Kaartinkaupunki & Design District
Kaartinkaupunki and the Design District: the back story
Neighbourhood guide
About Kaartinkaupunki and the Design District: the back story
Kaartinkaupunki runs from the Esplanadi to the South Harbour: Hotel Kämp, Savoy and Olo on the park, and Palace above the harbour. Behind it, the Design District spreads into Punavuori and Ullanlinna, with the Architecture & Design Museum on Korkeavuorenkatu.
The Esplanadi
The park runs from Svenska Teatern to Kappeli and the Market Square, between the flagship shops of Pohjoisesplanadi and Savoy’s dining room on Eteläesplanadi.
The Design District
Korkeavuorenkatu, Fredrikinkatu and the streets around them are full of design shops, galleries, bars and small restaurants; the district map is at find.designdistrict.fi.
Walk the Esplanadi to the Market Square, then wander south into the Design District.
Our advice: lunch at the Old Market Hall, then the Architecture & Design Museum.
Why it's on our list
- The Esplanadi
- The Design District
Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Kaartinkaupunki and the Design District: the back story before you go.
What’s nearby
Distances from Kaartinkaupunki and the Design District: the back story are approximate, measured in a straight line (as the crow flies). Times are approximate too: walking at about 80 metres a minute, cycling at about 15 km/h and driving at typical city-traffic speeds. Traffic and routes vary.
Nearest metro and tram stops
- EtelärantaTram 2200 m2 min walk
- KauppatoriTram 2300 m3 min walk
- KolmikulmaTram 1Tram 3Tram 6Tram 10Tram 1T300 m4 min walk
Nearest taxi ranks
- Taxi rank, Kasarmikatu100 m1 min walk
- Taxi rank, Eteläranta200 m2 min walk
Taxis can also be booked by app or phone.
Key sights
- Esplanadi Park250 mWalk 3 minCycle 1 minCar or taxi 5 min
- Market Square400 mWalk 5 minCycle 2 minCar or taxi 5 min
- Helsinki Cathedral600 mWalk 7 minCycle 2 minCar or taxi 6 min
- Ateneum600 mWalk 8 minCycle 2 minCar or taxi 6 min
- Uspenski Cathedral700 mWalk 9 minCycle 3 minCar or taxi 6 min
- Amos Rex900 mWalk 11 minCycle 4 minCar or taxi 6 min
- Oodi1.1 kmWalk 14 minCycle 4 minCar or taxi 7 min
- Temppeliaukio Church1.5 kmWalk 19 minCycle 6 minCar or taxi 8 min
- Löyly1.8 kmWalk 23 minCycle 7 minCar or taxi 9 min
- Helsinki Airport17 kmCar or taxi 51 min
Main railway stations
- Helsinki Central850 mWalk 10 minCycle 3 minCar or taxi 6 min
- Pasila3.8 kmCycle 15 minCar or taxi 14 min