Pasila: the Rome of Helsinki

Old, new, renewed, blue

As much as Pasila is the junction for traffic, it’s also the junction of time and lifestyle. This is the place where old and new intersect, tech meets tradition, and business boho. The area has been heavily under reconstruction for a long time, and in recent years, the modernised neighbourhood has truly started blooming. Not that the area has stopped expanding – quite the contrary, we’re aiming to double the jobs and triple the residents in the area (no biggie).

Despite the construction and modernisation, we haven’t forgotten our history. Alongside the new and shiny, there is plenty of protected old architecture that is still in use to this day. Veturitallit is an excellent example of business growing under the wings of history: this old locomotive garage area built in 1899 has been turned into office spaces, restaurants, and facilities for recreational activities like climbing and pétanque.

Other architectural treats to see include Toralinna (a home for railway workers from 1899, still acting as a residential building), Rauhanasema (an old railway station from 1915 turned into an event venue and a centre of peace activism), and Helsinki Velodrome (an outdoor velodrome and stadium from 1940).

For a more modern treat, head to Pasila Library. Built in 1986, it’s the newest one of the bunch, but still a very cool location to visit as the architectural style of the building was influenced by none other than the legendary Finnish architect, Alvar Aalto. This massive library is one of the biggest ones in the city and has served as the main library of Helsinki City Library from its opening to this day.

The neighbourhood of encounters

So, Pasila does have traditions and memories from over a century of time. That history is what has created a solid and rich foundation for businesses to grow on – the patina of time feeding into the creativity and invention that have enabled the neighbourhood to become a place for tomorrow’s businesses. Instead of being stuck in the past, this place is shaping the future and already has the makings of being the second – or even the new – city centre of Helsinki. It’s a bold statement we don’t make lightly.

The importance of meeting new people face-to-face and networking is fully understood and embraced in Pasila. That’s why the area also heavily leans into being a key area for all kinds of events, bringing people together and making it possible to connect with similar minded people.

Did you know that Pasila is the home ground for Slush? Yep, Pasila’s Messukeskus is where the world’s leading startup event is held, attracting visitors from all over the world! This is where the venture capitalists find the best new and growing businesses in Northern Europe. Similarly, events like Helsinki Book Fair and Matka Travel Fair are important places for industries’ businesses, experts, and people to meet, attracting tens of thousands of fairgoers every year. Pasila indeed is an attractive Helsinki business area.

Easy. Easier. Pasila.

It all really comes down to the fact how effortless Pasila is – to reach, to stay in, and to continue the trip from. The location is easy and fast to reach from all corners of the city. Hotels are directly connected to the station. Modern and well-equipped coworking areas and office spaces are reached with a minimal amount of walking and ensure efficient workdays and cater to groups of all sizes.

Whatever the reason for your visit is, Pasila has ensured it’s nothing but smooth sailing and has planned all the transitions to a T. Oh, and the ‘T’ in this case stands for the Mall of Tripla, the largest shopping mall in Northern Europe that has made having everything from a railway station and hotels to offices and shops under the same roof possible!

Pasila of bleisure

Helsinkians take their free time very seriously. Some call it ‘bleisure’; but we call it life-work balance (in that order).

If you’re still craving the easy and breezy, Tripla has got you covered. Take the elevator down and enter a year-round summer paradise – even if it was mid-January outside, you’re sure to get all warmed up at Tripla Down Under. Biitsi’s beach bar and sandy courts are ready for you to launch into a playful competition in the sport of your choosing. No matter how cold it is outside, at Surfhouse you get to experience the waves at the indoor surfing pool, and Leo’s playground will keep the youngest folk in the family content. And if you decide to explore Tripla’s shopping possibilities instead, there are a whopping 60 different cafés and restaurants ready for when your stomach starts grumbling.

Had enough of Tripla? Brazilian restaurant Pastelaria offers a lovely flavour journey straight to Southern America. Pasila Urban Art Centre holds exhibitions all year round, themes and artists changing periodically. The current exhibition is always introduced at the centre’s website, and it’s not uncommon to get to see the art free of charge – but if the exhibition happens to have an entrance fee, it’s mentioned in the exhibition’s description. There is also an abundance of art from Finnish and international artists on the walls of East Pasila, creating a welcomed and impressive explosion of colour between the grey concrete buildings. Public street art tours are held the last Saturday of each month from March to October.

For the fans of cultural events and ice hockey, Helsinki Ice Hall – also known as ‘Nordis’ among Helsinkians – is a great place to visit! This is Helsinki’s oldest ice hall, and it was originally going to be made as the venue for the Ice Hockey World Championship in 1965 to take place. Unfortunately, it couldn’t be finished in time, but it’s the thought that counts, right? Since then, Nordis has been a place for many other remarkable events, like the Kiss concert in 1984 and the Idols Finland finale in 2007 and 2008 (remarkable to us anyway), and still functions as the place for various concerts and fairs every year.

Central Park right at your doorstep

Life in Pasila just hits differently with the sheer ease of living, making it feel like there are more hours in the day. Admittedly, the idea of living in the quarters of 50 shades of grey (the colour, not Christian) can seem intimidating. Luckily here, like all over Helsinki, nature is just a short walk away.

Helsinki Central Park is a massive outdoor and forest area covering nearly 10 kilometres (that’s ‘big’ in miles). Walking and biking trails run through the entire park, and it’s a great place for not only hiking and exercising but also for commuting. Most of the paths are maintained through the winter, making it possible to enjoy the views and nature throughout the year, and the rest of the paths are turned into ski tracks in the snowiest months. During summer, you can spot the local gardening community’s blooming food plant allotments right behind West Pasila.

Year around

Urban nature

Sports of all sorts

Right at the border between Pasila and Käpylä, Käpylä Sports Park offers the means to do all sorts of sports from volleyball and football to ice skating in the winter. Connected to the sports park, there is also a possibility to try out a slightly different hobby: Pasila Parkour Park is a free parkour court for beginners who want to try out the sport on easier obstacles. More advanced parkourers can also get a kick out of the park – the difficulty level depends on your imagination, after all.

And if you feel like exploring further, to the south from the sports park in Mäkelänrinne, you can find Finland’s most popular swimming centre, Mäkelänrinne Swimming Hall. This swimming hall is famous for being a venue for Finland’s swimming championships and international swimming competitions. Finish up your swim with a traditional Finnish sauna and soothe your sore muscles with proper ‘löylyt’ – it means throwing water on the sauna stove and feeling the heat!

Final Thoughts: Pasila Is Always One Step Ahead

Whether it’s the patina of time or the paradise of social butterflies you’re after, Pasila has got you covered. Liveliness and low effort make this junction point of Helsinki the place for business, pleasure, and pioneering. The speed at which this area grows is not for the weak, but when you dare to jump in and go with the flow, you’ll find yourself among tomorrow’s innovations and as part of a Helsinki business area that shapes the future. So, whether you think of Pasila as the second, the new, or the stop-before-the-actual city centre, this cradle of encounters is sure to capture your heart as well.