Kamppi: the bustling heart of Helsinki

The success story central

Maybe you were wondering where is the main part of Helsinki? When you’re located in Kamppi, it exudes an aura of leadership and importance. Being in the heart of Helsinki is an asset: easy access, great connections, and the overall liveliness that feeds growth are incredibly valuable things to have as a business. Not only can you reach the entire Helsinki effortlessly, but Helsinki Central Station is also just a short walk away and provides access to all over Finland as well as a direct connection to Helsinki-Vantaa Airport and the rest of the world!
 
On top of the comfortable connections, accommodation-wise Kamppi has the most hotels in the entire city, from luxurious high-end places (like The Grand Hansa) to traditional comfort (like Scandic Simonkenttä and Original Sokos Hotel Presidentti) and practical budget solutions (Omenahotelli and Forenom). Here, you’re physically and mentally at the centre of everything – the past, the present, and the future alike. It’s really no wonder Kamppi is home to so many successful companies both in Finland and internationally, like Smartly, Wolt, and Spinnova, just to name a few, as this is the place where companies rapidly grow and reach their full potential.

Kamppi is designed with the busy bees of business in mind. The area boasts a variety of coworking spaces – like HUONE, Innovation Home, and Spaces Helsinki – as well as flexible office hotels such as Boffice. While the area is among the more premium spots in the city (a testament to its desirability), it offers everything a business could need to thrive, and then some!

Starting and sparking startups

Kamppi and Hietaniemi make up the core for Helsinki’s venture capital and startups. The diverse nurturing ecosystem creates a rich ground for businesses to sprout and burst into bloom. There are a multitude of huge success stories proving the point, too – businesses like Smartly.io Solutions, Rovio Entertainment, and previously mentioned Wolt, where venture capitals like Lifeline Ventures and Maki Ventures have been part of the journey.
 
The Nordics’ leading startup campus, Maria 01, is one of the cornerstones of Helsinki’s and Kamppi-Hietaniemi’s startup ecosystem. It’s quite fitting that the campus is in an old 19 th -century hospital building, given how the place today is for nursing, nurturing, and taking care of the businesses! The campus provides a priceless environment for early-stage startups and supports the ecosystem by bringing them together with investors, VCs, and enterprises.

Architecture adventuring and green shopping

Even if Kamppi is quite magical (metaphorically, of course) as a hub for productivity, the after hours are filled with just as much pazzazz! In Helsinki, it’s all about life-work balance. Have a stroll through the neighbourhood and let your eyes rest on the beautiful architecture across the centuries, art nouveau residential buildings mixing with modern builds.

The Finnish Parliament House and Finlandia Hall are two among the most notable venues in the city, both representing the peak of their times’ architecture in the 1900s. In the heart of Helsinki you also find Yrjönkatu Swimming Hall from 1928 is another outstanding display of architectural skill and has kept its original art deco look over the decades. This unique public swimming hall has private booths for resting, a traditional wood-fired sauna, and separate swimming times for men and women, for in this hall you people have traditionally taken a plunge in their birthday suits. Don’t worry, though; swimming suits have been permitted since 2001.
 
Annantalo from 1886 is a great example of a modern school building at that time, differing from the usual simplicity of schools with modern inventions like electric lights and plumbing. Nowadays, Annantalo holds onto its roots and works as the art centre for children and teenagers with all sorts of events and workshops. Nearby Annantalo at Narinkkatori, you’ll find Kamppi Chapel. It was built in 2012 as a part of the World Design Capital program and has since become an internationally recognised landmark. And one more short walk away, there’s another newcomer from 2018 sure to go down in history: Helsinki Central Library Oodi, titled as Finland’s most beautiful building (and oh, is it gorgeous!).

While exploring the neighbourhood’s history treats, you’ll also have a great chance to do some climate-friendly souvenir shopping. Check out the area’s vintage stores and antiquarian bookshops scattered around the area, or discover the excellent flea markets – Relove, Moody Monday, and PréPorté are some of the local favourites! Kamppi Helsinki Mall is a great place for both shopping and enjoying the ever-moving, busy atmosphere of the neighbourhood, and right by the mall, Moomin Shop’s flagship store at Lasipalatsi is, of course, a must-visit.

