Helsinki/Northern suburbs

Helsinki's northern suburbs are the northernmost part of Helsinki and form the continuum between Vantaa and more central parts of Helsinki. Here, this is defined as northwest of motorway 4 and north of Käpylä, Hakamäentie and Haaga roundabout; in other words north of the tram line termini. Like much of the peripheral Capital Region it's dominated by apartment buildings, industrial areas and a couple of malls but no major attractions are located here. Still, if you're a fan of outdoor activities like running or biking you might be interested in Helsinki's own "Central Park".

Get in

You can get in from elsewhere in Helsinki, Espoo and Vantaa by local trains and local buses. See Journey Planner or Google Maps for routes and schedules. One notable bus route is the 550, known as Jokeri, a bus rapid transit (BRT) line. As of 2023, it was replaced by a light rail line, Raide-Jokeri (tram line 15).

If coming by intercity train from the north or east and are going to somewhere in northeastern Helsinki, get off in Tikkurila and take a local train to your destination. Also, the trains from the 🌍 Helsinki Airport (HEL IATA) along the Ring Line stops at many suburbs. One of the most significant traffic points in northern Helsinki, 🌍 Malmi railway station, is located along the railway line between the center of Helsinki and Tikkurila, in the immediate vicinity of many commercial services. Helsinki's general aviation airport Malmi is located in northern Helsinki.

Roads leading north from Helsinki, i.e. highways and freeways 120, 3, 130, 45 and 4 go through the northern suburbs. The first ring road (Kehä I), numbered 101, is the main east-western road in northern Helsinki.

See
  • 🌍 Malmi airport (Malmin lentokenttä). Located north of Malmi, the airport was the general aviation airport of Helsinki after the opening of Helsinki Airport. After two decades of planning, debates and protests, the airport was shut down entirely in 2021 after functioning as an uncontrolled airfield for a few years. The City of Helsinki will turn the area into a new residential district, though the functionalist terminal building will be preserved. 
  • 🌍 Tuomarinkylä Manor Museum, Tuomarinkyläntie 7 (Buses 64, 72). A look into the daily life on an 18th-century manor. Also hosts a restaurant and a riding school. 
  • 🌍 Rhododendron park (Alppiruusupuisto). Helsinki University's rhododendron research garden in the Haaga district is also a public park that you can visit around the year. Best time to for visiting are in early or mid-June when the rhododendrons bloom. (updated Jul 2016)
  • 🌍 Kannelmäki Church (Kannelmäen kirkko), Vanhaistentie 6. Finished in 1968 and looking like a copper pyramid with windows along the edges forming a cross. It's listed by the Finnish National Board of Antiquities as a "nationally remarkable built cultural environment". (updated Sep 2023)
  • 🌍 Tapanila Church (Tapanilan kirkko), Veljestentie 6. The 1957 church building designed by Per Björkvall, which is the oldest church in the entire Malmi parish. (updated Sep 2023)
  • 🌍 Malmi Cemetery (Malmin hautausmaa). The biggest cemetery in the country by number of burials. Many Finnish cultural and political personalities are buried here. Other things worth seeing are the main chapel built in 1923 which is still used, as well as the cemetery's own water tower and railway station, both of which are disused. (updated Sep 2023)

