Linnanmäki (, colloquially Lintsi, ) is an amusement park in Helsinki, Finland. It was opened on 27 May 1950 and is owned by the non-profit (, ), which operates the park to raise funds for Finnish child welfare work. In 2023, the foundation donated , and so far has donated a total of over to this cause.
Linnanmäki is the oldest and most popular amusement park in Finland.Linnanmäen huvipuisto on Suomen suosituin matkailukohde – Sightseeinghelsinki.com (in Finnish)Huvipuistot Suomessa – Gofinland (in Finnish) It has many rides of different types and sizes, and of the all Nordic amusement parks, Linnanmäki has the most rides in relation to the number of visitors. It also has other attractions, including arcades, games, kiosks, restaurants and an outdoor stage on which different performers appear in the summer. The park is open from spring to autumn; the opening day is around May Day and the closing is in the third week of October. Linnanmäki is visited by about a million guests annually. In August 2006, Linnanmäki received its fifty-millionth visitor.Jaana Rannikko Linnanmäen 50. miljoonas kävijä – Turun Sanomat (in Finnish) In terms of wristband prices, Linnanmäki is currently the most expensive amusement park of Finland.
History
In 1950, six Finnish child welfare organisations leased an area in the middle of a recreational zone in Helsinki, consisting of two parks, to establish an amusement park. Initially, the lease was granted for three years. However, in 1953, the city extended the lease and allocated for the park. Following the city plan approved in 1956, the amusement park was further expanded to over . In 1957, the welfare organisations formed the non-profit Children's Day Foundation, which continues to manage and develop the amusement park. Today, the site covers .
Linnanmäki, as the amusement park is known, is built on a hill and takes its name from Vesilinnanmäki (), a name given by locals in the early 20th century due to the presence of two water towers built in 1876 and 1938, respectively. Although the towers were disconnected from the water grid in 2003 and are no longer operational, they are protected by the city's zoning plan and cannot be demolished. There have been plans to utilize the towers year-round in support of the amusement park's activities. The older, angular tower, located near the park's perimeter and the oldest water tower in Helsinki, currently serves as a maintenance and storage facility for the park. The newer, cylindrical tower, which dominates the park and its surroundings, houses an indoor roller coaster called Linnunrata eXtra.
Accidents Since its opening in 1950, Linnanmäki has had two fatalities related to ride accidents, both involving the Vuoristorata roller coaster and resulting from rider negligence. The first incident occurred in 1953 when the roller coaster's brakeman, who had finished his shift, sat in the front row for the final ride of the evening. He did not secure the safety bar, fell off, and was struck by the train. In 1985, a young male guest sitting in the front row managed to open the safety bar and stood up to wave to his friends. He then fell in front of the train and was run over.
The park
Linnanmäki is situated in the Alppila sub-district of Alppiharju, north of Helsinki's city centre, the capital of Finland. The park is located on a hill that offers a nice view of the city. The park has no distinct theming and is relatively compact and densely packed, with rides and attractions in close proximity to each other.
Beyond the amusement rides and attractions, the park is home to the Peacock Theatre (also spelt Peacock Theater), a historic venue built in 1950, renowned for its musical productions.
Visitors can also explore the Sea Life aquarium, the only Sea Life centre in the Nordic countries, which opened in 2002.
Linnanmäki operates from April to October, though the theatre and aquarium are open year-round. From 1996 to 2005, the park also housed Linnanmäen museo, a museum facility near the main entrance that hosted several exhibitions annually.
The park is easily accessible from the city centre by tram lines 3, 8, and 9, as well as bus line 23.
Rides and attractions Linnanmäki currently features 42 rides along with various non-ride attractions. The park's most iconic ride is Vuoristorata, a wooden roller coaster that opened in 1951. It is the most recognisable symbol of the park and was one of the first permanent rides constructed there. Technically, the oldest ride at Linnanmäki is Karuselli, a carousel built in Germany in 1896, which has been at Linnanmäki since 1954.
Linnanmäki has eight roller coasters, complemented by other major attractions, including three tower rides, a Ferris wheel, a river rapids ride, and several spinning rides. Linnanmäki also offers a variety of family-friendly and kiddie rides.
Formerly, admission to the park was free, but since March 2025, a €5 fee is charged for entry to the area (though admission is free for children under 3). Most rides require either a ride ticket or the more popular wristband. The wristband grants unlimited access to all rides for the entire day, subject to height restrictions. , the wristband price is the same for all customers, regardless of age or height.Linnanmäki prices , 2013. Additionally, a season pass is available, providing customers with a personal wristband for each day of the season.Season Fun – Linnanmäki (in English) Separate priority boarding tickets are also offered for Taiga and Swingi, allowing riders to skip the line through a dedicated entrance.
Linnanmäki hosts various events and festivals throughout the year, such as the popular iik!week horror festivaliik!week Horror Festival – Linnanmäki (in English) and the traditional ValokarnevaaliCarnival of Light – Linnanmäki (in English) ("Carnival of Light"). These events are held in the autumn and have been organized since 2016 and 2006, respectively. Until 2019, the season's last day featured a grand fireworks display, but this has not been organized since 2020 due to concerns over responsibility.
