Helsinki leisure services see record 25.5m visitors in 2024

Helsinki's leisure services attracted a record number of visitors in 2024, said the City of Helsinki in a press release on Tuesday.

Libraries, cultural centers, sports facilities, and activities supporting youth well-being were particularly popular.

Residents made over 25.5 million visits to various services, with youth-focused activities and cultural experiences receiving special praise.

In 2024, Helsinki City Library set a new visitor record with 9.2 million visits, a 13% increase from the previous year.

The newly opened Kalasatama Library quickly became a favorite, and libraries located in cultural centers in Itäkeskus, Kannelmäki, Malmi, Maunula, and Vuosaari saw a rise in popularity. For example, Vuosaari Library recorded 300,000 loan transactions last year, the highest after Oodi.

In total, 5.7 million books and other materials were borrowed from Helsinki libraries, a 7% increase from the previous year. The number of loans increased particularly in children's literature, which saw a 9% rise.

Cultural center events attracted 862,900 visitors in 2024, compared to 684,900 in 2023—a 26% (over a quarter) increase. These figures included visitors to cultural events at Annantalo, Caisa, Kanneltalo, Malmitalo, Maunula-talo, Savoy Theatre, Stoa, and Vuotalo, as well as concertgoers at Esplanade Stage.

Concerts and free event days were the biggest crowd-pullers. Popular events included Arppa’s performances at Kanneltalo and Malmitalo Park, concerts by Arja Saijonmaa and Vilma Jää at Esplanade Stage, performances by Michael Monroe and the late Heikki Silvennoinen at Vuotalo, and Kauri Honkakoski’s Hinterland theater production at Stoa.

The City Museum recorded 330,312 visits. The museum focused on activities for children, youth, and the elderly, with 537 "Culture Godchildren" participating in baby concerts and interactive theatre performances.

The museum hosted three rotating exhibitions: Sun Bodi – The Sweaty History of Gyms, Mestat ja huudit – See Helsinki Differently, and M/S Baltic Queers, which shared stories of LGBTQ+ migrants. A Look at Helsinki – Volker von Bonin’s Photographs at Hakasalmi Villa showcased Helsinki’s everyday life and urban scenery. In October, an immersive exhibition Glamour and Reverence – The Two Worlds of Manor Life was opened.

The Tram Museum remained open year-round and continued to be a favorite among school groups.

Outdoor and Indoor Sports Facilities and Guided Activities Encouraged Active Lifestyles

Helsinki’s sports facilities recorded 8.6 million visits, surpassing the target of 7.8 million. This was achieved despite the full-year closure of Yrjönkatu Swimming Hall and the partial closure of Oulunkylä Sports Park due to renovations. Swimmers flocked to Swimming Stadium during the hot May weather and frequented Töölö Sports Hall and Itäkeskus Swimming Hall year-round.

Guided sports activities recorded just over 400,000 visits, with course-based programs particularly popular among seniors. The attendance target of 300,000 was exceeded significantly. Outdoor exercise areas and fitness parks remained highly popular, maintaining approximately 1.3 million visits.

The new Palettilampi Beach strengthened the swimming spot network in Northern Helsinki. As part of the 2023–2024 participatory budgeting initiative, improvements were made to swimming spots along the Vantaa River and new canoeing docks were built at Neitsytsaari.

The winter season of 2023–2024 was favorable for skiing, with nearly the entire 200 km ski trail network open from November, and many trails remaining usable until early March. Winter swimming also remained popular.

The senior fitness course program had a 94% enrollment rate, exceeding the city-wide target of 92%.

Through the Finnish Model for Leisure Activities program, we provided 90,788 hobby visits for students in grades 3–9 across Helsinki schools.

A total of 847 hobby groups were formed, based entirely on students' preferences. The program included all Finnish- and Swedish-speaking schools, as well as special schools in Helsinki. A key focus was preventing segregation by directing additional activities to schools in city renewal areas and those receiving needs-based funding.

Youth work in schools and educational institutions amounted to over 7,000 hours, with more than 130,000 youth interactions recorded.

Helsinki’s youth outreach work engaged with approximately 1,000 young adults in a structured manner throughout the year, with an additional 700 receiving one-time guidance. Youth were directed to education, employment, other support services, and leisure activities.