Shopping at Iso Omena

Espoo (Swedish: Esbo) with a population of a quarter of a million is the second largest city in Finland. It's part of the Helsinki Metropolitan Area along with the cities of Helsinki, Vantaa, and the small city of Kauniainen (Swedish: Grankulla) which is completely encircled by Espoo.

The national park of Nuuksio is situated in northwestern Espoo.

Understand

Espoo has several local regional centres, thus divided into seven major areas: Vanha-Espoo, Espoonlahti, Espoo, Kauklahti, Leppävaara, Matinkylä and Tapiola. The Espoo center (Espoon keskus) is the administrative centre, but doesn't rise above its peers with respect to population. Population is concentrated in an inverted F-shaped area defined by the railway to Espoo centre (north) and the highway Länsiväylä (south) up to Espoonlahti. The rest is sparsely populated, and north of Espoo centre, the area is mostly forested. While Kauniainen is an independent municipality, in practice it is contiguous with Espoo and has no notable sights or services to travellers besides a small shopping center.

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 Centre of Finland. Nokia is headquartered in Karakallio, Espoo. Other high-tech companies such as KONE, Tekla and Fortum, etc. have their headquarters in Keilaniemi, Espoo, along with Microsoft's Finnish headquarters.

Get in

By bus

With respect to transit, the south of Espoo is served by the local highway, Länsiväylä. Buses via Länsiväylä to destinations in Espoo leave from the Kamppi bus station (Kamppi shopping center, ground floor). The orbital line 550 connects the train stations of Oulunkylä and Huopalahti with the southeastern part of Espoo (Leppävaara, Laajalahti, Otaniemi, Tapiola and Westend).

By train

Northern Espoo and Espoo centre (Espoon keskus) are served by Helsinki commuter trains Y, U, L and E (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. See local train map.

Matinkylä metro station

Southeastern Espoo is accessible from central Helsinki by metro; the western extension going to Matinkylä was opened in November 2017. Each second train stops at Tapiola, and each second train continues all the way to Matinkylä, in intervals of 2.5-10 min. A second extension all the way to Kivenlahti is under construction, scheduled to open in 2020. Locations along the metro route include the Keilaniemi business district, Aalto University, and Tapiola and Matinkylä, which serve as bus stations for feeder lines to destinations further afield.

By plane

See also: Helsinki Airport#Ground transportation

Espoo is served by Helsinki Airport, from where it can be reached by taxi in half an hour or less. For travelling from Helsinki Airport to Espoo by public transport, see Journey Planner for routes and timetables. Typical routes would be:

• To southern Espoo, local train P from Helsinki Airport to Central Railway Station (Rautatientori), change to metro westbound (destination Tapiola or Matinkylä), change to feeder bus line if necessary.
• To northern Espoo, local train I from Helsinki Airport to Huopalahti, change to local train Y, U, L, E or A northbound (see local train map), change to feeder bus line if necessary.
• Regional U-line bus 540 to Espoo (€5.50), for connections to the areas of Leppävaara, Nihtisilta, Ikea and Espoonkeskus in Espoo.
• Regional buses 514/535 to Espoo (€5.50), for connections to the areas of Leppävaara, Westend, Tapiola and Espoonkeskus in Espoo.

By car

Freeways 1 and 51 pass through Espoo, as do the westernmost portions of ring road one and three.

Get around

See Helsinki#Get around for information about fares and tickets

For public transport, generally just use Journey Planner or Google Maps for routes and timetables.

By train

Trains A, E, S, U run across Espoo. Train L runs late at night and on weekend mornings. Suburbs in southeastern Espoo including Tapiola and Matinkylä are connected by metro.

By bus

Buses are frequent and convenient enough. Check HSL Journey Planner for timetables. Kauniainen is a part of the Espoo zone.

By bike

There are excellent cycling 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 at HSL's website.

