Esplanadi

Esplanadi
Esplanaden
The central walking path of Esplanadi, 2020.
Esplanadi is located in Helsinki (mainland)
Esplanadi
Location of Esplanadi in Helsinki
TypeUrban park
LocationHelsinki, Finland
Coordinates60°10′03″N 24°56′52″E / 60.16750°N 24.94778°E / 60.16750; 24.94778
Established1818
DesignerCarl Ludwig Engel

Esplanadi (Swedish: Esplanaden), colloquially known as Espa, is an esplanade and urban park in downtown Helsinki, Finland, situated between the Erottaja square and the Market Square. It is bordered on its northern and southern sides by the Pohjoisesplanadi (Norra Esplanaden, North Esplanadi) and Eteläesplanadi (Södra Esplanaden, South Esplanadi) streets, respectively. Aleksanterinkatu runs parallel to Esplanadi. Esplanadi is well known as a popular walking area,[1][2] and street performances are also often held in the park.[3]

In 1827, Engels Teater (the predecessor of the Swedish Theatre), the first theatre building in Helsinki, also designed by Engel, was erected in a corner of the park.

Centered in the park is a statue of Johan Ludvig Runeberg, the national poet of Finland, by his son Walter Runeberg.[4] Other public art pieces include works by Viktor Jansson, Gunnar Finne and Lauri Leppänen.

Other prestigious restaurants on the edge of the park include Restaurant Olo on Pohjoisesplanadi[5] and Savoy Restaurant on Eteläesplanadi.[6]

Also located on the edge of Esplanadi are Stockmann, Kämp Galleria, Louis Vuitton, and Hotel Kämp.[7][8][9][10]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Varakkaiden vapaa-ajan viettoa - Helsingin ympäristöhistoria". Helsinki.fi (in Finnish). Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  2. ^ "Esplanadi - Bulevardi". Museovirasto (in Finnish). Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  3. ^ "Kaartinkaupunki: menneisyyden havinaa keskeisellä paikalla". Aktia (in Finnish). Archived from the original on August 9, 2020. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  4. ^ "Esplanadin puisto – Esplanade Park". City of Helsinki Public Works Department. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  5. ^ Restaurant Olo (in English)
  6. ^ Savoy Restaurant (in English)
  7. ^ Hotels, Kämp Collection (2025-08-26). "Hotel Kämp, Helsinki". Hotel Kämp. Retrieved 2025-08-26.
  8. ^ "Helsingin keskustan Stockmann-tavaratalo | Stockmann". Inspiroidu (in Finnish). 2016-06-29. Retrieved 2025-08-26.
  9. ^ "Shopping center Kämp Galleria – Helsinki, Finland". Kämp Galleria. Retrieved 2025-08-26.
  10. ^ Jännäri, Jenny (2024-11-07). "Louis Vuitton jatkaa Helsingissä kahdella myymälällä – Stockmannin pop-up saa jatkoaikaa". Tärkeimmät talousuutiset | Kauppalehti (in Finnish). Retrieved 2025-08-26.