The best neighbourhoods for students in Helsinki

One of the first things to take into account is that the cost of living in the Finnish capital is quite high, so many students on a tight budget choose accommodation in neighbourhoods that are further from the city centre, which tend to be cheaper.

Kallio

This neighbourhood is known for its bohemian and hipster atmosphere. It’s located north of the centre of Helsinki and can be reached quickly by public transport or even on foot.

Kallio has vintage and second-hand shops selling clothes, vinyl records and other items. It also has a market that offers handcrafts and local delicacies, called Hakaniementori.

This neighbourhood attracts a large number of students in the afternoons and evenings thanks to its variety of cafes, bars, and nightclubs. As for restaurants, there are places with cuisines from all over the world.

A cultural highlight is the Kallio Church (Kallion kirkko) with its large tower, which we recommend climbing for beautiful views of Helsinki. Another notable feature of Finnish culture is its tradition of sauna use, and Kallio is home to one of the last public wood-fired saunas!

There are a variety of parks to enjoy in this neighbourhood. These include Tokoinranta and the nearby areas along the shores of Eläintarhanlahti Bay.

Kallio is very well connected to Helsinki and the surrounding area via tram, bus, and metro lines. It’s also very close to the main train station of the city.

Kamppi

This district is part of the central area of ​​Helsinki, extending to the west of the city. It’s a lively commercial area and one of the best student neighbourhoods in Helsinki. However, as it’s part of the city centre (Keskusta), the cost of rent is usually quite high.

Living in Kamppi is ideal especially for students going to the City Centre Campus of the University of Helsinki, as it’s just a few minutes away by foot, by bike, or by public transport.

Kamppi has restaurants of all kinds and for all budgets, including fast-food chains and more elegant waterfront venues. It’s also a district known for its varied nightlife, offering relaxed and trendy bars and LGBT+ friendly nightclubs with live music.

For cultural visits during the day, Kamppi has plenty of options! Highlights include:

• The Helsinki Art Museum (HAM Helsingin taidemuseo), with displays of different styles,
• The Amos Rex Art Museum, with contemporary art exhibitions,
• The Sinebrychoff Art Museum (Sinebrychoffin taidemuseo), a mansion that shows how people lived in the 1920s,
• Several art galleries.

Many students also visit the Hietalahti flea market, which offers vintage and second-hand goods. In fact, many people take the opportunity to buy decorative items for their accommodation.

In terms of outdoor spaces, one of the favorite areas to go out and exercise or even cycle from place to place is the Baana path. This one is perfect for getting faster from one place to another in central areas of Helsinki, and has some sports tracks. Meanwhile, the Vanha kirkkopuisto park is popular for outdoor events and picnics.

From Kamppi you can easily reach other areas of the city by several tram and bus lines, and it’s also served by one of the city’s main metro stations. In addition, it’s very close to the Helsinki Central Railway Station.

Töölö

This is a residential neighbourhood, with a quieter atmosphere than those mentioned above. It extends north-west of Helsinki’s city centre and borders Kamppi to the south. It's one of the best neighbourhoods for students in Helsinki who want to be close to movement but in a quieter area surrounded by nature.

Töölö is home to some of Aalto University’s faculties, so it’s also ideal for those who are going to study there.

The range of restaurants and bars in Töölö is much more limited than in the neighbourhoods mentioned above, but there are still a few options for students. In fact, there are restaurants with international cuisine, such as Finnish, Italian, Thai, Japanese, Vietnamese, among others.

Töölö has several interesting cultural sites to visit. Some of the ones to see are the Finland Conference Hall (Finlandia Hall) designed by the famous Finnish architect Alvar Aalto, the Natural History Museum (Luonnontieteellinen museum), the famous Sibelius monument with more than 600 steel pipes, and the curious Temppeliaukio church.

Töölö stands out for the diversity of natural places to enjoy the outdoors. Among the students' favorites are:

• Hietaranta beach,
• Hesperianpuisto, a park with walking trails, an amphitheatre and eateries by the Töölö bay,
• Rajasaari island, with beaches and nature trails,
• Sibeliuksen puisto, a park with monuments and play areas,
• Mäntymäki, the city park with gardens, sports venues and historical monuments.

This neighbourhood is connected mainly by tram and bus lines. It’s also known for being a very cyclist-friendly area, so many students choose to buy a second-hand bicycle in order to get around more cheaply and easily.

Pasila

This neighbourhood is the furthest from the centre of Helsinki of those mentioned in the article. It’s in the north, about 15 minutes by train from the city centre. It’s divided into Itä-Pasila (East Pasila) and Länsi-Pasila (West Passage), with Helsingin päärautatieasema train station as a central point.

Pasila is characterised by being an international neighbourhood, with a convention and exhibition centre that hosts a variety of events throughout the year. It’s also home to one of the campuses of the Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences, the largest campus of the institution.

One of Pasila's tourist attractions is its street art. In many of the streets and stations you can find murals and graffities, some with political connotations.

As far as nightlife is concerned, in this neighbourhood there are no nightclubs, but there are cool pubs and bars frequented by students. In addition, since there are several student residences in Pasila, young people often gather in these places.

For cultural and leisure visits in this neighbourhood, we recommend:

• The city's famous main library, designed by Kaarlo Leppänen,
• The “Mall of Tripla” shopping centre, with shops, cinemas, and restaurants,
• Events at the Messukeskus convention centre.

As for natural sites to enjoy the outdoors, one of the quietest is the large central park Mansikkamäki, and in Sähköttäjänpuisto you can climb the tower to get beautiful views of the city.

The most convenient way to get from Pasila to the centre of Helsinki is by train. Also, to get from one place to another in the neighbourhood and surrounding areas, you can use the tram and bus lines.

FAQ's about neighbourhoods in Helsinki