For the past five years, the World Happiness Report has named Finland the happiest country in the world. Helsinki, the Finnish capital, also ranks highly in quality-of-life studies: in the NUMBEO Quality of Life European City Index it placed 14th out of 267 European cities evaluated. Helsinki’s neighborhoods are safe, with a wealth of cafés, restaurants and boutique shops, and extensive paths for walking, running and cycling that support Finns’ love of year-round outdoor activity—from bright summer days to snowy winter months.
Many neighborhoods lie close to downtown Helsinki, and short tram rides connect the center with diverse districts. Kallio, for example, is known for its bohemian atmosphere, while Suomenlinna, a small island community of roughly 800 residents, maintains services such as a hospital, library, school and regular ferry connections to the mainland.
One of the most attractive areas near the city center is Töölö (pronounced too-low), which is large enough to include two distinct sections: Taka-Töölö and Etu-Töölö. Töölö hosts several notable buildings and landmarks, including the Parliament House in Etu-Töölö and Temppeliaukio Church—commonly called the Rock Church—famous for being carved directly into solid bedrock. The neighborhood’s architectural mix is a draw for visitors, from old wooden houses and former farm buildings to the modernist works of Finland’s celebrated architect Alvar Aalto (1898–1976), especially around the Töölönlahti Bay area. Many longtime residents who grew up there praise Töölö’s atmosphere and convenience.
Helsinki City Museum © Jussi Hellsten for City of Helsinki
“The seashore was close to my house and just a few blocks from Mannerheimintie, the main road to downtown Helsinki,” says Outi Pulkkinen, who grew up in Töölö. “There is also the Seurasaari Open-Air Museum and park, a popular spot for walking, jogging or swimming. Another favored swimming area is Hietaniemen Uimarant, a small beach near Café Regatta, a lakeside café dating back to 1887 on Töölönlahti Bay that serves excellent coffee, hot chocolate and cinnamon buns. I love walking from the café to Sibelius Park, where you can see the monument honoring Jean Sibelius, Finland’s best-known composer.”
Active visitors to Töölö will find several branches of the Forever Töölö gym chain and many dedicated cycling routes through central Helsinki and the Töölö area. For travelers who prefer hotel comforts with fitness amenities, the Crowne Plaza Helsinki, an IHG Hotel, sits at 50 Mannerheimintie in Töölö. Standard king rooms for two in springtime often start around $165 per night and typically include breakfast and access to the gym, swimming pool and sauna located in the ground-floor Forever Töölö Fitness Club.