Shopping in Helsinki - Top Spots for Great Finds

Helsinki may not be famous for shopping, but the city offers excellent shopping opportunities. You can find international brand clothing as well as local textiles. Finnish design is highly respected worldwide, with many notable local brands, such as Iittala. Although design products can be pricey, Helsinki also offers more affordable shopping options.

Our Shopping in Helsinki Guide features the best locations for every taste and budget.

Boutiques — Design Items and Textiles

Esplanade – Lively Shopping Street

The area around Helsinki’s Esplanade Park is one of the best spots to shop for Finnish design. Within easy walking distance from Helsinki South Harbour, you’ll find flagship stores of world-famous brands like Iittala and Marimekko, offering iconic glassware, ceramics, bold-patterned clothing, and colourful textiles.

The Esplanade area is lively and tourist-friendly, with many stores providing tax-free shopping for non-EU visitors. You can easily combine shopping with a visit to nearby cafés or Helsinki Market Square, where local artisans sell crafts and design items in a more casual setting.

The Esplanade is not only a shopping destination but also a significant attraction in Helsinki. Unfortunately, everything in the area is quite expensive. If budget isn’t a concern, it’s the most convenient place to start, and it also offers excellent restaurants nearby.

Punavuori – Relaxed Design Area

Just a short walk from the city centre, Punavuori offers a more relaxed and trendy alternative to the busy Esplanade. It is also known as the Helsinki Design District. Punavuori is full of independent boutiques, concept stores, and artisan workshops. Here, you can find unique Finnish design products—from handcrafted jewellery and sustainable fashion to quirky home decor and ceramics.

Punavuori is ideal for those seeking original, less commercial items and emerging designers. The area’s cosy cafés and street art add to the authentic Helsinki experience, making it a favourite among locals and visitors who want to explore design beyond the mainstream.

Other Parts of Helsinki Downtown

Helsinki’s city centre is compact, so it’s worth exploring the neighbourhoods beyond the Esplanade and Punavuori. You’ll discover interesting boutiques known for their unique styles. Shopping in these stores is a great way to support local businesses and find items that larger department stores may not carry. Department stores and malls are more prominently visible, which often leads people to choose them over the more authentic, smaller shops.

Department Stores – Practical Shopping In Helsinki

Department stores are a convenient option for more relaxed travellers who value quality but prefer a simpler shopping experience. Prices may also be slightly lower than those of buying the same products from small boutiques. However, you might miss out on the authentic atmosphere and charm of shopping at local, independent stores.

Stockmann

Stockmann is the oldest and largest department store in Helsinki, located just a few minutes’ walk from the Esplanade on Aleksanterinkatu. Inside, you’ll find major international brands alongside quality Finnish products. While it’s not the most budget-friendly option, Stockmann is a city landmark and a symbol of Helsinki’s retail history.

Stockmann is an attraction in itself. Even if you’re not planning to shop, enjoying a coffee in its atmospheric restaurant area is a pleasant option.

Sokos Helsinki

For those who enjoy department stores but want to stay within budget, Sokos Helsinki, near the railway station, is an alternative. Just a five-minute walk from Stockmann, it offers a similar shopping experience on a smaller scale. Prices are generally more moderate, making it a solid competitor, though it doesn’t quite match Stockmann in terms of product variety.

Kämp Galleria

Kämp Galleria – A high-end shopping gallery near Esplanade Park, known for luxury fashion, Nordic design, and boutique-style department store experiences.

Malls in Helsinki Centre

Shopping malls might be the least exciting way to shop, but in Helsinki, they’re surprisingly practical. Outside the warm summer months, the weather is often cold or wet, so people prefer to stay indoors. Malls offer a convenient solution, providing a wide variety of stores under one roof while keeping you warm and dry.

There are several malls in central Helsinki.

Kamppi

Kamppi, located above the central bus station, is about a five-minute walk from the Central Railway Station and around ten minutes from the Esplanade. It’s the largest mall in the city centre and arguably the best, offering a wide range of shops and services. If you are looking for a good mall near the centre, Kamppi is the one.

Forum

The Forum Shopping Centre on Mannerheim Street is an old, moderate-sized mall. You can find interesting things there, but the variety is much smaller than in Kamppi. ChatGPT sanoi:

Forum isn’t as visually appealing as some of the newer malls, but thanks to its central location, it remains a popular spot for grabbing a meal and doing some light shopping.

Asematunneli (Station Tunnel)

In the tunnels near Rautatientori (Central Railway Square), you’ll find several shops., café and restaurants. They tend to be more affordable and focus on everyday products, but they’re still worth a visit.

Asematunneli lacks the modern style of newer malls and can feel a bit uneasy later in the evening. If you prefer clean, peaceful, and contemporary shopping environments, it may not be the best choice. However, for those seeking budget-friendly stores, Asematunneli could still be worth exploring.

