Uusimaa (Nyland in Swedish) is the southernmost region of Finland, wrapped around the Gulf of Finland and home to the capital, Helsinki. It combines a compact seaside capital, a UNESCO sea fortress, ancient forest national parks, and wooden-house towns such as Porvoo, Hanko, and Ekenäs, all within about two hours of each other by public transport.
Top day trips
Handpicked excursions within easy reach.
Suomenlinna Sea Fortress
A UNESCO World Heritage sea fortress spread over six islands, with bastions, tunnels, a dry dock, museums, cafes and sea-view picnic spots. Entry to the grounds is free; individual museums charge separately.
Highlights: Walk the bastions and ramparts with views across the Gulf of Finland · Explore the tunnels, gun positions and the dry dock · Take the 15-minute HSL ferry from Kauppatori · Picnic on the lawns or pause at an island cafe · Visit one of the island museums
Porvoo Old Town
Finland's second-oldest town has a hillside of wooden houses in Old Porvoo, red-ochre riverside warehouses, a medieval cathedral on Kirkkotori and many small cafes, chocolate shops and design boutiques.
Highlights: Stroll the cobbled lanes and painted wooden houses of Old Porvoo · Visit the medieval cathedral on Kirkkotori · See the red-ochre riverside warehouses on the Porvoonjoki · Browse cafes, chocolate shops and design boutiques · Consider the historic steamer M/S J.L. Runeberg in summer
Nuuksio National Park and Haltia
A forested lake-and-ridge wilderness 35 km from the capital with free access, marked trails and fire sites. Haltia, the Finnish Nature Centre at the park gate, runs exhibitions and a cafe (winter hours Tuesday-Sunday 10:00-17:00 from 1 October; adults EUR 13.50 on the 2025 price list, about $15.50 USD; phone +358 40 163 6200).
Highlights: Hike marked trails through forest, past lakes and over rocky ridges · Visit Haltia, the Finnish Nature Centre, for exhibitions and a cafe · Use free fire sites for a grill break · Enjoy autumn colours or winter ski tracks · Reach the park by train and bus from Helsinki
Hanko
Finland's southernmost town is a Baltic resort with wooden spa-era villas, the Spa Park, a water tower viewpoint, a harbour, a museum with a new permanent exhibition opened in May 2025, and the best sand beaches in Uusimaa. Summer shops in the East Harbour close after August, so October is quiet.
Highlights: Walk the wooden spa-era villas and the Spa Park · Climb the water tower for views over the town and sea · Relax on some of Uusimaa's best sand beaches · Explore the harbour and the museum's new permanent exhibition · Reach Finland's southernmost town by direct bus from Kamppi
Ekenäs (Tammisaari) Old Town
Raseborg's seaside town has one of Finland's best-preserved wooden old towns, mostly 18th and 19th-century houses still lived in by locals, a stone church, the Ramsholmen woodland park about a kilometre from the centre and an old water tower reached by 164 steps (key from the library).
Highlights: Wander the lived-in wooden houses of the old town · Visit the stone church, open daily 11-17 in summer · Walk the Ramsholmen woodland park · Climb 164 steps up the old water tower (key from the library) · Reach the town by train via Karjaa in about 1 hour 15 minutes
Fiskars Village
A restored 17th-century ironworks village where artists, designers and craft workshops fill red-brick buildings along the river, with galleries, a cafe and restaurants. Many shops and some cafes cut hours or close outside summer and the Christmas season.
Highlights: Browse artist, designer and craft workshops in red-brick ironworks buildings · Walk the riverside through the restored 17th-century village · Visit galleries and the village cafe · Lunch at a village restaurant · Experience the December Christmas market
Loviisa Old Town
A small Gulf of Finland town with a largely intact old town of 18th and 19th-century wooden houses, the Laivasilta harbour area and, in summer, boat trips to the Svartholma sea fortress (about EUR 15 return, about $17 USD, per older guides; confirm). Some cafes and shops close in winter.