By taxi

• Helsinki Limo, ☏ +358 207870360, +358 20-787-0360, info@helsinkilimo.com. Will provide airport pick-ups, private car services as transfers and longer trips. Their vehicles are always new and black with leather interior. Drivers speak English and can even, by order, give short sightseeings. 
• Lähitaksi, ☏ +358 100 7300 (extra charge: €1.92+€2.5/min+pvm). Traditionally the main taxi dispatch service in the capital region outside of Helsinki. Smartphone app: Taksini Daytime M–Sa €3.90+€1/1.45/km+0.90/min, nights and holidays €7.90+1.05/1.55/km+0.99/min; prebooking €7/14; the lower km and prebooking fees for 1–4 persons. (updated Jul 2020)
• Uber. Uber has resumed its business in the capital region after the reform. They now use licensed vehicles and drivers like everybody else, although the vehicle standard may differ more than what is otherwise common. (updated May 2019)
• Yango. Yango is a Russian company which offers cheap fares. M–Fri €3.00+1.10/km+0.25/min, Sa-Su 05:00-21:59 €3.00+1.10/km+0.25/min, Fri-Su 22:00-04:59 €6.00+1.10/km+0.25/min (Starting fare includes 4 min and 1.5 km). (updated Jul 2020)
• Menevä Espoo, ☏ +358 50-471-0470 (head of office), toll-free: 0800-02120 (booking). As of July 2020 Also bookable by app or web. Fixed price based on calculated route and time if destination address given when booking by app or web. Flag fall M–Sa 06:00–18:00: €4, other times and holidays: €7; 1–4 persons €0.90/km + €0.90/km, 5–8 persons minimum €20, €1.60/km + €0.90/min (July 2020). (updated Jul 2020)
• iTaksi, ☏ +358 102 120 000, info@itaksi.fi. €4.00/6.00+€0.90/km+€0.85/min. 
• Fixutaxi, ☏ +358 100 6060, info@fixutaxi.fi. Also bookable by app. Fixed price based on calculated route and time if destination address given when booking by app. M–Su 06:00–18:00 €0.99/km+0.90/min, evenings and nights €1.17/km+0.99/min, minimum fare €10; prebooking €10. 
• Valopilkku (Taksi Helsinki). Taxis ordered by smart phone app. Pricing not told on the web. (updated Aug 2019)
• 02 Taksi. Smart phone app offers address based routing and gives price offers from different taxi companies. Pricing not told on the web. (updated Mar 2020)

See

Aalto University auditorium in Otaniemi

"Hip flask" houses in Tapiola

• 1 Nuuksio National Park. This is a "go to" place in Espoo, being probably the most accessible "true Finnish forest" near Helsinki. There is parking and footpaths. Although one has a metalled path up to a beautiful lakeshore, none are completely accessible to wheelchairs or prams, since all include unmaintained sections with rocky slopes and/or tree roots blocking the way.
• 2 The Gallen-Kallela museum, Gallen-Kallelan tie 27, ☏ +358 9 849 2340. 11:00-16:00. A small museum of the 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. 
• 3 Otaniemi Campus, Otaniementie 8. The campus of Aalto University (former Helsinki University of Technology) was designed by Alvar Aalto in organic modernist style, and includes the Dipoli congress center designed by Reima and Raili Pietilä in an eccentric style (lacking in right angles). Most buildings of interest are located either on the main street, Otaniementie, or on Otakaari, a loop road going from Otaniementie via Dipoli to the dorm village (Teekkarikylä), returning to the other side of the main building. The Laajalahti nature protected area, a good birdwatching site, is accessed from Otaniemi. At the headquarters of the Geological Survey of Finland (Betonimiehenkuja 4), there is a museum display of geology, minerals and in particular a piece of moon rock gifted by the United States. (updated Jul 2017)
• 4 EMMA, Ahertajantie 5. Hosts Espoo Museum of Modern Art (EMMA) and a few other museums WeeGee exhibition centre 
• 5 Glims talomuseo (Glims house museum), Glimsintie 1, Karvasmäki. Local open air museum. 
• 6 Espoon automuseo (Espoo car museum), Bodomintie 35, Pakankylä. 
• 7 Espoo cathedral, Kirkkokatu 1, ☏ +358 9 862 5000. The cathedral near Espoon Keskus is over 500 years old and built out of granite stone. free. 
• 8 Marketanpuisto, Pehtorinkuja 3. This park is a permanent garden exhibition next to and operated by the Överby gardening vocational school. Stroll around and look at the works by the students. If you are an amateur gardener yourself, you'll perhaps get some ideas for your own garden. Free. 
• 9 Espoo TV and radio mast (Espoon radio- ja televisioasema), Pellavakaskentie, Espoo (Latokaski district, 1 km walking from the closest bus stop (Latokasken koulu)). At 326m, the highest structure in the capital region and the third highest in Finland (two other masts are 327m high). It isn't the Eiffel tower - you can't climb it or even get next to it (the immediate surroundings are closed off with a fence) but it's there. There is, however, a walking trail next to the place. 
• 10 Espoo Central Park (Espoon keskuspuisto). Like New York and Helsinki, Espoo also has a central park. A little peace of a few kilometres south of Espoon Keskus. The park consists mostly of dense spruce forest, with some steep hills. Has maintained footpaths, although they might be inaccessible to wheeled vehicles (prams, wheelchairs) with snowfall. 
• 11 Architecture in Tapiola. The Tapiola district in the east of Espoo was constructed as a garden city in the 1950s and 1960s. The district is a showcase of Finnish architecture from that period and many of the buildings look quite innovative and unusual even today. 

