Vallisaari
12.6.–17.9.
Mon closed, Tues–Sun 11–18
(open during Midsummer 23.-25.6 and Helsinki Day 12.6.)
HAM
12.6.–22.10.
Mon closed
Tues 10–17.30
Wed–Sun 11.30–19
(closed during Midsummer 23.-25.6.,
open on Helsinki Day 12.6.)
You can, of course, also visit Vallisaari island outside the opening hours of the Biennial. In addition, some of the Biennial’s outdoor works can be experienced outside the regular opening hours: 6 Zheng Mahler, 7 Dineo Seshee Bopape, 8 RED FOREST, 9 Adrián Villar Rojas, 15 Ahmed Al-Nawas & Minna Henriksson, 16 Danielle Brathwaite-Shirley, 20 Alma Heikkilä, 23 Keiken + online works
The Helsinki Biennial is free-of-charge. There is a fee for the ferry.
There is a museum admission fee for the biennial exhibition at HAM Helsinki Art Museum.
You can bring a dog to the Biennial. However, all dogs must be kept on a lead. This is also for the dogs’ own safety. Dogs or other pets may not, however, be brought indoors.
There is a regular ferry service to Vallisaari operated by FRS Finland. The ferry service starts from the Helsinki Biennial pavilion which is next to the Old Market Hall by the Market Square.
FRS Finland also operates a ringline from Kalasatama to Vallisaari, Suomenlinna and Lonna from 22 May to 17 September 2023.
Tickets for the regular ferry service can be bought online or from the Biennial pavilion.
FRS Finland, 010 202 3780 (Mon–Fri 9 am-3 pm), info@frs-finland.fi
The Vallisaari ferries arrive at Luotsipiha.
The ferries leave for the mainland from Torpedo Bay in the east of the island.
Vallisaari is accessible by pushchair, especially ones with large wheels. The terrain in Vallisaari is hilly and the paths are made of sand and gravel.
You can find accessibility information here.
If you have any questions concerning the accessibility of the ferries, please contact the ferry operator:
SRF Finland, 010 202 3780 (Mon–Fri 9 am-3 pm), info@frs-finland.fi
You can also visit the island by your own boat. There are 50 guest mooring places.
Find out more here.
You can visit the island by kayak. Suitable places for coming ashore include the sandy coves by the Luotsipiha pier and the Luotsitalo building. However, it is forbidden to enter the island or come ashore in the restricted areas in the south of Vallisaari.
You can carry a rucksack into the exhibition galleries in Vallisaari. However, in order to protect the works of art, our exhibition attendants will ask you to keep your rucksack in front of you, or in your hand.
It is not safe to swim in the pond on Vallisaari or off the rocks on the shores. You can swim at the sandy cove on Kuninkaansaari. However, the cove is not an official beach.
You can fill your drinking bottle at the water points near the arrival and departure piers in Vallisaari. The island also has an HSY (Helsinki Region Environmental Services) water bar where you can fill several bottles at the same time.
There are several cafes and restaurants in Vallisaari. Most of them are located at Torpedo Bay. Find out more here.