The Pasila neighbourhood is familiar to many travellers in the Helsinki area because virtually all trains entering or leaving Helsinki stop there. The overall appearance of the neighbourhood, as seen from a train window, is largely concrete, but it is only a short distance to botanical splendour and the delightful wooden buildings of the Vallila area. Many of Helsinki's largest public events are held in Pasila, as the Messukeskus Expo and Convention Centre and Hartwall Arena attract huge audiences to the district. So leave your train before it reaches the terminal and start your Helsinki holiday by getting to know Pasila and its surroundings.
Many tourists are attracted to Pasila by the concerts and other events held there. Situated right next to Pasila railway station, Messukeskus is a multifaceted venue with excellent transport links, hosting everything from book fairs to boat shows. Besides everyday visitors, Messukeskus attracts professionals from various fields, who come to attend top-level seminars. Whatever your interests, whether dancing or cat breeding, you are sure to find something interesting from the wide range available at Messukeskus.
Another temptation for travellers to Pasila is Hartwall Arena, a popular venue for concerts by top international artists and the home of Finnish ice hockey team Jokerit. Over the years, the arena has seen audiences screaming at concerts by popular boy bands and rejoicing in the successes of the Finnish national ice hockey team. Hartwall Arena is about ten minutes on foot from Pasila railway station, so you can safely leave your car at home when attending events there. You will not have to leave hungry or thirsty, as Hartwall Arena has restaurant space for nearly 4,000 spectators.
In addition to major events, you can spend a somewhat different kind of holiday in Pasila, as there are attractions nearby that differ completely from the surroundings of the railway station. The greenest place to visit in Helsinki is certainly Kumpula Botanic Garden, which is right next to Pasila. The 15 acre site has Finnish cultivated plants, as well as species imported from all over the world, arranged according to the original home of the plant. The Botanic Garden is open from early May to the end of September, so it is the perfect destination for travellers on a summer break.
Another charming city destination right next to Pasila is Wooden Vallila, which has preserved its idyllic appearance while Helsinki has grown and developed. Wooden houses rose along the narrow streets in the early 1900s, and modern Wooden Vallila is a refreshingly different place to visit. While you are there, visit the terrariums of nearby Tropicario, where you can admire exotic snakes and lizards. On the south side of Pasila, you will find the SEA LIFE marine world, with its many varieties of sea creatures, and Linnanmäki amusement park, a favourite destination for families with children.
Travellers visiting Pasila will see an interesting slice of old Helsinki and modern city life. You can crown your inexpensive trip to Pasila with a visit to "Pasila Gallery", an abandoned railway tunnel – now filled with graffiti – that passes under Eastern Pasila.
