The second largest city in Finland is Espoo, a satellite city of Helsinki. In 1458 it received official city status. Large representative offices of many famous companies and brands are located here.
Living here is very prestigious: the city’s budget and the income of its residents are the highest in the country. You will be able to fully enjoy the nature of Espoo, participate in the cultural life of the city, attend concerts, exhibitions, and sporting events.
The city has a large number of large retail chains, shops, and boutiques that will not leave shopping lovers indifferent. The city is provided with green areas, forest parks, beaches where you can walk, fish, pick berries, swim and sunbathe. And although Espoo does not have a clear historical center, there is a lot to see in terms of interesting sights.
Waterpark "Serena"
The largest tropical water park in the country. What sets it apart from all other water parks is that it is located inside a rock! Here you will find not only water slides, but also many swimming pools, traditional Finnish saunas, waterfalls, Jacuzzis and other interesting attractions. Not far from it there is a hotel and a ski resort. The water park is open all year round.
Ski center "Serena"
Not far from the Serena water park there is a ski resort of the same name, which attracts all winter sports lovers with its slopes. In this sports center you can find something to do to your liking. Five trails and a jump are open for professionals, and ski and snowboarding schools for beginners. There are equipment rentals and restaurants. The only downhill skating track in the country is also located here.
Location: Tornimäentie - 10.
Nuuksio Park is a great place to discover the flora and fauna of Finland. There are hiking trails along the entire park, walking along which you can fully enjoy the breathtaking views of wildlife. You can walk around the park on foot, on bicycles or on horseback. In Nuuksio you can have a picnic, followed by an overnight stay in the lap of nature. You can also climb to the top of the cliff along the Raven Path and have a bird's-eye view of the surroundings of the park and the beautiful Lake Haukkalampi, shimmering in the sun.
Lutheran church, built between 1458 and 1480. Initially, the church protected local residents from enemy attacks. In 1767, a bell appeared on the top of her head. Later they brought the organ. The walls and ceiling of the church, in addition to Biblical scenes, are also decorated with scenes from the everyday life of city residents. The statue of the Passion of Christ, made of wood, was moved here from the National Museum. In the evenings you can hear the sound of organ music here. In 2004, the Church of the Apostle Matthew received the status of a Cathedral.
Manor "Glims"
The museum at the Glims estate opened in 1958. Before it was handed over to the authorities to be turned into a city museum, the estate managed to change three owners. The first owner was a certain Nielsen Peder, then it was owned by a local policeman, and finally the Lönnberg family.
Until the beginning of the 20th century. this farm was fully operational. Now you can wander around it, among the remaining 11 buildings, and get acquainted with the life of medieval peasants. Festivals, music concerts, and literary readings are periodically held on the territory.
Villa "Elfik"
In one of the Espoo nature reserves, among the green trees, the Elfik villa is hidden. It was built in 1904, in a purely English style. An exhibition dedicated to the nature of Nuuksio Park is organized inside. Many exhibits are allowed to be touched. If you press a special button on the models, you will hear the voices of the inhabitants of these protected forests. Hungry vacationers will find a small, cozy cafe on site.
Location: Elfviksvägen - 4.
Marquetta Park
The largest landscape park in the country is called Marquetta. The peculiarity of this place is that small pieces of park land are rented by companies. They take care of the place and design its interior. Horticultural exhibitions are constantly held here, and more than 100 organizations present their products.
If you decide to walk through the park on your own, then throughout the park you will be able to see gazebos, fountains, ponds, ornamental plants, bridges, natural stones and minerals, flower walls and much more.
An interesting lake called Bodom is located near the city of Espoo. It is 3 km long and 1 km wide. The lake is very popular among tourists coming to Espoo. Many come here to see in person the place that inspired the 2016 film Lake Bodom. And a very sad event happened here - the murder of four teenagers. However, despite this fact, it is a pleasure to relax here. A large hotel has been built on the shore, and the area is crossed by many paths along which you can walk.
