East Helsinki
Introduction
East Helsinki covers the city's eastern and south-eastern major districts, including Vartiokylä, Myllypuro, Mellunkylä, Vuosaari, Herttoniemi, Laajasalo and Kulosaari. Apart from Kulosaari, the buildings here are relatively new, most of them put up in the 1960s or later, and the result is fairly densely inhabited suburbs — the exceptions being the southern part of Laajasalo and most of Kulosaari, which are less built-up.
Cross the bridge west of Kulosaari and you reach Helsinki Downtown, the so-called "South Helsinki". The name "East Helsinki" itself does not appear in the city's official regional nomenclature; it is a name the locals of the area created for it.
Getting around
Public transport in East Helsinki is built around the Helsinki Metro, and most of the city's metro stations are in this part of town. The metro is your fastest link between the city centre and the main eastern hubs, while feeder buses connect residential districts to the stations, so you can pair a metro ride with a short bus hop to reach your final destination. Itäkeskus, by the Itis shopping centre, is the area's main transport hub: routes converge there and you can change between services, which makes it the natural anchor point for exploring the eastern districts. If you're arriving from the airport, bus 561 runs directly to Itäkeskus, and from there you continue by metro or feeder bus. Ferries from Germany dock at Vuosaari harbour, so you land within East Helsinki rather than in the centre.
Buses are the main alternative to the metro for getting into and around the area. Itäväylä, the Eastern Highway, is the key road connection between the centre and the eastern districts and carries both car and bus traffic; if you're driving, Highway 170 from Porvoo via Sipoo runs through the area, and the eastern ends of the ring roads are here too, making the suburbs easy to reach by car from outside the city. Taxis are an option for door-to-door trips, though the metro and bus network covers the main hubs well enough that many visitors rely on public transport instead. The districts are relatively dense suburbs, so local centres tend to be compact and walkable — Itäkeskus in particular concentrates many public and commercial services in one place. Elsewhere, walking works best within a single neighbourhood rather than between districts.
Where to stay
Most of eastern Helsinki's accommodation is geared towards conferences and longer stays rather than quick city breaks. In Vuosaari, Rastila Camping is the only camping site within Helsinki's borders, a seventeen-minute metro ride from the Central Railway Station. Also in Vuosaari, on the Kallvik peninsula, Conference Hotel Sofia doubles as a conference hotel and a gallery of Orthodox Christian art, and offers yoga lessons. Further north, Hostel Iiris sits at the Iiris Centre in Itäkeskus.
For a quieter base, Hotel Jollas89 occupies green, calm surroundings on Laajasalo island south of Herttoniemi, with easy public transport access to the city centre. Near Rastila Camping, Conference Hotel Rantapuisto is another conference property, part of the Finlandia Hotels chain.
Food & drink
Eastern Helsinki is not the place for a big night out, but you will not go hungry. Fast food is everywhere: McDonald's and its Finnish competitor have branches across the district, and pizza and kebab places turn up in most neighbourhoods, often with a soft drink or a beer alongside. Vuosaari has Hungry Hub, Herttoniemi has King Kebab at the Atlas Tower, and Kontula has its own pizza and kebab spot in the mall. For kebabs that locals rate highly, try Tikke in Puotila, where the shish kebab is the thing to order. Elsewhere you will find Indian food at Royal Namaskaar, Westernised Chinese at Southland in Rastila, and meals made from store surplus at Waste&Feast Snellu Cafe.
For something more substantial, the shopping malls are your main mid-range bet, alongside pubs that serve food and the ordinary Chinese, Thai and Middle Eastern places that offer good value. In Itis you can choose between unpretentious Finnish fare at Suola & Pippuri and an authentic Thai buffet with sushi at Thai Orchid Itis. Herttoniemi adds The Bro's Burger, a Greek restaurant in Mandraki and a Nepalese one in Ravintola Gurkha, while Rastila has a Somalian restaurant and Kontula a pub with food in Bar Taikurin Hattu. If you want to push the boat out, head to Wanha Mylly in Herttoniemi, a casual fine-dining room in a former manor that specialises in steaks and keeps a wine list you would not expect out here, or to Kulosaaren Casino, the old casino building popular with diplomats from the nearby embassies. For drinks, most suburbs have a local pub for a cheap pint; Pikkulintu in Puotila is unassuming but has an excellent beer and whiskey selection, Solmu is spacious and stylish with quiz, music and comedy nights, and Svenkka at Puotila Manor has a terrace for a warm summer's day. If you want something hipper, head west.
What to see and do
For animal encounters, head to Korkeasaari, Helsinki's zoo on its own island northeast of the centre, reached by bridges through Kulosaari and Mustikkamaa or by a short ferry ride from Hakaniemi and Market Square in summer. Its signature residents are the bears, the free-roaming peafowl and the big cats, and the Amazonia house shelters tropical plants, fish and frogs. In Vuosaari, Skata offers a gentler option where children can meet and hug domestic animals such as sheep. The eastern districts reward walkers and paddlers. The Uutela nature trail runs for about four kilometres, while the Vuosaarenhuippu hill has routes for all levels, from easy service roads to rocky paths. You can rent a kayak at the Vuosaari paddling centre in summer, or explore the protected Mustavuori forest and Östersundom bird waters, part of the EU's Natura 2000 network, along with the smaller Ramsinniemi reserve and the trails of Sipoonkorpi National Park. In spring, the adjacent Japanese-style parks at Roihuvuori draw crowds for cherry blossom and a traditional hanami. History buffs can seek out the medieval ruins on Vartiokylä fortress hill, the wooden Östersundom church, the Tammisalo canal, and the Helsinki Heart Stone, which marks the city's geographical centre in the middle of a forest. Culture and family time fill the rest: galleries at the Stoa cultural centre behind Itis, the Hoplop activity hall with its tall adventure maze and slides, and the yearly Kontufestari music festival in Kontula. For a swim, Aurinkolahti beach in Vuosaari is spacier and calmer than its western counterparts, and Porvariskuningas beach in Jollas offers another spot by the water.Three days in East Helsinki
Day one: Base yourself in East Helsinki and use the Helsinki Metro to reach Itäkeskus, where the Itis shopping centre and the surrounding streets give you an easy introduction to the area. From there, continue to Vartiokyl, Myllypuro and Mellunkyl, three neighbourhoods with their own everyday character, before heading to Herttoniemi. If you want a quieter start, Kulosaari and Laajasalo offer a slower pace within easy reach of the centre.
Day two: Head for the coast at Vuosaari, where you can spend time around the harbour and the nearby Rastila Camping area. Kallvik is another coastal spot to work into the day. For an overnight stay in the east, options include the Conference Hotel Sofia and Hostel Iiris at the Iiris Centre. Note that some places are closed to the public or used for private events, so check ahead before travelling.
Day three: Travel into Helsinki Downtown and South Helsinki to see the other side of the city, using the Helsinki Metro or buses along Itäväylä, the Eastern Highway. The Central Railway Station is the main hub for onward travel, including ferries to Germany and buses towards Porvoo and Sipoo. Taxis are available if you prefer not to navigate the public transport network, and most of the city's key sights are within reach of the centre.