Kamppi
Finland · Europe
About Kamppi
Kamppi and Southwestern Helsinki is here defined as the part of the city raying out to the south-west of the city core, stretching along highway 51 to the border of next-door Espoo. Kamppi is for the purposes of this article delimited by Baana and Hietaniemi cemetery in the north-west, Mannerheimintie in the east and Bulevardi in the south-east. In addition to Kamppi, Ruoholahti and Jätkäsaari the article also covers Lauttasaari.
South-western Helsinki has something for everyone. The part next to Mannerheimintie with the shopping centres of Kamppi and Forum are not much different from the rest of the centre, though just a block or two into Kamppi the environment becomes much more residential. There is no lack of restaurants, cafés, bars and clubs, though and aside of the centre itself and Kallio, this is a good place to go out for a drink.
Ruoholahti, still in the 1980s a somewhat rough and dirty part of the city is now modern and clean with glass and steel office and apartment buildings, partially built on land reclaimed from the sea. Still the former cable factory (nowadays a cultural centre), the Salmisaari power plant and the shipyard reminds of the former industrial character. A bridge to the west lays the island of Lauttasaari, mostly residential.
The island of Lauttasaari is the second-biggest island in Finland by population, after the island of Fasta Åland in the Åland
Kamppi travel guide
Getting there
The eastern parts of this district are practically part of the centre and the rest of Kamppi within walking distance from it. Ruoholahti is best accessible by metro or tram 9 from the central and eastern parts of the city, by tram 8 from the Töölö. The new metro extension takes you all the way to Lauttasaari and beyond. If you travel in from Espoo or western Uusimaa by bus or metro, this part of Helsinki is the first you will reach. The same is true if you're arriving from Tallinn on Tallink's or Eckerö Line's ferries, from St. Petersburg by ferry or on a massive cruise ship that can't dock in central Helsinki. To the ferry terminals, take tram 7.
Getting around
Getting around in the western parts is no struggle, you can use the buses, the trams or the metro to get wherever you want, not forgetting going afoot. Even though the options for public transport are great, don't immerse yourself only in them and remember the option of going on foot; it might save your time since especially the trams might be slow.
See
1 Helsinki Old Church (Helsingin Vanha Kirkko) (between Lönnrotinkatu, Bulevardi, Georginkatu and Annankatu). A neoclassical wooden church built in the early 19th century, which is the oldest church in central Helsinki. It's in the middle of the Park of the Old Church, which is also known as the Plague Park (Ruttopuisto) because it was used as a cemetery for many of the victims of the plague of 1710. 2 Lönnrotinpuistikko. A tiny little park next to the Old church. In the middle there's a statue of 19th century author and scientist Elias Lönnrot (author of Kalevala, the Finnish national epic). (updated Sep 2015) 3 Amos Andersson Art Gallery, Yrjönkatu 23. M Th F 10:00–18:00, W 10:00–20:00, Sa Su 11:00–17:00. In the Forum block. The largest private gallery of contemporary art in Finland. Adults €10. 4 Helsinki synagogue, Malminkatu 26. The centre of the Jewish community in Helsinki; there are also a Jewish school, kindergarten and a kosher store on the premises. You probably have to call ahead for visiting. (updated Sep 2015) 5 Metropolia Polytech main building. This impressive 19th-century building next to the Hietalahti square hosted the Helsinki Technical University until the 1950s, nowadays it's the main building for the Metropolia University of Applied Sciences. As you're there, check out the Hietalahti market hall and market square. (updated Sep 2015) 6 Aleksanterin teatteri, Albertinkatu 32. The Alexander theater, named after the Russian czar Alexander II and finished in 1879 is likely Helsinki's most beautiful venue for performance art. Occasional shows and concerts in English. (updated Sep 2015) 7 Lasipalatsi. Another of Helsinki's most iconic functionalist buildings right next to Mannerheimintie, the "glass palace" by Viljo Revell, Heimo Riihimäki and Niilo Kokko was finished in 1936 and is functionalist both on the inside and outside. It was planned as a temporary office building and shopping mall, to be replaced by a bigger one in the future but that nev