In the traditional Finnish style, the Vitträsk estate was built in 1903 by three architect friends. It stands on a hill above the lake. The walls of the house are partially made of stone. After construction, three families settled here at once.
Each lived in its own separate wing. Inside you can admire 15 stoves, with patterns in the national style, large woven carpets, and elegant stained glass windows. At the moment, Vittresk is used as a museum, with a souvenir shop inside.
Location: Hvitträskintie - 16.
Russian tourists will be interested in visiting the Treskenda estate, which formerly belonged to the famous Aurora Karamzina. She was married twice: first to millionaire Demidov, then to her eldest son Karamzin.
In this house she organized festivities in honor of the Russian Emperor Alexander II, who arrived in the country. By her order, in honor of this event, various animals and many trees were brought here from the Urals to be planted in the garden.
Espoo - a city of museums
If you go to Espoo, be sure to visit its interesting and unusual museums.
In the exhibition complex "" (Ahertajantie - 5) there are many museums: art-modernist - "Emma", cultural and historical, museum of toys and time, ethnographic museum.
Another museum was opened in the very first school building in the city. Here are collected antiques related to the history of the municipal primary school. Visitors can experience first-hand the gymnastics equipment of those times that students used to use.
In the museum, on Villa Rulludd(Rullaniementie - 15), which stands on the very shore of the peninsula, visitors can find out how as many as six generations of the Kilman family lived here: a famous politician, pastor and teacher, at the turn of the 19th-20th centuries. The architectural structure of the villa contains elements of four different historical eras. Such a diverse combination of styles is definitely worth a look.
City of Espoo located on the shores of the Gulf of Finland, in southern Finland. The first buildings in the city were recorded almost 9 thousand years ago. Now Espoo is the second city in Finland in terms of population (its population is approximately 236,000 people).
Espoo is the richest city in the country - the income of residents and the city budget itself are much larger than those of other regions of Finland. Living in Espoo is quite prestigious - it is the second largest city in terms of area.
Espoo - video
Administratively, the city is divided into several residential and five industrial districts. Each district differs from the rest with its special architectural structures. The garden city of Tapiola can be distinguished more than others - here the architecture miraculously combined the surrounding nature with residential buildings.
Espoo is a city that blends with wild nature in the best way possible. This is a kind of capital of high technology and culture. Near the city there are huge, strikingly unique valleys, an incredible mosaic of canyons, a National Park called Nuuksio, mirror-like forest lakes and dense spruce thickets.
Sights of Espoo
Sights of Espoo include ancient Lutheran church. It is considered the oldest building in Espoo. It was consecrated in honor of the Apostle Matthew. The church is made of stone and is located at the bend of the Espoo River; the construction of the church dates back to 1458. At the end of the 18th century, a bell tower was added to the church, which to this day amazes both local residents and guests of the city with its beauty.
The National Park-Reserve, which has the name Nuuksio. It was opened in 1994. The reserve boasts wild nature of extraordinary beauty - boulders and swamps covered with lichens, as well as lush groves and rocks. Nuuksio has a large number of lakes. The territory of the park-reserve is very well adapted for walking (special paths were laid in the swamps, and bridges were thrown across the rivers). The reserve preserves rare species of birds, plants and animals that are on the verge of extinction. Deer, lynxes, bears, waterfowl and forest birds also live here, and berries and mushrooms grow. Nuuksio has its own symbol - the flying squirrel, it was listed in the Red Book of Finland. In the reserve you are allowed to pick berries and mushrooms, but picking flowers, sawing branches to make a fire and littering are strictly prohibited.
In the city of Espoo there is a wonderful amusement park called "Humala". The idea of this park is that through play, children are taught a love of physical activity and sports. There is a sign next to each attraction and play area that tells you what traits and skills are developed during a particular game. The amusement park is divided into 22 zones, which include a billiards room, a trampoline, an interactive zone, go-karting, trambolines, an adventure labyrinth, a climbing wall and much more. Near the play areas there is a restaurant where parents of children can relax while they are having fun in the park.
