Vanha kauppahalli (Old Market Hall), Helsinki

51

Vanha kauppahalli (Old Market Hall), Helsinki

Vanha kauppahalli (Old Market Hall), Helsinki (must see)

The Old Market Hall in Helsinki has a special significance in the city's business and cultural life. It's the oldest among Helsinki's market halls, opening its doors to the public back in 1889. This architectural marvel came during a time when Helsinki was moving from chaotic open-air markets to more organized indoor setups. Concerns about food hygiene and the need for structured trading spaces drove this transition away from the haphazard market squares of the 19th century.

Construction of the Old Market Hall began in 1888, led by Gustaf Nyström, who had experience designing market halls across Europe. However, delays due to issues with the cement supply pushed its opening to a year later. Nyström aimed for a design that combined functionality with aesthetic appeal, creating a sophisticated trading environment. The hall proudly displays the year of its opening at its southern end, underscoring its historical significance.

Situated next to the Helsinki Market Square, the Old Market Hall adds richness to the city's culinary offerings. It's a paradise for food lovers, hosting various vendors selling cheeses, fish, shellfish, meats, fruits, vegetables, and spices, as well as coffee, tea, small gifts, and tableware. It even houses Finland's smallest Alko store, enhancing its uniqueness.

Beyond being a shopping destination, the Old Market Hall offers culinary experiences, renowned for its delicious salmon soup and fish sandwiches that draw visitors from afar. It's also a convenient stop for lunch, especially for those heading to Suomenlinna, as the ferry departure point is nearby at the Helsinki Market Square.

Why You Should Visit:
Amazing selection of food and drinks and a great place to pick up a couple of presents to take home. If you're a fish lover, especially salmon, you have to visit as there are lots of different types to try. If you are more of a meat lover, there are stalls selling reindeer burgers/kebabs which are worth tasting.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Helsinki. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "51: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

Download The 51 App

Vanha kauppahalli (Old Market Hall) on Map

Sight Name: Vanha kauppahalli (Old Market Hall)
Sight Location: Helsinki, Finland (See walking tours in Helsinki)
Sight Type: Shopping
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Helsinki, Finland

Create Your Own Walk in Helsinki

Create Your Own Walk in Helsinki

Creating your own self-guided walk in Helsinki is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Seurasaari Island Walking Tour

Seurasaari Island Walking Tour

Seurasaari Island in Helsinki is best known as the home to the popular open-air museum. This venue offers a glimpse into the life of Finland's countryside in various epochs, showcasing old, mainly wooden houses, some of which – once lived in by famous people in Finnish history – were transplanted to the island and thus became part of the museum.

Among the notable attractions here are...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.6 Km or 1 Miles
Helsinki Introduction Walking Tour

Helsinki Introduction Walking Tour

Helsinki was created as a trading town by Swedish King Gustav I in 1550, but it is believed that Swedish settlers had arrived here in the 1300s. Sometimes called the “Daughter of the Baltic,” Helsinki is a port town through and through. Its close connection to its Baltic neighbors, Sweden and Russia, has shaped its history for better and worse over the last 400 years. Both Finnish and Swedish...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.1 Km or 1.9 Miles
Finnish Souvenir Shopping Tour

Finnish Souvenir Shopping Tour

When in Helsinki, souvenir shopping can be an exciting adventure allowing you to bring home a memorable piece of Finland worth having in your household. Depending on your inclinations, these could include sauna bucket and ladle, traditional Finnish music instruments, hand-woven long-tufted rugs (ryija), Finnish vodka made from Arctic-grown berries, or something else.

Those in the know can give...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.9 Km or 1.2 Miles
Helsinki's Architectural Jewels

Helsinki's Architectural Jewels

Typified by Nordic minimalism and refinement, the architecture of Helsinki is shaped primarily by the early neoclassical style and a regional form of Art Nouveau called Jugendstil. Still, it is the later work by modernist architect, Alvar Aalto, as well as the thriving contemporary designs deeply rooted in nature and local craft that give Helsinki, as well as Finland in general, their current...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.9 Km or 1.2 Miles
Helsinki's Historical Churches

Helsinki's Historical Churches

Because of Finland's former affiliations with neighboring Sweden and Russia, it's no wonder that the religious tapestry of Helsinki is dominated by Lutheran and Orthodox churches. Nonetheless, there are also some beautiful architectural expressions of other Christian denominations like Anglican and Catholic to be found in the city, each holding a special place in its religious narrative....  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.0 Km or 1.9 Miles

Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip


Finnish Sweets and Pastries

Finnish Sweets and Pastries

The country of thousands of lakes and the magical homeland of Santa Claus, Finland is also a major producer of quality chocolate and many other sweet delights without which surviving long winter nights in this Nordic part of Europe would have been far too boring. Big on coffee, the Finns love their...
16 Distinctively Finnish Things to Buy in Helsinki

16 Distinctively Finnish Things to Buy in Helsinki

Shopping in Helsinki for an extraordinary range of tasteful and distinctive products is made simple and easy with the creation of a design district in the heart of the city which has many department stores, shopping centers, and boutique shops bunched together. The Finnish capital is a good city for...