Helsinki Prison

Helsinki Prison is a correctional facility in the Hermanninmäki district with multiple cell blocks, administrative buildings, and recreational areas within a secured compound. The facility was modernized during the 1990s and now houses a museum displaying personal objects and artifacts connected to the lives of those who were held here.

The Finnish Senate authorized construction of the facility in 1874, and it opened in 1881 as Helsinki's main prison. During World War II, it held notable political figures, including a former president and prime minister, during post-war trials.

The names of former inmates are carved into the stone walls of the prison museum, telling stories of those who spent time here over the generations. These marks offer visitors a direct connection to the lived experiences and memories of people who passed through these corridors.

The museum area is open to visitors and shows prison life through exhibitions and objects left by inmates. Plan enough time to walk through the different rooms and examine the displays at a relaxed pace.

Visitors can see handwritten graffiti and personal messages that prisoners carved into the walls over many decades. These spontaneous scratched markings offer an intimate look into the thoughts and feelings of people living under confined conditions.

Location: Helsinki

Inception: 1881

Official opening: 1881

Operator: Rikosseuraamuslaitos

Phone: +358295682014

Website: https://rikosseuraamus.fi/en/index/units/prisons/helsinkiprison.html

GPS coordinates: 60.19472,24.96944

Latest update: December 7, 2025 20:26