I have spent so much time here over the years. From when I used to live in Helsinki, and now when we just come to visit, I always have a great time! The birds and squirrels are tame to the point you can easily interact with them. It has many beautiful walking trails and the old historic buildings are an added bonus.

Spent a great day on the island and at the open-air museum. We went on a Sunday, so we expected it to be quite crowded, but in the morning it wasn't too full. Very interesting collection of traditional wooden houses. There are many squirrels on the island, but we managed to see only one. If we visit again we're going to bring our own lunch as we found it difficult to find an open cafe.

This sprawling museum has a variety of old buildings spanning the history of Finland. It was put together very logically. From the grand Russian house and the manor building, to the bear cache and the haymakers cottage, there is something for everyone. A few buildings each day have people in them who represent historical types of Finns, and they all speak reasonably good English. There is a nice little cafe, a lot of singing and flying birds (no squirrels, though) and if you go off the beaten path there are all sorts of little trails that lead to spectacular views of the lake. Especially nice on a cool, sunny day. And clean and free washrooms!

The island is accessible for free and allows you to complete a journey to different parts of Finland thanks to the restored buildings. Paying the ticket you can enter some buildings where the staff, dressed in the traditional way, is totally available to tell the story and anecdotes of those places. Dining options are available on the island. Although it is possible to arrive by bus, I recommend taking the path that runs along the sea starting from the city center.

This beautiful sanctuary, an open air museum, has lush greenery, a variety of fauna, scenic locations and many 17-18th century houses that have been relocated from various parts of Finland. The houses and their interiors exhibit the traditional life from the the bygone era. Most of the houses have guides dressed up in traditional costumes and they animatedly share information. There was no ticket to go around the place. There's a nominally priced ticket only in case you want to visit the interiors of the houses. They provide a map of the area with proper guidance about the routes.The ticket is a must have for those who love history and culture.It was a sheer delight for a period era buff like me. Being inside those houses was like being transported back to those times. There are cafes and ice cream kiosks in case you want to have something. The place was sheer bliss to be in and was one of the major highlights of the Helsinki visit for us. Highly recommended. The visit could take about 2 -4 hours depending upon how leisurely your pace is. The bus ride from Helsinki is about 20 min.

We took the bus from the train station to Seurasaari, and then took the same bus back. It drops you right in front of the entrance to the island! This is a very nice way to spend half a day, and it is free to enter unless you want to visit the historical buildings. We walked along the paths and went down to one of the beaches, had some ice cream, visited the gift shop, and had a wonderful relaxing time. We only saw one squirrel but were able to feed multiple birds from our hands on one of the hiking trails!

Great for those who want to combine nature with history. The sea and the small beaches are an added bonus. Great for sunny days in both summer and winter. If the ice is strong enough walking around the island on a sunny day of early March is magical.