Riihimäki
Riihimäki is in Tavastia Proper, about 70 km north of Helsinki. An industrial town of about 30,000 inhabitants, Riihimäki is an important railway junction.
Understand
Riihimäki isn't an old city, even compared with other Finnish cities. The first railway in the country (at the time a Grand Duchy of the Russian Empire) was opened between Helsinki and Hämeenlinna in 1862, and the small station of Riihimäki was built pretty much in the middle of nowhere. A few years later a railway from Lahti and eventually all the way from the imperial capital St. Petersburg was opened, joining the first railway in Riihimäki and as such it became an important railway junction which it still remains today, and a town started growing around it. In 1960 Riihimäki received city status.
Today Riihimäki is an industrial city, also home to some governmental functions like a garrison and Riihimäki Prison with the highest security level in Finland. The most notable attractions in the city are museums, such as the Glass Museum hosted in the former Riihimäen Lasi factory, and while Riihimäki isn't exactly a prime tourist destination, quite a number of travelers pass through every day.
Get in
By train
- 1 Riihimäki railway station. Riihimäki is on the Finnish main north-south train line between Helsinki (commuter trains of the R, T and D lines about every 30 minutes) and Tampere (R commuter trains) (and further all the way to Northern Finland) and most trains stop here. In addition, there are some (about hourly) trains from Lahti (commuter trains on the G line). Commuter train lines R, T and D come in from Helsinki (about every half hour during daytime), R from Tampere, and G from Lahti. Coming from Helsinki airport, take train P to Tikkurila and swich to one of the trains from Helsinki there.
By bus
The railway station doubles as bus station. You can get in by bus from nearby major cities, see the Matkahuolto home page for schedules. As downtown comparatively far off the motorway, many of the buses between Helsinki and Tampere don't stop in Riihimäki center but instead use the highway stop, its name is Riihimäki liittymä 19.
By car
Motorway 3 between Helsinki, Hämeenlinna and Tampere passes next to Riihimäki, in the east-west direction there's highway 54 between Lahti and Forssa.
Get around
By car
Traffic isn't busy and vacant parking lots are easily found.
By bus
Riihimäki has 7 local bus lines and a service line. Line #1 goes once an hour, other lines even less frequently. A single bus ticket costs €3,30 for adults and €1,70 for children. There is a route planner for local transport trips. Matka.fi route planner has information about regional routes.
By foot
As it's a small town, pretty much everything is within walking distance.
By taxi
- 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.
- iTaksi, ☏ +358 102 120 000, info@itaksi.fi. Also bookable by app or web. Fixed price based on calculated route and time if destination address given when booking by app or web. €4.00/6.00+€0.90/km+€0.85/min.
- Smartphone apps: Valopilkku
See
- 1 Suomen Metsästysmuseo, Tehtaankatu 23, ☏ +358 19 722 294, info@metsastysmuseo.fi. Tu-Su 10-16. Hunting Museum of Finland. 6 € adults, 3€ kids.
- 2 Suomen lasimuseo, Tehtaankatu 23, ☏ +358 19 758 4108, glass.museum@riihimaki.fi. Tu-Su 10-18. Glass Museum of Finland, housed in an old glass factory. 6€ adults, 3€ kids.
- 3 Riihimäen taidemuseo, Temppelikatu 8, ☏ +358 19 758 4124, taidemuseo@riihimaki.fi. Tu-Th 11–18, Fr-Su 11–17. Riihimäki Art Museum. 5€ adults, 2,5€ kids.
- 4 Riihimäen kaupunginmuseo, Öllerinkatu 3, ☏ +358 19 758 4116, kaupunginmuseo@riihimaki.fi. We and Su 12-18. Riihimäki city museum. free.
- 5 Valtakunnallinen työväentalomuseo, Hj. Elomaankatu, info@tyovaentalomuseo.fi. Su 12-16 (May-Sep). National Worker's House Museum. free.