Do
1 Aleksanterin teatteri, Bulevardi 23-27. 2 Annantalo, Annankatu 30. M-F 08:00–20:00, Sa Su 10:00–16:00. Feel creative? Annantalo, a multimodal "house of art" arranges art workshops and courses for both kids and grownups, as well as performances and exhibitions. 3 The Cable Factory (Kaapelitehdas or just Kaapeli), Tallberginkatu 1 (tram 8). The former cable factory in Ruoholahti is nowadays a multi-purpose culture centre. It hosts concerts, fairs, art workshops and odd/original museums like the restaurant museum and photography museum. There is a Restaurant/Café/Bar Hima & Sali in the building. At lunch time you can choose your meal from a daily menu or watch the cook prepare your wok from ingredients you selected. Good place for vegetarians. 4 Huone, Länsisatamankatu 16, ☏ +358 20-785-1440. 08:00–24:00 mostly. Huone ("Room") claims to be the world's first event hotel, providing premises and services for their customers to hold their own events. There are twelve rooms of different sizes, and each can be rented for a day, a morning or an evening. Huone can host various kinds of events such as business meetings, birthday parties or sauna evenings. The customer holds the event; Huone provides the premises and services, including catering, with alcoholic drinks or without. €44-59 per person. (updated Apr 2016) 5 Kasinonranta Beach, Lauttasaari, Tiirasaarentie (Buses 20N, 55A and 66A, stop Hevosenkenkäpuisto.). A popular place in summer with a large playground for children and a pleasant café Kasinonranta (in summer season open M-F 15:00-19:00, Sa Su 10:00-19:00). At the beach and the park around you can picnic, kick a ball, play a beach volleyball, swim, canoe or skatefurf. In winter it is possible to snowkite here or hike, skate or cross country ski on frozen sea around Lauttasaari island and even reach some nearby islands. 6 Outdoor skating Lauttasaari, Lahnalahdentie 2 (Short walk from Lahnalahdentie bus stop (lines 102, 110, 147, 154, 167) or Lahnalahden puist
Buy
1 Kamppi Centre (Kampin Keskus) (Trams: 2, 9 Metro: Kamppi.). Big shopping mall. Plenty of international brands and restaurants. Long-distance bus terminal in the basement. 2 Forum (corner of Simonkatu and Mannerheimintie). Kamppi centre's next-door older brother with plenty of shops, restaurants and other services. (updated Sep 2015) 3 Kauppakeskus Ruoholahti (Metro: Ruoholahti. Tram: 8). Quite small compared to the suburban malls along the ring roads, but this urban mall still has a Citymarket and a couple of speciality stores and cafes. 4 Verkkokauppa.com (metro: Ruoholahti, entails some walking; tram: 9; bus: 15A). 2 km from Helsinki centre in the Western Harbour (Länsisatama). Northern Europe's and possibly Europe's largest home-electronics store with 20,000 m² of retail space. The best spot for electronics, computers, digital cameras, mobile phones and gadgets in general in Helsinki. They not only sell electronics but also imported snacks (mainly from the USA) to enjoy while watching TV or barbecuing - think soda, chips, barbecue sauce, candies and such. In addition to being a store it features a couple of fast food outlets one of them with Australian meat pies, and a computer game museum on the 5th floor. Literally on the top of it all, the 7th floor features Finland's largest sightseeing terrace with views of Helsinki, the sea and prime view of cruise ships in the summer and in the middle of it a real MiG-21BIS fighter plane, the entrance is free. Free parking underground and on an outdoor parking area behind the complex. 5 Ruslania (Ruslania Books Oy), Bulevardi 7 (buses 14, 18 and 21 stop near the store; the trams 1, 3 and 6 stop right next to it and tram is the best way to get there from the north), ☏ +358 50-388-9439, [email protected]. 09:00-18:00, 09:00-16:00. Ruslania offers Finnish and Russian products (which includes for example souvenirs, literature, music, candy, posters and cards). A nice, not that big shop full of mostly Russ
Overview adapted from Wikipedia, travel guide fromWikivoyage (CC BY-SA)。Photography via Wikimedia Commons.