29.05.2017

LikeFinland explored: New destinations and impressive street art of Vantaa

LikeFinland team explored the fourth biggest city of Finland, Vantaa, in this spring 2017. We visited i.a. family destinations such as Heureka and new Pikseli Arcade as well as "Myyr York" street art region in Myyrmäki. Vantaa is located in the Helsinki capital area. 

Vantaa's romantic manors with its beautiful natural surroundings, free museums, stunning street art and impressive new destinations make Vantaa an attractive city for travelers. Especially a wide selection of family attractions and outlets are a good reason to visit Vantaa.

 

IMPRESSIVE STREET ART

One of the destinations we visited was Myyrmäki in the Western side of Vantaa.

There has been given room for street art in Myyrmäki, which makes Vantaa even more interesting. Huge street art works, both in the station building and in its surroundings, have remained surprisingly tidy. In Vantaa, there are plans to spread the idea more widely.


Works of MRDheo (left) and Salla Ikonen at Myyrmäki Station, Vantaa. Photo: LikeFinland.com


Explore the street art of Myyrmäki with a mobile application (www)

Myyrmäki's New York -style history of street art extends to the 1970s, when the high 14-storey blocks of flats were built to this area. They almost seemed like skyscrapers in the youth's eye. The neighborhood with its train bridges was like in New York. That is when the name "Myyr York" was born.

WIDE SELECTION OF RESTAURANTS

The selection of Myyrmäki’s restaurants is surprisingly wide. At the area of Myyrmäki station and Myyrmanni shopping center there are restaurants that offers American style and vegetarian food and also Nepalese, Thai and Vietnamese flavors as well.


Restaurant Wanda's cheerful staff in Myyrmäki. Photo: LikeFinland.com


INTERESTING MUSEUMS WITH FREE ENTRANCE

Vantaa Art Museum Artsi, Myyrmäki

Artsi is a museum that specialises in graffiti, street art and performance. It celebrates the forthcoming centenary of Finland with an exhibition that will endure the whole year. The exhibition Vallaton – Rascal consists of four independent settings - by more than one hundred Artist guests - that change according to the seasons.



Painting of Katja Tukiainen in Artsi is one of Saara Lintunen's favorites. Photo: LikeFinland.com

 
Vantaa City Museum, Tikkurila

New exhibition Room for Love - Speedway of Emotion was opened on Valentine's Day 2017.

The love exhibition is based on a 2-year project, in which the museum has collected love stories by interviews and online surveys from more than 100 people from Vantaa. The stories are mainly in Finnish or Swedish, but you can ask for information also in English, or book a guided tour.

It was interesting to read the love stories that had begun from the places we knew, as well as stories in which a single spice or cake recipe has brought two people together. The exhibition has a fascinating and positive surprise material, for example realistic and outspoken diaries of the 1990's.

It was fun to see what kind of objects people have saved from their past love stories. There was also a wall that was full of wedding pictures from different decades. 

Vantaa City Museum (www)
Hertaksentie 1, Vantaa


Wedding pictures from different decades at Vantaa City Museum. Photo: Likefinland.com 

ROMANTIC MANORS OF VANTAA

A visit to the Vantaa City Museum's love exhibition can be conveniently combine with staying and dining in a romantic manor.

Hämeenkylä Manor

Hämeenkylä Manor with its beautiful pink and yellow manor houses is definitely worth a visit. The history of a cultural history extends to the 16th century.

The hotel and restaurant, as it is today, was opened to the public in 2013.

Hämeenkylä Manor is an ideal place for couples who want to spend a romantic weekend in a magnificent manor by relaxing and enjoying good food in a nice atmosphere.

Hämeenkylä Manor (www)
Juustenintie 1, Vantaa

Photo: Hämeenkylä Manor

King's Estate & The Old File Factory

Nearly 6 km from the Helsinki-Vantaa Airport, along Kehä III highway (Ring 3) or along beautiful bike paths east to Vantaanjoki, you arrive at the Kuninkaan Kartano Manor (King's Estate). The rooms of Manor have been used by the Swedish-speaking elementary school for about 80 years until the end of the 1970s, and later as the training facilities of the City of Vantaa.


King's Estate. Photo: Kuninkaan Lohet

Vanha Viilatehdas, The Old File Factory, located near the Manor house, was in operation until 1903.

