East Helsinki neighbourhoods
Flora, fauna and fantastic flavour.
The Pet Shop Boys told us to go west, but we’re telling you now: Go east. Ride the subway and you’ll find encouraging graffitis hailing the mighty east flickering through the windows. East Helsinki is the city’s widest and most diverse area, and holds nowadays the highest population of young people in the city. What are you waiting for? Don’t miss the beat!
East Helsinki state-of-mind
During the great annexation of Helsinki in 1946 that increased the size of the City of Helsinki eight-fold, the eastern districts of Herttoniemi, Roihuvuori, Laajasalo, Vartiokylä, and Mellunkylä were added to the rural municipality of Helsinki. In 1966, Vuosaari followed. The suburban areas of the city were developed with post-war dedication and high speed. Finland was experiencing a strong wave of rural-to-urban migration, and many people were tired of the tight space of the downtown area and hoped for better living conditions. The first suburbs were born and the allotment gardens were an additional and well-welcomed addition to the suburban promise.
The fork-like metro line connects different suburbs and neighbourhoods both technically and in spirit. East Helsinki is an attitude – “that you’re not a fuddy-duddy”, freely translated from a quote by a proud East Helsinki author. The East has life in all its colours. The migration trend is turning Helsinki more international, which is very visible in the streets, shops, and restaurants of this side of town. The east has vibrance, but also calm. Many of the most beautiful shorelines, islands, and old forests are found just a metro ride away.
Flavours to cry for
East Helsinki offers much to discover for culinary explorers, making it easy to become acquainted with the fascinating food cultures of the Middle East, Turkey, and Caucasus. Here you find the most authentic shish kebab, delicious charcoal-grilled skewers, shawarma, entire stuffed roast chicken, and even rarer specialties like slow-cooked lamb’s head, followed by the best baklava in town and strong mint tea for dessert.
In East, the old Puhos shopping centre in particular is a real multicultural hotspot that houses not only fascinating food shops but also restaurants specialising in Middle Eastern and Turkish cuisine. At the Kontula shopping centre, you find grilled kabbah skewers, famous shish kebab and much more. Best of all, these restaurants are often easy on your wallet, so you can embark on a journey of flavour even on a modest budget.
Widen your scope of the city by hopping on the metro. The eastern neighbourhoods outside the downtown area paint a bigger picture of Helsinki. Along the metro line, you can find both post-war suburbs with their apartment houses and old malls, as well as protected forest areas and a picture-perfect archipelago. Here you will meet both the youngest and the most international Helsinkians. The eastern neighbourhoods are expanding rapidly and in the future they will transform into a more central part of the city. So, head east and you will see the Helsinki of tomorrow.
– Mr. X
Local Helsinkian
Experience East Helsinki
More neighbourhoods
East, west or center – Helsinki has it all and more.
