Aalto University Summer School
Aalto University Summer School offers high quality academic summer courses and programs at Aalto University.
Make the most out of your summer in Finland with Aalto University Summer School
Why visit Finland in the summer? Everyone should experience the never-setting Nordic summer sun, the clean air, the hundreds of thousands of lakes and islands, and the slower way of life at least once.
Every year, Aalto University Summer School welcome hundreds of students from all over the world. Many students have never visited Finland before and understandably want to get as much out of the experience as possible.
Attending a summer course at Aalto University is the perfect way to get to know the best of Finland in summer while developing new skills and expanding your horizons at Finland’s number-one university for technology, business, arts and design. We have listed 10 must-dos during your stay with us at Aalto that will make the experience unforgettable.
³¢Ã¶²â±ô²â
This list wouldn’t be complete without a sauna experience, as sauna is one of the hallmarks of Finnish culture. ³¢Ã¶²â±ô²â is a modern seaside public sauna that offers you the experience of Finnish sauna along with the opportunity to swim in the baltic sea. The facilities include the traditional Finnish smoke sauna, wood-heated saunas and a classy restaurant with a gigantic wooden terrace.
Allas Sea Pool
Allas Sea Pool is an urban spa and a garden-like oasis located next to the Market Square in the absolute centre of Helsinki. Allas has a total of five saunas and two pools – choose from refreshing seawater or enjoy the heated pool with its pleasant 27 degree Celcius.
Hanaholmen Cultural Center for Finland and Sweden
Hanaholmen/Hanasaari is a cooperation- and cultural centre for Sweden and Finland, as well as a hotel with a high-quality restaurant, wine bar, and sunny terrace open to the public. The building is situated right next to the sea, a couple of metro stops from the Aalto campus, with walking paths around the surrounding nature, including pieces of interesting art installations placed for visitors to enjoy in the outside areas.
Old Market Hall
Old Market Hall is the oldest indoor market where you can find upscale traditional foods and delicacies. The market hall is located right next to the Market Square in Helsinki. At this place, you will find many products ranging from seafood to vegetables and from cheese to pastries. You can also make special orders from the sellers.
Linnanmäki Amusement Park
Linnanmäki, owned by the non-profit Children’s Day Foundation, is a first-class amusement park in Helsinki that raises funds for Finnish child welfare work. The park contains a wide selection of fun rides, the legendary wooden roller coaster being the most popular one. Rides range from ultra-scary to easy-going, so don't worry if you are not a huge adrenaline fan and pay the place a visit!
Day trip to Tallinn
Visiting another country as a bonus during your summer course? Taking the ferry to Tallinn, Estonia from the harbour in Helsinki takes a little over two hours, which gives you plenty of time to spend a full day (or even the night) exploring the unique and cosy Old Town in Tallinn, the beautiful Kadriorg park and art museum, or grab a drink at the Rotermanni square.
Thrift and shop sustainably
The selection at flea markets and second-hand stores has grown significantly in the Helsinki region in recent years. Today, you can find trendy second-hand shops on almost every corner. Additionally, a large outdoor flea market is held every weekend during the summer months – Hietalahti Flea Market. Located right next to the Hietalahti Market Hall, it is one of the largest and most popular flea markets in Helsinki.
Island hopping
One of the many advantages of studying at Aalto University over the summer is getting to enjoy the Helsinki archipelago to its fullest. Helsinki is a maritime city surrounded by hundreds of islands, many of which have tons of great attractions and regular ferry services. Whether you’re staying in downtown Helsinki or a 10-minute metro ride away from the campus in Otaniemi, reaching these islands is fast, easy, and cheap – and it’s one of the best ways to savour everything that the Finnish summer has to offer!
-> Find more information about our top 5 island destinations
Kaisaniemi Historical Outdoor and Botanical Garden
During the summer you can enjoy the relaxing view of ponds and flowers in the central outdoor garden, or grab a coffee and cake at the cosy garden café. Spread around the ponds in the middle of the garden is the Tree of Life, engaging visitors with the evolutionary history and taxonomy of plants. Pay a visit to the Botanical Garden as well, with its tropical breeze and collections of orchids and other exotic plants and flowers.
Beach life close to campus
Enjoying the public beaches in Espoo is a perfect way to experience Finnish summer. With its stunning coastline and numerous lakes, Espoo offers a variety of beautiful beaches where you can swim, sunbathe, or simply relax in nature. Popular beaches located only a few minutes by bus from campus are for example Haukilahti and Matinkylä. Both these beaches have cafés, restaurants, picnic areas, outdoor gyms, playgrounds and even saunas for a truly Finnish experience.
Travel arrangements for Summer and Winter School students
Learn about the guidelines for visa application and budgeting for your stay during the summer course.
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