The beautiful Kulosaari is a great place for kayaking. Rent a kayak from our Kivinokka office and head for the waves.
Kulosaari is a large island between East Helsinki and the eastern part of the city. The island is home to old manors, magnificent villas and Kulosaari Casino, an architecturally impressive building dating back to 1915.
Rent a kayak in the centre of Helsinki
A kayaking trip around Kulosaari is best started from Kivinoka, a peninsula next to Herttoniemi. The Natura Viva kayaking point is located near the Kivinokka beach, on the west side of the peninsula. Kulosaari is immediately visible in front of the paddler as the kayak heads south from the beach. The island can be circumnavigated clockwise or anticlockwise. In this route description, Kulosaari is circumnavigated clockwise.
Sights and nature in East Helsinki
First we paddle south from Kivinokka beach towards Naurissalmi. Through Salmi you reach Tullisaarenselkä. Herttoniemen beach is visible on the left and Kulosaari is on the paddler's right all the time. Through Tullisaarensalmi you paddle westwards to the large Kruunuvuorenselmi. Keep to the shoreline of Kulosaari, as it may be windy on the ridge. Mustikkamaa, Helsinki's famous outdoor island, is on the left side of the paddle. After a while, the yellow-plastered Kulosaaren Kasino (Kulosaari Casino) will meet you at Kulosaari beach.
Head north via Hopeasalmi towards the Kulosaari bridge, then turn east again along the Kulosaari shoreline. Kivinokka is already looming ahead. On the last straight you will encounter two small islands, Leposaari and Varjosaari, to the north of the paddler.
Around Kulosaari is an easy and short paddling route, which is worth keeping close to the shore at all times. However, remember to check the weather forecast before setting off.