Welcome to our weekend adventure series, where we present a thrilling selection of trails and roads around major European cities. These Tours are easily accessible from the city center and can be tackled either in a single day or be split to offer a full weekend experience. So pack your gear and start exploring – because adventure starts here.

This Collection features three beautiful hikes accessible from Helsinki. It doesn’t take long to escape the buzz of the city and find yourself immersed in archetypal Finnish landscapes, where the right to roam enables you to explore freely. Two of the hikes explore parts of the spellbinding Nuuksio National Park, with its glistening lakes, serene woodland and rugged terrain. Over 100,000 people visit the national park every year and, after walking its trails, you’ll appreciate why.

The third hike discovers the quieter Sipoonkorpi National Park and its nature-rich boardwalks. Sometimes referred to as the last wilderness in Helsinki, the region provides a sanctuary for species like the lynx and European eagle owl. You may want to have your binoculars at the ready. The reward at the end of this Tour is a lake swim or a traditional smoke sauna at Kuusijärvi.

All three Tours are accessible by public transport, while there are also car parks near each start and end point.

If you want to enjoy each of these Tours over a couple of days, there are accommodation options en route. Camping is legal on most of Finland’s trails, so using a backpacking approach is a great option. In fact, it’s essential on the Sipoonkorpi National Park Tour, as there’s no accommodation aside from informal campsites and lean-tos (‘laavu’ in Finnish), which are basic three-sided shelters that open towards a fire pit. In Nuuksio National Park, you can only camp at the designated sites, though there are several to choose from. We give specific guidance on transport and overnight options in the Tour descriptions.

The warmer months are ideal for these hiking adventures. Winter is very cold and there’s likely to be snow underfoot. The daylight hours are also very short. However, you should be prepared for extremes in summer too, as the weather can change quickly, bringing rapid variations in temperature, high winds and thunderstorms. Make sure you always pack warm and waterproof layers.

Curious? Sync your komoot account with your Suunto device and enjoy discovering natural beauty and serenity just a stone’s throw from the Finnish capital.