The museum building was originally constructed in 1914 as a bottle blowing factory for the Riihimäki Glassworks.
The facility was redesigned by famed designer Tapio Wirkkala and opened as a museum in 1980.
The collections contain over 30,000 individual glass objects spanning three centuries.
The museum preserves the history of Finnish glass industry hubs like Nuutajärvi and Iittala.
The permanent exhibit features an interactive model demonstrating how molten glass is gathered and blown.
It holds the most comprehensive collection of Finnish design glass in the world.
The Finnish Glass Museum is located within the historic Riihimäki glassworks area, documenting the 300-year history of Finnish glass production. The permanent exhibition covers the development of glass technology from the 17th century to the modern era, featuring both industrial and art glass. Housed in a former bottle factory renovated by architect Tapio Wirkkala, the building itself is a prime example of adaptive reuse. The collection includes significant works from renowned Finnish glass designers like Alvar Aalto, Kaj Franck, and Oiva Toikka. Visitors can view the evolution of manufacturing techniques, including glass blowing and machine production. The museum maintains an extensive archive of design drawings and historical manufacturing records. It serves as the national museum for the Finnish glass industry and design heritage.
The central atrium and the mezzanine levels offering views of the iconic, towering glass-display pedestals.
Combine your visit with a walk through the surrounding historic Riihimäki glassworks village to see preserved worker housing.
Check the temporary exhibition calendar before visiting, as these often feature focused retrospectives on specific designers.
Allow extra time for the museum shop, which carries high-quality Finnish glassware and literature on glass design.
Do not attempt to touch the glass displays; most are fragile and lack physical barriers to maintain clear sightlines.
Closed on Mondays throughout the year.
