Design District Helsinki
Design District Helsinki / Arkkitehtuuri- ja designmuseo
A district of some 200 design shops, galleries, antique stores, and restaurants, where you can buy Marimekko, Iittala, and other Finnish designs, and visit the Design and Architecture Museum.
The Design District is not a single street but a cluster of dozens of streets in southern central Helsinki, mainly in Punavuori, Ullanlinna, and nearby neighborhoods, centered on Uudenmaankatu and Fredrikinkatu. Storefronts display a black “Design District” sign. Here you will find independent designers’ studios, vintage furniture and secondhand shops, ceramic and jewelry workshops, galleries, and boutique cafés, as well as outlets for classic Finnish brands such as Marimekko, Iittala, and Artek. On Korkeavuorenkatu on the east side, the former Design Museum and the Museum of Finnish Architecture have merged into the Design and Architecture Museum, which displays Finnish design history from the 19th century to today, along with works by Alvar Aalto and other architects. Admission is about 20 euros (check the official website). A ten-minute walk south brings you to the seafront and Kaivopuisto Park; to the west is the Löyly sauna. Many small shops are closed or open only in the afternoon on Sundays.
Opening hours
Most shops Mon–Fri approx. 11:00–18:00, Sat until 16:00; museum closed Mondays (check official website)
Nearby sights
- Esplanadi Park
- Ateneum Art Museum
- Helsinki Cathedral & Senate Square
- Market Square & Old Market Hall
- Helsinki Central Station
- Amos Rex
- Allas Sea Pool
- Kaivopuisto Park