Not far from "Huimala" is located "Serena" is one of the largest leisure centers and water parks in Northern Europe. A wonderful pine forest grows around it, and the water park itself is built on a rock and even partially inside it. On the territory of the water park there are a large number of pools with waterfalls, high-speed slides, a jacuzzi, a pool with a “black hole” attraction and a wave breaker. But in the summer, in the Serena water park, new types of entertainment open up for tourists - a slide on the mat, a pool called the Dead Sea, two long circular rivers and hot tubs and a sauna, which is located in the rock itself. Here you can also relax and have a snack in the cave restaurant.
It is also worth visiting the Weegee Exhibition Center. It houses five museums, of which the largest is EMMA - the Museum of Contemporary Art. The Kamu Museum is a city museum of the city of Espoo, a toy museum, a watch museum, and a multicultural museum. In addition to museums, the center also has an art gallery, cafe, art store and restaurant.
1. In Espoo, many hotel rooms are strictly non-smoking. However, it is possible to request a special smoking room.
2. When you talk with local residents, it is better to look them in the eye during the conversation so that there is no suspicion of insincerity. Under no circumstances should you interrupt your interlocutor.
3. The best way to get around the city is to use buses and taxis - this is the fastest and most convenient form of transport.
4. It is not customary to pay staff for service in the city; more precisely, tips are already included in the cost of hotel rooms and in restaurant bills.
5. Emergency help can be called by calling 112 from any part of the city. Calling for help here is free.
6. Also in Espoo, health insurance is required for the period of stay in the city.
7. You can visit the city of Espoo at any time of the year, since both in winter and summer you will find a lot of entertainment and a lot of attractions.
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Espoo is the second largest city in Finland. Espoo is located on the shores of the Gulf of Finland near Helsinki. The name of the city comes from the Swedish “aspen”, that is, “aspen”. Espoo has a variety of landscapes, islands, fields, forests. 
The nature of Expo is magnificent, so it is a great place for walking and cycling in summer, and for skiing in winter. But what attractions there are in Espoo.
Espoo Church 
The old stone church was built in the mid-15th century. At first it resembled a triangle and had three aisles. This is how it looked until the 1920s, then it was rebuilt. However, city officials decided that the temple needed to be restored to its historical appearance and implemented the plan in the 1930s. Relatively recently, a wooden sculpture “The Passion of Christ” was placed above the altar in the temple - it was transferred from the National Museum of Finland. Sometimes organ concerts are held in the church.
Address: Kirkkopuisto 5
Espoo Car Museum 
The largest and oldest vehicle museum in Finland. It is worth noting that the exhibits in this museum are often moved around and generally changed. There are 20 motorcycles and mopeds, about 100 cars (including cars from the beginning of the last century), and sports cars. Many of them have long been discontinued, so they are of particular value. Here you will meet the iconic Moskvich, Volga, Yalta, which were brought to Finland after the war. Well, a couple of luxury American cars. Guaranteed to please all family members.
Address: Bodomintie 35
Finnish Toy Museum Leikkilinna 
Look for this museum in the Viggi exhibition center. Loved by both big and small. Here are toys of different generations - from the beginning of the 20th century to the present day. There is also a model of “Löyulumäki”, recreating a Finnish village from the middle of the last century.
Address:"Näyttelykeskus WeeGee", Ahertajantie 5, Tapiola
Villa Elfvik 
The villa is located in the Laajalahti nature reserve, on the shore of the bay, in the forest. It was built in 1904 for a baroness, but after her death the building was transferred to the city authorities. Today in this building you will learn more about the flora and fauna of Espoo (exhibition “Long Live Espoo”) - the villa is even called the “House of Nature”. Many of the exhibits can be touched with your hands - and your children will definitely love it. From the villa you can walk through the reserve along a special path and watch the birds and the forest. True, this is a short path. There is a 3-kilometer trail that runs from the villa to Otaniemi past pastures - also very beautiful.