Malls Outside the City Centre

The Helsinki region outside the city centre has numerous malls that most travellers won’t have time to visit. They are still busy and popular among locals who have cars.

Tripla

Tripla is a large, modern mall located above Pasila Railway Station. It’s just a 4-minute commuter train ride from Helsinki Central Station, making it easily accessible. If you enjoy shopping malls, Tripla is worth a visit.ChatGPT sanoi:

Tripla also features its hotels, numerous restaurants, cafés, museums, and other activities. You can easily reach it from central Helsinki with an AB zone public transport ticket; hop on any commuter train, avoiding the long-distance ones.

REDI

The REDI Mall is approximately a 10-minute metro ride from Helsinki’s city centre. Often compared to Venice for its intricate layout, it’s easy to get lost within minutes. REDI is a great place to explore if you have plenty of time and no specific shopping goals in mind. You can wander through the mall, discover interesting finds, and enjoy a variety of good food options.

From Helsinki city centre, you’ll need an AB zone ticket, and the metro ride is quick and straightforward. The metro stop is called Kalasatama.

Sello

Sello is a large mall located in Leppävaara, about a 20-minute commuter train ride from Helsinki city centre. While the mall itself is pretty typical, visiting Espoo offers a nice change of pace. For example, you can enjoy a modern open-air swimming pool nearby.

The easiest way to reach Sello is by taking a train to Leppävaara. An AB zone ticket is sufficient. Trains marked with the letters A, E, U, or Y go to Leppävaara. Just be sure to get off at Leppävaara, as all trains except the A line continue past the station.

Itis

Itis is a large mall located in eastern Helsinki, about a 20-minute metro ride from the city centre. While the mall itself is pretty typical, it’s popular among immigrant communities, lending it a unique, multicultural atmosphere that can feel distinctly different from the rest of Helsinki. The mall doesn’t offer anything particularly exceptional, but it’s one of the largest in Helsinki and features the city’s most modern movie theatre.

Supermarkets

It might come as a surprise, but supermarkets are an excellent option for travellers looking to do everyday shopping. They tend to be quite large in Finland.

Prisma

Prisma is one of the largest local supermarket chains and likely the most budget-friendly choice. They carry a broad selection of items, featuring brands that are generally more everyday than those found in department stores. Naturally, they also sell groceries. If you’re looking to buy Finnish candies and chocolates, we strongly suggest choosing Prisma rather than speciality candy stores.

The closest Prisma to Helsinki’s city centre is located in the Tripla Mall, although it’s slightly smaller than the other locations. For a larger Prisma that’s especially popular with locals, visit the one in Sello Mall.

Citymarket

Citymarket is another local supermarket chain, but it is generally much more expensive than Prisma. There aren’t many reasons to choose it, although its grocery products are known for their high quality.

Lidl

For the best value on groceries and products, Lidl is the go-to place. Though Lidl’s selection is smaller and features fewer Finnish products, its prices are surprisingly low. If you’re looking for local items like Finnish chocolate, Lidl may not be the best choice, as it primarily carries its brands rather than well-known Finnish ones. However, these products are still of good quality. The low prices make Lidl worth a visit.

Tokmanni

Tokmanni is a genuine Finnish discount brand offering a wide range of everyday products, including an increasing selection of groceries. While you can find some good brands there, Tokmanni primarily focuses on affordable items. If you’re not concerned with stylish aisles or a polished shopping atmosphere, Tokmanni could be the right choice. It’s a place where you can discover surprisingly inexpensive yet quality products.

Navigating to the Shops

Locating the shopping destinations mentioned earlier is straightforward. If you know where you want to go, open Google Maps and enter the store or brand name. It will display the nearest location along with walking or public transport directions. Another option is to use Helsinki’s official route planner. Public transport and walking usually suffice for short trips, but taking a taxi is a practical choice when you need to travel farther or faster.

If you’re unsure where to start, wandering around the Esplanade and Helsinki city centre is a great way to begin. Since Helsinki is relatively compact, you’ll soon come across many of the places mentioned. Plus, getting around the city is quick, so you can easily explore new spots as you go.

Bottom Line

Helsinki offers a diverse shopping experience for a wide range of tastes and budgets. Stylish boutiques and iconic design stores around the Esplanade and Punavuori showcase the best of Finnish craftsmanship, while department stores and shopping malls provide convenience and variety.

For those interested in local culture, small independent shops offer unique Finnish products and a more authentic atmosphere. Supermarkets like Prisma and Lidl serve as practical and affordable options for everyday needs and local treats.

With its compact city centre and well-connected outskirts, Helsinki makes it easy to explore excellent shopping opportunities while enjoying the vibrant atmosphere of the Finnish capital.