Do

• 1 Espoo archipelago. Many small islands outside Espoo can be visited by boat in the summer. They are great for hiking and camping. 
• 2 Classical music. Tapiola Sinfonietta is an orchestra specializing in Viennese classical music, but also plays modern music. They perform regularly in the Tapiolasali concert hall, sometimes together with international guest soloists. 

"Mini-Tapiola" in autumn 2006.

• 3 Mini-Tapiola, Tapiola centre. 9 AM to 9 PM. "Mini-Tapiola" is a children's play park featuring a miniature version of the centre of Tapiola, located in the centre of Tapiola itself. Here children can have fun and familiarise themselves with the Tapiola district and basic traffic rules, while being safely overseen by their parents. Free of charge. (updated Dec 2015)
• Espoo Waterfront Walkway (Rantaraitti). Any time. The Rantaraitti hiking trail runs along Espoo's entire coastline, from the border to Helsinki at Laajalahti all the way to the border to Kirkkonummi at Kauklahti. The trail is well marked with frequent Rantaraitti icons. You can start and end your hike at any point during the trail. Free of charge. (updated Apr 2015)
• Laajalahti Nature Reserve, Elfvikintie, ☏ +358 9 816 54400, villaelfvik@espoo.fi. Bird wetland. It has a large nesting population and is also an important stop for migrating birds. Trails and bird watching towers. The Laajalahti bay consists mostly of shallow open water, but there are also a broad reedbed and shoreline groves and meadows. The nature centre Villa Elfvik is starting point for a 700 m nature trail and a 3 km trail to the southern end of the area by Otaniemi, where it combines with the Waterfront Walkway]. (updated Jun 2017)

Outdoor half-pipe water slide at Serena

• 4 Serena Water Amusement Park (Vesipuisto Serena), Tornimäentie 10 (Bus 339 from Helsinki Bus Station), ☏ +358 9 8870550, info.serena@puuhagroup.com. Daily 23:00-20:00. This is the largest water park in the Nordic countries with some 2,000 sq.m. of heated pools indoors. The buildings have seen their best days, but kids love the water slides. An extra 1,000 m² of outdoor area is open in the summer. Serena is at its best in winter when you can kick back in a jacuzzi and watch people ski on the other side of the glass windows. All-day pass €32 except some Fridays €25 (4-8PM only), family ticket (2 adults, 2 children) €75.. 
• Watch a game. Espoo has a team in many premier Finnish sports leagues. The football (soccer) team FC Honka play their home games in Tapiola sports park, Esport center is the home for Oilers (floorball) and Honka (basket ball), and in the winter many fans head to Metro Arena to see a home game of the local team Espoo United. 

• 5 Vermo Horse Racing Track (Vermon ravirata). Finland's premier horse racing track features races every Wednesday and some Saturdays. It also hosts the annual Finlandia-Ajo event part of the UET Masters Series. (updated Feb 2020)

Events

The start of the Länsiväyläjuoksu event in 2013. The short run starts first, the long run and the walk start 15 minutes after that. This is intended to minimise collisions between runners and walkers.

• 6 Länsiväyläjuoksu, Otaranta, ☏ +358 443405326, +358 9 343 1067. 10:00 - 16:00. Espoo's most famous annual running and walking event. Held on a Sunday in late April. Three event categories: long run, short run and walk. All of them start and end at Otaranta. The long run is over 17km and goes all across the Laajalahti bay, also visiting neighbouring Helsinki. The short run and the walk are 6km and only visit Espoo. A nice opportunity to get some exercise and see the scenery in southern Finland. There is a fee for participation but spectating is free. €15-60 depending on category and registration date. 

