Espoo

Espoo (Swedish: Esbo) is the second largest city in Finland with the population of 248,355. It is part of the Helsinki Metropolitan Area along with the cities of Helsinki, Vantaa, and Kauniainen. The national park of Nuuksio is situated in northwest Espoo. Espoo has several local regional centres, thus divided into seven major areas: Vanha-Espoo, Espoonlahti, Espoo, Kauklahti, Leppävaara, Matinkylä and Tapiola. 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 Center of Finland. Nokia is headquartered in Keilaniemi, Espoo, along with other high-tech companies such as KONE, Tekla and Fortum, etc. Get in By train Espoo is served by Helsinki commuter trains, with 4 faster E, S, U and Y trains (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. The Finnish National Rail commuter traffic section [1] has route maps and timetables online. By plane See Helsinki#Get_in Regional U-line bus 540 (€4,50) leaves from bus platform 14 of T2 via platform 5 of T1, for connections to the areas of Leppävaara, Nihtisilta, Ikea and Espoonkeskus. Everyday 7:45-22:50[2] The following regional buses run only in rush hours from Mon-Fri, roughly one departure per hour, leaving from bus platform 4 of T1 via platform 35 of T2 514 and 514K (€4,50) connect the areas of Leppävaara, Tapiola and Westend. [3] 535 (€4,50) connect the areas of North and Middle Espoo.[4] Get around See Helsinki#Get around By train Trains A, E, S, U run across Espoo. Train L runs late at night and on weekend mornings. Single ticket costs €2.7, valid within 80 minutes and entitles unlimited transfer to other tains and buses. By bus Buses are frequent and convenient enough. Check HSL Journey Planner [5]for timetables. By Cycles There are excellent cyclist 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 in HSL's website[6]. See Nuuksio National Park Glims farmstead museum, Glimsintie 1, [7].  edit WeeGee house museums, Ahertajantie 5, ☎ +358-9-81631818, [8]. 11am-5pm. EMMA - Espoo Museum of Modern Art, KAMU - Espoo City Museum, Helinä Rautavaara museum, Finnish Toymuseum Hevosenkenkä, Finnish Museum of Horology, Gallery AARNI 12 eur.  edit The Gallen-Kallela museum, Gallen-Kallelan tie 27, FIN-02600 Espoo, ☎ +358-9-8492340, [9]. 11am-4pm. A small museum of a Finnish painter Akseli Gallen-Kallela (1865-1931) who is best known for his illustrations of the Kalevala, the Finnish national epic. The museum is located in a castle-like house Tarvaspää on a rocky hill facing the sea originally designed and built by Akseli Gallen-Kallela between 1911-13 as a combined home for his family and a studio. The museum presents not only the works of Akseli Gallen-Kallela, but also tells the story of his family and contains a collection of artifacts brought back from their travels to Africa. 8€. (60.206389,24.838333) edit Do Buy This article or section does not match our manual of style or needs other editing. Please plunge forward, give it your attention and help it improve! Suggested fixes: None specified. Please use the article's talk page to ask questions if you are not sure why this tag was added and whether it is safe to remove it. Shopping centers Sello, Leppävaara. One of the largest shopping centers in Finland with excellent traffic connections. Local trains A, E, S, U, Y and the night train L all stop at Leppävaara station which is just beside the shopping center. Also many bus routes serve the area. Iso omena, Matinkylä. Large shopping center serving the Matinkylä district. Bus lines 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 10K, 11, 31, 35, 112, 503, 132, 143, 145, 147, 150, 151, 154, 160 and 165. Entresse and Espoontori, Espoon keskus. These two shopping