Discover six of Finland’s most exciting amusement parks, each offering its own unique mix of rides and experiences. From the lively Linnanmäki in Helsinki and Särkänniemi in Tampere to popular family destinations like PowerPark, Tykkimäki and Visulahti, these parks offer plenty of fun and memorable experiences for visitors of all ages.
Linnanmäki
Tivolikuja 1, 00510 Helsinki
Linnanmäki, in Helsinki’s Alppila district, is Finland’s oldest and most popular amusement park. Opened in 1950, Linnanmäki features over 40 rides, from classic family favourites to major thrill attractions. The atmosphere is lively but manageable, making it a good choice for families wanting a full day out without leaving the city. Younger visitors are especially well served, with six free rides available in the park area.
One of the park’s defining attractions is Vuoristorata, a wooden roller coaster that has remained one of Linnanmäki’s most beloved rides since opening in 1951. It is also one of the rare roller coasters in the world still operated by a brakeman riding on the train, which adds to its old-school charm.
Other notable rides include Karuselli, the park’s oldest ride, which arrived at Linnanmäki in 1954; Kirnu, a compact 4D roller coaster; Ukko, one of Finland’s best-known high-thrill coasters; and Linnunrata, an indoor roller coaster built inside an old water tower.
After a busy day of rides and attractions, visitors can refuel at the park’s restaurants, cafés and kiosks. Tickets are available either individually or as wristbands, depending on how much you plan to do. The adjacent Sea Life Helsinki also makes it easy to combine a park visit with another family attraction.
The park is also home to the Peacock Theatre, known for its musical productions and concerts during the season. One of the highlights of the year is The Carnival of Light, held in autumn as the park season draws to a close.
Särkänniemi
Laiturikatu 1, 33230 Tampere
Located just a kilometre from Tampere city centre, Särkänniemi is one of Finland’s best-known amusement parks. Opened in 1973, it combines rides with a broader resort-style line-up that includes the Aquarium, Planetarium, Doghill Fairytale Farm, the Sara Hildén Art Museum, and the landmark Näsinneula Observation Tower. It suits families who want more than rides alone and makes an easy full-day outing in Tampere.
The amusement park itself has a strong mix of family rides and bigger thrill rides, along with dedicated areas for younger visitors such as Angry Birds Land. Ride selections change over time, but Särkänniemi remains one of the country’s most varied parks for families travelling with children of different ages.
Särkänniemi’s Aquarium opened in 1969 and has a total combined volume of 550,000 litres. It is home to over 3,000 animals representing around 200 species. One section recreates a mangrove habitat with species such as rainbow sharks, blowfish, gourami and archerfish. Nearby, Doghill Fairytale Farm brings Mauri Kunnas’ story world to life with wooden buildings, play areas and Finnish farm animals.
Tampere’s iconic Näsinneula Observation Tower rises 168 m and opened in 1971. The tower remains one of the best-known landmarks in the city, with sweeping views over Tampere and its lakes. There are also several restaurants, cafés, kiosks and sweet stalls across the resort, so it is easy to turn a visit here into a long, relaxed family day.
Tykkimäki
Kanuunakuja 2, 45200 Kouvola
Tykkimäki amusement park stands in a pleasant green setting about four kilometres from Kouvola in Northern Kymenlaakso, Southeast Finland. It is part of a wider leisure area that now includes the amusement park itself, Aquapark, Actionpark and Tykkimäki Resort. This is a practical choice for families looking for more than a few hours of rides, especially if an overnight stay is part of the plan.
The amusement park offers a broad mix of classic family rides, children’s attractions and bigger thrill rides. Among the best-known rides are the 72 m high Star Flyer, which reaches speeds of up to 70 km per hour, and the spinning Loop Fighter, which can exert up to 4.5 G of force. Other familiar rides include Trombi, Talfun, Skyride, the Orient Express, and the Kusti Track.
For water lovers, Aquapark sits right next to the amusement park and is designed for hot summer days. It offers a good selection of slides and pools, with options both for confident swimmers and for younger children who simply want to splash and play. Sauna facilities and food services make it easy to spend several hours here.
A newer addition to the wider Tykkimäki offering is Actionpark, an indoor activity park in Kouvola aimed at active families and children who enjoy climbing, active play and physical challenges. Together, these different attractions give Tykkimäki a broader appeal than a traditional amusement park alone.