Address: Elfvikintie 4
Espoo City Museum
Or the Lagstad School Museum - because it is located in the building of the oldest school in Espoo. This school was built by the early 1870s, and it was the first municipal elementary school in the city. At first only girls studied there, since education was separate. In the middle of the last century, a new school building was opened nearby. Today, this building houses the offices of various Espoo services. Well, the museum was opened in the 60s. It took a long time and painstaking time to collect all the exhibits, but what you can see today is quite nice and nostalgic.
Address: Vanha Lagstadintie 4
Marketta Park (Marketanpuisto) 
Luxurious beauty park. Park Museum. Interesting stone artifacts, elegant gazebos, bridges that amaze with their grace are exhibited here, as well as fountains, ponds, and water gardens. What can we say about beautifully trimmed bushes and trees and flowers. This park is an excellent example of garden design and, in general, future landscape designers should definitely come here. 
This park was established in 1997, not far from the center of Espoo (10 minutes drive). Many local companies were looking for a place to present their products and capabilities. And so we decided on a place and built all this beauty. This place hosts annual gardening and landscape exhibitions. Various products and know-how in this area are also exhibited here. More than a hundred companies participate in these events. This park is free to visit and is open daily from 7am to 9pm. Look for the park near the 3rd ring road, between the motorways to Pori and Turku.
Museum – Villa Rulludd 
This building stands on the seashore, on a peninsula. It is unique for its architecture. The villa once belonged to a wealthy local family of a politician and businessman. He built the villa in 1873, and 20 years later his son built his own house next to it and connected it to the old common porch. The building turned out to be a little “mixed-color”. Six generations of this family lived in this house before the city council bought it in the 1980s. These days, there is a museum on the 2nd floor of the house, and various cultural events are held on the first floor.
Address: Rullaniementie 15
Helina Rautavaara Museum 
Helina Rautavaara was knowledgeable in the field of foreign culture and religion. She traveled widely and then made radio and television programs from materials collected during her travels. And then the museum was formed. This museum has permanent exhibitions, four about different cultures, and one about Helina herself. This museum contains about 2.5 thousand exhibits from Africa, the Middle East, South Asia and Latin America. The traveler managed to bring all this stuff. Pretty interesting!
Address: Ahertajantie 5, WeeGee-talo
EMMA - Espoo Museum of Contemporary Art 
The museum's exhibits date from the early 19th century to the present day. Both Finnish and foreign - about 2000 items in total: paintings, engravings, sculptures, drawings, photographs, installations, etc. The collections are constantly replenished thanks to gifts from other museums in different countries.
Address: Ahertajantie 5
Museum of Horology
In the museum you can admire more than 6,000 wrist and wall clocks, which date from the 17th century to the present day. Watchmakers' tools are also kept here. Here you will find out how things were in watchmakers in Finland and other countries. The history of the museum dates back to 1944, when a collection of works by students of the Finnish School of Watchmakers was collected. The museum was opened almost 40 years later. And about 10 years ago the museum was moved to the WeeGee exhibition center.
Address: Ahertajantie 5
Museum-Estate "Glims"
This museum is located in the village of Karvasmäki, which is a 15-minute drive to the east from the center of Espoo. This settlement was known back in the Middle Ages. Today little remains of the medieval buildings, and the oldest structures, a barn and a dwelling house, were built in the 18th century. Glims Manor was a farm at the beginning of the last century, and before that it was a tavern and inn. It was also the residence of the local police chief. The museum in the building has been operating since the late 50s of the last century. In this open-air museum you will learn more about the life and way of life of peasants in those days. Almost all the buildings remain in their original locations.
The so-called “capital region” in Finland unites Helsinki, Vantaa, Espoo and Kauniainen. Espu is one of the centers for a large number of regional and international representative congresses, industrial exhibitions, seminars and conferences. Leading research centers in the field of geology, high technology and the latest developments are located here. The "Green City", designed in the middle of the last century by the country's leading architects (Tapiolu), built on the principles of conservation and restoration of nature, is today part of Espu, being a favorite destination for both residents of Espu and visitors. Tourists and townspeople can enjoy all kinds of department stores, specialty shops, cafes, restaurants and, of course, wonderful hotels.
