Linnanmäki Amusement Park, Helsinki

Linnanmäki is Finland’s oldest and most loved amusement park – and if you’re in Helsinki with kids and a  lot of time, it’s not a bad place to take them for a day out. Even without kids, it’s  a lot if fun! Linnanmäki (“Lintsillä”) has a bigger selection of rides (43 in all, with 11 rides available for children free of charge) than any other amusement park in Scandinavia and is visited each year up a million visitors. There are also 23 amusement arcade games within Linnanmäki, a sight-seeing tower from which you can look down on Helsinki, an outdoor stage (the “Peacock Teatteri”) on which different performers appear in the summer  – and plenty of places from which to buy food -both restaurants, coffee shops and kiosks.

Sea Life Aquarium Helsinki is also located near the entrance to Linnanmäki (note that Sea Life charge’s separate admission fees). Linnanmäki itself is easy to reach using public transport as it’s located just north of the centre of Helsinki (not close enough to walk though) with nice views of the city itself. Both Linnanmäki  and Sea Life Aquarium are fairly typical of these types of venues anywhere across the world – my personal recommendation is not to put these places on the top of your list of places to go, but if you’re travelling with younger kids, keep them in mind as a backup plan for when the kids have had a surfeit of your sightseeing, museums, walking around, etc. etc. If you have kids, you know what I’m talking about. That said, Linnanmäki amusement park has one or two features that do make it unique – like the old Vuoristorata ride.

Linnanmäki amusement park opened on July 13, 1951 (Incidentally, Linnanmäki translates into English as “Castle Hill”) and is fairly compact, meaning its easy to get around, even with young kids in tow. It was originally designed as a temporary attraction for the Linnanmäki park with one of the main reasons for its construction being to  attract tourists visiting Helsinki for the 1952 Summer Olympics. After the Olympics, its temporary status was renewed for extended periods, until eventually it was regarded as a permanent fixture. There’s no real theme – it’s just a good collection of rides, one or two of them such as an old roller coaster ride, Vuoristorata, which was built back in 1951, being fairly historic.

The Vuoristorata roller coaster ride is the most legendary amusement ride in Finland and a symbol of the Linnanmäki park; even the old park logo has a shape representing the lifts of Vuoristorata. (“Vuoristorata” is simply “roller coaster” in Finnish – literally: vuoristo = mountain range, rata = track; mountain range track). Vuoristorata has never had a name differing from the general word used for roller coaster rides. Vuoristorata is also notable for its features. It is actually a copy of another roller coaster, Rutschebanen opened in 1932, in Dyrehavsbakken, Denmark.  Valdemar Lebeck, the man who designed both of these tracks (and a few others), simply took the original blueprints of Rutschebanen, which had been down-scaled due to changes in location, and designed Vuoristorata. Back in the 1950s, Rutschebanen and Vuoristorata were the two tallest roller coasters in Europe.

Furthermore, Vuoristorata is the last roller coaster in the world built to use side friction technology. An interesting little feature of this old wooden roller coaster is the last coach, in which is a brakeman who takes care of the roller coaster’s braking. Almost all the other roller coasters of the world have abandoned such manual braking methods in favour of automatic brakes – this is more than likely the last roller coaster in the world where you’ll see a “brake man”at work. Savour the experience while it’s there – you won’t get the chance anywhere else these days!

Vuoristorata has been carefully maintained through the years. Apart from the cars, nothing remains of the original structure. All the wooden parts have been replaced at least five times. The subsequent restorations have been done while carefully maintaining the original layout; while all the wooden parts are replacements they are consistent with the coaster’s original design and character. Since 1951, Vuoristorata has been the most popular ride at Linnanmäki every year, with four trains traveling the track an average of 287 times a day – about 30,000 times in one season.

And here’s a video-clip of a ride on the legendary Vuoristorata

Linnanmäki also has numerous other rides – the following video-clip gives you an idea of what the park is all about.

