone
Trips
Choose your Nuuksio trip
In the middle a half-day trip that travels by train and bus just like the locals and has a biologist as a guide. On the left a hiking trip by car that ends with homemade mushroom soup. On the right the park’s longest guided day, 7.5 kilometres and a campfire lunch on the shore.
Drive to the forest and spend just over three hours on the trail with a local guide. Finish with homemade mushroom soup and bread at a lean-to; a swim in summer, snowshoes in winter.
What is included in the price
Return transport by car and hotel pickup in Helsinki; hiking section about 3 h 20 min
Guided tour in English, Finnish, French or Spanish, according to the listing
Homemade mushroom soup at a lean-to shelter, glögi in winter or blackcurrant juice in summer, gingerbread biscuits and salmiakki
Seasonal berry or mushroom picking, snowshoeing in winter, swimming in summer
Small group, maximum 8; free cancellation 24 hours in advance
Duration4.5 hoursAlso available in Finnish, max 8 peopleBook this →
A trip to the park the way Espoo locals do: take the commuter train to Espoo centre and a bus to the edge of the forest. A biologist shows a small group the coniferous forest, ponds and moss-covered cliffs.
What is included in the price
Guided walk in Nuuksio National Park with a biologist guide; language English
Public transport return ticket included; the journey from Helsinki centre takes about 90 minutes each way
Small group, maximum 10 participants
Under 16s join for free with at least one adult, according to the listing
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
Duration5 hoursUnder 16s free when accompanied by an adultBook this →
The park’s longest guided day: 7.5 kilometres of ascents and descents to scenic cliff viewpoints and down to the lakeside. End with a campfire, a Finnish lunch and berry juice by the lake.
What is included in the price
Guided hike of about 7.5 km, four hours in the park; transport by minibus 45 min each way
Finnish campfire lunch and homemade berry juice; dietary needs catered for if notified; bring water
Small group, maximum 8 participants; raincoats available on request
Not suitable for those with mobility issues or poor fitness, according to the listing; basic walking fitness is sufficient
The trip goes ahead even in rain; heavy rain or thunderstorms will cancel it and money will be refunded; free cancellation 24 h before
Duration6 hoursBasic fitness, max 8 peopleBook this →
Four other ways to spend a day in Nuuksio
Light afternoon with sausage grilling, private group with pickup, snowshoes in winter and reindeer farm with a kota campfire
Each trip on this page starts in Helsinki and returns there. Useful questions are how to get to the forest, how many kilometres you walk, what you eat at the campfire and who the trip is not suitable for. Durations, contents and restrictions are in each trip’s own listing.
Trip
Departure
Best
Duration
Note
Nuuksio half-day tour by train and bus, with a biologist as guide
Rautatientori, Aleksis Kivi statue
The cheapest way to get a guide; by public transport like the locals, under 16s free
Afternoon in Nuuksio: easy 3 km and campfire sausage
Pohjoinen Rautatiekatu 9, Café Feeniks
A peaceful afternoon after a morning city tour: three kilometres of easy trail through old forest, bring your own sausage to grill by the lake, with bilberry juice and pulla
Your own wilderness guide and private car: a moderate five-kilometre route at your own pace, with sausage, soup, pulla and bilberry juice by the campfire, trekking poles and rain gear if needed
Winter version of the same day: snowshoes, poles and spikes included in the price, warm berry juice and soup by the campfire; if snow is sparse, you’ll walk with spikes
Finland’s southernmost reindeer: lichen by hand, pulla and a hot drink by the kota’s fire, a viewpoint above the park and the guide’s photos shared after the trip
Every tour can be cancelled free of charge 24 hours before on GetYourGuide. No tour is suitable for wheelchair users according to the listing; private tours do not take under 6s and the Sipoonkorpi tour does not take under 14s. Routes may change depending on the weather.
What you actually get for your money
The park is free, the journey isn’t.