Buy

Shopping centers

Department stores in Tapiola during the Christmas season

• 1 Sello, Leppävaarankatu 3-9. One of the largest shopping centres 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 centre. Also many bus routes serve the area. Selection of retailers is geared Finnish and international clothing and consumer electronics chains. The shopping centre features several cafes, restaurants and fast food outlets as well as two large grocery stores. 
• 2 Iso Omena, Piispansilta 11. Large shopping centre 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. The selection of shops is fairly similar compared to the slightly larger Sello shopping centre, although there are some speciality shops geared towards a more upscale clientele. 
• 3 Entresse and Espoontori. The two shopping centres, Entresse and Espoontori, serve the Central Espoo district near the Espoo train station. Local trains E, S, U and the night train L stop here. Both shopping centres are significantly smaller than the ones previously introduced. Espoontori features a grocery store, Tarjoustalo (a budget general store) and various smaller retailers. Entresse has a grocery store, jewellery shops and clothing stores. 
• Tapiola shopping district, which includes Ainoa, Heikintori , a Stockmann and numerous smaller shops.
• Smaller shopping centers are Lippulaiva in Espoonlahti; Olari Prisma next to Iso Omena on the opposite side of Länsiväylä; Niitty in Niittykumpu on the top of the district's metro station; Mankkaa and Viherlaakso; a hardware store area including the shopping center Merituuli in Suomenoja; another similar area in Lommila and Muurala near Espoo center, and numerous others. Most districts have at least one local grocery store (often with a couple of other shops and services in the same building).

Outlet shops

• 4 Iittala Outlet, Espoontie 25, Lommila. Home decoration and kitchen utensils. 
• 5 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. 
• 6 Espoon lahjatupa, Kirkkojärventie 3, Espoon keskus. An outlet shop rich in atmosphere selling Finnish handmade gifts and home decoration products. 

Outdoor markets

Like most cities in Finland you can buy fruits, vegetables, fish and more and sit down for a cup of coffee at outdoor markets (tori). They are open from 9AM to 5PM. For maps and information on events, Espoon torikauppiaat association website.

• Espoon keskus (Asematori)
• Leppävaara markets (Läkkitori north of the railway station and Viaporin tori on the southern side, in the inner court of Sello shopping center)
• Espoonlahti market (Ulappatori)
• Tapiola market
• Karakallio market

Flea markets

• Fida International. 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). The selection in the shops mostly consists of used clothes, books and furniture. Prices tend to be a tad steep. 
• 7 Espoo Recycling Centre (Espoon kierrätyskeskus), 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

Hanasaari cultural centre, also has a restaurant with Scandinavian cuisine

Budget

• 1 Student diners in Otaniemi, Otakaari 1 (several places in the area). lunchtime. The lunch restaurants of the Aalto University engineering schools offer cheap meals even for non-students. Most have 2–3 cheap options and one higher-price option. €5–8. 
• 2 Pizzaman, Lippajärventie 29, ☏ +358 9 512-0512. M–F 10–21:00, Sa–Su 12:00–21:00. Pizzaman is located next to the K-Kauppa grocery store. Large pizzas. regular pizzas €6–8. 
• 3 Ravintola Haukimuori, Iivisniemenkatu 2D. A lunch restaurant in Iivisniemi district with home cooked delicious food. lunch €8. 
• 4 Täffä, Otakaari 22. Perhaps the most famous of the university student restaurants in Otaniemi, owned by the Teknologföreningen student association. Located in a nice-looking functionalist building, easy to spot by the long ledge hanging over its main entrance.
  The restaurant is mainly for university students but is open for everyone, non-students just pay more. Still cheap.
  Five choices available each day, of which one is vegetarian and one is a fancier and costlier à la carte option. Most famous for its spaghetti bolognese, served every Wednesday, perhaps the best spaghetti bolognese in Espoo. On Wednesdays, prepare for long queues, taking almost fifteen minutes just to get to order your food. €3 (for Finnish students) to €8. (updated Nov 2017)

