Pentala island is known for being the iconic island with a lake with another island on the lake and for its history of being home to one Finnish family back in the 1790s - 1986. Besides that, the island is an idyllic summer day destination with seaside restaurant Paven (need an advance booking), a small Café, archipelago museum Pentala, and nature trails around the island. You can come here to enjoy great food, amazing views, and sea air, or even take a whole family. Children can enjoy petting and feeding local sheep that come to the island every summer to care for local flora.
Services on the island
- Archipelago Museum Pentala - Entering the museum areas is free of charge, except for the guided tours. There are sheep petting times for families with children and other daily programs organized by the museum.
- Guided tours to Gurli's house are organized by KAMU - Espoo City Museum guides and take approximately 30 minutes. Tickets for the guided tour can be purchased from the main museum building on the island.
- Sheep petting moments are free of charge and organized daily (Tuesdays-Sundays) by KAMU - Espoo City Museum guides.
- Café Pentala is a small red wooden house welcoming island visitors. The sitting area is located outdoors, and besides sweet and savory snacks, a light lunch (sandwich/soup) is possible to purchase. Café Pentala is not open on Mondays.
- Restaurant Paven is open for individual visitors on Wednesdays between 16:00 and 21:00 from 20.5.-9.9.2026 (for private groups, booking needs to be made in advance)
- Pentala Nature Trail to an iconic lake and sand beach - Diksand beach (2,3 km)
- Picnic area with indoor and outdoor tables
- Drinking water point
- Indoor Toilets
- Diksand sand swimming beach is located on the southern part of the island
Note: Campfires and camping are NOT allowed. All services are mainly open between June and August. Scheduled public boats reach the island between Tuesdays and Sundays (check schedules). It is also possible to reach the island by boat, either on your own or rented.
Explore the Pentala Nature Trail (2,3 km) with an online map
You can reach the island by public boats from harbors in
Red line on the map – Direct Line from harbors in Soukka, Suinonsalmi, and Suomenoja.
Green line on the map – Route Line from Kivenlahti with harbors in Ristiniemi, Soukka, and Suinonsalmi.
(Not on the map) Direct cruise from Helsinki Market Square to Pentala island (only on chosen days during July and the beginning of August)
Hero Image: Visit Espoo / Mika Viitanen
