Museum open every day during summer!

The Architecture and Design Museum is open all summer, rain or shine. The museum consists of two buildings and several exhibitions – all accessible with a single ticket. In between exhibitions, you can stop by two museum shops, the café, library, and playroom. A warm welcome to the whole family! Visitors under 18 always enter for free.

Enjoy the atmosphere of the city at the café and summer courtyard

At Taito Café (Korkeavuorenkatu 23), you can enjoy lunch, drop in for coffee and a pastry, or have a glass of wine with friends. The café also has outdoor seating. The museum cafe is open daily from 11 am to 6 pm.

The Helsinki City Summer Streets programme has taken over the museum’s front courtyard! This green oasis invites you to spend time playing, relaxing on the terrace, or lounging on a swing. You’ll also find the nearest city bike station right outside.

The summery and green atmosphere continues around the corner in the park surrounding St John’s Church and on the nearby lawn, a popular spot for locals and visitors alike.

Two museum shops, one gift card

The museum is home to two brick-and-mortar shops. Each has a distinct focus, offering a carefully curated selection of products from across the design disciplines. The shops sell iconic design objects and architecture books, fashion, glass and ceramics, as well as jewellery, prints and illustrations.

Tip: A gift card to the Architecture Museum and Design Museum shops is an inspiring present for people of all ages, no matter the occasion! The gift card is valid in both shops.

Workshops, events, guided tours and walking tours

Looking for something hands-on or creative to do? Check out our wide range of events. Our popular Architecture Walking Tours run throughout the summer. You can also join one of our open guided tours or book a private one.

Hidden gems: the library and playroom

In Building A (Kasarmikatu 24), all street-level spaces and services are free to access and open to everyone. You can browse international and Finnish design and architecture magazines or our stunning architecture book collection, organise a meeting or small event, book the library for a public programme of your own, or simply take a break in a peaceful environment. The library is open during the museum’s opening hours and you are welcome to visit at any time during the day. On the same floor, you’ll find the children’s playroom, which is also free to use – a perfect place to rest during a day out in the city or while visiting the museum.

Bonus: Characterful staircases

Over the years, visitors have fallen in love with the museum’s staircases. In Building D, the repeating decorative patterns on the banisters at both ends of the lobby continue to delight. Did you know the building used to be a school, and the knobs on the railings were originally added to prevent children from sliding down the banisters?

The Architecture Museum’s building features one of Finland’s most impressive Neo-Renaissance staircases. The staircase takes up one third of the building’s entire space, as only the central part of architect Magnus Schjerfbeck’s original plan for the house for scientific societies was completed in 1899. Because the building was left unfinished, the staircase stands as a work of art in its own right and gives the house its unique atmosphere. These staircases have become a popular location for wedding photography.