Best Shopping Centers in Helsinki: The Ultimate Mall Guide
We have compiled a list of the top shopping centers in Helsinki, where you can find everything you need, from trendy clothes to cool Finnish things to numerous restaurants.
In Helsinki, several shopping centers are located both in the city center and outside.
Some popular shopping centers in the heart of the city are Kamppi, Forum, Kamp Galleria, and Kluuvi.
On the other hand, the biggest shopping malls, such as the Mall of Tripla, Redi, and Itis, are outside the center.
Let’s dive into Helsinki’s best shopping centers and enjoy some retail therapy!
If you want to know other shopping opportunities in Helsinki, read our other article about Helsinki shopping, where you will find everything from interesting shopping streets to lively market squares.
1. Kamppi Shopping Center
The Most Accessible Shopping Center in the City.
Located in the heart of Helsinki, Kamppi Shopping Center is a central hub spread across multiple floors. It is among the busiest shopping centers in Helsinki.
Boasting a mix of shops, restaurants, and even a nightclub, it stands out for its convenience, with metro and bus stations on its basement floor.
Restaurant world on the 5th floor offers diverse dining options and scenic views from window tables.
Free toilets are located throughout the center, ensuring a comfortable experience for visitors. Tip: You will find spacious, modern toilets in the restaurant world on the 5th floor.
In the summer, the sunny terrace between Kamppi and the adjacent Tennispalatsi leisure complex is popular among locals. The event square (Narinkkatori) in front of the shopping center hosts frequent public events.
In bad weather, it is also worth noting that there is a direct tunnel connection from Kamppi to the neighboring Forum shopping center. Enter the tunnel from the main floor in Kamppi and the second floor in Forum.
2. Forum
Central spot for shopping and dining.
Forum Shopping Center is a central spot for shopping and dining.
It’s mid-sized, conveniently located, making it easily accessible for locals and visitors.
It is just a block from Helsinki Central Station, and you can also get there via an underground gateway. And there is a tunnel connection from Forum to the neighboring Kamppi shopping center from the second floor.
The location alone guarantees that many people visit the premises every day. Forum is a convenient thoroughfare between Stockmann and Kamppi for many locals.
The center occupies four floors, with certain shops, such as Scandinavian Outdoor, accessible from outside on the top floor.
In terms of restaurants, Forum is a mix of cafes, casual eateries, and fast food places.
3. Stockmann
Historic department store and meeting place in the center.
Stockmann is a historical department store and a central meeting point in the heart of Helsinki. It is an essential landmark in the city.
While not a shopping mall, its significance in the shopping landscape must be noticed.
Stockmann is the largest department store in the Nordics and the fifth-largest in Europe.
Beyond retail, it houses various amenities, including cafes, restaurants, beauty services, and a pharmacy. The best grocery store in the city center is in the basement of Stockmann.
The iconic clock at its main entrance serves not only as a timekeeper but also as a famous meeting spot for locals. It is a place everyone knows.
The attraction of new shopping centers and the growth of online shopping have posed challenges for traditional department stores like Stockmann, but it is still an iconic institution in Helsinki.
4. Kämp Galleria
Luxury Shopping in the Heart of Helsinki.
Kämp Galleria stands as a luxury shopping center in the heart of Helsinki.
It is nestled within the historic Kämp complex and resides between Esplanade Park and Aleksanterinkatu (Alexander Street).
For those seeking international fashion and Nordic design, Kämp Galleria is the go-to spot.
In addition to fashion boutiques, you can find upscale cafes, restaurants, and specialty stores within the premises.
The gallery is known for its sophisticated atmosphere and elegant architecture.
The Finnish Museum of Photography showcases various rotating exhibitions on the ground floor.
Kämp Galleria has multiple entrances, and you get in from all four sides of the block at Pohjoisesplanadi, Mikonkatu, Aleksanterinkatu, and Kluuvikatu.
5. Kluuvi
Kluuvi Shopping Center is a small shopping destination in the city center.
It is located on Aleksanterinkatu Street, near Senate Square, in the heart of the city’s busiest area.