There are restaurants, cafés, kiosks, arcade and game areas around the park, and accommodation is close at hand at Tykkimäki Resort. With the amusement park, water attractions and indoor activities all tied together, Tykkimäki works particularly well for families building a short summer break around Kouvola.
PowerPark
Puistotie 3, 62300 Härmä
Located approximately 55 km north of Seinäjoki, PowerPark is a large-scale amusement park and leisure resort in Alahärmä, Southern Ostrobothnia. The resort also includes a hotel, cottages and a well-equipped camping area, so it works well for families planning a longer stay rather than a single day out. The setting is open and spacious, and the overall feel is that of a full summer resort built around rides and motorsport.
PowerPark is especially well known for karting. Its outdoor Mika Salo Circuit, designed by former Formula 1 driver Mika Salo, has hosted European and World Championship races. The resort also has an indoor karting track, so the motorsport side of the experience remains a major part of what sets PowerPark apart.
PowerPark is one of Finland’s largest amusement parks, with over 40 rides, including 8 roller coasters and a particularly strong line-up for children. Major attractions include the water roller coaster Kwai River, the high-speed Booster, the pendulum ride Typhoon, and the roller coasters Cobra, Joyride, Thunderbird, and Neo’s Twister. For many visitors, though, the modern launch coaster Junker is now one of the headline rides.
Families with younger children should also look out for the resort’s fantasy-themed areas. Troll Village adds a playful storybook element to the park, with detailed buildings and a setting designed for wandering as much as for riding. Alongside the thrill rides and karting, this helps make PowerPark feel more rounded for mixed-age family groups.
In addition to the rides and karting, the resort includes a movie theatre, minigolf, restaurants, cafés and shopping facilities. It is one of the easiest Finnish parks to turn into a full weekend break, particularly for families who want to combine amusement park rides with accommodation and extra activities on site.
Visulahti Travel Centre
Visulahdentie 1, 50180 Mikkeli
Visulahti is a family holiday resort on the shore of Lake Saimaa near Mikkeli. The setting gives it a more relaxed holiday feel than a conventional amusement park, and it is especially well suited to families with younger children. The main attractions are the Dinosauria water and adventure park, the indoor HyperDino play area, and the Visulahti Wax Museum.
The main draw is Dinosauria, which mixes water fun with outdoor play features. There is a heated pool, water slides, bouncy attractions and a variety of play elements designed to keep children moving between swimming, climbing and exploring. This is less about major thrill rides and more about an active family day in a compact, easy-to-manage setting.
Visulahti‘s indoor play area, HyperDino, is aimed at children under 12. In HyperDino’s space-themed adventure park, children can safely test their skills in climbing, bouncing and sliding. It is also a useful rainy-day option, which adds flexibility to a family stay.
The Wax Cabinet features over 80 figures, including presidents, cultural figures, celebrities, sports stars, fairy-tale characters and, of course, Santa Claus.
Beyond the main attractions, Visulahti also offers holiday bungalows, camping and small cottages, making it easy to stay overnight by the lake. For families travelling through the Mikkeli region, it works well as a low-stress stop with enough to fill a full summer day, and often a second one too.
Nokkakivi Park
Ruuhimäentie 3, 41400 Lievestuore
Located less than 30 km east of Jyväskylä, Nokkakivi opened in 2007 and is one of Finland’s newest amusement parks. Family-run in spirit as well as origin, it has a noticeably gentler pace than the country’s larger parks. That, together with its nostalgic atmosphere, makes it especially appealing to families with younger children.
Nokkakivi Park features a compact but well-chosen selection of rides and attractions, along with Finland’s only full-size hedge maze, a free lamb farm and a free play area for children. The park is beautifully landscaped with Victorian-style buildings inspired by the golden age of amusement parks in the early 1900s. Many of the rides are suitable for children without an accompanying adult, and queues are usually short even in the busiest part of the summer.
What gives Nokkakivi its distinctive character is the balance between gentle rides and a relaxed, nostalgic atmosphere. This is not a park built around scale or headline roller coasters, but around a relaxed day out in attractive surroundings. For many families, that is precisely the appeal.
Circus World is an arcade game museum where vintage machines can be played without any extra charge. If you are travelling with children and passing near Jyväskylä, Nokkakivi makes a relaxed family stop.
Below are a few more highlights from the parks featured above. All photos are courtesy of the parks themselves:
