Journey

Industrial history meets modern design in the Helsinki region

Credits: Julia Kivelä

Starting Point: Fiskars village

1-3 days

Journey: Industrial history meets modern design in the Helsinki region

This journey around the western Helsinki region takes you to the cross-section of Finnish industrial history and contemporary design. Along the way, we will introduce to you fascinating towns, museums, and experiences in and around the capital. The easiest way to make the journey is by car.

Lohja

Historical Ironworks in Western Uusimaa Guided Tour

The journey starts in the charming Fiskars village, one-hour west of Helsinki. Fiskars developed around the ironworks founded by German-born Petter Thorwöste in 1649 and was known for producing copper. During this walking tour you will visit several old ironworks, enjoy lunch and have the opportunity to go shopping in town.

5 hours

Travel tip:

From Fiskars village, continue the journey east to Mustio Manor in Raasepori. The drive takes about 20 minutes. Along the way you'll have lovely views over fields dotted with traditional red-painted wooden barns and sheds.

Raasepori

Mustio Manor museum

The Mustio Manor is a quintessential part of the industrial history of the Helsinki region. The manor was built between 1783 and 1792 by Magnus Linder II. Today the manor is a museum open to the public, complete with guided tours in many languages.

Stable at Mustio Manor park - Talli Mustion Linnan puistossa

Mustio - Svartå

Mustio Manor English style park

On the grounds of the Mustio manor you will find one of Finland’s biggest private parks in an English style. The park is admission-free to the public.

Travel tip:

From Mustio Manor, the journey continues to the town of Lohja. In Lohja you'll find one of the most interesting sights to visit for all history buffs: the Tytyri Experience Mine. The drive from Mustio to Lohja takes 45 minutes.

People in KONE’s state-of-the-art elevator

Lohja

Tytyri Mine Experience

The Tytyri Mine Experience and its guided tours take you deep beneath the surface to the land of miners, where darkness and light combine to create experiences you’ll encounter nowhere else. One of the world's fastest elevators by Finnish manufacturer Kone takes you 100 meters below the ground in a matter of seconds.

Travel tip:

After Lohja, it's time to move closer to the capital and to the city of Espoo. In Espoo, you'll find many remarkable works of Finnish modern design and architecture.

Kuvassa lasi- ja keramiikkataidetta esittelevän Collection Kakkosen näyttelytila.

Espoo

EMMA – Espoo Museum of Modern Art

EMMA is Finland’s largest art museum. The museum is located in the district of Tapiola in the former Weilin & Göös printing house designed by Professor Aarno Ruusuvuori (1925–1992). The building is a classic sample of 1960s concrete brutalism and an iconic local landmark.

To find more architectural inspiration, take a walk around the Tapiola district of Espoo. Tapiola was founded in 1953, and in the 1960s, Tapiola began to be considered unique and valuable in its architecture, where the urban environment is wonderfully combined with nature.

Travel tip:

After Espoo, it's time for the last stop on this journey: Helsinki. From Tapiola you can hop in the metro and go east, Helsinki Central Railway Station is only seven stations away.