Mid-range

• 5 Curry Palace, Leppävaarankatu 10, Espoo, ☏ +358 9 548-3751. M–F 10:30–22:00, Sa 12:00–22:00, Su 13:00–19:00, Lunch buffet M–F 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 M–F €9.20, weekend €13.50 (children 2–8 yrs €8), mains from €16. 
• 6 Deli Rasoi, Siltakatu 11, ☏ +358 9 428-91892. M–Th 10:30–21:00, Fr–Su 11:00–22:00. Tasty and authentic Indian food. Great value for the price. Lunch buffet €9.20 (M–F), €12 (Weekend), Mains from €12. 
• Ravintola Nepal, Kivenlahdenkatu 1, 02320 Espoo, ☏ +358 9 348-9009. Tu–Th 11:00–21:00, Fr 11:00–22:00, Sa 12:00–22:00, Su 12:00–21:00. Tasty and authentic Nepalese food in Espoo. Great value for the price. Lunch starting from €9 (T–F), Mains starting from €12. (updated Jan 2020)

  

  Pork schnitzel

• 7 E.T. Charlie, Ukkohauentie 11–13, ☏ +358 9 886-01761, e.t.charlie@kolumbus.fi. 11:00–21:00 mostly. A spacious, stylish, comfortable restaurant in the quiet residential district of Haukilahti. Serves typical dishes available in restaurants in Finland: pastas, pizzas, steaks, and burgers. No famous speciality, but all dishes are worth trying. The kitchen closes at 9 PM, but the restaurant usually stays open until midnight. Many local people come here often. There is a bus connection to Tapiola and Otaniemi (line 111) near the restaurant and it's a short walk away from the Haukilahti beach and marina. Main courses €11–25. 
• 8 Fat Lizard, Tietotie 1, ☏ +358 20-127-7710. 10:30 to 24:00 mostly. One of the very few à la carte restaurants in Otaniemi. Highly stylish interior and good, if somewhat expensive, food. Easily accessible as it's right next door to the Aalto University metro station. Lunch includes both a buffet at 12 € and an upgrade option for 5.50 € extra. If you're feeling adventurous, try fried crickets as starters at €10. The restaurant also includes its own bar, serving various beers both from the Fat Lizard brewery (try some, they're refreshingly fruity lagers) and elsewhere. Lunch €12–17.50, main courses €18–32 €. (updated Feb 2018)

  

  Steak au poivre, beef steak with peppercorn sauce

• 9 Grilli Ribis, Kauppamiehentie 1, ☏ +358 9 455-1780. 10:00–17:00 mostly, closed on Sundays. A decades-old and famous steak restaurant, located in the Heikintori shopping centre in central Tapiola. Steaks of various forms, particularly pork and beef. The restaurant is rather small and looks like your average diner, but its steaks have gained it fame throughout Espoo and even in neighbouring Helsinki. There are a limited number of tables available but you can also eat your steak at the bar. Main courses €12–18. (updated Dec 2015)
• 10 Ravintola Grilli Toro, Louhentie 16, ☏ +358 9 460-427. A good selection of large steaks at a reasonable price in Pohjantori, north Tapiola, especially popular during lunchtime. 
• 11 Guido's Pizza, Heikinkuja 2, ☏ +358 400-139-998. 11:00–21:00 mostly. A nice little pizzeria in Tapiola with tasty, authentic Italian pizzas. Shares premises with Subway but operates independently of it. Several beers available, try for example MC Taakibörsta or Märichello. €11–18. (updated Jan 2020)
• 12 Ravintola Johannes, Hanasaarenranta 5 (Hanasaari Island). Scandinavian cuisine served in an environment of modern art. Good food, but the service is rather slow even as the restaurant is not even half full. The restaurant also has their own pale ale "Märket" (named after the lighthouse west of Åland). 
• 13 Korean Kitchen, Piispansilta 9 (Iso Omena via the R-Kioski, there is no direct connection from within Iso Omena), ☏ +358 400-969-667. 11:00–20:00. Probably the best Korean restaurant in Espoo, if not in the entire Finnish capital region. Located in the Iso Omena shopping centre in Matinkylä. Rather small and usually packed at lunch time. Minimalistic but stylish Korean decor.
  A variety of Korean dishes, mostly focused on meat, which can be replaced with tofu. Unlike many other Asian restaurants in the capital region, the dishes taste authentically Korean, with a good amount of spices. The salad bar includes Korean kimchi. Lunch €8–€10 (+€2 for salad bar), main courses €12–20. (updated Dec 2016)
• 14 Restaurant Lime Leaf, Sello Rex, Leppävaara. Thai and Malay restaurant run by Chinese. 
• 15 Ravintola Sevilla Bar & Restaurante, Tapionaukio 3, Tapiola. Spanish-style restaurant. 
• 16 Xin Long, Tapiontori 3, ☏ +358 9 855-0030. 10:30–21:00. A Chinese restaurant near the centre of Tapiola. Famous for its all-you-can-eat lunch buffet, combining Chinese food and sushi. Not specifically a sushi restaurant, but the sushi is among the best in Espoo. The main courses include various varieties of beef, pork, chicken and tofu, and all are worth trying. Lunch €9. (updated Mar 2016)

