Hotels near Esplanadi Park

Esplanadi Park (locals shorten it to Espa) is the 400-metre linear park that runs from Market Square west to Erottaja Square between Pohjoisesplanadi and Etelaesplanadi streets. Laid out in 1818 by Carl Ludwig Engel, Espa is the classic Helsinki promenade - a shaded lawn dotted with lime trees, sculptures of Finnish national poet J L Runeberg (1885) and playwright Zacharias Topelius, and the small Espa Stage (Espan lava) that hosts free open-air concerts throughout the summer from mid-May to end-August.

The Espa Stage runs the Espa Jazz festival every year in mid-July (roughly two weeks of daily free performances at 12:00, 16:00 and 20:00) and the Esplanadi Wappufest on May Day. Around the park sit the flagship stores of Marimekko (Pohjoisesplanadi 33), Aarikka jewellery, Iittala/Arabia, the Cafe Kappeli (a preserved 1867 pavilion with a summer terrace), and the Swedish Theatre (Svenska Teatern) at the western end. Pohjoisesplanadi 19 hides the Helsinki City Tourist Information office (Monday-Friday 09:00-18:00, weekends 10:00-16:00).

Pro Tip: Come at 12:00 in July for the free Espa Jazz lunchtime set with a takeaway salmon sandwich from Story cafe in the Old Market Hall. In winter, Cafe Kappeli's cinnamon buns and hot cocoa on the enclosed veranda are worth the 8 EUR - the interior has not been redecorated since 1867.