Nuuksio National Park was established in 1994 across Espoo, Kirkkonummi and Vihti. It covers roughly 53 square kilometres
of ancient forest, lichen-covered rocks and over 80 small lakes and ponds, and Metsähallitus records over 300,000 visits a year. Entry is free: Finland’s national parks have no admission fee, and more than 50 kilometres of marked trails, lean-to shelters, campfire sites and maintained facilities are open for everyone to use.
That’s why none of the tours on this page sell entry, even if one listing mentions "national park admission fee". The tours sell three things: transport (bus 245 only departs from Espoo centre, and it’s a 2 km walk from the Haukkalampi stop), a guide, who knows which of the fifty kilometres suits this particular afternoon, and food, since the campfire site is free but the sausage and soup are not. This site keeps these three separate so you can choose knowingly.
0
Entrance fees to Nuuksio National Park. Trails, lean-to shelters and campfire sites are free; everything sold on this page is a tour, a guide and food.
Rocks, lichen and a lake: the park’s standard view, a 30-minute bus ride from Espoo centre.
01
It’s the kilometres that count
Afternoon hike covers 3 km of easy terrain, private hikes about 5 km of moderate terrain, campfire lunch hike 7.5 km with climbs to scenic cliffs. The listing for the half-day hike does not specify the distance.
02
Four departure options
Train and bus with an HSL ticket, minibus from a designated address in the centre, hotel pickup or your own car. Read the departure point in the confirmation twice.
03
A guide on every tour
Half-day tour with a biologist, private tours with a wilderness guide; guiding in English, on mushroom soup and reindeer tours also in Finnish. No audio guide, no headphones.
04
Who doesn’t need a guide?
Someone with an HSL ticket, a map app, their own snacks and a whole day to spare: Punarinnankierros and Haukankierros start in front of Haukanpesä without a reservation.
On the trail
A day out in four stages
From Helsinki to the forest is just over half an hour by car or an hour and a half by train and bus. The journey is part of the day; the cliff, the pond and the campfire are the reason.
01
Departure from Helsinki
From Aleksis Kivi statue to the train, from Nervanderinkatu or from in front of Café Feeniks to the minibus, or the guide will do a hotel pickup. According to the listing, the minibus takes 35 or 45 minutes to the park.
Walk from the city centre to the starting point
02
From the edge of the forest to the trail
The first 100 metres are road and parking area, then the trail climbs onto a rock. The guide starts with trees, moss and the Siberian flying squirrel, which you won’t see but whose droppings you will.
The first half hour
03
Rocks and forest lakes
According to the route, there are scenic rock formations, bogs with duckboards, old spruce forest and always a lake. In summer, many hikes stop for a swim, in autumn for berries and mushrooms.
The middle section of each route
04
Campfire and return
At the lean-to shelter or by the shore, a fire is lit: mushroom soup, sausages and stew, pulla, bilberry juice or glögi depending on the season. Then the same route back to the centre.
How to get to the park, who the hikes suit, a sample day and what to bring.
By public transport: commuter train E, L, U or Y to Espoo centre, then HSL bus 245 to Nuuksiontie. Stops at Haltia and the Haukkalammentie branch, from which it’s about 2 km on foot to Haukkalampi; in summer the route has extended to Kattila. Timetables on Reittiopas.
By car: about 33 km from Helsinki to Haltia, about 39 km to Kattila. Park only in designated areas (Haukkalampi, Kattila, Högbacka, Siikaniemi, Haltia); roadside parking is monitored. Car parks fill up at weekends from May to October.
With the minibus tours: Nervanderinkatu 2 (blue Wild Frame vehicle), Pohjoinen Rautatiekatu 9 in front of Café Feeniks (Taiga Times vehicle), Museokatu 8 in front of Storyville. The vehicles are on site 5 - 10 minutes before departure, according to the listing.
With hotel pickup: private tours, snowshoe tour and reindeer tour pick up from accommodation in the Helsinki region; the pickup address is requested at the time of booking.
Children: on the half-day tour, under 16s are free when accompanied by an adult; private tours do not accept under 6s; the Sipoonkorpi smoke sauna tour is for over 14s; the reindeer tour is suitable for families but not for those with animal allergies.
