Helsinki/Kamppi and Southwest

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 northwest, Mannerheimintie in the east and Bulevardi in the southeast. In addition to Kamppi, Ruoholahti and Jätkäsaari the article also covers Lauttasaari.

Southwestern 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.

Get in
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.

Get 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




In addition the district of Ruoholahti is one of the few places in Helsinki to see modern glass and steel architecture, and of course the Crusell bridge across Ruoholahti bay. Lauttasaari is one of the greenest areas in Helsinki. The island's landmark, the 1950s water tower, was dismantled in 2015.

Do




Buy




Markets




Mid-range




Bars, pubs and clubs




Connect
Wireless internet can be used in some of the branches of city library (for example ).

Go next

 * Espoo
 * Southern Helsinki
 * Western Helsinki