Splurge

• 17 Ravintola Haikaranpesä, Hauenkallio 3, ☏ +358 9 452-4254. M–F 11:00–15:00, Sa–Su 12:00–17:00. A panoramic restaurant in the water tower of Haukilahti. Open only for lunch! Lunch buffet 48€. 
• 18 Kylä, Tapiontori 3 (in the centre of Tapiola), ☏ +358 10-231-0430. Tu–Sa 16:00–23:00. Upscale, yet not pretentious. The menu is rather small, with only four main courses and a chef's menu. All dishes are worth trying though. Extremely friendly staff with full table service. Main courses €20–30, chef's menu €45. (updated Jan 2016)
• 19 Paul's Bistro, Leppävaarankatu 1 (Next to Sello shopping center), ☏ +358 10-344-4212. dinner without wine €40. 

Drink

Bemböle coffee house

Cafés

• 1 Café Mellsten, Mellstenintie 6. Located near the beach in Haukilahti. As well as a café, also serves tasty and cheap lunch consisting of soup or pasta. 
• 2 Bembölen kahvitupa (Bemböle kaffestuga), Bellinmäki 1 (Bemböle district). Traditional café with century-old history next to the King's Road. 
• 3 Café Ankkuri, Sateenkaari 9 (Otsolahti district). 
• 4 Café WeeGee, Ahertajantie 5 (Tapiola district). 
• 5 Café Merenneito, Koukkuniementie 1A (Matinkylä district). 
• 6 Kahvila Satakieli, Elfvikintie 4 (Laajalahti district). 
• 7 Kaisan Café, Itätuulenkuja 8 (Tapiola district). Located in the "Sampokuja" building in central Tapiola. Open on weekdays only. Try their cinnamon buns, they're tasty, huge (perhaps the biggest in Espoo) and quite cheap. 
• 8 Vasikkasaaren kahvila, Iso Vasikkasaari Island. 

Bars and pubs

• 9 William K, Leppävaarankatu 3-9 (in Sello mall). A passable beer pub with nice sunny outdoor seating. 
• 10 Base, Leppävaarankatu 3-9 (in Sello mall). A cosy place for a drink, also situated at Sello. 
• 11 Hemingway's, Kauppamiehentie 1 (Next to Heikintori square). 
• 12 Mitta & Hana (former pub Satulinna), Kirstintie 5. Likely the most famous pub in Espoo. 

Nightclubs

Most people head east to Helsinki when they're planning a night out, but there are a couple of night clubs in Espoo as well.

• 13 Bada Bing, Itätuulenkuja 10. The former Fellini/Aladdin is located in right in the Tapiola district and attracts many young adults. R-22. 
• 14 Club Kannunkulma, Kannusillankatu 2. A restaurant in the daytime, and some form of entertainment every night. 
• 15 Bella Ciao, Piispansilta 11 A (in the Iso-Omena mall). Fri-Sat nights -4AM. The place to go in Matinkylä. Like the others it is also a restaurant during the daytime. R-18 

Sleep

View towards Keilaniemi waterfront. Left: Fortum head office and Otaniemi water tower. Right: Life Science Center business park.

