With 450,000 titles in stock, the Academic Bookstore (Akateeminen Kirjakauppa) is the largest bookshop in town and one of the largest in Nordic countries. You will find everything here: books, newspapers and magazines and stationery. You can even order newspapers or magazines here. The shop has a good selection of literature in English and other foreign languages, as well as numerous books about Finns and Finland. At Micronia, on the lower ground floor, you can buy computing equipment, including software, hardware and accessories. Within the shop is also café Aalto, where you can enjoy refreshments in an environment designed by Alvar Aalto himself. Its own bakery produces an excellent variety of pastries and pies, and the café serves tasty lunches.
Stockmann department store was established in 1862 and offers nearly everything from clothing to furniture and modern electronics. Stockmann is not the cheapest department store; however, it has become a popular shopping place for the average consumer who appreciates high-quality goods. The Stockmann Herkku supermarket will satisfy the tastes of demanding chefs and cooks with its wide variety of Finnish and exotic raw ingredients. The Academic Bookstore right next to Stockmann is connected to it by a tunnel and contains the store's book department.
A beautiful sunlit plaza in the midst of Helsinki's Hietalahti district, the Hietalahden Square is constantly abuzz with energy. Once a historically significant area that housed a few Russian barracks, the square is teeming with age-old cafes, bars, traditional restaurants, and local shops and boutiques. All of these thrive wonderfully around the summertime market, which is the pièce de résistance of this busy square. Featuring a bounty of fresh fruits, vegetables, flowers, and fish, the market is also a great place to shop for everything from clothing and trinkets to antiques, souvenirs, and Marimekko textiles. On one side of the square stands the historical Hietalahti Market Hall, designed by Selim A. Lindqvist, a monumental shopping landmark that draws a fair crowd with its fresh food offerings.
This antiquarian bookshop is the best place in town if you are searching for Nordic literature, but it is not cheap. The interior is very interesting even for window-shoppers, decorated with skulls. The Hagelstam family also hold antiques auctions. This shop will serve you in Swedish or English as well.
Itäkeskus is a large shopping centre popular among the residents of the eastern side of Helsinki. Itäkeskus is like a city in itself, with its Boulevards and Tallinn Square. Here you can find branches of all the biggest chains like Hennes&Mauritz, Stockmann, Anttila, Body Shop, Vero Moda and Jack & Jones. There is also an excellent selection of restaurants, a big supermarket, a cinema, hairdressers and beauty parlours, even a little amusement park for children. Various events and markets are arranged here. The best way to get to Itäkeskus from the Helsinki city centre is to take an eastbound metro from the Central Railway Station; the shopping centre has its own stop.
Digelius is situated in Viiskulma, across the street from Popparienkeli and next door to The Specialist. The broad catalogue of over 30,000 titles covers jazz, ethnic and experimental/avant-garde. Most of the CDs are new but the vinyl is mainly second-hand. There is also a selection of videos and literature covering the musical genres the store offers. The staff are helpful and very committed to these genres-and no wonder, as Digelius Music is the third oldest record store in Helsinki.
Mekkomania takes you back to the times when women wore dresses, heels and lipstick. This lovely vintage store offers a broad selection of beautiful authentic dresses dating back to the golden years of the 50s, 60s and 70s. Some groovy tunes of the times will keep you humming while you rummage through the piles of the deliciously colored items. The friendly owner will be happy to give you a few tips on how to create an authentic look and where to head for a vintage appreciating crowd. All necessary accessories can be found here too. - Paula Holst
Digelius is situated in Viiskulma, across the street from Popparienkeli and next door to The Specialist. The broad catalogue of over 30,000 titles covers jazz, ethnic and experimental/avant-garde. Most of the CDs are new but the vinyl is mainly second-hand. There is also a selection of videos and literature covering the musical genres the store offers. The staff are helpful and very committed to these genres-and no wonder, as Digelius Music is the third oldest record store in Helsinki.
This shop is located next to Senate Square, and its selection consists of traditional knives that have been produced since 1928 in rather arctic conditions. These durable knives are not only outdoors and hunt-friendly but also typical Finnish and beautiful to look at. They also sell sheath knives and kitchen sets. Check the webiste for surther information.