Espoo

Espoo (Swedish: Esbo) with a population of a quarter of a million is the second largest city in Finland. It's part of the Helsinki Metropolitan Area along with the cities of Helsinki, Vantaa, and the small city of Kauniainen (Swedish: Grankulla) which is completely encircled by Espoo.

The national park of Nuuksio is situated in northwestern Espoo.

Understand


Espoo has several local regional centres, thus divided into seven major areas: Vanha-Espoo, Espoonlahti, Espoo, Kauklahti, Leppävaara, Matinkylä and Tapiola. The Espoo center (Espoon keskus) is the administrative centre, but doesn't rise above its peers with respect to population. The population is concentrated in an inverted F-shaped area defined by the railway to Espoo centre (north) and the highway Länsiväylä (south) up to Espoonlahti. The rest is sparsely populated, and north of Espoo centre, the area is mostly forested. While Kauniainen is an independent municipality, in practice it is contiguous with Espoo and has no notable sights or services to travellers besides a small shopping center.

The science and technology-related campuses of the Aalto University are based in Otaniemi, Espoo, along with a thriving science community that includes numerous startups and organizations such as VTT – the Technical Research Centre of Finland. Nokia is headquartered in Karakallio, Espoo. Other high-tech companies such as KONE, Tekla and Fortum have their headquarters in Keilaniemi, Espoo, along with Microsoft's Finnish headquarters.

By bus
With respect to transit, the south of Espoo is served by the local highway, Länsiväylä. Buses via Länsiväylä to destinations in Espoo leave from the Kamppi bus station (Kamppi shopping centre, ground floor). The orbital line 550 connects the train stations of Oulunkylä and Huopalahti with the south-eastern part of Espoo (Leppävaara, Laajalahti, Otaniemi, Tapiola and Westend).

By train
Northern Espoo and Espoo centre (Espoon keskus) are served by Helsinki commuter trains Y, U, L and E (25 min from Helsinki) to Middle- and West-Espoo. In addition, A train (every 10-20 minutes, 17 minutes from Helsinki) serves the east part of Espoo. See local train map.

Southeastern Espoo is accessible from central Helsinki by metro, with trains every 3-10 minutes. Locations along the metro route include the Keilaniemi business district, Aalto University, Tapiola, Matinkylä and Kivenlahti, which serve as bus stations for feeder lines to destinations further afield. One in two trains terminates at Tapioca, while the rest continue all the way to Matinkylä.

The "Jokeri" orbital light rail (line 15), officially tram line 15, curves across eastern Espoo, connecting Keilaniemi, Aalto University, Leppävaara and then looping across northern Helsinki to terminate in Itäkeskus.

By plane
Espoo is served by Helsinki Airport, from where it can be reached by taxi in half an hour or less. For travelling from Helsinki Airport to Espoo by public transport, see Journey Planner for routes and timetables. Typical routes would be:


 * To southern Espoo, local train P from Helsinki Airport to Central Railway Station (Rautatientori), change to metro westbound (destination Tapiola or Matinkylä), change to feeder bus line if necessary.
 * To northern Espoo, local train I from Helsinki Airport to Huopalahti, change to local train Y, U, L, E or A northbound (see local train map), change to feeder bus line if necessary.

By car
Freeways 1 and 51 pass through Espoo, as do the westernmost portions of ring road one and three.

Get around

 * See Helsinki for information about fares and tickets

For public transport, generally just use Journey Planner or Google Maps for routes and timetables.

By train
Trains A, E, S, U run across Espoo. Train L runs late at night and on weekend mornings. Suburbs in southeastern Espoo including Tapiola and Matinkylä are connected by metro.

Jokeri light rail
The first light rail line of the capital region called Jokeri was officially opened in October 2023. In the Espoo area, the route runs from Keilaniemi to Vermo in Leppävaara, from where the route continues to the Helsinki side.

By bus
Buses are frequent and convenient enough. Check HSL Journey Planner for timetables. is a part of the Espoo zone.

By electric kick scooter
Swedish Voi, German Tier, American Lime and Finnish Joe Scooter rent electric kick scooters. The companies aim to keep the scooters available also in winter, conditions permitting, but the vehicles are not ideal in snowy or slippery conditions.

By bike
There are excellent cycling paths almost everywhere in Espoo, so it's worth cycling in a sunny day. Remember to wear a helmet. Detailed information of cyclist paths are available at HSL's website.