Fitness: the afternoon tour is an easy 3 km and suitable for most; the campfire lunch tour requires basic walking fitness and states it is not suitable for those with limited mobility; the snowshoe tour does not accept over 75s.
Wheelchair: none of the tours are listed as suitable for wheelchair users. In the park, there is a challenging accessible route to Haukanholma, at the end of which there is an accessible cooking lean-to shelter.
Dogs and pets: tours do not accept pets. In the park, dogs may be walked on a lead; dogs are not allowed on the reindeer farm.
Morning: half-day tour from Aleksis Kivi statue to the train, or mushroom soup tour with hotel pickup; both return in the afternoon.
Afternoon: morning in the city, then afternoon tour from in front of Café Feeniks: 3 km, sausage and pulla, return in the early evening.
Full day: campfire lunch tour from Nervanderinkatu, six hours and 7.5 km, or a private hike at your own pace with pickup.
On your own: train and bus 245 to Haukkalammentie, Punarinnankierros or Haukankierros from in front of Haukanpesä, coffee at Cafe Haukka, bus back. Set aside the whole day.
Sturdy shoes that can get wet: the rocks are slippery when wet and the trails are root-covered. In winter, ankle-covering shoes are essential for snowshoe hikes.
Swimsuit and a small towel in summer: many hikes stop by a forest lake. On the Sipoonkorpi hike, a swimsuit is needed for the sauna.
Your own water bottle: many hikes provide a bottle or refill it. Insect repellent from June to August.
HSL ticket on your phone for the half-day trip (included) and for independent hikes: Espoo centre and Nuuksio are in different zones, check the zones in Reittiopas.
1994EstablishedIn the areas of Espoo, Kirkkonummi and Vihti; approximately 53 square kilometres.
50+ kmMarked trailsPunarinnankierros 2 km, Haukankierros 4 km, Korpinkierros 8 km from Haukkalampi.
24 hFree cancellationFor each GetYourGuide tour on this page, 24 hours before.
245HSL busFrom Espoo centre to Haltia and Nuuksiontie; about 2 km from the stops to Haukkalampi.
2 kmWalk from the stopsFrom the Haukkalammentie fork to Haukanpesä, where all the trails start.
10 - 18Haltia in summerDaily from May to September; in winter, Tue - Sun 10 - 17, haltia.com.
How to get there
Haukkalampi, the park gate
Haukkalampi, Haukanpesä nature hut
Haukkalammentie 32, 02820 Espoo
The park’s most popular entrance. All Haukkalampi trails start in front of Haukanpesä: Punarinnankierros 2 km, Haukankierros 4 km and Korpinkierros 8 km. The hut has Cafe Haukka, maps and signs; in the yard there are dry toilets, a recycling point and a water point. The nearest bus stop is about two kilometres away on a branch of Haukkalammentie, bus 245.
Haltia, Nuuksiontie 84: nature centre, exhibition, restaurant and equipment rental; connecting trail to Haukkalampi 4.6 km, demanding
Kattila: summer bus terminus and car park in the northern part of the park
Nuuksio Reindeer Park, Nuuksiontie 83: about one kilometre from Haltia, a private farm, open mainly at weekends
When to go, what hikers mention, what’s on the park’s edge and a small printout.
June to August: long daylight, warm lake and swimming breaks; according to Metsähallitus, July and August are the busiest, and blueberries ripen at the end of July.
September and October: autumn colours, mushrooms and lingonberries; the mushroom cooking trip lives up to its name, and weekends are still packed at the parking areas.
Winter: trails are not maintained, but on the most popular ones the snow gets packed down; a snowshoe trip provides the gear and switches to spikes if there is little snow. Haltia is open Tuesday to Sunday in winter.
Weekday: according to Metsähallitus, there is usually plenty of parking space on weekdays; the same applies to trails and lean-to shelters.
The listing for the campfire lunch trip promises raincoats on request, while the afternoon trip and the Sipoonkorpi trip provide them automatically; ask in advance.
