Korkeasaari Zoo’s new entrance building opens

The opening of Korkeasaari Zoo’s new entrance building will be celebrated on Monday, 1 December 2025. On the opening day, the entrance building will feature special ticket and product offers. It is also the last free-admission day of the year, when visitors can enter the zoo free of charge (visitor numbers may need to be limited if necessary). The zoo will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with last entry at 3 p.m. The entrance building will remain open for one hour after the zoo closes.

In addition to ticket sales, the new entrance building houses Korkeasaari’s new shop and Café Bron, operated by Korkeasaari’s restaurants. The building, shop, and café can also be visited without a zoo ticket – welcome!

Aligning construction work with values

The design of the new entrance building has been based on environmentally friendly construction that aligns with Korkeasaari Zoo’s values. Ecological, nature-friendly solutions have been chosen for both design and materials, including wooden structures and façades, and a green roof that blends the building into the surrounding landscape. The building was designed by AFKS Arkkitehdit Frondelius+Keppo+Salmenperä Oy. The main contractor was Arkta Rakennuskultti Oy, and Brado Oy served as the construction consultant.

The building, named Paanu, is a multifunctional space and the building has been designed to be fully accessible. Alongside ticket sales, the zoo entrance, Korkeasaari Zoo’s shop, and Cafe Bron, the new entrance building includes a 40-person conference room that will be available for reservations. The Wildlife Hospital’s patient reception will also take place in the new entrance building, at the Security entrance.

Construction of the entrance building began in July 2024, and the cornerstone was laid on Wednesday, 23 October 2024. A time capsule was placed inside the cornerstone, containing, among other things, a zoo map, photos, and a list of the zoo’s animals on the day of the ceremony. During the ceremony, Korkeasaari’s CEO Sanna Hellström emphasized the importance of the project for Korkeasaari and Helsinki residents: “Korkeasaari is one of Helsinki’s best-known attractions, and the new entrance via the Crown Bridges connects our island more closely to the city. The building will become Korkeasaari’s new façade for users of the tram line.”

Many routes to Korkeasaari Zoo

On Monday 1 December, in addition to the new entrance building, the Korkeasaarensilta bridge between Mustikkamaa and Korkeasaari will also reopen after renovations that began in August. The bridge has been renovated to match the traffic arrangements of Crown Bridges Light Rail. From December, the zoo can be reached either from Nihti via Finkensilta or from Mustikkamaa via Korkeasaarensilta, as the zoo’s ticket sales will fully shift from Nihti and Mustikkamaa to the new entrance building and both bridges will open to all pedestrians and cyclists.

The Crown Bridges bring Korkeasaari closer to Helsinki’s city centre. Finkensilta and Merihaansilta, which opened in June 2025, shorten the distance from Korkeasaari to Hakaniemi. Access from Kalasatama metro station is supported by tram line 13, as its terminus is located near Finkensilta bridge. On Mustikkamaa, near the Korkeasaarensilta bridge, is the terminus of bus line 16. Crown Bridges tram service between Laajasalo and Hakaniemi is planned to begin in 2027. Once the tram line is completed, visitors will also be able to reach the entrance to Korkeasaari Zoo by tram.