- 6 Finland's highest flagpole (Suomen korkein lippusalko), Merkoksenkatu 5. 40 m high, this is Finland's highest flagpole. Or at least until a higher one in Hamina will be finished sometime in 2018.
Do
- 1 Kansainväliset erämessut (International Outdoors Fair), Urheilupuisto, info@riihimaenmessut.fi. Biannually, next event 7-10 June 2018.
- 2 Riihimäen maauimala/uimahalli, Salpausseläntie 16, ☏ +358 19 758 4730, uimala.kassa@riihimaki.fi. Mo, We-Fr 6:00 – 20:00 Tu 13:00 – 20:00 Sa-Su 10:00 – 17:00. Swimming hall open during the winter. During the summer the indoor hall is closed, and the outdoor pool is open. adults Mo-Fr 6:00 – 14:00 3,50 €, other times 5,50 €, kids always 3 €.
Buy
- 1 Kauppakeskus Atomi, Etelän Viertotie 2. Mo-Sa 8-21, Su 10-21.
- 2 Merkos shopping area, Merkoksenkatu 5. Several big stores next to each other, including Citymarket, Gigantti and Biltema.
Eat
- Hesburger. Mo-Sa 10-21 Su 12-21. The national hamburger chain has restaurants in Merkos, the Atomi mall and the ABC service station. 5-10 €.
- 1 Subway, Etelän viertotie 2, ☏ +358 10 820 0420. Mo-Fr 9-21 Sa 10-20 Su 12-19. 5-10 €.
- 2 Ravintola AsemaX, Asema-aukio, ☏ +358 19 449 333, asemax@asemax.fi. Mo-Fr 9-22, Sa 10-23, Su 12-20. Restaurant at the railway station. 10-30 €, buffet at lunchtime 10,20€.
Drink
Cafés
- 1 Feeniks Café, Hämeenkatu 25-27, tiina.numento@hotmail.com. Mo-Fr 11-19, Sa 11-16.
- 2 Café Kotileipomo Laine, Kaarlonkatu 18, ☏ +358 10 4703 746, toimisto@kotileipomolaine.fi. Mo-Fr 8-17.
Bars and pubs
- 3 Bulldog Bar, Eteläinen asemakatu 2, ☏ +358 50 5177 002. Su-Mo 11 - 23, Tu-Th 11-24, Fr-Sa 11-02.
- 4 Riihimäen Poolbar, Eteläinen asemakatu 2, ☏ +358 44 0766 527, info@poolbar.fi. Mo 16-22, Tu-Th 16-24, Fr 16-02, Sa 14-02, Su klo 14-22. Pool bar, that has pool equipment for sale as well.
Nightclubs
Sleep
Budget
- 1 Matkailukeskus Lempivaara, Karhintie 196, ☏ +358 19 719 200, info@lempivaara.fi. Camping area with cottages, as well as places for tents and campervans. The smallest (and cheapest) cottages are closed in the winter.
Mid-range
- 2 Scandic Riihimäki, Hämeenaukio 1, ☏ +358 19 7721.
- 3 Hotel Seurahuone, Hämeenkatu 29, ☏ +358 19 716 270, myynti@seurahuone.fi.
Splurge
Stay healthy
- 1 Riihimäen terveysasema, Penttilänkatu 5. Emergency room.
Pharmacies
- 2 Aarre Apteekki, Hämeenkatu 24-26, ☏ +358 293 400 540. Mo-Fr 8–19, Sa 9.30–17, Su 11–15.
- 3 Apteekki Merkos, Merkoksenkatu 5, ☏ +358 10 321 4950, info@apteekkimerkos.fi. Mo-Fr 8-20, Sa 8-17, Su 11-18.
- 4 Aurinko Apteekki, Voimalankatu 2, ☏ +358 19 5363 600, aurinko@apteekit.net. Mo-Fr 8-21, Sa 9-17, Su 10-18.
Stay safe
- 5 Riihimäen poliisiasema, Temppelikatu 8, ☏ +358 295 430 311. Mo-Fr 8–16.15. Police station.