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Winter holidays at Heureka 2026: exhibitions and experiences for the whole family
Buy Heureka tickets €3 cheaper in advanceAre you wondering what to do on your winter holiday in Helsinki, Vantaa or the Helsinki Metropolitan Area? Science Centre Heureka is a weather-proof winter holiday destination: rain or sunshine, you'll definitely have fun here all day. Heureka has lots of fun things to do indoors and it's suitable for families, children, couples and friend groups. When the winter weather is nice, it's also nice to explore the stone park in front of Heureka.
In this article you will find everything you need to plan a fun winter holiday at Heureka. We offer interactive exhibitions , amazing performances and a newly renovated planetarium . You can also learn more about Heureka's opening hours , arrival instructions , prices and other practical tips.
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A newly renovated planetarium
The planetarium has undergone the biggest transformation in its history! The presentation technology has been updated to meet today's expectations and standards - meaning it's now extra fun to come and watch planetarium films.
During the winter holidays of 2026, Heureka will be showing three planetarium films. Note! The age limit for the planetarium is 5 years.
- Asteroid Quest is a film about asteroids and how we study them with probes. It is best suited for ages 10 and up.
- The Stellars - Mission: Green is a fun-filled character animation that explores what a forest needs to function. The film is particularly suitable for children aged 5–10.
- Recombination is a film for you if you want to experience a captivating art show. It is a meditative journey where art comes to life.
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Inspiring exhibitions
Heureka's exhibitions offer plenty of fun and diverse indoor activities for the winter holidays. All exhibitions invite you to experiment and discover - and at the same time learn new things about different themes.
During the winter holidays in 2026, it is especially worth experiencing:
1) The new Play and Explore exhibition , which brings together the most popular sites from the Power of Play exhibition and the gems from the Idea Workshop.2) The Water - the Stream of Life exhibition , which opened in autumn 2025, will allow you to listen to the story of the glacier, explore hidden water and build dams, among other things.
3) The extremely popular Giants of the Ice Age exhibition , where you will encounter almost 20 life-size animal robots.
Below you will find all of Heureka's exhibitions.
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Giants of the Ice Age
8.2.2025–30.8.2026
Nearly twenty life-size animal robots await visitors at the Giants of the Ice Age exhibition - including a mammoth and a saber-toothed cat!
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Our Journey in Space
10.2.2024-6.1.2027
Our Journey in Space is an interactive science center exhibition for the whole family
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Play and Explore
On display until further notice
The exhibition consists of sites from the Power of Play exhibition and the Idea Workshop. Play is natural and essential for human well-being. Playing is about exploring and experimenting, getting to know ourselves and each other. Through play, we learn to explore the world, and we should maintain this skill...
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Exhibitions Outdoors
Open until 27.9.2026
At Science Park Galilei you can try out large-scale objects based on music, mathematics and physics phenomena. Open until 27.9.2026
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Water – The stream of Life
On display until further notice
Water – The Stream of Life. The exhibition is suitable for people of all ages and backgrounds, to children and to adults, as well as the curious and those who like to delve deeper.
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Artificial Intelligence – Me, Myself & AI
Exhibition is on display until further notice
Welcome to the world of artificial intelligence! The mini-exhibition brings together the best parts of the previous exhibition at Heureka. Come and try out the artificial intelligence-based devices and games that the main character of the exhibition, the Scientist, had made for his home.
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Heureka Classics
On display until further notice
Experience our classic destinations with the whole family! Heureka Classics has a selection of the most beloved aha-experiences.
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Science on a Sphere
The Science on a Ball site presents data collected by satellites about climate and space, among other things.
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Main Exhibition Area
In the main exhibition area you will find tightrope cycling, Foucault's pendulum, the Water - the Stream of Life exhibition and Heureka classics.
Discover Heureka's new planetarium films
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Asteroid Quest
Best suited for ages 10+
In the planetarium film Asteroid Quest, you will learn about asteroids, their secrets, and how scientists are learning to deflect asteroids to prevent catastrophic collisions.
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The Stellars - Mission: Green
Especially recommended for elementary school aged children
The Stellars - Mission: Green planetarium film combines space adventure, humor and a message of environmental protection.
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The Heart of the Forest
On the program from June 1st
Welcome to an enchanting journey into the world of trees! In the planetarium film The Heart of the Forest you will learn about the cycle of life, the power of forests, and their biodiversity.