Both restaurants are open to visitors during the opening hours and events.

There are open guided canoe tours at the Vantaa River. The excursion is perfect for everyone, and no previous experience of kayaking is needed. Good swimming skills is required.

Kuninkaan Lohet: King's Estate and The Old File Factory (www)
Voudintie 1, Vantaa 

Old File Factory, Viilatehdas. Photo: Kuninkaan Lohet

 

NEW AND RENEWED DESTINATIONS OF VANTAA


Within a short time, Vantaa has gained many new interesting destinations, exhibitions and reforms.


Pikseli Arcade

LikeFinland team explored a new virtual reality park, called Pikseli Arcade, at Flamingo leisure world in Vantaa, near Helsinki. Pikseli,  opened in January 2017, is not only the first VR (virtual reality) park in Finland but in the whole Scandinavia to this extent!

There are 14 game rooms in Pikseli, which is located on the second floor at Flamingo. Pikseli lets you not only watch a movie or play a game, but to live inside it. The experience is unique.

We were positively surprised that Pikseli, with its kindly staff and wide selection of different games and VR experiences, is suitable also for those who are not so familiar with video gaming. Pikseli is also a unique holiday destination for those who are travelling in Helsinki area, located near Helsinki-Vantaa Airport. 

Pikseli Arcade (www)
Flamingo leisure world
Tasetie 8, Vantaa

Read our article about Pikseli Arcade

Pikseli Arcade. Photo: LikeFinland.com

Fazer Visitor Center

Another newcomer in Vantaa is Fazer Visitor Center in Eastern Vantaa, Vaarala, opened in autumn 2016. Fazer, a classic school class trip destination, has now opened its doors also to individual visitors. The exhibition introduces a visitor to Fazer's history and products. In addition to the exhibition, Fazer Visitor Center has its own cafeteria and shop where you can buy delicacies.

Fazer Experience Visitor Center (www)
Fazerintie 6, Vantaa

Photo: Visit Vantaa

Finnish Science Centre Heureka

We explored in this spring also a renewed Finnish Science Centre Heureka in Vantaa.

The Finnish Science Centre Heureka, located in Helsinki metropolitan area, in the heart of Vantaa city, Tikkurila, is one of Finland’s most popular leisure time destinations for all ages. In Heureka, visitors can experience the joy of discovery through spectacular exhibitions, planetarium films and events.

The expanded and renewed Science Centre Heureka reopened doors to the public on 28 January, 2017.

Renewed Finnish Science Centre Heureka. Photo: LikeFinland.com

At first sight Heureka looks more spacious. And no wonder, after all, there is now approximately 2 000 square meters more space than before. With small changes, Heureka has succeeded in creating quite a stylish package being a traditional class trip destination. It is definitely worth a visit with foreign guests - or for you, who are planning a trip to Finland!

There are so many things to see and experience in Heureka. One day is not enough, if you want to see and experience all that Heureka has to provide you.

It was great to notice that Heureka had built an area where children can design and create different things by themselves or together with an adult. And also that Heureka appears now as a Science Centre for people of all ages.

Heureka Science Centre (www)
Kuninkaalantie 7 (parking: Kuninkaalantie 5), Vantaa

Read our article about the renewed Heureka


Photo: LikeFinland.com

 

OUR OTHER STAR DESTINATIONS IN VANTAA:

Flamingo Spa & Waterpark (www)
Indoor adventure park Naurusaari (www)
Prison Island adventure (www)
Megazone laser tag (www)

More fun things to do in Vantaa

SuperPark indoor activity park (www)
Finnish Aviation Museum (www)
Kuusijärvi outdoor recreational center (www)
Sipoonkorpi National Park (www)

Fun things to do for families (City of Vantaa)
Fun thing to do in Vantaa (LikeFinland.com) 

USEFUL LINKS

Visit Vantaa (www)

Hotels in Vantaa (www)
Restaurants in Vantaa (www)
Shopping destinations in Vantaa (www)


Kuusijärvi, Vantaa. Photo: LikeFinland.com


The City of Vantaa and other Star Destinations, mentioned and linked in the article, are media customers of LikeFinland.com media. 

Text: Sari Särkijärvi, Henri Elo

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Our main website in Finnish is www.KivaaTekemista.fi.