VANTAA
Feel at home in 50-year-old Vantaa!
In 2024, Vantaa celebrates its 50th birthday, its journey from a small village into a big city. Vantaa celebrates its past, its present, and its future. Vantaa is a dynamic and multicultural city, in many issues, a forerunner and shows the way, for example, as regards internationalization. The motto of the city's jubilee year is that everybody can feel at home in Vantaa.Vantaa might be known primary being the site of the Helsinki Airport, but the airport city is for sure much more than the airport. Finland's fourth-largest city, Vantaa is known for its green areas, long history, and modern easy-going lifestyle. Vantaa is also home to smoke saunas, science, chocolate, and murals.
It is good to be a fifty-year-old since Vantaa has invested into the future. We have already grown our roots, let alone wings. Vantaa has the courage to be bold and let its wings flow. Vantaa is an attitude. Future already lives in Vantaa.
Nature and culture for everyone
Tikkurila, where the second venue of the 2024 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship is located, is today’s largest nerve center in Vantaa. It has always been a hustling and bustling hub. Earliest settlements, from Stone Age, have been found on both sides of the Keravanjoki river in Jokiniemi. During 19th and early 20th century Tikkurila was a hot spot of industry. Dive into history of Vantaa in the Vantaa City Museum, located in the old railway station building or stroll along river Keravanjoki and old factory buildings Vernissa ja Silkki. On the other side of river is located The Science Center Heureka, that offers plenty of fun for all ages and lures one to the world of science and technology in an engaging and interactive way. There is a reason why Heureka is year after year one of the most popular leisure centers in Finland.For true nature lovers, a visit in Kuusijärvi is a must. Kuusijärvi is a popular all-season outdoor recreational center. In summertime a large sandy beach and in wintertime a beautiful cross-country skiing landscape with an invigorating ice swimming possibility are the foundations for Kuusijärvi's popularity. Kuusijärvi offers the only traditional smoke saunas in Helsinki Metropolitan area open to public on regular basis. Restaurant Cafe Kuusijärvi is open throughout the year. And for true hikers, Kuusijärvi is a gate into Sipoonkorpi National Park.
If you are looking for the most Finnish taste, you will find it too from Vantaa. Deeply loved Fazer, producer of iconic Fazer’s Blue chocolate is located in Vaarala, Vantaa. Or as the locals call it, Fazerila, as the Fazer Factories spread over several hectares and even host their own kindergarten. Beside chocolate Fazer produces several other products from bread to sweets and from cookies to cereals. Fazer Experience Visitor Centre welcomes everyone to experience Fazer in a new way – using all your senses. In Fazer Experience Visitor Centre interesting themes are tied together with the unique architecture.
And as you are in airport city, make sure to take some time and visit The Finnish Aviation Museum near Helsinki airport in Aviapolis. There you will find two great exhibition halls full fabulous aircrafts from different eras, including military, commercial and private aircrafts. In addition to approximately 70 aircraft, there are other items such as plane parts, scaled models and much more. Please note that the main exhibition halls are unheated, so warm clothing is recommended during the cold weather. In the simulators you can experience the joy of flying yourself, but please note that advance booking is required. The Museum Shop is the best spot to buy aviation themed souvenirs to take back home.
Restaurants in Tikkurila
- Chico’s – Burgers and vurgers of the best in Mexican-American fusion cuisine
- Mama Mozza – Italian restaurant with modern Mediterranean food
- Oklahoma - American-style surf 'n' turf along with globally inspired dishes in a Wild West–themed steakhouse
- Putte’s Bar & Pizza – Cozy place for pizza lovers
- White Himal – Contemporary and modern Nepalese dishes
- Zilla - Eating together is at the heart of Zilla
Shopping
Furthermore, Vantaa is home to shopping. Jumbo is one of the biggest shopping centers in Finland and together with Flamingo entertainment center it is the place to have a blast. Everybody is sure to find one’s own favorite among Jumbo’s more than 200 shops, restaurants, bars, cafés and entertainments such as water park, movie theater, bowling or glow-in-the-dark miniature golf.In Tikkurila you can find plentiful stores from shopping centers Dixi and Tikkuri.