Photo: Bengt Oberger · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Helinä Rautavaaran museo

An ethnographic museum in central Espoo presents world cultures through the collections of Helinä Rautavaara; admission is always free.

Opening hoursFree admission Wheelchair accessible

Website Directions

About the museum

The Helinä Rautavaara ethnographic museum is based on objects collected by the travel explorer Helinä Rautavaara (1928–1998). She acquired the first collection objects on her journeys in the 1950s, getting to know craftspeople and traders in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

The museum opened in Tapiola, in the WeeGee building, in 1998. It operated in Tapiola from 1998 to 2017, and in autumn 2019 it opened in central Espoo on the second floor of the Entresse shopping centre. The museum is run by the Helinä Rautavaaran etnografisen museon säätiö (Helinä Rautavaara Ethnographic Museum Foundation).

The museum presents world cultures through exhibitions, events and workshops, and aims to bring together people from different backgrounds. Admission to the museum is always free.

Highlights

Art, ritual and everyday objects collected by Helinä Rautavaara
Permanent collection exhibition Kasvokkain
Free admission
Location next to Espoo station
Museum shop

Permanent exhibition

Kokoelmanäyttely Kasvokkain – The permanent exhibition presents art, ritual and everyday objects collected by Helinä Rautavaara, as well as more recent objects and photographs; the theme is encounter.

Founded: 1998
Operated by: Helinä Rautavaaran etnografisen museon säätiö

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Admission to the museum is always free.

Accessibility

Wheelchair accessible
Elevator
Accessible restroom
Accessible parking
Service dogs welcome
Tactile models & exhibits: no information
Sign language tours: no information
Easy-to-read materials: no information
Audio description: no information

The second floor of Entresse can be reached by lift; the museum is step-free, and there are seats in the exhibition space. If needed, sound productions can be lowered. Aids such as a torch and a magnifying glass can be borrowed from the museum shop. The lighting in the exhibition space is set dim to protect the objects. Accessible toilets are on the first floor of the shopping centre, and accessible parking spaces are in the shopping centre car park. Taxis for people with special needs can bring guests to the main entrance of Entresse.

Kids & families

Family tours & workshops

The toilets have been designed with child visitors in mind.

Getting there & parking

By public transit

Espoon asema · 300 m

The museum is 300 metres from Espoo railway station. The commuter trains X, Y, U, L and E stop at the station, and the journey from Helsinki Central railway station takes about 25 minutes. Several bus routes stop at the Espoon asema (Siltakatu) and Espoon keskus stops.