Kustaa III:n katu 8, 13100 Hämeenlinna
Parking for passenger cars and buses There is a free of charge parking permit area near the castle by Kustaa III:n katu, as well as free parking spaces along the road. There is another free of charge parking permit area along Tampereentie for both passenger cars and buses.
Approximately 15-minute walk away from Hämeenlinna railway station, and an approximately 10-minute walk from the bus station in the centre of Hämeenlinna. See the Hämeenlinna area map(ulkoinen linkki).
Route planner for the Hämeenlinna local traffic(ulkoinen linkki).
The Prison aims to provide a physically and mentally safe place for our museum visitors and staff during both regular and unprecedented times.
We recommend card payments. We do, however, accept cash in our museum shops and restaurants, and at ticket counters.
See the ticket prices.
Buy ticket online(ulkoinen linkki).
Opening times
2.5.-31.5.: Mon–Sun 10:00–16:00
1.6.-31.8.: Mon–Sun 10:00–17:00
1.9.-30.9.: Tue–Sun 10:00–16:00, Mondays closed
During 1.6.–31.8. ticket sale and museum shop close at 16.30.
Closed on Midsummer Eve.
Guided tours from 1 June to 31 August in Finnish at 10 am, 11 am, 1 pm and 3 pm and in English at 2 pm, maximum 20 people / round.
Guided tours 2–31 May in Finnish on Mon-Fri at 2 pm, on Sat-Sun at 11 am, 1 pm and 2 pm, maximum 20 people / round.
Groups can book private guided tours of The Prison. The duration of the guided tour is approximately 45 minutes. The price of the guided tour is €80/guide + entrance tickets.
During the winter months the Prison Museum can exceptionally, under certain circumstances and subject to certain conditions, open its doors for groups. Please contact the museum for specific details by emailing vankila@kansallismuseo.fi
The Prison – formerly the county prison of Hämeenlinna and currently serving as a museum – is located in the oldest prison cell building in Finland, dating back to 1871. Its cells are small, and both the doorways and corridors are narrow. All the exhibition rooms and cell doors have thresholds. Read more.
The public toilets at the Prison are located on floors 1 and -1, i.e. the bottom floor. The accessible toilet is located on floor -1, i.e. the bottom floor.
The Prison museum shop is located on the first floor. It is open during the prison’s opening hours.
The Prison does not have a café. The nearest café is located at Häme Castle, next to the Prison. It can be found in the castle’s Crown Bakery, and it is open during the summer season from 1 June to 31 August.
The prison and its guided tours are primarily intended for adults and may cause distress to the most sensitive visitors and the youngest museum guests. In addition, The Prison walls feature sexist and racist images and graffiti that may not be suitable for the most sensitive viewers. Children are, of course, welcome at the prison when accompanied by their parents and with their permission. It’s a good idea to explain to very young children in advance what a prison is and why people end up there.
The Prison does not have a baby changing station. Navigating the Prison with a pram or a pushchair is difficult.