In the last hundred years Espoo has developed at a dizzying pace from a rural municipality to a university and technology centre and the home of many technology and energy companies. Despite its large population, Espoo is famous for its fantastic landscapes and lakes.
Espoo is a significant part of the metropolitan area, and this is reflected in the city's cultural and leisure provision. Nuuksio National Park, on the edge of town, offers excellent conditions for outdoor activities such as fishing, skiing, and even berry picking. Nuuksio also offers the Haltia Finnish Nature Centre, which captures the four seasons of Finland's 37 national parks with architecture inspired by the culture of Kalevala, the Finnish national epic.
Holidaymakers in Espoo can also admire the sea views from beach cafés or take a boat ride and explore the idyllic archipelago. Espoo's 95 lakes and 165 islands offer endless hiking opportunities. The Rantaraitti waterfront walkway provides an excellent way to discover the marine landscapes of the region, with beaches, marinas, and places to dine spread along its 40-kilometre pedestrian and bicycle lane. Espoo also has facilities for golf and some 600 kilometres of cycling tracks.
The city's cultural attractions are no less comprehensive than its selection of landscapes and outdoor activities. The studio home built for himself by Finland's national artist Akseli Gallen-Kallela now serves as a museum. For lovers of architecture, an absolute must-see is Hvitträsk, a wilderness studio built by the architects Eliel Saarinen, Herman Gesellius, and Armas Lindgren in 1903.
The WeeGee Exhibition Centre in Tapiola includes five museums: EMMA – Espoo Museum of Modern Art, Espoo City Museum, the Finnish Museum of Horology, the Finnish Toy Museum Hevosenkenkä, and the Helinä Rautavaara Museum. The premises also include the EMMA Shop and café restaurant. The exhibition centre holds about 15 exhibitions each year. Located in the centre of Tapiola, Espoo Cultural Centre is the focal point of the city's cultural life and the home of the Tapiola Sinfonietta orchestra.
Come to Espoo and enjoy refreshing islands, lakes, and forests and world-class cultural offerings. Espoo provides a complete holiday experience.