Budget

• 1 Espoo Camping Oittaa, Kunnarlantie 31, ☏ +358 9 863 2585, espoo@suncamping.fi. Slightly shabby, yet friendly place. Open from end of May to end of August. A nice beach at lake Bodom just some 200 m from the entrance. €30 / 2 adults + 2 children. 
• 2 Hostel Margereteberg, Pehtorinkuja 3, Järvenperä. 
• 3 Solvallan urheiluopisto, Nuuksiontie 82, Nuuksio. 
• 4 Hellsten Hotel Apartment, Porarinkatu 3, Espoo, ☏ +358 9 511051. Clean and simple. Located in a quiet neighbourhood but close enough to shopping centre Sello in Leppävaara. 

Mid-range

• 5 Sokos Hotel Tapiola Garden, Tapionaukio 3, Espoo, ☏ +358 20 1234 616, fax: +358 20 1234 617, tapiolagarden.espoo@sokoshotels.fi. A largish, modern hotel located in a pleasant neighborhood of Tapiola. Total 154 (all non-smoking) 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 scenic view facing a large pool. From €83. 
• 6 Scandic Espoo, Nihtisillantie 1, ☏ +358 9 43520. A newly renovated chain hotel next to freeway 1, best suited for those traveling by car as there isn't very much to see within walking distance. 
• 7 Hotel Hanasaari, Hanasaari conference center, Hanasaarenranta 5, Hanasaari island. Located in the Laajalahti bay between Espoo and Helsinki, Hanasaari island fits exactly the hotel, a short road to it and a stretch of the highway Länsiväylä. Hanasaari hotel hosts a Swedish cultural center and is often used for conferences. It is also within a walking distance (1 km) from the Keilaniemi business district. Very easy to reach by bus via bus stops on the Länsiväylä. Notice that there is an unrelated Hanasaari power plant in Helsinki; ask the taxi driver for the hotel in Espoo! The hotel rooms offer magnificent sea views through their huge windows. The hotel is going through a substantial reconstruction planned until spring 2017. The booking will be possible again from mid-January 2017. (updated Nov 2015)

Splurge

• 8 GLO Hotels Sello, Leppävaarankatu 1, ☏ +358 10 3444 200, sello@palacekamp.fi. A brand new design hotel next to Sello shopping center. doubles from 110€, cheaper weekend rates. 
• 9 Radisson Blu Espoo, Otaranta 2, ☏ +358 20 1234 700, info.espoo@radissonblu.com. A hotel of the luxury chain Radisson in the Aalto University campus in Otaniemi, right next to the Keilaniemi business district, popular among business travelers and academic visitors. doubles from 110€. 

Stay safe

Although a part of the Helsinki metropolitan area, Espoo has few or no problem spots and is exceptionally safe. There are various reasons. The population of Espoo is affluent, with few low-income neighborhoods. Population is simply less concentrated, with few high-rise districts, traffic junctions or concentrations of nightlife. Thus, partygoers are more likely to head to Helsinki to cause trouble.

Caution is warranted in urban districts (along the railway) with nightlife during Friday or Saturday nights, for instance in Leppävaara and Espoon keskus. Suvela and Kirstinmäki, next to Espoon keskus, is often mentioned as the only "ghetto" in Espoo, although this is more reputation than fact if compared to districts in Central or Eastern Helsinki.

Cope

The Jorvi Hospital (Jorvin sairaala) is near Espoon keskus. This is the main emergency care and surgery facility in Espoo. Unfortunately this is a rather remote location relative to most other places in Espoo, 20 min by car from the southwestern corner.

Private clinics (search for "lääkäriasema" in Espoo) are found in Espoon keskus, Matinkylä, Leppävaara and Tapiola. See:

Mehiläinen Matinkylä (Piispanportti 10 A, 3. floor)

Mehiläinen Leppävaara (Panorama Tower, Hevosenkenkä 3)

Terveystalo Espoontori (Kamreerintie 7)

Terveystalo Iso Omena (Piispansilta 11)

Terveystalo Leppävaara (Alberganesplanadi 1)

Terveystalo Tapiola (Ainoa, Länsituuli 7)

Aava Tapiola (Länsituulentie 1 A)

Students of Aalto University with student union membership can use the YHTS clinic Otakaari 12.

The police station ("Kilon poliisi") is in Kilo district, Nihtisillankuja 4. Contacts.

Go next

West: Kirkkonummi - Karis - Ekenäs - Hanko — The next cities westwards accessible by bus, train or car.
North: Vantaa - Klaukkala - Hyvinkää