Do
  • Beer Floating (Kaljakellunta), on Vantaa river. An unofficial event usually held the last weekend of July or the first weekend of August since 1997. The participants (yup, mostly males in their 20s) gather in Vantaa with rubber boats, rafts or whatever they can find that floats and travel downstream towards the Vanhankaupunki rapids while indulging beer – of course without life vests. This event has no official arrangers that could be held responsible if something happens and the date of the event just spreads in social media. If you think watching the spectacle isn't enough, remember that you're doing it on your own risk! 
  • 🌍 Fallkulla Farm (Fallkullan kotieläintila), Malminkaari 24 (Bus 553), ☏ +358 9 3108-9095. In Fallkulla you can get to know the traditional farm animals: sheep, goats, cattle, ducks, chickens, rabbits and horses. (updated Mar 2021)
  • 🌍 Helsinki Central Park (Keskuspuisto). This is a huge park starting just north of the Olympic Stadium and extending northwards for 10 km. It encompasses an area of over 1,000 hectares. The park is mostly in a natural state, with plenty of walkways, bikeways, riding paths and sports facilities including Pirkkola Sports Park (ice hockey, swimming, running) and Paloheinä (skiing, golf). A popular jogging area. 
  • 🌍 Haltiala Farm (Haltialan kotieläintila), Laamannintie (in Tuomarinkylä, bus 67). A kind of a zoo with farm animals in a real countryside environment. The Haltiala farm has many domestic animals such as cows, sheep, pigs and chickens. They are outdoors from summer to autumn, allowing them to be seen in the courtyard from morning to night. For the rest of the year, the animals are indoors. Occasionally country music concerts are held at Haltiala. free. 
  • 🌍 Kanneltalo, Klaneettitie 5 (in Kannelmäki district). A concert and exhibition hall in Kannelmäki. 
  • 🌍 Malminkartanonhuippu, Naapurinpellontie (Malminkartano district, close to the Helsinki-Espoo-Vantaa tripoint; closest bus stops: Neulastie, Naapurinpellontie). With a height of about 90 m, this is the highest point in Helsinki and when you've climbed the 426 stairs to the top you're rewarded with a nice view in all directions. In winter this is a great place for sledding. The hill itself is actually an old landfill and consists mostly of building material which has given the hill nicknames such as the dump hill or filling hill! Can be accessed from two directions, either from the east (Naapuripellontie) or from Paperitie (west), which is within a walking distance (0.8 km) of Uusmäki bus stop, Espoo. free. 
  • 🌍 Malminkartano Apple Garden (Malminkartanon Omenatarha), Kartanonkaari 29. There are 350 trees in Malminkartano garden. Most are apple trees, but there are also pear, plum and cherry trees. Guests are free to pick fruit from the trees. (updated Aug 2021)
  • 🌍 Malmitalo, Ala-Malmin tori 1 (in the Malmi district), ☏ +358 40 193 1564, +358 9 310 80831, . M–Th 08:00–20:00, F 08:00–18:00, Sa 10:00–16:00. A culture centre. 
  • 🌍 Power&Go Fallkulla, Jäkälätie 12 (in the Tapanila district), ☏ +358 46 892 8527, . 24/7. A gym. (updated Sep 2023)
  • 🌍 Sugoi, Teerisuonkuja 7. F 16:00–22:00, Sa 14:00–20:00, Su 12:00–18:00. An arcade game hall in the Malmi district. Minimum age 12. €12 (students €10). (updated Feb 2022)
  • 🌍 Tapanilan Erän Karate, Jäkälätie 2 (in the Tapanila district), ☏ +358 45-78345177, . M–Th 16:00–21:00, F 16:00–19:00, Su 10:00–19:00. A sports club focused on karate. (updated Sep 2023)

Buy

Shopping malls

Northern Helsinki has some large and mid-sized shopping malls with dozens of different shops and places to eat and drink.

  • 🌍 Kaari, Kantelettarentori 1 (Kannelmäki district). Prisma hypermarket and about 80 other businesses. (updated Feb 2022)
  • 🌍 Ristikko, Ajomiehentie 1 (Konala district). Also features an indoor climbing area. (updated Feb 2022)
  • 🌍 Malmin Nova, Malminkaari 13-19 (Ala-Malmi district). The southeastern half of the shopping complex on both sides of the railway in Malmi. Connected to Malmintori with a covered walking bridge through the Malmi railway station. (updated Feb 2022)
  • 🌍 Malmintori, Malmin kauppatie 18 (Ylä-Malmi district). The northwestern half of the shopping complex on both sides of the railway in Malmi. Connected to Malmin Nova with a covered walking bridge through the Malmi railway station. (updated Feb 2022)

In addition to these, many districts have smaller "shopping malls" usually consisting of a supermarket, a local pub/restaurant or two, perhaps a barber shop and a pharmacy and some other business.

Individual shops
  • 🌍 Varusteleka, Ruosilantie 2 (in Konala), ☏ +358 10 320 3813, . A bit outside the centre but reachable by public transport, is Europe's biggest military surplus store. Has probably the friendliest and the most knowledgeable staff you'll find in Finland. Varusteleka sells anything from modern combat gear, to 1930s Nazi leather trench coats, to very good value-for-money modern gore-tex hiking coats that some army somewhere had too many of. 
  • 🌍 Horror-Shop, Ristipellontie 14 (Buses 39, 39B and 51 get you there. Finding the shop can be difficult; you have to walk behind a car spare part store to a small underground shop.). Tu–Th 11:00–18:00, Sa 11:00–15:00, Su M closed. A small shop in the industrial suburbs selling all kinds of horror-related, some might say provocative stuff from satanic jewellery to band t-shirts. The shop itself is an attraction to horror-fans. (updated Oct 2019)
  • 🌍 Sopilka, Malmin kauppatie 18 (at Malmintori in the Malmi district), ☏ +358 41 317 9383. M–F 10:00–20:00, Weekend 11:00–17:00. Ukrainian grocery store. (updated Sep 2023)

Eat

The shopping centres in the district usually have a few cafés and restaurants where you can have a budget or mid-range meal during the day. In the evening you don't have to travel far to find a fast food joint or a Chinese or Middle Eastern restaurant. Self-catering is also an option.

Drink

Most suburbs have a pub or two. If you want something fancier, head to central Helsinki, that's what the locals do.

Sleep

Northern Helsinki is likely the least touristy part of the city but does have a couple of hotels, moreover Airbnb accommodation may be available if you wish to stay overnight here. For a bigger selection of official hotels, head to another district or to Vantaa.

Stay safe

In emergencies, ☏ 112 (free from all phones). This includes social services, although for non-urgent matters you could contact the social services directly.

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