Linnanmäki Amusement Park has been renovated and refurbished every year since it opened 60 odd years ago. The park now includes arcade games, restaurants and coffee shops, stores, variety presentations, landscaped areas, and, above all, fairground rides. More rides are added each year and as this has been done, the park’s nature has slowly changed over the decades. In the early years the focus was on admiring the skills of circus artists and on enjoying what were in Finland at the time rare treats such as cotton candy and waffles. Today, the focus is on more and more rides and on continuing to create a fun-filled amusement park atmosphere that everyone can enjoy. Now as then, Linnanmäki is a children’s paradise and a top destination for school trips.

60 years of Linnanmäki

Rides and games are however not all that Linnanmäki has going for it.

Next door you’ll find SEA LIFE Helsinki – one of a chain of similar aquatic centres across Europe, the UK and the USA. It has the usual underwater tunnel, large display aquarium’s,  an interactive rock and the sorts of fish that kids like seeing – piranha’s, sharks and poison-dart frogs being a sampler. Again, fairly typical of this sort of venue world-wide.

Within Linnanmäki itself, there’s a selection of places to eat – not just fast food. Linnanmäki has “Kattila“, a venue with six different restaurants. Chef Tommi Tuominen runs a meatball bar called Kuula which  appeals to children and adults alike (see their menu in english here). The Coccola restaurant serves Mediterranean dishes with an emphasis on Italian cuisine: risotto, pasta, and pizza along with hand-made desserts and Italian ice-cream dishes (read more about Coccola at the restaurant’s website).

Hans Välimäki’s restaurant follows a more North American concept – it’s a hamburger joint and the menu is an interesting mixture of Finnish and English (see here). Easy enough to figure out the basics even without any knowledge of Finnish – although the actual ingredients may remain a mystery until you start eating. Restaurant Ilona offers Finnish cuisine based on Finnish ingredients from reindeer to fish, while the drinks offer a strong focus on small Finnish breweries. Sushibar + Wine combines Scandinavian design, sushi and organic wines and serves your standard international sushi – if you like Sushi (I do), it’s actually quite good. Chef Kim Heiniö has his Restaurant Caruzello on the upper floor of Kattila, serving a modern European family buffet. Brunch includes a variety of salads and hot dishes, as well as a daily dessert. Coffee / tea and water are included in the price of 19.95 € / person (Children 3-8y 9,95 € each) – as elsewhere in Finland, lunchtime buffet’s can be the best value meals).

Note that most dishes at all the Kattila restaurants can also be ordered as take-out so if the weather’s good, you can have a picnic lunch or dinner outside.

In addition to Kattila, there are plenty of other places to eat. “Funky Kitchen” is an urban sports-bar serving American-style finger-food, steaks, salads and burgers together with a range of sports entertainment. The Lintsiburger Hamburger bar is a large two-story burger joint serving hamburgers, nuggets and french fries. Jarrumies Restaurant is on board a “pirate ship: and serves pizza, chicken baskets or meat balls, with a salad buffet. Good for kids who like pirates. There are also four coffee bars serving coffee, pastries and snacks.

Interspersed with the amusement park games and rides are kiosks and grills serving the usual amusement park “delicacies”: hot dogs, french fries, sausages, pop corn, cotton candy, waffles and the like. Guaranteed, there’ll be something there that the kids will enjoy.

Linnanmäki also hosts concerts, plays and other events at Peacock Theatre, and also hosts circus and dance performances. There’s also a Movie Theatre.

Linnanmäki Amusement Park Rides

Roller Coaster Rides

• Kirnu – Reaches a speed of 37 mph (60km) on a 466 ft long track (142m) and a height of 83 ft (25m); height limit 1,4m.
  
• Linnunrata – Reaches a speed of 25 mph (40km) on a 1181 ft long track (360m) and a height of 23 ft (7m); height limit 1,2m. Built inside a water tower.
• Pikajuna – Reaches a speed of 23 mph (37km) on a 961 ft long track (293m) and a height of 23 ft (7m); height limit none / 1,2m alone
  
• Salama – Reaches a speed of 37 mph (60km) on a 1378 ft long track (420m) and a height of 56 ft (17m); height limit 1,2m.
  
