Activities for kids in Lahti, Southern Finland

20.08.2015 5053


What cool family things are there to do in Lahti? See the only Finnish Motorcycle Museum, try downhill skiing, biathlon and skydiving simulators, milk a cow, listen to a musical fountain, visit a wooden concert hall, climb an observation tower on top of a ski jump and other worthwhile ideas - in our review.

 

 

Museums, Sights and Landmarks of Lahti for Kids

Visit the the Lahti Historical Museum to get familiar with the region’s background. On the second floor there is a miniature model of the city, as well as various houseware objects, clothing and weapons; all exhibits are presented in chronological order - from the middle ages to modern times. The first and the third floors of the museum are devoted to temporary exhibitions.

The Lahti Art Museum doesn’t have any permanent exhibitions at all, but it regularly gets to show new collections of drawings, modern art and design. The Lahti Poster Museum is located in the same building and invites visitors to see old playbills, posters and Contemporary Art Collections.

Finland’s only Motorcycle Museum is also located in Lahti and its private collection is constantly changing; the main part of the exhibition is devided into themed zones - war, sport, bikers, and movies. Guests can see the Soviet scooter Electron, a Czech Java, an American Harley Davidson, a racing Yamaha, and a retro Vespu, as well as about a hundred other restored models. The collection includes equipment and outfits, flags, posters, and toy motorcycles. Movies about bikers are shown on the screen in the small theater and it is possible to enjoy a meal in the stylish motorcafe.

 

 

The Lahti Ski Museum is located at the bottom of the three ski jumps of the Lahti Sports Center. The main attraction here are the 3D-Simulators, which any visitor can try: slalom, ski jumping and biathlon. The main hall tells the history of skiing as a sport, the biographies of famous Finns - Olympic Games participants, and has some antique and modern skies and skiing outfits. After a visit to the Ski Museum it might be a good idea to take the elevator up to the observation tower on top of the tallest ski jump at the Suurmäki hill. The Ski Museum is closed for reconstruction until the Fall of 2016.

 

 

Old receivers and TV’s are presented at the Lahti Radio and Television Museum. Some of the exhibits are interactive: visitors are invited to create their own sound effects in a studio, listen to radio shows from all over the world, be filmed in front of the “blue screen” and pick any background for the picture. This museum is also temporarily closed until 2016.

It is possible to see old photos, medical instruments, uniforms and doctor outfits from the times of World War II at the Museum of Military Medicine in Lahti. The museum is quite small, but all models are presented in a realistic environment: Charity sisters are helping the wounded in an infirmary, soldiers are trying to carry wounded comrades from the battle field.

Classical music concerts are held at the Ristinkirkko Church, which was designed by Alvara Aalto. It is also possible to listen to organ and classical music in the Sibelius Concert Hall, which is decorated with wood and is famous for its great acoustics. 

 

 

The Lahti City Theater runs shows and musicals for the whole family in Finnish.

 

Kids-friendly Attractions in Lahti

The HopLop Indoor Activity Park in Lahti is open year-round. For toddlers there are some soft and early development toys, bounce houses, labyrinths, slides and dry pools with colorful plastic balls. For older kids there are videogames and trampolines, and for adults - a cafe with WiFi to enjoy while waiting.

The Yli-Marola Domestic Animals Park is only open in the summer. Here, it is possible to see, pat and hand feed llamas, donkeys, calves, sheep, piglets, geese and other farm animals and birds kept in paddocks. Visitors can also closely examine and try some farming tools, as well as try milking a fake cow. The Yli-Marola park regularly holds family events and puppet shows.

 

 

The Puksu City Train runs from June to August on a circular route from the Laune Park, to the city center, the History Museum, the Yli-Marola park, the Vesijärvi lake pier, and back to the Laune Park. It is possible to board the train at any stop.

Sports Activities for the Entire Family in Lahti

The Lahti Sports Center welcomes athletes of all ages year round. In the summer - there are sports playgrounds and an outdoor pool at the bottom of the ski jumps, and in the winter - the ski jumps themselves, and the cross country skiing trails. The Lahti Sports Center also holds various international skiing and biathlon competitions.

 

 

The entire family can take a trip to one of the swimming centers in Lahti. The Lahden Swimming Center, the Kivimaan Swimming Center, and the Saksalan Swimming Center each have a 25-meter pool, as well as shallow pools for kids, saunas and gyms.

Kids aged over 6 and adults can do some rock climbing at the Yogarocks Fitness Center. Coaching takes place in the bouldering hall, but it is also possible to sign up for lessons on real rocks in open air. The Yogarocks Center offers sports training for kids aged 5 to 12: rock climbing, acrobatics, yoga, there are also music and play classes.

In 11 kilometers from Lahti is the Messilä Skiing Resort. In winter, the resort has 10 illuminated slopes to offer, and 70 kilometers of crosscountry skiing trails. Year round there are cottages available for rent, and in the summer it is possible to have dinner in a restaurant with lake view, play golf, take a bicycle ride, or spend some time at the extreme-park with ramps for skateboards and BMX bikes. 

 

 

Where to Go for a Walk in Lahti with Kids? Parks and Kids’ Playgrounds

Fun awaits the entire family at the Laune Central Park in Lahti. In the summer, the park’s attractions include a rollerdrome, a mini-golf field, a playground for playing bowling and frisbee, and in the winter there are skiing trails, and an ice rink. Kids can play at the Laune Family Park, which has a wooden castle, some metal tube-slides, and rope pyramids. To top it off there is a traffic park for kids with miniature traffic lights, a gas station, and roads for pedal cars.

 

 

The Lanu Sculpture Park might be good for slow walks, there are 12 sculptures to admire, which are made of natural materials, and are never cleaned from moss. Right next to the park, at the Arboretum nursery, it is possible to see some plants from Southern Finland.

In the summer, the Pikku Vesijärvi Park holds light shows at its singing waterfountain. It is also possible to have a picnic by the lake in this park and maybe feed some ducks.

Photo: wikipedia.org,  familywithkids.com, vk.com/motorcyclemuseum, facebook.com/pages/Messil%C3%A4-Lumikeskus/163122367056900


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