Youth
The City of Helsinki aims to increase physical activity and wellbeing among young people. We provide great sports facilities, encourage young people to get active and organise a wide range of guided sports activities across the city.
Independent sports
Everyday physical activity is a good way to increase wellbeing. Helsinki is a green city, with plenty of local nature and outdoor recreation areas. Even a short stay in nature boosts your mood and gives you more energy. Walking and cycling are also good forms of exercise and convenient ways to get from one place to another for short distances.
- Popular outdoor recreation areas in Helsinki
- Cycling paths and routes in Helsinki
Sports locations
The City of Helsinki has hundreds of sports facilities across the city. Popular sports facilities include swimming halls, outdoor swimming pools and gyms, for example. Free options include facilities such as outdoor gyms and ice rinks in the winter.
Book spaces and borrow equipment
Youth centres have sports facilities that you can book for yourself or a group of friends. If you need sports equipment, see the library’s range of equipment available for loan.
- Book a sports facility at a youth centre (Varaamo)
- Borrow sports equipment from the library (Helmet)
- Borrow outdoor games from the library (Helmet)
Guided sports for young people
The City organises a wide range of free or low-cost sports courses and activities for young people. Do not hesitate to try out the guided sports—everyone is welcome!
If you would like to try different sports, check out the Vimma and Puhti sports activities. Their weekly sessions are free of charge and no advance registration is needed.
Also check out the Operaatio Pulssi! trial classes and more regular exercise groups organised by Youth Helsinki, as well as the dance classes at youth centres. The Finnish Model for Leisure Activities also offers numerous sports groups.
Find out more about guided sports for young people
- Vimma sports for 12–16-year-olds
- Puhti sports for 16–22-year-olds
- Dance classes for young people (Youth Helsinki)
- Operaatio Pulssi! activities for 12–18-year-olds (Youth Helsinki)
- The Finnish Model for Leisure Activities for pupils in grades 3–9 (Youth Helsinki)
Find sports classes
On the Hobbies website, you can search for sports activities organised in Helsinki by the City or other operators. You can also find a wide range of sports courses on the website of the adult education centres.
- Sports and dance classes for young people (Hobbies)
- Adult education centres’ sports and wellbeing courses (Ilmonet)
Physical activity counselling for young people
- HobbyStart — counselling for 12–16-year-olds with low physical activity
- KouluPT — physical activity counselling for 13–17-year-old lower secondary school pupils
- Physical activity expert gets students moving at general upper secondary schools and Stadin AO locations (in Finnish)
Club activities
In addition to the activities offered by the City, numerous sports clubs and associations in Helsinki offer young people the opportunity to take part in various exercise and sports activities. Many clubs offer activities ranging from low-threshold sports to goal-oriented competitive sports.