The HSL ticket is included in the price for the half-day trip, but arrive on time: the train to Espoo centre and bus 245 won’t wait.
Let them know about your diet when booking: the campfire lunch trip and private tours will take it into account if told in advance.
On a self-guided trip, Cafe Haukka at Haukanpesä sells coffee and maps; firewood at the lean-to shelters is free, but you bring your own sausages.
If you want to see reindeer, book a reindeer safari or check the opening hours of Nuuksio Reindeer Park: it is open mainly at weekends and otherwise by appointment.
Haltia: Finland’s nature centre at Nuuksiontie 84, a wooden building designed by Lahdelma & Mahlamäki opened in 2013; exhibition, shop, restaurant and equipment rental.
Nuuksio Reindeer Park: Nuuksiontie 83, about a kilometre from Haltia; reindeer feeding, open-fire coffee and pulla in a kota; private area.
Siikaranta and Hotel Nuuksio: on the Kirkkonummi side, starting point for the Soidinkierros trail (4 km, easy).
Sipoonkorpi: Helsinki’s other national park to the east of the city; a Sipoonkorpi trip combines it with Kuusijärvi’s smoke sauna.
Espoo centre: train and bus interchange; Espoo Cathedral is within walking distance from the station.
You can cancel each of the trips on this page free of charge up to 24 hours before on GetYourGuide; route changes due to weather are at the organiser’s discretion.
Campfire lunch trip: heavy rain or thunderstorms cancel the trip and the payment is refunded; otherwise the trip goes ahead in the rain.
Snowshoe hike: if conditions do not allow safe participation, the payment will be fully refunded; if there is little snow, we will walk with spikes.
Park rules: fires only in designated areas, not during forest fire warnings; dogs must be leashed; take your litter with you; you may pick berries and mushrooms.
Seven hikes · four departure options · one forest
Choose the kilometres, then choose lunch.
Guided hikes with free cancellation 24 hours before.
This was a great and informative trip. Our guide Mikhail was really knowledgeable.
★★★★★
The cream of mushroom soup was especially comforting in the chilly, rainy forest.
★★★★★
Great day in the national park, it is a beautiful place, to walk, swim and cook around the fire.
★★★★★
Nice walk in the forest close to Helsinki. Mikhail was a great guide!
★★★★★
I spent a lovely afternoon with our fabulous guide Quintus and a nice German couple, walking in a peaceful forest, picking wild blueberries and mushrooms.
★★★★★
Typical Finnish lunch cooked in the wood was absolutely tasty, said by an Italian I think it is a good compliment!
★★★★★
Incredible scenery and an absolutely fantastic guide. David was informative and funny.
★★★★★
Jack was a great guide! Loved this tour, pick up and drop off at our location, attentive service, beautiful scenery and an atmospheric campfire lunch.
★★★★★
I really enjoyed the mini nature walk that was well paced, the campfire experience and of course, meeting the reindeers.
Another national park
Hiking and smoke sauna in Sipoonkorpi
Helsinki has two national parks: Nuuksio in the west and Sipoonkorpi in the east. This is the only trip on the page that ends with a sauna: about six kilometres of hills and stairs, a campfire lunch and an hour in the Kuusijärvi smoke sauna with swimming breaks.
Sipoonkorpi: hiking and smoke sauna from Helsinki
Mannerheim Square 1h, in front of Kiasma · 6.5 hours · GetYourGuide
Helsinki’s other national park, on the east side. About six kilometres of hills and steep stairs, a campfire lunch and then an hour in the Kuusijärvi smoke sauna with swimming breaks. Towels, sandals and a raincoat are included in the trip; return to in front of Kiasma at around 5 pm.
Smoke sauna and towelsCampfire lunchFree cancellation
Every search for a Nuuksio hike promises the same: old forest, lichen-covered cliffs, a tranquil lake and a campfire. The forest is real, and it starts closer than you might think. The results don’t mention that entry to the park is free, that you can get there with an HSL ticket, or that the price of a tour covers transport, a guide and lunch. Here’s how to read the options.
