Riihimäki offers several distinct ways to explore cultural history: glass, Finnish art, hunting history and historic museum buildings. The Riihimäki Cultural Route also provides practical guidance between the railway station and the Finnish Glass Museum. You can choose according to your interests and include the route as a part of planning your visit.
Glass history in a renovated glassworks building
The Finnish Glass Museum has been based in a renovated glassworks building in Riihimäki since 1981. Its presentation covers more than 4,000 years of glass history and 300 years of Finnish glass industry history. The collection comprises around 40,000 objects and consists mainly of Finnish household, design and art glass from the 18th to the 21st century. This brings together a broad historical perspective on the material and a collection focused more specifically on Finland. Those interested in glass will find both a long historical timeline and an insight into Finnish design and industrial history.
The cultural route on foot or by bicycle
The Riihimäki Cultural Route comprises two routes. Both start at Riihimäki railway station and end at the Finnish Glass Museum. The longer route is just over four kilometres long; the routes can be travelled on foot or by bicycle. Signs mark the entire route and also show distances. The shared endpoints make it easier to find your way without requiring you to plan for a particular mode of transport. Route details may change, so check the current route description before your visit.
Art, exhibitions and events
The Riihimäki Art Museum offers an overview of works by Finnish artists from the first half of the 20th century. Its collection includes almost 2,500 objects and works of art. The programme includes changing exhibitions, lectures, workshops, concerts and other events for visitors of all ages. If you would like to plan your visit around an event, check the dates when making your plans. Its focus on Finnish art differs from the long history of glass at the Finnish Glass Museum, so the two institutions each have their own emphasis.
Hunting history and local museum history
The Museum of Wilderness Heritage collects, studies, preserves and presents Finnish wilderness heritage culture, past and present. Its collections include more than 20,000 hunting-related artefacts and almost 170,000 photographs. The permanent exhibition provides a general overview of the ten-thousand-year history of Finnish hunting and its development from a means of subsistence into a leisure activity. Each year, the museum offers several exhibitions and events for local and national audiences. The focus here is on a long social development, rather than the history of glass or art.
Työväentalomuseo is located in the Peltosaari district, about 500 metres from Riihimäki railway station and the city centre. This approximate distance provides a practical reference point for the museum’s location. Teuron työväentalo was moved to its present location in Riihimäki and opened there as a museum on 25 October 1969. These two details offer different points of reference for exploring Riihimäki’s museums: a location in a district and an exact date from the museum’s history.
The different themes can help you choose your cultural itinerary: the Finnish Glass Museum focuses on glass history, the Riihimäki Art Museum on Finnish artists from the first half of the 20th century, and the Museum of Wilderness Heritage on the long history of Finnish hunting. The cultural route complements these museum profiles with a route that has clearly defined starting and ending points.
Discover more destinations: Hattula, Hauho, Janakkala, Humppila, Tyrväntö, Loppi, Tammela, Peränne
For the broader travel overview: Kanta-Häme.
