Espoo

Understand

300px|thumbnail|Shopping at Iso Omena

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. The 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 have their headquarters in Keilaniemi, Espoo, along with Microsoft's Finnish headquarters.

Get around

Espoo is part of the capital region's HSL public transport cooperation. See Helsinki#Get around for tickets, fares and some other general information. You may want to use HSL's journey planner or Google Maps.

See

thumbnail|Aalto University auditorium in Otaniemi thumbnail|"Hip flask" houses in Tapiola thumb|right|Mikes in Otaniemi. In the centre is Finland's most accurate clock, with an inaccuracy of only a few nanoseconds per year.

Do

thumb|right|"Mini-Tapiola" in autumn 2006 thumbnail|Outdoor half-pipe water slide at Serena

. 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 by wheelchairs or prams, since all include unmaintained sections with rocky slopes and/or tree roots blocking the way. Cinema Swimming pool

Eat

thumbnail|Hanasaari cultural centre, also has a restaurant with Scandinavian cuisine

Drink

thumbnail|Bemböle coffee house

Sleep

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

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.

Go next

West: Kirkkonummi–Siuntio–Ingå–Raseborg (Karis–Ekenäs–Pojo)–Hanko — The next cities westwards accessible by bus, train or car. North: Vantaa–Klaukkala–Hyvinkää