Linnanmäki is one of Finland's biggest theme parks and sits on a hill overlooking Helsinki. The park contains a mix of thrill and family rides, and an observation tower which offers views over the city.
Linnanmäki is one of Finland's biggest theme parks and sits on a hill overlooking Helsinki. The park contains a mix of thrill and family rides, and an observation tower which offers views over the city.
| Opened | 27 May 1950 |
|---|---|
| Season | April to October |
| Owner | Lasten Päivän Säätiö (Children's Day Foundation) |
| Website | www.linnanmaki.fi |
| Nearby | Särkänniemi (100 miles) PowerPark (221 miles) Gröna Lund (245 miles) Furuvik (261 miles) |
Vuoristorata sits behind Linnanmäki's carousel in the centre of the park
Linnanmäki is Finnish for "Castle Hill", fittingly named for the amusement park's hilltop location overlooking Helsinki.
The park is owned and run by the Children's Day Foundation, a charity which works for child welfare, and Linnanmäki is operated principally to raise funds for them.
There are a superb collection of rides, headlined by the wonderful classic Vuoristorata wooden rollercoaster which proudly stands at the centre of the park, and the much newer spectacular Taiga which was added in 2019 as the first LSM multi-launch coaster in Finland.
Vuoristorata and Taiga are but two rollercoasters amongst a huge number of attractions on offer, with the Hurjakuru rapids ride, Kingi freefall drop tower, Kyöpelinvuoren Hotelli ghost train and Salama spinning coaster also highly recommended. The park runs a popular "attraction buddies" scheme, whereby members of Linnanmäki's friendly staff will ride with children if their parent or guardian does not wish to do so.
Linnanmäki feels very much like a city park, with rides packed closely together around the hillside: be prepared for some steep climbs around the park's pathways and staircases. At the same time, the park features some beautiful landscaping and gardens in parts. Perched high above the Finnish capital it is hard to ask for better views, which together with the wonderful rides and general friendliness of the place makes Linnanmäki an amazing treasure of an amusement park.
Internationally, Helsinki-Vantaa Airport is well served by airlines such as Finnair and British Airways, offering easy travel from the UK and other major European cities (and you can tell your friends you took a flight to HEL and back).
Within the city, the park is a very pleasant 1½ mile walk around the lake from the train station or just a short tram journey on Line 3. From the airport, you can either take a bus or the new train connection into the city centre. The Finnair City Bus stops right outside Linnanmäki.
The first 4D coaster in Europe - a short ride with a low capacity, but it creates a big impact
The tallest tower ride in Finland offering incredible views over Helsinki
Space themed indoor rollercoaster, with optional VR
Shot tower
Swinging pirate ship
Linnanmäki's oldest ride, built in 1896
Spooky ghost train
Spinning coffee cups
Classic bumper cars
Wave swinger style carousel
Circus themed dark ride
Travelling fun house serving as a temporary replacement for the old Vekkula fun house
Haunted walkthrough with 3D glasses
Gentle horse tracked ride
Children's helicopter ride
Kiddie sized train
Rising and falling cup roundabout
Linnanmäki's main souvenir shop, found next to the main gates
Taiga themed mechandise, gifts and ride photos
Shop offering gifts and sweets in the middle of the park
Gourmet burgers
The large round hamburger bar
Italian restaurant specialising in pizzas
Freshly made waffles and pastries
Mexican burritos and nachos
Barbecue dishes, sausages and fries
Pizza and salads
Ice cream shop, with outdoor seating area
Ice cream, slushies and popcorn
Liquorice and cotton candy
Popcorn, candyfloss and sundaes
Hot dogs
Linnanmäki 2012