Where the city ends
Nuuksio National Park was established in 1994 by combining the Tervalampi Manor state hiking forest with the Nuuksionpää outdoor recreation area. The name comes from the village of Nuuksio in Espoo. The park spans Espoo, Kirkkonummi and Vihti, covering about 53 square kilometres, with its highest points around 110 metres above sea level. Glacier-smoothed cliffs bear sparse pine forest and lichen, depressions hold old spruce forest and bogs, and over 80 small lakes and ponds fill the hollows. The emblematic species is the Siberian flying squirrel, for which Metsähallitus has found nearly two hundred suitable groves in the park. Metsähallitus counts over 300,000 visits a year, and the most popular entrance is Haukkalampi.
A lichen-covered cliff on the Haukankierros trail: the park view that makes the hike worthwhile.
Seven hikes and what they include
The cheapest way to get a guide is a half-day trip that travels by commuter train to Espoo centre and by bus to the park, with a biologist as your guide and an HSL ticket included in the price; under-16s are free when accompanied by an adult, according to the listing. The mushroom soup hike offers hotel pickup or departs from Museokatu 8, drives for 35 minutes and walks for just over three hours; at the end, homemade mushroom soup at a lean-to shelter, and the guiding is also available in Finnish. The campfire lunch hike is the park’s longest guided day: 7.5 kilometres to scenic cliffs and down to the shore, four hours in the park, a Finnish lunch by the campfire. The afternoon hike is a lighter alternative, three kilometres on flat terrain and your own sausage for the campfire. Private hikes offer hotel pickup and a five-kilometre walk at your own pace, in winter with snowshoes. The reindeer hike takes you to Nuuksio Reindeer Park and a kota for a campfire, and the Sipoonkorpi hike takes you to another national park and a smoke sauna.
Honest small print: no tour sells entry because there isn’t any. Finland’s national parks are free to enter, and trails, lean-to shelters, campfire sites and firewood are all free. One tour listing says 'national park entry fee included' - it costs nothing. What you pay for is transport, a guide and food. If you have an HSL ticket, your own snacks and a full day, the Haukankierros trail starts in front of Haukanpesä with no booking needed.
Public transport, and what bus 245 actually does
You can reach the park with an HSL ticket. Commuter trains E, L, U and Y go to Espoo centre, and from there bus 245 runs along Nuuksiontie to Haltia and Nuuksionpää; in summer the route has been extended to Kattila. It does not go to Haukkalampi: the stop is at the junction of Haukkalammentie, and from there it’s about a 2 km walk along the road to Haukanpesä. That’s why a half-day tour listing counts about 90 minutes each way, and why tours by car promise 35 or 45 minutes. Frequency varies by day of the week and season; this site does not print timetables but directs you to Reittiopas. By car it’s about 33 km to Haltia and 39 km to Kattila, and Metsähallitus warns that car parks fill up at weekends from May to October.
Haltia on Nuuksiontie: bus 245 stop, exhibition and equipment rental, 4.6 km connecting trail to Haukkalampi.
Which tour, and what are the reindeer doing here
For a first visit without a plan, a half-day trip lets you experience the park and the way of travelling at the same time. If you want to eat properly, choose mushroom soup or a campfire lunch. If the morning is already booked for the city, an afternoon trip is light and steady. If you want your own pace or have children with you, a private trip includes hotel pickup. And if a search result mentions reindeer, it refers to Nuuksio Reindeer Park, a private place on Nuuksiontie about one kilometre from Haltia: Finland’s southernmost place to see reindeer, but not wild animals or Lapland, which is hundreds of kilometres away to the north. Reindeer guide keeps these two separate.
Lean-to shelter and campfire: the campfire site is free, the sausage and soup are what you pay for on the tour.
Direct answers to the most frequently asked questions about Nuuksio.
Is there an entry fee for Nuuksio National Park?
No. There is no entry fee for Finland’s national parks and state nature reserves, and marked trails, most campfire sites, lean-to shelters and open wilderness huts are free to use. Guided tours therefore do not sell admission but rather transport, a guide and food. Park guide explains what you actually get for your money.