Mermaid hall
Vedenneitohalli (English: Mermaid hall) was a popular dunk tank attraction at Linnanmäki from 1951 to 1980. Operated by Finnish fairground operator Lauri Seiterä and his wife Johanna, the attraction featured young female performers dressed in swimsuits, referred to as mermaids. The performers would lie on a platform above a water tank, shielded by a net. For a fee, visitors attempted to hit a target on a pole with a ball. If successful, the target's release mechanism would trigger, causing the performer to fall into the water.
In the 1970s, men were also included as performers after a women's organisation highlighted the issue of gender equality. In 1978, Naisasialiitto Unioni, a Finnish women's organisation, sent a letter to Linnanmäki's management, criticizing the attraction as demeaning to women. Consequently, the attraction was closed in 1980.
Current rides
Roller coasters Name Manufacturer / Model Type Opened Notes / Info Kirnu Intamin / ZacSpin Steel roller coaster, 4th dimension 2007 First compact 4D roller coaster, first 4D roller coaster in Europe. Linnunrata Zierer / Force Steel roller coaster, enclosed 2000 Custom coaster layout with theme design and construction by APW Group in the UK. Built inside a former water tower. Previously known as Space Express (2000–2003). During seasons 2016–2025, optional virtual reality headsets were added to enhance the experience, and the attraction was renamed Linnunrata eXtra. The former name was restored for the 2026 season. Pikajuna Mack Rides / Powered Coaster Powered roller coaster 1990 Custom layout, train engine theme. Previously known as City Express (1990–2003). Salama Maurer Söhne / Xtended SC 3000 Steel roller coaster, spinning cars 2008 Custom layout, built above existing rapids ride. Theming by Farmer Attractions Development, UK. Taiga Intamin / Blitz Coaster Steel roller coaster, launched 2019 Launched roller coaster opening for the 2019 season. Custom layout, is the tallest (), fastest () and longest () roller coaster in Finland. Taiga has two LSM launches, a top hat element and four inversions. The track is located mostly in the area where Vonkaputous once stood, but has elements above Pikajuna and Tulireki, too. The station and queue building is constructed on the former site of Vekkula and Kotkot. Tulireki Mack Rides / e-Motion Coaster Steel roller coaster 2004 First and only operating e-Motion Coaster model. The gimmick of the ride are cars mounted on a suspension allowing them to rock back and forth and side to side. Ukko Maurer Söhne / SkyLoop XT 150 Steel roller coaster 2011 Currently the second tallest and fastest roller coaster in Finland. Vuoristorata Linnanmäki Wooden roller coaster, scenic railway 1951 Designed by Valdemar Lebech, one of seven operating roller coasters to feature brakemen. Vuoristorata has received Coaster Classic award (2001) and Roller Coaster Landmark designation (2025) from American Coaster Enthusiasts.
Major rides Name Manufacturer / Model Opened Notes / Info Autorata Gebrüder Ihle Bruschal / Autoskooter ES-GP 1981(renewed 2007) Bumper cars. Originally the ride had its own canopy, but it is now located beneath the ferris wheel, where it moved in 2007. This is the third bumper car ride at Linnanmäki. Hurjakuru Intamin / Rapids Ride 1998 Course is long, features a long tunnel and two water falls. Kahvikuppikaruselli Mack Rides / Tea Cups 2002 Tea cups carousel. Kehrä Emiliana Luna Park / Enterprise 2009 Enterprise ride made in Italy. The ride was closed from June 2023 to July 2024, when the ride was waiting for a spare part. Kingi Moser Rides / Mach Tower 2014 tall freefall tower, tallest amusement attraction in Finland. Magia Technical Park / Heavy Rotation 2017 Spinning ride with rising and rotating arm. Maisemajuna Gebrüder Ihle Bruschal / Monorail 1979 Monorail train circulating the park. Track length is . This is one of two operating Ihle Monorails and the only one that completes a full circuit. Previously known as Monorail (1979–2003). Mustekala Schwarzkopf / Monster III 1985 Octopus ride, moved to current location in 2010. Previously known as Polyp (1985–2003). Panoraama Intamin / Gyro Tower 1987 tall rotating observation tower. Previously known as Panorama (1987–2003). The gondola was refurbished for the 2020 season. Raketti S&S Power / Space Shot 1999 tall compressed air powered launch tower. Previously known as Space Shot (1999–2003). Rinkeli Technical Park / Ferris Wheel 32 2006 Ferris wheel, in diameter, replaced old ferris wheel from 1964. Swingi Intamin / Gyro Swing 2024 Frisbee type pendulum ride. The ride is high with a maximum swing height of , and it has a 40 passenger gondola. Replaced Kieputin (Top Spin). Viikinkilaiva Zierer / Viking 1981 Swinging ship ride, moved to current location in 2002. Previously known as Viking (1981–2003).
Family rides