Helsinki City Museum is Finland’s Second Most Popular Museum
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Loading... - Irene Floris
- 10 Feb 2025
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The Helsinki City Museum has solidified its status as an integral part of everyday life in the city, ranking as the second most visited museum in Finland in 2024 with 330,312 visits. The museum continues to engage the public with a diverse range of exhibitions and programs, reflecting the vibrant culture and history of Helsinki.
In 2025, the museum will focus on two significant themes: household waste and nightlife. These exhibitions aim to explore contemporary issues related to environmental responsibility and the social dynamics of urban living.
Throughout 2024, the museum hosted three notable temporary exhibitions:
i. Sun Bodi – The Sweaty History of Gyms: This exhibition delved into fitness culture and its evolution over time.
ii. Places & Hoods – See Helsinki Anew: Offering fresh perspectives on the city, this exhibition encouraged visitors to view Helsinki through a new lens.
iii. M/S Baltic Queers: Showcasing stories of LGBTQAI+ migrants in the Baltic region, this exhibition will remain open until March 2, 2025.
Additionally, a new summer exhibition focusing on environmental responsibility and household waste will open just before May Day.
At Hakasalmi Villa, located on Mannerheimintie, the museum recorded 42,392 visits in 2024. The exhibitions included:
- A Glimpse of Helsinki – Volker von Bonin’s Photos: Highlighting everyday life and cityscapes of Helsinki.
- Glamour and Curtsy – Upstairs and Downstairs Life: Aimed at fans of period drama and manor aesthetics, this exhibition will continue until the end of August 2025.
In October, a new photography exhibition by Stefan Bremer, known for capturing Helsinki’s urban atmosphere, will open, focusing on the city’s nightlife.
Across all its locations—including the City Museum, Hakasalmi Villa, the Tram Museum in Töölö, and the Fire Chief’s House in Kruununhaka—the Helsinki City Museum welcomed a total of 429,327 visitors in 2024. The museum's programs actively engaged young children through baby concerts and interactive theater performances. Daycare groups explored the Children’s Town and Tram Museum, while primary school students learned about cultural environments in Senate Square and documented the city through photography inspired by Volker von Bonin.
The museum also introduced Memory Suitcases, including a newly themed suitcase for LGBTQAI+ reminiscence sessions, fostering connections among gender and sexual minorities.
In addition to the City Museum's activities, the Workers’ Museum, formerly known as the Workers’ Housing Museum, will celebrate its grand opening on August 14 during the Night of the Arts. The updated interiors will feature personal stories from past residents and immersive soundscapes, providing a richer understanding of working-class life in Helsinki. The Workers’ Museum is located in Vallila, adjacent to Linnanmäki amusement park.
The Helsinki City Museum continues to thrive as a cultural hub, engaging visitors with its diverse exhibitions and programs that reflect the city's rich history and contemporary issues. With exciting plans for the future and a commitment to community involvement, the museum remains a vital part of Helsinki's cultural landscape.
