The back story
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Neighbourhood guide
Töölö: the back story
Temppeliaukio, Oodi, the Music Centre, the Opera and the sea at Sibelius Park.
Neighbourhood guide · Helsinki
Töölö: Our Favourites
Temppeliaukio, Oodi, the Music Centre, the Opera, Finlandia Hall and the Sibelius Monument.
What's onThis week in Helsinki
What to see and do
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Cut into the bedrock
Temppeliaukio Church
The church built into a granite outcrop in Töölö, under a ring of skylights.
Lutherinkatu 3, 00100 HelsinkiExplore View on map
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Open to everyone
Oodi, Helsinki Central Library
The Central Library on Töölönlahti Bay, with a glass-walled reading floor upstairs.
Töölönlahdenkatu 4, 00100 HelsinkiExplore View on map
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In Sibelius Park
Sibelius Monument
The monument to Jean Sibelius in Sibelius Park, by the sea in Töölö.
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Old buildings on an island
Seurasaari Open-Air Museum
Historic wooden buildings from around Finland, on a wooded island west of the centre.
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Views from the tower
Helsinki Olympic Stadium and tower
The Olympic Stadium, with a public viewing tower.
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Finnish National Gallery
Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art
Contemporary art in Steven Holl’s curving building on Mannerheiminaukio.
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Closed until spring 2027
National Museum of Finland
Closed for renovation and extension; reopening expected in spring 2027.
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Home of the city’s orchestras
Helsinki Music Centre (Musiikkitalo)
The concert hall on Töölönlahti Bay, next to Oodi and Kiasma.
Mannerheimintie 13a, 00100 HelsinkiExplore View on map
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On Töölönlahti Bay
Finnish National Opera and Ballet
The national opera house on the shore of Töölönlahti Bay.
Helsinginkatu 58, 00260 HelsinkiExplore View on map
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Designed by Alvar Aalto
Finlandia Hall
Alvar Aalto’s white concert and congress hall on Töölönlahti Bay.
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A loop round the water
Töölönlahti Bay
The bay behind Oodi and the Opera, with a path all the way round.
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Forest in the city
Central Park (Keskuspuisto)
The long green spine of forest running north from Töölö.
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Over a footbridge
Seurasaari Island
A wooded island park, reached by a footbridge, with the open-air museum.
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Oodi, the Opera and the sea
Töölönlahti Bay and the Sibelius Monument
Round Töölönlahti from Oodi and the Music Centre, then on to Café Regatta and the Sibelius Monument.
Where to eat
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One MICHELIN Star (2026)
Finnjävel Salonki
One MICHELIN Star for modern Finnish cooking, on Ainonkatu by Oodi and the Music Centre.
Ainonkatu 3, 00100 HelsinkiExplore View on map
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Selected by MICHELIN (2026)
Young Hearts
A restaurant in Töölö.
Runeberginkatu 55, 00260 HelsinkiExplore View on map
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A red cottage on the bay
Café Regatta
A small red cottage on the water near the Sibelius Monument.
Merikannontie 8, 00260 HelsinkiExplore View on map
Where to stay
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Finnish design throughout
Helka Hotel
A design-led hotel on Pohjoinen Rautatiekatu, near the Temppeliaukio Church.
Pohjoinen Rautatiekatu 23, 00100 HelsinkiExplore View on map
Share your Töölö tips
Been there? Share your experience and tips with other visitors.
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