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Vanhakaupunki
Helsinki Subdivision in Uusimaa, Finland

Vanhakaupunki

Vanhakaupunki is a neighbourhood of the city of Helsinki, Finland, to the north of Toukola.

Plan a trip to Vanhakaupunki→From Tampere / Pirkkala

It is also the name of a district of the city, which contains the neighbourhood and its surroundings. The name comes from the fact that Helsinki was originally founded in the Vanhakaupunki area. The Swedish name Gamla Helsingfors appears in the new Helsinki foundation document from 1639, as the city was moved to its later location, and the forms Gamla staden or Gammelstaden came into use after this. The Finnish translation of the name only started appearing in the late 19th century. The current names were established as official in 1909. The neighbourhood was named Vanhakaupunki in 1959.

Get in

Getting to Vanhakaupunki

Most buses to and from the eastern parts of Vantaa (including the airport bus 615 to the city centre) and north-eastern Helsinki drive along Hämeentie, the major artery of this district. Trams 1, 3, 6, 7 and 9 as well as the Metro (get off at Hakaniemi, Sörnäinen or Kalasatama) all bring you to the Inner east from the city centre.

See

Worth seeing

The old wooden houses are found in parts of

  1. 01
    Käpylä
  2. 02
    Vallila
  3. 03
    Itä-Pasila
  4. 04
    Merihaka
  5. 05
    Alppipuisto
  6. 06
    Bear

    A cozy small park on the hill next to Kallio church and one of Kallio's symbols.

Do

Things to do

  1. 01
    Helsinki Fair Grounds
  2. 02
    Kallio Kukkii

    A cultural summer festival held in the bohemian district of Kallio not very far from the city centre.

  3. 03
    Kulttuuritalo
  4. 04
    Linnanmäki

    The oldest amusement park in Finland, famous for its wooden roller coaster.

  5. 05
    Suvilahti

    A former power plant, nowadays a centre for alternative culture that hosts a circus and some exhibitions.

  6. 06
    Suvilahti DIY

    A popular skatepark built by the skaters themselves.

Eat

Where to eat

  1. 01
    Student's restaurant at Arcada

    Jan-Magnus Janssonin aukio 1 (from the main entrance, walk up the stairs and turn right).

  2. 02
    Blinit

    Sturenkatu 9 (opposite Kulttuuritalo), raritet.international@gmail.com.

  3. 03
    Pelmenit

    Kustaankatu 7 (Close to Sörnäinen metro station),.

  4. 04
    Almas

    Vinsentinaukio 4 (in Sompasaari), info@ravintolaalmas.fi.

  5. 05
    Bites Burgers

    Tasty burgers made to order, with a regular, vegan, vegetarian and special option that can be further customised.

How locals move

Getting around Vanhakaupunki the local way

Share-taxi routes mapped nearby
  • 814 Pohj. ostoskeskus → Vuosaari (M)
  • 815 Isonvillasaarentie → Vuosaari (M)
  • 816
  • 817 · Nobina Finland
  • 816 · HSL
  • 815 Vuosaari (M) → Isonvillasaarentie
  • 814 Vuosaari (M) → Pohj. ostoskeskus

OpenStreetMap contributors.

  • Get inIf you arrive by Viking Line's ferries from Stockholm or Tallinn, their terminal is in Katajanokka.

From Wikivoyage: Helsinki/Kruununhaka and Katajanokka, CC BY-SA. Not yet checked by us. Last edited 2026-09.

Text adapted from Wikipedia and Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photograph: Dietmar Rabich (see Commons), Wikimedia Commons.