5 Places You Must Visit In Kallio

The Rock of Helsinki, Kallio is the wild and urbanized neighborhood of the metropolis, where bohemian souls meet for a coffee and get lost between the narrow and wavy streets. Dense, laid-back and down-to-earth, the spirits here are permissive and liberal. Let’s see what to do in the area.

* Kallio Church

Watching from the core of the neighborhood, Kallio Church is a Lutheran religious establishment that shrouds the city’s landscape with its 94-meter tower. Completed in 1912, the long church is made up of red bricks with Finnish granite that gives it the rocky look. An Art Nouveau interior adorns the walls with paintings, decorations, laurel wreaths and Christian symbols galore, making this a real cultural treat of the town.

* Kotiharju public sauna

Attending a spot like Kotiharju is nothing short of a local tradition. The place is suited for groups, families or friends and it has an overall capacity of a dozen bathers. There is an opposite area for the private saunas, where parties of local Fins can often be seen sweating and chatting away. Suited for both women and men, the sauna is an essential part of enjoyment and relaxation in Helsinki.

* Made in Kallio

A local selling point for crazy and creative brands specialising in everything hand-crafted, Made in Kallio is a grass-roots initiative of designers and producers that surely beats any souvenir shop in the area. From T-shirts with funny caricatures of Kallio nights, delicious home-baked cookies, coffee and tea, antiques, interior design pieces like pillows, lamps bags and jewellery, shoes, bikes, hammocks, art and much more, there really is somethingfor everyone in this quirky bazaar.

* Linnanmaki

A terrific place for amusement and entertainment, Linnanmaki has been a Helsinki fun factory since the 1950s, in total containing 43 ride types for a truly adventurous experience. From helicopters to horse rides, massive cup rides to the classic carousels, dragons, ducks, ninja characters, trains, motorcycles and airplanes, this park is an encyclopaedia of joy that’s just waiting to be explored.

* Sandro

Sandro started from a petite kiosk; a small business that was turned into a beloved brunch place, suited to Helsinki’s early risers. Open since 1994, Hicham Mountnassir, the current owner, had a cult of the place going on for over a decade, and, back in 2013, decided to combine the small original structure into a unique and charming Moroccan-style brunch joint. Specialities from Fez, Beirut, Marrakesh and Jerusalem adorn the menu, so be ready for a culinary adventure.