Saila Puranen/Heureka
Frequently asked questions (FAQ) about Heureka
What is Heureka's street address?
Heureka's street address is Tiedepuisto 1. The street address of Heureka's visitor parking area is Kuninkaalantie 7. Heureka's postal address is P.O. Box 166, FIN-01301 Vantaa.
How do you reach Heureka by car?
Heureka is easy to reach by car, because the route to our large parking area is well marked. Heureka is located in the Tikkurila area in the City of Vantaa, to the west of the main railway line and south of the Keravanjoki river. Heureka's parking area is located on the eastern side of the main railway line. The address of the parking area is Kuninkaalantie 7. There are signs guiding visitors to the parking area from both the Kehä III ring road (route E18) and Tikkurila.
Parking for the disabled is available in front of the Heureka building and can be accessed from the Härkävaljakontie street.
When is Heureka open?
Heureka is open every day of the year with the exception of Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Midsummer Eve. The opening hours vary depending on the season and can be checked from the Visitor Information window.
Is there a restaurant at Heureka?
Yes. Restaurant Café Einstein is located next to the main entrance. The restaurant is open when Heureka is open and at other times by separate arrangement. During the summer, the restaurant also opens its outdoor terrace to visitors.
Can you bring your own lunch or snack with you to Heureka?
Yes. In the lobby, there are tables and chairs for guests to use and lockers where e.g. school groups can store their packed lunches. During the opening hours of Galilei Science Park (May-September), guests can also eat their own packed lunches in the outdoor pavilion. There is also the possibility to grill foods, such as sausages, but such arrangements must be made with the personnel at the customer service centre.
Can I take photographs at Heureka?
Yes. Photography for private purposes is permitted at Heureka unless otherwise stated for a specific exhibit.
Are there guided tours at Heureka?
Heureka's exhibitions are interactive, so visitors are encouraged to independently walk through the exhibitions. Some of the exhibitions, however, are such that their content is more broadly or easily understood with the help of a guided tour. In such cases, guided tours are arranged at separately scheduled times.
Tours can also be arranged for visiting groups for an additional fee. Such requests should be made in connection with the group reservation.
How young a child can I bring to Heureka?
Children of all ages are welcome to visit Heureka, since everyone gets something out of the stimulating and inspiring environment. It is easy to move around Heureka with a pram or push-chair, because there is no need to use any steps or elevators. Push-chairs can also be borrowed from the main information desk.
We do not recommend the planetarium films for children under 6 years of age.
In which order should I tour the exhibition?
Each visitor can freely decide their own route through Heureka's exhibitions. The exhibitions at Heureka rarely have any specific order based on content or chronology. A good method for viewing the exhibitions is to start with the exhibitions in which you are most interested.
How much time should I reserve for my visit to Heureka?
According to our visitor survey, a typical visit to Heureka lasts 2-3 hours. The time may be longer if your visit includes a planetarium film at the Heureka planetarium. There are approximately 200 exhibits at Heureka. If you spend, for example, one minute at each exhibit, you will easily spend more than three hours!
Why doesn't the exhibits always work?
The exhibits at Heureka are interactive, which means that visitors have hands-on contact with them in one way or another. Equipment that has been subjected to heavy use may be damaged, and the repair time varies in accordance with the type and extent of the damage. Our maintenance staff tries to fix the problems as quickly as possible.
Sometimes, exhibit instructions may not be sufficiently unambiguous, making the use of the exhibit equipment difficult. Please contact our personnel if a device does not seem to be working properly.
Can I still use the same entrance ticket to get into Heureka if I leave the building briefly?
Heureka's entrance ticket, or sticker, is valid for the entire day, so guests may come and go as they please during that time
Is scientific work carried out at Heureka?
Generally not. Heureka is an exhibition and activity centre which displays and demonstrates the achievements of science and technology. The research work carried out at Heureka is limited to scientific learning and scientific communications research.
How many people visit Heureka each year?
In 2010, Heureka had 231 522 visitors. The average annual number of visitors to Heureka since 1989 has been 278 354 people, of which approximately one fourth is school groups.
How many people are employed by Heureka?
At the end of 2010, Heureka employed 63 full-time employees. In addition to them, Heureka is manned by temporary personnel and volunteers.
Who does own Heureka?
Heureka's activities are managed by the Finnish Science Centre Foundation. The Foundation was jointly established in 1984 by the University of Helsinki, the Helsinki University of Technology, the Federation of Finnish Learned Societies, the Confederation of Finnish Industry and Employers, the City of Vantaa, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Trade and Industry, the Ministry of Finance, the Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions SAK and the Trade Union of Education in Finland OAJ.
Heureka's facilities and property are owned by the real estate company Kiinteistö Oy Tiedepuisto, whose shares are exclusively owned by the City of Vantaa.
Where does Heureka get its funding?
Approximately half of Heureka's funding is earned through its own activities, including entry fees. The other half of the funding is support provided primarily by the City of Vantaa and the Ministry of Education.