centers serve the Central Espoo district near the Espoo train station. Local trains E, S, U and the night train L stop here. Some of the smaller shopping centers mainly serving the locals include Lippulaiva in Espoonlahti and the first shopping center in Finland, Heikintori in Tapiola. Outlet shops Iittala Outlet, Espoontie 25, Lommila. Home decoration and kitchen utensils. Lumene, Lasihytti 1, Kauklahti. Finnish cosmetics manufacturer Lumene has its factory outlet in the disctrict of Kauklahti in Western Espoo. Local trains E, S, U and the night train L stop at Kauklahti station. Espoon lahjatupa, Kirkkojärventie 3, Espoon keskus. An outlet shop rich in atmosphere selling Finnish handmade gifts and home decoration products. Markets Markets (tori) take place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in following locations: Espoon keskus (Asematori) Leppävaara markets (Läkkitori in the Northern side of the railway station and Viaporin tori at the South, in the inner court of Sello shopping center) Espoonlahti market (Ulappatori) Tapiola market Karakallio market For maps and information on events, visit Espoon torikauppiaat association website. Flea markets Fida International operates goodwill flea markets in four, mostly residential areas: Espoon keskus (Asemakuja 3), Soukka (Yläkartanonkuja 1), Niittykumpu (Merituulentie 30) and Lähderanta (Kolkekannaksentie 15). Espoo Recycling Centre, operated by Helsinki Metropolitan Area Reuse Centre Ltd, is located in Matinkylä at Matinpurontie 8. The selection includes furniture, clothes, toys, books, sports equipment, cookware and cutlery. The shop has also a free of charge department with a small variety of clothes and other items. Some self-service fleamarkets around Espoo include Akseli (Sinikalliontie 1, Mankkaa), Olarin kirppis (Maapallonkuja 1, Olari), Omppupuun kirppis (Kuninkaankartanontie 11, Kauklahti) and Viherkirppis (Viherlaaksontie 5, Viherlaakso). Eat Thairavintola Jasmin, Kiltakallio 2, Espoonväylä 87 or Finnoontie 87., ☎ +358(0)98593131, [10]. Mo-Th 11:00-20:00, Fr-Su 12:00-21:00. Tasty and authentic Thai food. Lunch buffet €8.5 (Mo-Fr), €12.5 (Weekend), Mains from €11.  edit Curry Palace, Leppävaarankatu 10, Espoo, ☎ 09-548 3751, [11]. Mo-Fr 10:30-22:00, Sa 12:00-22:00, Su 13:00-19:00, Lunch buffet Mo-Fr 10:30-14:30, Sa 12:00-16:00, Su 13:00-16:00. Indian restaurant. Don't leave the restaurant without trying its pickled spice. It's fantastic! Lunch buffet Mo-Fr €9.2, weekend €13.5 (2-8yrs €8), mains from €16.  edit Restaurant Lime Leaf, Sello Rex, Leppävaara, [12]. Thai and Malay restaurant run by Chinese.  edit Fusion Square, Tapiontori 3 B16, ☎ +358 9 8550038, [13]. Mo-Fr 11:00-22:00, Sa&Su 12:00-22:00, Lunch Buffet Mo-Fr 11:00-15:00. Tasty and authentic Chinese food. Try their spicy tofu. Mains from €9.8.  edit Restaurant Base, Sello, Leppävaarankatu 3-9, ☎ +358-9-512 36060, [14]. 10:00-24:00. One of the rare highend restaurants of Espoo at Sello and GLO hotel. 40-60e for two.  edit Drink Sleep Mid-range Sokos Hotel Tapiola Garden, Tapionaukio 3, Espoo, ☎ +358 (0) 20 1234 616 (tapiolagarden.espoo@sokoshotels.fi, fax: +358 (0) 20 1234 617), [15]. A largish, modern hotel located in a pleasant neighborhood of Tapiola. Total 154 (all non-smoking) rooms rooms, sauna, exercise facilities, wireless Internet access, restaurant and bar. Convenient transport to Helsinki center by bus. Rooms in the northern part of the hotel have a very scenic view facing a large pool. From €83.  edit Hellsten Hotel Apartment, Porarinkatu 3, Espoo, ☎ +358(0)9 511051, [16]. Clean and simple. Located in a quiet neighborhood but close enough to shopping centre Sello in Leppävaara.  edit