It provides a small mix of shops for various needs, including sports and fashion.
If you are looking for outdoor clothing and accessories, then Kluuvi is the right place, as the large XXL sports store can be found on the second floor of Kluuvi.
Regarding restaurants, Kluuvi features a mix of cafes, fast food restaurants, and casual eaters.
But there are actually a few of our favorites. Belge is great for mussels and beer tasting, and Fratello serves delicious coffee.
The newest addition is the Holy Crab. Watch out for splashes as the food is poured onto the table in front of you. You can get a mix of lobsters, king prawns, scallops, mussels, etc., with rich, sweet, and spicy flavors.
6. City Center
City Center is a small shopping center that opened in 1967 but has undergone a complete transformation.
The location is perfect. It is at the hub of all public transportation between the central railway station and the Stockmann department store.
It now features 70 shops, restaurants, and a direct metro connection.
On the second floor, you’ll find a trendy restaurant hub.
The center offers free restroom facilities in two locations: adjacent to the restaurants on the second floor and on the third floor, the shopping center’s highest floor. The restrooms are accessible from all floors via customer elevators.
Moreover, there is an underground pedestrian connection from the City Center to the Forum Shopping Center, extending all the way to Kamppi Shopping Center.
7. Mall of Tripla
One of the Largest Malls in the Nordics.
The Mall of Tripla is the newest shopping center in Helsinki. It is commonly considered the best mall in Helsinki (for me, the best mall is Kamppi, which is in the city center and big enough for great shopping).
And a few years ago, Tripla was awarded the title of the best shopping center in Finland and the Nordics by the Nordic Commercial Spaces & Communities organization.
It is just 3.5 kilometers outside the city center and easily accessible due to the Pasila Railway Station, located directly beneath it. You can reach it by local train from the central station or by tram lines around the city.
It’s one of the largest shopping centers in the Nordics, with almost 250 stores, more than 70 cafes and restaurants, a movie theater, an indoor surf simulator, and a Finnish Music Museum.
The Mall of Tripla has become a popular hangout spot due to its convenient transportation options and many cafes and restaurants.
Helsinki Expo and Convention Center, Finland’s largest event venue, is just 500 meters from the Mall of Tripla.
8. Redi
Evolving Shopping, Dining, and Entertainment Hub.
The Redi shopping center is located in the Kalasatama area. Like the Mall of Tripla, it is 3.5 kilometers from the central railway station.
You can go directly to Redi from the Kalasatama metro station, as the metro line runs through the third floor.
The locals often tease Redi for its complex layout. One reason for the complexity is the subway passing through it, with two platforms on opposite sides. Essentially, Redi can be thought of as two separate buildings.
Redi is not just for shopping; it also offers dining and entertainment. It holds a climbing center for bouldering, a free-fall simulator, a skatepark, a virtual reality theme park, and a cinema.
And it is constantly evolving. In 2023, a new world of restaurants opened with dozens of options.
Guidance has been improved, but it may still be confusing, so be prepared for an adventure.
Kalasatama and Sompasaari, residential areas built on the former harbor site, are located next to Redi.
We’ve only been here a few times, and we’re still a bit lost when it comes to directions. It’s not our favorite shopping center, but it’s a good place for those living in this area to go shopping and dine.
9. Itis Shopping Center
Itis Shopping Center is a large shopping complex in East Helsinki, relatively far from the city center. However, it’s easily accessible by metro, with the Itäkeskus metro station along the route.
You’ll find numerous department stores, various services, and a selection of Finnish and international fashion stores.
A new addition is Alanya Market, the largest ethnic grocery store in the country specializing in Middle Eastern products. It attracts customers with products unavailable at the big grocery chains (note that independent grocery stores are rare in Finland except in Helsinki, where there are some ethnic stores).
The center boasts dozens of cafes and restaurants, with a notable presence of affordable Asian eateries.
The shopping center boasts a cinema with nine auditoriums, including Finland’s first IMAX auditorium, which features the most giant screen in the country.