Other attractions include the art-rich Otso Gallery, the Clock Museum and the Cultural Center. The beautiful tropical complex with the romantic name “Serena” provides the opportunity to swim in indoor and outdoor pools.
A special symbol for the city is the Glims Estate Museum. An unusual museum was opened on the territory of an old peasant estate in 1958. Today there are 11 buildings on the territory of the museum, including unique buildings from the 17th century. The museum introduces visitors to the peasant life of past centuries; among its exhibits there are rare ethnographic and historical artifacts. The museum regularly hosts literary evenings, master classes on various types of crafts, and festivals dedicated to national culture. Copyright www.site
Espu is home to the Automobile Museum, which is considered the oldest museum of its kind in the country. The basis of its exposition consists of more than a hundred models of vintage cars, as well as about forty models of motorcycles. In this museum you can see cars that are very unusual for Finland, brought from Eastern European countries. They are a real rarity for the state; you can even see legendary cars from Russia in the museum.
Lovers of natural attractions are offered interesting excursions around the Laaialahti Nature Reserve; there is also an interesting historical landmark on its territory. We are talking about the ancient Villa Elfik, which was built in 1904 for one of the local baronesses. Nowadays, a natural science museum has been opened within the walls of the historical building, which tells visitors about the natural features of these places. There are many interesting walking routes throughout the reserve.
In the vicinity of the city there is the ancient castle of Raseborg; to this day, the majestic fortification structure has only partially survived. The exact date of foundation of the castle is unknown; according to some assumptions, it was built in 1374. The castle was erected on top of a rock and was used for its intended purpose until the 19th century. Currently, the historical building is being reconstructed; for local residents, the ruins of the fortress are a venue for interesting events. Unusual bazaars in medieval style are held here, festivals and fairs are held.
Espoo (Espoo/Esbo (Swedish)) is the second largest city in the country. This is a satellite city of Helsinki, which together with Vantaa and Kauniainen makes Helsinki a city with a population of one million. In fact, it is difficult to call Espoo a city - it does not have a historical center as such; rather, it is cottage villages and several multi-storey urban residential complexes, combined into one infrastructure. It is located on the shores of the Gulf of Finland west of Helsinki.
City of Espoo
From Helsinki to Espoo you can take route No. 51, which runs along the shore of the bay and allows you to admire the picturesque islands. Living in Espoo is prestigious; this municipality is considered the richest in the country in terms of its own budget and the income of its residents. Moreover, in 2012, the Espoo City Council was the municipal body with the highest proportion of female representatives – 53%.
In terms of tourism, Espoo is a cocktail of nature, culture, business and scientific life. Here you will find children's parties, art exhibitions, eco-tourism sites, sporting events, theater events, music festivals and concerts. In one of the residential complexes - Lempävaara - there is the largest shopping center in Finland, Sello. The second mega-giant of trade Iso – Omena is located in the Matinkylä residential complex. In addition to these megacenters, successful shopping will be provided by numerous boutiques, outlets, IKEA and Tapiola stores, located along the central roads of Espoo so that it is simply impossible to miss them.
Espoo is also famous for its “billionaire peninsula” - this is the name given to the Keilaniemi peninsula, where the offices of the largest Finnish and international companies are located, whose turnover amounts to billions of euros. Among these companies are Nokia, Fortum, Neste, the metallurgical concern Outokumpu, the drug manufacturer Orion, the paper concern M-Real, the Finnish branch of Microsoft, and the Finnish center for sociological and media research TNS Gallup. The Honka football club, which plays in the top league of the Finnish football championship, and the Espoo Blues hockey club, which plays in the Finnish SM-League, have bases in Espoo. The famous Formula 1 racer Kimi Raikkonen and figure skater Laura Lepisto, who received the first gold medal in the European Championships in single skating in the history of Finland, are from Espoo. Espoo is home to Finland's most popular horse racing track, Vermo (www.vermo.fi). Espoo is home to the death metal band Children of Bodom and the electro-industrial band RTPN. Espoo is also a sister city to the Russian cities of Gatchina and Sochi.
