Kiasma to Tennispalatsi: light, domes and Tove Jansson
This is a museum day with a short walk between stops. Begin with contemporary art at Kiasma, look at the roofscape of Amos Rex, then finish with Tove Jansson at HAM. The contrast between the three buildings is part of the point.
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3D shows approximate buildings where map data includes heights. Map privacy.
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About 0.7 km on the routed pedestrian network, plus entrance approaches
Walking time
10–15 minutes walking, excluding stops
Time for the day
4–5 hours with Kiasma, HAM, the outdoor Amos Rex stop and a break
Editorial allowance above the router’s approximately nine minutes; not an accessibility audit
paid indoor exhibition: allow 75–120 minutes. Separate admission applies.
Start · 01
Kiasma: begin with light and movement
Included indoor visit, about 90–120 minutes
Start at Kiasma, where Steven Holl’s crossing walls, ramps and curved roof give the museum a distinctive presence before you enter. Inside, let one exhibition determine the pace. Contemporary installations and moving images need time; read running times rather than sampling every room at the doorway.
On the way out, compare the building’s pale surfaces with the darker floor and the changing light from above. This is the first part of the walk’s architectural sequence: a building that makes movement through it conspicuous.
Outdoor architectural pause, about 10–15 minutes. Optional museum entry adds 75–120 minutes.
Continue towards the Lasipalatsi block, using the mapped pedestrian connection towards Salomonkatu and the square. The domed forms above Amos Rex mark the galleries underneath. Look across the uneven skyline of roof lights towards the older Lasipalatsi building; the museum makes its underground spaces visible through the shape of the public square.
This stop is an outdoor pause in the main itinerary. Going into Amos Rex adds a third substantial exhibition visit, so allow considerably more time if you choose it. The gallery is closed through 13 October 2026 for installation and normally closes on Tuesdays; those restrictions do not turn the square into an indoor museum visit. Follow any on-site restrictions around the domes.
The routed connection returns towards Narinkkatori and follows Salomonkatu and Jaakonkatu towards Tennispalatsi. The short amount of street walking leaves most of the day for the galleries. Look at the building’s tall former sports-hall volume before going up to HAM.
Give Tove Jansson’s Party in the City and Party in the Countryside a sustained look. They were commissioned for a restaurant, and their figures, social atmosphere and small personal references make that original setting important. They also change the familiar scale of Jansson’s work: the artist of intimate book illustrations is working across a wall. Add the temporary exhibition that most interests you, then finish the museum day here.
The base duration includes two paid indoor museums. Amos Rex entry is optional and adds time and a separate ticket.
Wheelchair access inside each museum does not establish that the entire street connection is step-free. Check the individual access notes and current street works.
The walking geometry is a calculated street route, not a field-tested route.