The art museum district of Helsinki

Aside from the fantastic architecture, the heart of Helsinki also hosts plenty of art to admire! In fact, Kamppi is known as one of the cultural centres of the city. Some even say it’s the official art museum district, and for a good reason: the area has multiple museums specialising in different things and art styles, offering vibrant and versatile selections to enjoy.

Helsinki Art Museum (yes, we call it HAM) is among Finland’s and the Nordic region’s most prominent art museums, housing over 10 000 art pieces made by Helsinkians and focusing on bringing a well-balanced selection of modern and contemporary art. The Ateneum Art Museum is the most known art museum in Finland, and its collection spans from the 18th century to modernism, including almost 30 000 national treasures from famous Finnish artists like Hugo Simberg and Helene Schjerfbeck.

The Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma is excellent for friends of contemporary art, emphasising and highlighting the art from our time. Finally, Amos Rex brings a twist to your regular art museum visit, the spatially intriguing, surprising, and often experimental exhibitions offering an art experience not quite like anything you’ve experienced before.

Beach sports and a tranquil stroll

When you head towards Lapinlahti Bay, you’ll come across some of the area’s most picturesque views. Hietaniemi Beach is a fun recreation area and a popular swimming spot due to its great location nearby the center. With courts for padel, beach volleyball, and basketball, an outdoor gym, winter swimming facilities (with sauna, of course!), and the possibility to SUP-board, wakeboard, and canoe, Hietaniemi Beach is a diverse sports and leisure area for people of all ages, all year around.
 
By the beach is a peaceful and beautiful graveyard area, where you can stop by and pay your respects at Finland’s largest heroes’ cemetery, established in the Second World War. The cemetery of Hietaniemi is also the last resting place for many Finnish talents and celebrities, like famous architect and designer Alvar Aalto, the writer and artist Tove Jansson (a.k.a. the mother of Moomins), as well as most of the late presidents of Finland. In the lap of nature, you can also spot some old church architecture, Hietaniemi’s old and new chapels, and the impressive orthodox church, Profeetta Elian Kirkko, being located relatively close to each other.

Culture

Art

Goodies for foodies

What’s business without culinary pleasure? Kamppi has a ton of all kinds of restaurants, bistros, cafés, and food stalls, serving Finnish cuisine as well as flavours from all over the world. The locals, both residents and people working in the area, say it’s definitely one of the best things in the area: whenever you go to eat, you can always pick a new place to try out!
 
For an authentic Finnish ‘kahvittelu’ experience – a phrase we use for having a coffee and something sweet with it – try Round Kamppi Café, known for their freshly baked doughnuts, a cake paradise, Kakkugalleria, or the café of true tradition, Ekberg! Ekberg is the longest-running café and bakery in Finland, older than the Republic of Finland itself, and serves excellent breakfast on top of tasty coffee and treats.
 
If you’re a foodie on the loose, we got you covered for dinner as well. The family-owned restaurant Kosmos is an iconic star in the area’s restaurant scene, serving Finnish classics with a Helsinkian twist. For both Finnish and international classics, Manala is a great choice that serves entertainment on the side. When you want to switch it up a bit, the legendary Japanese restaurant Kabuki is both delicious and delightfully atmospheric.
 
When you want to grab a nice cocktail – or mocktail – and enjoy your evening, try Kupoli Cocktail Bar, specialising in cocktails made from Nordic ingredients (also in the heart of winter), or the cosy Winebar Apotek (operating in an old, renovated pharmacy building). Arkade Bar is also a great choice if you’re looking for a bit of fun on the side of drinks, offering a chance to play both video and board games through the evening. And for more evening entertainment, head to the legendary Tavastia live club for some unforgettable music performances or go to Apollo Live Club to enjoy some nightclubbing and karaoke on the side of live music.

Final thoughts: is Kamppi worth the hype?

Looking at Kamppi, one thing is for certain: this is the growth centre of Helsinki. This area is the heart of the city, with large enterprises, fast-growing success stories, and a vibrant startup ecosystem ensuring an ever-expanding web of invention and endless possibilities. On the other hand, this is where the fast-paced beat of the city can truly be felt. The area offers an abundance of things to see and do, art and architecture undoubtedly shining as the crown jewels of the area.

So, whether you’re a growth-minded investor, a startup wizard, or a culture-loving adventurer, this is the place to be. And the only way to find out if the area lives up to the hype is to check it out yourself – Kamppi is ready to serve you in true Helsinkian style.