Amazing performances
During the winter holidays, Heureka offers various public performances every day. You can find out more about the detailed program for your visit in advance from the daily program and on the information displays on site on the day of your visit.
Come watch entertaining science theater performances , step into the shoes of a scientist in the laboratory , and learn about tame rats at rat feeding shows .
Discover Heureka's public performances
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Science On a Sphere -shows
During guided performances, participants analyse satellite data about the oceans, climate, the earth's crust and space.
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Laboratory experiments
In the laboratories, you can learn about microscopy or chemical reactions, for example, under the guidance of an inspirer.
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Rat feeding show
Heureka's domestic rats are among the science center's most popular destinations. In the rat feeding shows, you will hear more about the life of Heureka's rats.Their performances are on hiatus due to renovations and will continue in the beginning of 2025.
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Heureka is a family-friendly winter holiday destination
Heureka has everything you could want from a winter holiday destination. Fun things to do for the whole day, a restaurant , a shop and free parking. Below you will find all the practical information you need to plan your visit.
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Tickets and prices
You can buy Heureka tickets in advance for €3 less from the online store. The Heureka ticket includes all exhibitions, programs and planetarium films.
In advance from the online store (tickets for the current day can be purchased from the online store until Heureka's opening time and then on site):
- €23/adult (over 18 years old)
- €16/children + youth (5–17 years)
- €16/students, unemployed, pensioners and conscripts*
- €0/children under 5 years old.
- €0/ Museum Card / Kaiku card
On-site (ticket sales on-site end one hour before Heureka closing time):
- €26/adults (over 18 years old)
- €19/children + youth (5–17 years)
- €19/students, unemployed, pensioners and conscripts*
- €0/children under 5 years old.
- €0/ with Museum Card and Kaiku Card
Directions and parking
Heureka is easily accessible by public transport or by car. For more detailed arrival instructions, click here.
What should you bring with you to visit Heureka?
You don't need to bring anything special with you to visit Heureka - all you need is a curious mind!
- You are allowed to bring your own snacks and can eat them in the snack area upstairs. The snack area is accessed via a spiral staircase or elevator, which can be found next to the Giants of the Ice Age exhibition .
- It is a good idea to wear comfortable clothes to Heureka so that it is as comfortable as possible to try out the functional sites, such as the Moon Walk site in the Our Journey in Space exhibition .
What ages is Heureka suitable for?
Heureka is suitable for all ages. There is plenty to do for both children and adults, so you can come to Heureka during the winter holidays with the whole family or just adults. Here are a few age recommendations and restrictions that are good to know before visiting:
- The age limit for the planetarium is 5 years. The Stellars - Mission: Green planetarium film is especially recommended for children aged 5–10, the Asteroid Quest planetarium film is recommended for those over 10, and the Recombination planetarium film is especially suitable for adults.
- The Play and Explore exhibition is especially suitable for the youngest members of the family.
- The Moonwalk attraction in the Our Journey in Space exhibition has a height limit of 140–210 cm and a weight limit of 30–150 kg.
Toilets and childcare facilities
- The childcare facilities is located in the entrance hall behind the coat racks. The toilets are also located in the same area.
- Toilets are also available in the corridor behind the spiral staircase next to the Giants of the Ice Age exhibition and in the snack area upstairs. The snack area is accessible via the spiral staircase or by elevator.
Dining and shopping
- The Science Restaurant offers a hearty lunch, a delicious Science Snack Menu, and smaller savory and sweet snacks every day.
- Heureka Shop is located in the lobby. You will find the best science gifts and souvenirs from your visit to Heureka.
Accessibility
- Heureka is committed to providing an accessible experience for all visitors. Our space is designed to accommodate various mobility restrictions and other special needs. You can read more about accessibility at Heureka by clicking here.
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Quick tips for your winter holiday visit to Heureka
1) During weeks 8 and 9 we are open Mon–Fri 9 am–6 pm and Sat–Sun 10 am–6 pm. You can find other opening hours, arrival instructions and prices on the Information for visiting page.
2) The average visit time at Heureka is about 4 hours - so it's worth setting aside plenty of time for the day! If you're looking for a quieter time for your winter holiday visit, it's worth arriving first thing in the morning or alternatively later in the afternoon.
3) During the winter holidays in 2026, it is especially worth experiencing the completely renovated and state-of-the-art planetarium at Heureka. We also recommend visiting the newest exhibitions Play and Explore and Water - the Stream of Life .
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