• Tulireki – Reaches a speed of 36 mph (58km) on a 1101 ft long track (336m) and a height of 54 ft (16m); height limit 1,2m.
  
• Ukko – Reaches a speed of 65 mph (105km) on a 492 ft long track (150m) and a height of 151 ft (46m) with 2 inversions (including a 151 ft SkyLoop); height limit 1,4m.
• Vuoristorata – Reaches a speed of 37 mph (60km) on a 3149 ft long track (960m) and a height of 75 ft (23m); height limit 1,2.

Water Rides

• Hurjakuru – river rapids ride that opened in 1998; height limit 1,2m; a 6-passenger boat travels a 370m long course in a busy setting and features a waterfall.
• Vonkaputous – a water coaster that opened in 2001; height limit 1,2m; a 10-passenger boat has to navigate a 320m long course with 2 drops, the highest is 15m tall.

Other Rides

• Autorata – bumper cars that opened in 1964, renewed in 2007; height limit 1,2m.
  
• Hypytin – a 12m tall bounce tower that opened in 2009.
• Kahvikuppi – spinning tea cups ride that opened in 2002.
  
• Kammokuja – walkthrough attraction that opened in 2003.
  
• Kehrä – enterprise / spinner ride that opened in 2009.
  
• Ketjukaruselli – wave swinger that opened in 1977; height limit 1,2m.
• Kieppi – scramber / booster that opened in 2003; height limit 1,2m.
  
• Kieputin – top spin that opened in 2004; height limit 1,4m.
• Kino – a 4D Cinema that opened in 1996, refurbished in 2009.
  
• Kummitusjuna – a 105m long dark ride that originally opened in 1950, renewed in 1973 and again in 2006.
  
• Lohikäärme – carousel that opened in 1998.
  
• Maisemajuna – monorail that opened in 1979.
  
• Mustekala – octopus spinner that opened in 1985; height limit 1,2m.
  
• Panoraama – a 53 m tall observation tower that opened in 1987.
  
• Raketti – a launch tower that opened in 1999; height limit 1,2m.
  
• Rinkeli – a 32m tall ferris wheel that opened in 2006.
  
• Sokkelo – glass maze walkthrough that opened in 2007.
• Taikasirkus (Magic Circus) – dark ride that opened in 2005.
• Vekkula – fun house that opened in 1961, renewed in 1991 and again in 1995.
• Viikinkilaiva – swinging pirate ship that opened in 1981.
  

Kiddie Rides

• Karuselli – a classic carousel that opened in 1954; it was made in Holland in 1896.
• Helikopteri – helicopter ride for the kids that opened in 2006.
  
• Hepparata – track horse ride that opened in 1982.
  
• Hip Hop – mini drop tower that opened in 2000.
  
• Kot Kot – children´s ride that opened in 1993.
  
• Kuuputin – merry go round that opened in 2003.
  
• Merirosvolaiva – pirate ship that opened in 1988.
  
• Miniautot – kiddie bumper cars that opened in 1978.
  
• Muksupuksu – train ride that opened in 1976 with a new train in 1997.
  
• Pallokaruselli – samba balloon ride that opened in 1997.
  
• Pienoiskaruselli – merry go round that opened in 1966.
  
• Pilotti – airplanes ride that opened in 2010.
  
• Rekkaralli – convoy trucks on track ride that opened in 1995.
  
• Rumpukaruselli – carousel that opened in 1991.
  
• Vankkuripyörä – kiddie ferris wheel (chuck wagon) that opened in 1996.

Linnanmäki – Location and How to Get There

Linnanmäki is located in the Alppiharju district of Helsinki. The main gate is at Tivolikuja 1, which is on the Alppila side. You can reach the South Gate on foot from Helsinginkatu. (see the Map here)

Car Parking: Using public transport to get to Linnanmäki is recommended as parking space around Linnanmäki amusement park is very limited. Those passenger car park areas that do exist are on the Alppila side, along Tivolitie street (the parking fee is 2 €/hour, paid with coins or mobile- and remember that parking your car in park areas, on sidewalks and anywhere not a designated parking space is illegal).