How do you get to Nuuksio from Helsinki by public transport?
Take a commuter train (E, L, U or Y) to Espoo centre and from there HSL bus 245 to Nuuksiontie: stops at Haltia Nature Centre and at the Haukkalammentie junction, from which it is about a 2 km walk to Haukkalampi. In summer, the route has been extended to Kattila. Check timetables in HSL’s route guide , which goes through the journey step by step.
Which Nuuksio tour should you choose?
It depends on whether you want to walk or eat. A half-day trip by public transport is the cheapest way to get a guide; the mushroom soup hike and the campfire lunch hike include transport and food; the 3 km afternoon hike is ideal when the morning has already been spent in the city. Comparison guide covers all options.
How long are the hikes and how much walking is involved?
Trips last from 3.5 to 6.5 hours from Helsinki to Helsinki. Walking distances according to the listing: afternoon hike 3 km on flat terrain, private hikes about 5 km, campfire lunch hike 7.5 km with elevation. The half-day hike listing does not specify kilometres; on the mushroom soup hike, you spend about 3 hours 20 minutes on the trail.
How much does a Nuuksio trip cost?
Prices vary by season, group size and trip, so this website does not list them; the price shown at checkout is the one that applies. For comparison, here is what is included in the price: HSL ticket for the half-day trip, hotel pickup and mushroom soup on the second, campfire lunch and 7.5 km on the third, reindeer farm entry and photos on the reindeer trip.
Can you pick berries and mushrooms in Nuuksio?
Yes. Everyman's rights also apply in the national park: you may pick berries and edible mushrooms for personal use free of charge. Many trips mention berry and mushroom picking depending on the season, and guides identify the species. You may not take plants, mosses or lichens.
Can you make a fire in Nuuksio?
Only at designated fire sites and lean-to shelters that have firewood, and only when there is no forest fire warning in effect. The campfire lunches on the trips are eaten at these sites. On a self-guided trip, fire sites are free, but food, matches and grilling equipment are your own.
Are there reindeer in Nuuksio?
No wild ones. Nuuksio Reindeer Park on Nuuksiontie, about 1 km from Haltia, is a private farm where you can feed reindeer and which is called Finland’s southernmost place to see reindeer. The reindeer tour takes you there; on hiking trips you will not see reindeer. Reindeer guide tells you more.
Is Nuuksio suitable for children?
Yes, if the right route is chosen. Punarinnankierros from Haukkalampi is 2 km of easy pine forest; Haukankierros is 4 km and already hilly. Of the tours, the afternoon hike is a flat 3 km, on the half-day hike under-16s are free when accompanied by an adult, and private tours do not take under-6s. Family guide helps you choose.
Can you visit Nuuksio in winter?
Yes, but trails are not maintained in winter; on the most popular routes the snow gets packed down. The snowshoe hike provides the shoes, poles and spikes and switches to spikes if there is little snow. Haltia is open in winter from Tuesday to Sunday. Winter guide goes through the season.
Where do the tours depart from and is there hotel pickup?
Three tours depart from named addresses in Helsinki city centre: from the Aleksis Kivi statue at Rautatientori, Nervanderinkatu 2 and Pohjoinen Rautatiekatu 9. The mushroom cooking tour picks up from your hotel or departs from Museokatu 8; private tours and the reindeer tour pick up from accommodation in the Helsinki metropolitan area. Check the departure point in your confirmation twice.
What if it rains, and can I cancel my booking?
Every tour on this page can be cancelled free of charge 24 hours in advance on GetYourGuide. Tours go ahead in the rain; the campfire lunch tour cancels in heavy rain or thunderstorms and refunds the payment, the afternoon tour and the Sipoonkorpi tour only in extreme weather. Many tours lend a raincoat.
Ready to book
Find a tour that fits your day.
A guide on every hike and free cancellation 24 hours before on all hikes listed below.
Homemade mushroom soup
4.5 hoursAlso available in Finnish, max 8 peopleFree cancellation
