FOREST · WATERFRONT
Old Town Bay
Nature Run
- Distance
- 9.8 km
- Time
- 50 min – 1 h 05
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Terrain
- Flat
- Surface
- Gravel & paved
Reed beds, rapids and birdlife: a quiet out-and-back around the Old Town Bay nature reserve.
Vanhankaupunginlahti, the Old Town Bay, is where Helsinki was founded in 1550 and today one of the most important bird wetlands in the capital region. It is also a peaceful place to run.
From the Kyläsaari shore the route heads north through Arabianranta to the Vanhankaupunginkoski rapids and the old hydroelectric power station, now a museum, then crosses to the Viikki side of the reserve with its fields and reed beds.
The paths are wide, well maintained and almost flat, with woodland sections along the river. Bring binoculars on a walk day; on a run day, just enjoy the silence.
Highlights
- Vanhankaupunginkoski rapids
- Helsinki's founding site
- Viikki nature reserve
- Arabianranta shore park
Practical notes
- Protected nature area: stay on paths, especially in nesting season (spring).
- Mosquitoes on still summer evenings.
Getting to the start
Trams 6 and 8 to Arabianranta. Bus connections to Kyläsaari.