This is a dream come true for an American who grew up going to amusement parks in California where…read moretrash, junk food, and fat girls shoved into children's size clothing prevail. Sweet, serene, adorable, and still fun (and FREE to enter), Linnanmäki is all that and more. This is a place I am happy to take my infant son to and will be happy to take him to as an older child. The Panorama "ride" is free and gives you a quick but lovely panoramic (hence the name) view of the entire city! The rides are not overwhelming, the grounds are not chaotic and filthy (think Great America or Six Flags, NorCal or SoCal), and there are a lot of families and children vs. loud, foul-mouthed teenagers. I recommend going when school is in session since it will be a much quieter scene. The location is ideal - with idyllic park surroundings and nice views. i will probably have a much different opinion when I go during the crazy Summer month(s) but for now I have only the nicest things to say.

I have been to a handful of amusement parks in my time, and to be honest, Linnanmäki (aka…read moreBorgbacken) is not the best of the best. But what it does have going for it is that visitors can enter without having to pay an entrance fee. Then, they can choose to purchase a full-day wristband, or buy rides individually. I ended up visiting Linnanmäki after hanging out in the adjoining Alppipuisto Park. My companions and I had the idea to go up in the Panorama Tower, which is free to visit. As the name suggests, it gives riders a 360-degree view of the city from above. We also then opted to try out the Vuoristorata rollercoaster, which is the most iconic ride in the park. Although it wasn't the best wooden rollercoaster I have been on (the Giant Dipper is perhaps my favorite), it still is quite cool. Fun fact: it was the last rollercoaster in the world to be built with side friction technology. All in all, I think Linnanmäki knows what it's doing with allowing anyone to enter, because that means people will buy one-off ride tickets, food, etc. If you are in Helsinki for a few days and nearby, consider checking it out and, at the very least, taking a ride up in the tower.

It's a great way to see the city and water from above but the window is tinted so beware of that…read more Short distance from the Uspenski cathedral and short walk from the senate square.

I highly recommend to visit this Wheel and see Helsinki from the above. The views are great! One…read morecan take good photos and videos. I was alone on whole wheel because I came during the lunch hour and they even have small gift shop down there. Also you can see ferries, ships and different islands!

We officially found the best spot, since time began, to run off kid energy! Located an amazing deep…read more5 stories down, this may be the Finnish answer to how to keep kids entertained in the event of a nuclear war or alien invasion! Regardless of variety if apocalypse, this place is pretty too notch! There definitely not giving it away at 18€ per kid (or 10 € if they're under 2), but for some time to chat and some kids that will sleep well, I'd probably pay double. They have an elaborate array of jungle themed, multi leveled play places throughout this place. It's hard to estimate just how big it is, but there's more here than most kids can get to in a day. Areas are grouped based on age, with some ranging from 0-4 with a parent, while others are 5 and up. There are tons of slides, stuff to climb up and on, trampolines and a couple area that require extra pay - one was a small go cart track. Food and beverage are available for purchase and while expensive, it's worth it to not have to leave. If you have kids, they'll love this place and aside from the price, you will too!

We officially found the best spot, since time began, to run off kid energy! Located an amazing deep…read more5 stories down, this may be the Finnish answer to how to keep kids entertained in the event of a nuclear war or alien invasion! Regardless of variety if apocalypse, this place is pretty too notch! There definitely not giving it away at 18€ per kid (or 10 € if they're under 2), but for some time to chat and some kids that will sleep well, I'd probably pay double. They have an elaborate array of jungle themed, multi leveled play places throughout this place. It's hard to estimate just how big it is, but there's more here than most kids can get to in a day. Areas are grouped based on age, with some ranging from 0-4 with a parent, while others are 5 and up. There are tons of slides, stuff to climb up and on, trampolines and a couple area that require extra pay - one was a small go cart track. Food and beverage are available for purchase and while expensive, it's worth it to not have to leave. If you have kids, they'll love this place and aside from the price, you will too!