See



 * MIKES in Otaniemi.jpg

Do

 * Mini-Tapiola.jpg
 * Half Pipe Serena.jpg
 * . This is a "go to" place in Espoo, being probably the most accessible "true Finnish forest" near Helsinki. There is parking and footpaths. Although one has a metalled path up to a beautiful lakeshore, none are completely accessible to wheelchairs or prams, since all include unmaintained sections with rocky slopes and/or tree roots blocking the way.
 * Cinema
 * Swimming pool
 * . This is a "go to" place in Espoo, being probably the most accessible "true Finnish forest" near Helsinki. There is parking and footpaths. Although one has a metalled path up to a beautiful lakeshore, none are completely accessible to wheelchairs or prams, since all include unmaintained sections with rocky slopes and/or tree roots blocking the way.
 * Cinema
 * Swimming pool
 * Swimming pool
 * Swimming pool
 * Swimming pool
 * Swimming pool
 * Swimming pool
 * Swimming pool
 * Swimming pool



Events




Shopping centres



 * Tapiola shopping district, which includes Ainoa, Heikintori, a Stockmann, and numerous smaller shops.
 * Smaller shopping centres are Lippulaiva in Espoonlahti; Olari Prisma next to Iso Omena on the opposite side of Länsiväylä; Niitty in Niittykumpu on the top of the district's metro station; Mankkaa and Viherlaakso; a hardware store area including the shopping centre Merituuli in Suomenoja; another similar area in Lommila and Muurala near Espoo centre, and numerous others. Most districts have at least one local grocery store (often with a couple of other shops and services in the same building).
 * Tapiola shopping district, which includes Ainoa, Heikintori, a Stockmann, and numerous smaller shops.
 * Smaller shopping centres are Lippulaiva in Espoonlahti; Olari Prisma next to Iso Omena on the opposite side of Länsiväylä; Niitty in Niittykumpu on the top of the district's metro station; Mankkaa and Viherlaakso; a hardware store area including the shopping centre Merituuli in Suomenoja; another similar area in Lommila and Muurala near Espoo centre, and numerous others. Most districts have at least one local grocery store (often with a couple of other shops and services in the same building).
 * Smaller shopping centres are Lippulaiva in Espoonlahti; Olari Prisma next to Iso Omena on the opposite side of Länsiväylä; Niitty in Niittykumpu on the top of the district's metro station; Mankkaa and Viherlaakso; a hardware store area including the shopping centre Merituuli in Suomenoja; another similar area in Lommila and Muurala near Espoo centre, and numerous others. Most districts have at least one local grocery store (often with a couple of other shops and services in the same building).

Outdoor markets
Like most cities in Finland you can buy fruits, vegetables, fish and more and sit down for a cup of coffee at outdoor markets (tori). They are open 09:00–17:00. For maps and information on events, Espoon torikauppiaat association website.


 * Espoon keskus (Asematori)
 * Leppävaara markets (Läkkitori north of the railway station and Viaporin tori on the southern side, in the inner court of Sello shopping centre)
 * Espoonlahti market (Ulappatori)
 * Tapiola market
 * Karakallio market

Flea markets

 * There are some self-service fleamarkets around Espoo like Akseli (Sinikalliontie 1, Mankkaa)
 * There are some self-service fleamarkets around Espoo like Akseli (Sinikalliontie 1, Mankkaa)
 * There are some self-service fleamarkets around Espoo like Akseli (Sinikalliontie 1, Mankkaa)
 * There are some self-service fleamarkets around Espoo like Akseli (Sinikalliontie 1, Mankkaa)

Mid-range

 * Pork schnitzel with Koskenlaskija sauce at restaurant E.T. Charlie.jpg
 * Steak au poivre at Grilli Ribis.jpg
 * Steak au poivre at Grilli Ribis.jpg

Nightclubs
Most people head east to Helsinki when they're planning a night out, but there are a couple of night clubs in Espoo as well.



Stay safe
Although a part of the Helsinki metropolitan area, Espoo has few or no problem spots and is exceptionally safe. There are various reasons. The population of Espoo is affluent, with few low-income neighborhoods. Population is simply less concentrated, with few high-rise districts, traffic junctions or concentrations of nightlife. Thus, partygoers are more likely to head to Helsinki to cause trouble.

Caution is warranted in urban districts (along the railway) with nightlife during Friday or Saturday nights, for instance in Leppävaara and Espoon keskus. Suvela and Kirstinmäki, next to Espoon keskus, is often mentioned as the only "ghetto" in Espoo, although this is more reputation than fact if compared to districts in Central or Eastern Helsinki.

Cope
The Jorvi Hospital (Jorvin sairaala) is near Espoon keskus. This is the main emergency care and surgery facility in Espoo. Unfortunately this is a rather remote location relative to most other places in Espoo, 20 min by car from the southwestern corner.

Private clinics (search for "lääkäriasema" in Espoo) are found in Espoon keskus, Matinkylä, Leppävaara and Tapiola. See:
 * Mehiläinen Matinkylä (Piispanportti 10 A, 3. floor)
 * Mehiläinen Leppävaara (Panorama Tower, Hevosenkenkä 3)
 * Terveystalo Espoontori (Kamreerintie 7)
 * Terveystalo Iso Omena (Piispansilta 11)
 * Terveystalo Leppävaara (Alberganesplanadi 1)
 * Terveystalo Tapiola (Ainoa, Länsituuli 7)
 * Aava Tapiola (Länsituulentie 1 A)

The police station ("Kilon poliisi") is in Kilo district, Nihtisillankuja 4. Contacts.

Go next
West: Kirkkonummi–Siuntio–Ingå–Raseborg (Karis–Ekenäs–Pojo)–Hanko — The next cities westwards accessible by bus, train or car. North: Vantaa–Klaukkala–Hyvinkää