By Tram and Bus: From the Helsinki railway station, tram line “3B Eläintarha” is the shortest route to Linnanmäki (get off at the Alppila stop). You can also get to the Alppila stop on tram line “3T Eläintarha“. In addition, you can reach Linnanmäki on tram line 9 (get off at the Kotkankatu stop) or bus line 23 (this leaves from platform 2 at the Rautatietori square) – again, get off at the Alppila stop.

By Train: All long-distance and local trains stop at the Pasila station. The walk from Pasila station to the Linnanmäki amusement park runs along the pedestrian route parallel to the railway for approximately 1.4 km. You can also go from Pasila station to Linnanmäki on bus line 23 (get off at Alppila) or tram 9 from the Ratapihantie stop (get off at Kotkankatu).

By Expressbus: Expressbus is an easy and inexpensive way to come to Linnanmäki. The EB busses from Tampere, Valkeakoski and Hämeenlinna run all the way to the gate of Linnanmäki, and EB busses from Lahti, Porvoo, Kotka and Kouvola stop right next to Linnanmäki at the Porvoonkatu express bus stop.

Journey Planner for routes and timetables: You can find the Helsinki City Transportation routes and timetables in the HSL Journey Planner.

Linnanmäki – Opening Dates and Hours

For 2013, Linnanmäki Amusement park opened on April 27, day and will remain open until late autumn. The gates to Linnanmäki open one hour before the rides start up.

As can be seen, opening hours vary somewhat – anywhere between 11am and 5pm. Closing hours are equally variable – anywhere between 8pm and 10pm depending on the day and the week. Consequently, if you’re planning a trip here, it’s a good idea to make sure you check the opening and closing hours.

Linnanmäki – Admission Pricing

Entrance to the Linnanmäki amusement park is free of charge during the summer season 2013. You do have to pay for the actual rides (although in 2013, Linnanmäki offers 11 children’s rides for free).

Single ride tickets are €7.

Hupiranneke (a One Day Pass covering all Rides) is €37. The Hupiranneke Pass costs the same for everyone regardless of age or height. Hupiranneke gives access to all rides but note that height and security restrictions apply (see Safety Regulations below).

Iltahupiranneke Pass – €28. The Iltahupiranneke Pass is valid for the last three hours the Park is open. The Iltahupiranneke Pass costs the same for everyone regardless of age or height. Iltahupiranneke Passes are sold starting three hours before the amusement park closes.

Come back tomorrow for €7. For €7, you can update your wristband to come back the next day. The old wristband must still be attached to your wrist and will be replaced with a new one. This is a personal benefit that cannot be transferred to another person. The benefit is only valid at Linnanmäki’s Ticket Sales. You need to update your wristband at the end of your first day at the park. You cannot update your wristband on the following day.

Safety regulations

There are height-based restrictions for admission to the rides are based on safety limits set by the ride manufacturers and confirmed by the respective authorities. Visitors height is checked when entering a ride (height is measured with shoes on). Due to safety bars, tall or big people may not be able to enter some rides. In other words, exactly the same as pretty much all amusement park rides anywhere you go.

Ownership

The Linnanmäki Amusement Park was founded in 1950 by six Finnish child welfare organizations: Barnavårdsföreningen in Finland ,  first and shelters Association , Child Welfare Association ,  the Mannerheim League for Child Welfare, Best Children Federation  and  Save the Children . In 1957, the six organizations jointly set up the  Children’s Day Foundation, which has since been responsible for all Linnanmaki amusement park activities and which funds child welfare work. Last year, the Foundation assisted  Finnish children and their families with €3.5 million. Over the years since Linnanmäki opened, 50 million visits have been recorded and more than 70 million euro’s have been contributed to child welfare work.

Also see Linnanmäki Amusement Park’s website at Linnanmäki Huvipuisto.

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