The main attractions of Espoo
Wee-Gee Museum and Exhibition Complex
It includes the EMMA Museum of Art Nouveau, the Espoo Cultural and Historical Museum, the Ethnographic Museum, the Toy Museum, and the Museum of Time and Clocks. All five museums are located in the former city printing house and are united by one entrance ticket. The complex has a souvenir shop and a cafe where you can snack on delicious fresh pastries. Center website: www.weegee.fi.
Villa-atelier Akseli Gallen-Kallela
Villa-atelier of the national artist Akseli Gallen-Kallela, built according to his own design. The historical interior, personal paintings, sketches, photographs of the artist are interesting. The villa-museum is located in a very picturesque place. Gallen-Kallelan Museo website: www.gallen-kallela.fi.
Glims Estate Museum
Museum-estate with peasant houses and the 19th century inn Glims. The interior has been preserved, demonstrating the life and holidays of the Finnish inhabitants of the century before last. Attraction website: www.espoonkaupunginmuseo.fi.
Estates Espoo Manor, Villa Rullud, Bastvik Manor
Huimala
Family sports and entertainment complex Huimala. Everything here is clear without words: outdoor games, attractions, special programs for children and a cafe where you can refresh yourself. More details on the website: www.huimala.fi.
Waterpark Serena
The largest water park in Northern Europe, Serena. In addition to water activities, it is a family leisure center. The water park is open daily in summer, and on weekends and during Finnish school holidays in winter. For fans - quad bike safari, go-kart ride down the mountain. In winter, a small ski resort opens next to the water park. All recreational opportunities can be found on the website: www.serena.fi.
Here you can find wild representatives of the cat family - lynx and wolverine, as well as flying squirrels listed in the Red Book. Reserve website: www.luontoon.fi./nuuksio.
Cathedral of the Apostle Matthew
Stone cathedral of the late 15th century, consecrated in honor of the Apostle Matthew. It is located in the center of Espoo on the river bank. The cathedral is considered one of the oldest surviving churches in the capital region. Around the cathedral there is one of the largest Lutheran cemeteries. The walls of the cathedral are decorated with interesting frescoes; services are held here in Finnish (Sunday, 10.00) and Swedish (Sunday, 12.00), as well as evenings of organ music. The cathedral is open daily from 10 to 18.
The sea coast has become a unique attraction of Espoo. Its 58-kilometer length includes an archipelago of 165 islands, 600 kilometers of cycling routes, 8 golf courses, 21 beaches, horse riding centers, walking paths, and equipment and equipment rentals.
Where to stay in Espoo
You can stay on holiday in Espoo not only in hotels with different numbers of stars. Comfortable cottages and well-equipped campsites are at your service. Despite its proximity to the capital, Espoo is a real paradise for nature lovers. There are so many delightful corners here, with well-kept forest parks and clean beaches! On many islands of the archipelago it is allowed to pitch tents; there are sheds for cooking, grill areas with the necessary equipment and firewood, berths for boats and yachts, and toilets. In summer, regular ferry services open from Otaniemi and Kivenlahti piers between Espoo and the islands of the archipelago.
The Espoo travel agency Espoo Convention & Marketing is located in the Tapiolan Keskustorni Business Center on the tenth floor. By visiting the website www.visitespoo.fi and clicking on the Russian flag in the menu, you will get acquainted with a wonderful guide that will give you answers to many questions that cannot be answered in one article.
How to get to Espoo
By car: St. Petersburg – Torfyanovka-Vaalimaa – further along highway E-18 to Helsinki and along local highway No. 51 or along highway No. 1 (Helsinki-Turku) to Espoo.
