Design Museum (Designmuseo)
Korkeavuorenkatu 23, Helsinki, Finland, 00130
The state-owned Design Museum—Designmuseo in Finnish—is devoted to Finnish design from the mid-19th century onwards. Located in the heart of the Helsinki Design District near Esplanadi Park, the museum hosts visiting exhibits and permanent collections presenting the history of Finnish applied art and design.
The basics
The museum holds tens of thousands of drawings, photographs, and design objects tracing the development of industrial design in Finland. The museum is easy to visit while exploring central Helsinki, as it's within walking distance of Esplanadi Park, the harbor, and a host of other museums. Guided tours organized by the museum are in English, Russian, and Swedish 1-2 times a month throughout the year—check the museum website for the full schedule.
Things to know before you go
The museum has an on-site café and design store.
The museum has a wheelchair-accessible entrance on Ullanlinnankatu Street and wheelchair-accessible restrooms on the basement floor.
Students receive admission discounts; visitors aged 18 and under, and those holding Helsinki CITY or REGION cards enter for free.
How to get there
The museum is located in central Helsinki on Korkeavuorenkatu Street a few blocks south of Esplanadi Park and one block from the Museum of Finnish Architecture. In this part of Helsinki, walking or biking are the best ways to get around; bike parking racks and a city bike rental are in front of the museum. On public transportation, the museum is reachable on tram #10 and bus #24.
When to get there
During summer in July and August, the museum is open from mid-morning to mid-evening, Monday to Friday, and mid-morning to early evening Saturday to Sunday. Outside of those months, opening hours and days change slightly depending on the time of year; it’s best to check the museum website. Admission is free on the last Tuesday of the month during the long winter season, from September through May.
Which museums to visit in Helsinki
Helsinki is more than a one-museum town. There are a collection of other museums within easy walking distance of the Design Museum. The Museum of Finnish Architecture nearby focuses on 20th-century Finnish architecture. Farther afield, the Sinebrychoff Art Museum holds works from Old Masters, while the Art Museum Ateneum has Finnish art from the 17th century to the modern day. The Helsinki Art Museum and Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma are ideal for travelers interested in contemporary art, culture, and design.
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