What can I see during my visit when SEA LIFE is partially open?
SEA LIFE Helsinki has been closed since 20 October 2025 due to extensive renovation work. Although we will partially reopen the centre on 16 January 2026, the renovation will continue. During this period, we are renewing our Ocean Tank area, which will remain completely closed to visitors from 16 January to 12 February 2026, after which it will be opened in stages. The area will be fully completed during spring 2026.
We kindly ask for your understanding and patience during your visit, as our exhibition will be more limited than usual and there will be special arrangements in place for moving around the centre. The renovation area is clearly separated, and visitors will be guided past it via a temporary route. The temporary route past the Ocean Tank takes you from the lionfish directly to the Bay or Rays. See the route here!
Most of the exhibition and our animals are still available to view as normal, and our staff will be on site to assist and guide you. During the renovation, you can explore the rainforest area, admire the colourful fish of the tropical zone, visit the Bay or Rays, discover the Rockpool and learn more in the Conservation Cove. In addition, a new Octopus Cave was built during the autumn in the former SEA LAB space, where you can also try a brand-new VR experience for an additional fee.
We apologise for any inconvenience caused by the renovation work and the limited exhibition, and we thank you for your understanding.
Once the renovation is complete, the Ocean Tank and the surrounding area will reopen fully renewed and more impressive than ever. We are very much looking forward to welcoming you to our updated exhibition!
- The new exhibition areas will open gradually during the beginning of the year.
- The fully renewed, more impressive exhibition will be completed in spring 2026.
- We will announce the exact opening date later!
Questions and answers about the partial reopening
SEA LIFE Helsinki has been closed throughout the autumn due to renovation work. We will partially reopen our exhibition on 16 January 2026. Below we have gathered answers to common questions about the Ocean Tank renovation and the temporary arrangements.
Although part of the exhibition is restricted due to renovation work at the start of the year, there is still plenty to see and many exciting marine experiences to enjoy! The majority of our tanks and animals are available as normal, and the renovation will make the exhibition even more impressive in the future.
Even though the Ocean Tank is closed, you can still explore the rainforest area, admire the colourful tropical fish, visit the Bay of Rays, investigate the Rockpool, and learn more at Conservation Cove. You will also be able to watch feedings and meet many charming residents during the renovation. These areas and their themed environments offer plenty to discover and enjoyment for all ages.
Our SEA LIFE educators will continue sharing interesting and fun facts about the animals and their daily lives, and during this period we will offer more activities than usual. Feedings will exceptionally be held every 30 minutes, and there will be plenty of fun craft and drawing activities for all ages. In addition, you will receive a fun Fish Safari task sheet from the admissions counter, which you can use to explore the entire exhibition.
On top of all that, a new Octopus Cave has been built during the autumn in the former SEA LAB area. There you can also try a completely new VR experience for an additional fee.
There is plenty to do for the whole family. Welcome to enjoy your visit!
The Ocean Tank area and its tunnel will remain closed for a while longer due to renovation work. A temporary route past the Ocean Tank runs from the lionfish tank to the Bay of Rays and is marked on the map above. Unfortunately, this temporary route is relatively narrow and cannot be accessed with wheelchairs or larger prams. Visitors with reduced mobility will be directed to turn back at the lionfish tank, return to the beginning of the exhibition, and access the end section from there. We apologise for any inconvenience caused by this temporary situation.
SEA LIFE Helsinki will turn 24 next year, and although the centre has been well maintained and regularly updated over the years, a more extensive refurbishment is sometimes necessary.
We are currently undergoing a major renewal, centred around our largest and most impressive tank: the 250,000-litre Ocean Tank, which can be viewed both from the side and from below through the underwater tunnel. During the renovation, the tank is being fully refurbished and rethemed to provide an even better home for the animals and an even more visually stunning and inspiring experience for our visitors. The renewed tank will also welcome some highly anticipated new residents.
We are also updating other exhibition areas, and the Ocean Tank area will feature not only new theming but also a brand-new interactive exhibition experience. We will share more exciting news about this soon, so stay tuned!
In addition, we are updating SEA LIFE’s behind-the-scenes areas, which visitors can explore during our Behind the Scenes tour. Our goal is to make it even clearer how the aquarium operates behind the scenes and what is involved in caring for the animals.
We are working hard to make your future visit even more memorable, so thank you for your patience during these major improvements!
During the winter season, SEA LIFE is a great family-friendly attraction, and we want to offer families enjoyable activities during the cold and rainy early months of the year. The renovation work is clearly confined to its own area, and visitors are guided past it via a temporary route.
Although the exhibition is slightly more limited at the start of the year due to renovation work, there is still plenty to see and enjoy, as most of the tanks and animals remain available as normal.
During the renovation of the Ocean Tank, visitors can explore the rainforest, tropical area, the Bay of Rays, Rockpool, and Conservation Cove, and learn more about the oceans.
Our educators will continue sharing interesting and fun facts about the animals and their daily routines, and during this time we offer more activities than usual: feedings take place every 30 minutes, and there are many fun craft and drawing activities for all ages. You will also receive a Fish Safari task sheet at the admissions counter, which you can use to explore the exhibition.
Additionally, a new Octopus Cave has been built during the autumn in the former SEA LAB space, where you can try a completely new VR experience for an additional fee.
The Ocean Tank is currently under renovation, so the three blacktip reef sharks and the bamboo shark that live there will not be visible during this period. However, most of our sharks live in the Bay of Rays, which remains open as normal. During the renovation, you can still see the nursehound, Small-spotted catsharks and pyjama sharks. You can read more about the sharks on display here.
