Espoo

The campus of Aalto University (former Helsinki University of Technology) was designed by Alvar Aalto in organic modernist style, and includes the Dipoli congress center designed by Reima and Raili Pietilä in an eccentric style (lacking in right angles). Most buildings of interest are located either on the main street, Otaniementie, or on Otakaari, a loop road going from Otaniementie via Dipoli to the dorm village (Teekkarikylä), returning to the other side of the main building. The Laajalahti nature protected area, a good birdwatching site, is accessed from Otaniemi. At the headquarters of the Geological Survey of Finland, there is a museum display of geology, minerals and in particular a piece of moon rock gifted by the United States. At Tekniikantie 1 is Mikes (Centre for Metrology and Accreditation), with Finland's most accurate clock on its wall.

Local open air museum.

The cathedral near Espoon Keskus is over 500 years old and built out of granite stone.

At 326 m, it is the tallest structure in the capital region and the third tallest in Finland (two other masts are 327 m high). It isn't the Eiffel tower – you can't climb it or even get next to it (the immediate surroundings are closed off with a fence) but it's there; there is a walking trail next to the place.

The Tapiola district in the east of Espoo was constructed as a garden city in the 1950s and 1960s. The district is a showcase of Finnish architecture from that period and many of the buildings look quite innovative and unusual even today.

In Glims you will find several different domestic animals such as sheep. Children can hug animals.

The most popular beach in Espoo has a grim history, it is the site of probably the most well-known unsolved mystery in Finland, the Lake Bodom murders. This is where the band Children of Bodom got their name from.

Many small islands outside Espoo can be visited by boat in the summer. They are great for hiking and camping.

Tapiola Sinfonietta is an orchestra specializing in Viennese classical music, but also plays modern music. They perform regularly in the Tapiolasali concert hall, sometimes together with international guest soloists.

"Mini-Tapiola" is a children's play park featuring a miniature version of the centre of Tapiola. Here children can have fun and familiarise themselves with the Tapiola district and basic traffic rules, while being safely overseen by their parents.

The Rantaraitti hiking trail runs along Espoo's entire coastline, from the border to Helsinki at Laajalahti all the way to the border to Kirkkonummi at Kauklahti. The trail is well marked with frequent Rantaraitti icons. You can start and end your hike at any point during the trail.

Bird wetland. It has a large nesting population and is also an important stop for migrating birds. Trails and bird watching towers. The Laajalahti bay consists mostly of shallow open water, but there are also a broad reedbed and shoreline groves and meadows. The nature centre Villa Elfvik is starting point for a 700-m nature trail and a 3-km trail to the southern end of the area by Otaniemi, where it combines with the Waterfront Walkway].

Finnkino runs movie theatres in the shopping centres Iso Omena and Sello.

Smaller independent cinema, showing mostly the bigger blockbusters. May have a matinée series of cheaper, more art house screenings supported by the local culture board.

Smaller independent cinema, showing mostly the bigger blockbusters. May have a matinée series of cheaper, more art house screenings supported by the local culture board.

This is the largest water park in the Nordic countries with some 2,000 m² of heated pools indoors. The buildings have seen their best days, but kids love the water slides. An extra 1,000 m² of outdoor area is open in the summer. Serena is at its best in winter when you can kick back in a jacuzzi and watch people ski on the other side of the glass windows.

Espoo has a team in many premier Finnish sports leagues. The football (soccer) team FC Honka play their home games in Tapiola sports park, Esport center is the home for Oilers (floorball) and Honka (basket ball), and in the winter many fans head to Metro Arena to see a home game of the local ice hockey team Kiekko-Espoo.

Finland's premier horse racing track features races every Wednesday and some Saturdays. It also hosts the annual Finlandia-Ajo event part of the UET Masters Series.

You can rent a standup paddleboard or a kayak.

Big pool, therapy pool, hot tubs, cold water pool, wading pool, outdoor pool, virtual water exercise. Regular saunas and steam saunas.

Big pool, therapy pool, learner's pool, jacuzzi, hybrid saunas (infrared and aroma).

Motorboat rental at Suino marina in Suvisaaristo.

A popular public beach in the Haukilahti district. There is a café serving food and drinks and a lifeguard on duty. Chosen as the best beach for windsurfing in the entire capital region by university students. About 400 metres to the east there is another public beach called the Toppelund Beach which has no services and no lifeguard. There is a beach for dogs between them.

The name means "Espoo is Brewing and Partying". A small-scale beer festival hosted by the brewery restaurant Fat Lizard in Otaniemi and held on the restaurant's terrace. Various Finnish breweries come to showcase their beer and there is usually live music played. Held on three separate Fridays in the summer, one in June, one in July and one in August. See the restaurant's website for more information.

Espoo's most famous annual running and walking event. Held on a Sunday in late April. Three event categories: long run, short run and walk. All of them start and end at Otaranta. The long run is over 17 km and goes all across the Laajalahti bay, also visiting neighbouring Helsinki. The short run and the walk are 6 km and stay in Espoo. A nice opportunity to get some exercise and see the scenery in southern Finland. There is a fee for participation but spectating is free.