Highlights: Wander the 18th and 19th-century wooden houses of the old town · Stroll the Laivasilta harbour area · Consider a summer boat trip to the Svartholma sea fortress · Enjoy a quiet small-town lunch by the water · Reach the town by direct bus from Kamppi
Finnish Railway Museum, Hyvinkää
Finland's national railway museum, with historic locomotives, carriages, the imperial train and model railways. In the winter season (1 September-31 May) it is open Tuesday-Sunday 10:00-18:00; adults EUR 14 (about $16 USD), students and seniors EUR 8 (about $9 USD), children 7-17 EUR 5 (about $5.75 USD), family ticket EUR 30 (about $34.50 USD).
Highlights: See historic locomotives and carriages · Visit the imperial train · Explore the model railways · Reach the museum by a 50-60 minute train from Helsinki · Enjoy an indoor outing in any season
Ainola, Jean Sibelius' Home
The lakeside villa where composer Jean Sibelius lived from 1904 until 1957, kept with original furnishings. The 2026 season ran 2 May-30 September, Tuesday-Sunday 10:00-17:00 (adults EUR 16, about $18.40 USD); the museum is closed for winter now, so plan the visit for May-September 2027 and check ainola.fi.
Highlights: Tour the villa where Jean Sibelius lived from 1904 to 1957 · See the original furnishings · Walk the garden and grounds near Lake Tuusula · Reach Järvenpää by a 40-minute commuter train · Combine the visit with the Järvenpää town centre
Vallisaari Island
A former military island opened to the public in 2016 with forest trails, fortress tunnels, a wild meadow and the neighbouring island of Kuninkaansaari. The ferry season has ended for 2026, so the island is closed to ordinary visitors until May 2027.
Highlights: Walk forest trails and wild meadows on a former military island · Explore fortress tunnels and defensive structures · Cross the stone causeway to Kuninkaansaari · Take the 20-minute JT-Line ferry from the Kolera Basin · Enjoy a seaside picnic away from the crowds
Sipoonkorpi National Park and Kuusijärvi
A forest national park on Helsinki's doorstep with old-growth spruce, marked trails and no entrance fee, starting from Vantaa's Kuusijärvi recreation area where there is a lake beach, cafe and a smoke sauna.
Highlights: Walk marked trails through old-growth spruce forest · Start from the Kuusijärvi lake beach and cafe · Cross the Sudentassu bridge into the national park · Try the Kuusijärvi smoke sauna · Enjoy free access with no entrance fee
Trips by distance
How far you can go in a day.
Getting there
Transport options for day trips.
- Tours
- Guided day tours to Porvoo, Nuuksio and Fiskars run from Helsinki in summer, prices vary by operator; check Visit Helsinki and operator sites for autumn availability
- Private
- A private taxi or car with driver is possible but not regulated: ask for a fixed quote; expect roughly EUR 140-180 one way to Porvoo (about $161-207 USD) per a route aggregator
- Public
- HSL trains, buses and the Suomenlinna ferry cover Helsinki, Espoo and Vantaa on zone tickets; VR trains and Matkahuolto/OnniBus coaches cover Porvoo, Loviisa, Hanko, Ekenäs, Fiskars and Hyvinkää
- Rental
- Car rental is useful for Fiskars, Hanko and Nuuksio; compare Hertz, Avis, Europcar and Sixt at Helsinki Airport and in central Helsinki, as daily rates vary by season
Multi-day tours from Uusimaa
If you have longer than a day, these are organised multi-day trips that start here.
Browse multi-day tours from UusimaaWe may earn a commission from bookings made through this link.
Day trip tips
Make the most of your excursions.
Check seasonal closures first: in October the Runeberg steamer, Vallisaari ferry, Ainola and many Hanko and Loviisa cafes are closed until spring 2027
HSL zone E was added on 2 June 2026 (Järvenpää and northern Tuusula), so Järvenpää trips need a ticket that includes zone E
Buy VR train tickets in the VR app or at vr.fi; buy OnniBus tickets online in advance for the cheapest fares
Pack a rain layer and sit on the correct side of the ferry for Suomenlinna views of the Helsinki skyline
Daylight is short in November-January (sunset around 15:00 in December), so start day trips by 9:00