Esplanadi park

Esplanadi is a broad promenade and park in central Helsinki, running between Erottaja square and the Market Square. Two parallel streets, Pohjoisesplanadi and Eteläesplanadi, form its northern and southern edges, while Aleksanterinkatu runs beside it. The park is a favourite route for strollers and often hosts street performers. In 1827 the first theatre in Helsinki, Engels Teater, was built at one corner of the park by Carl Ludvig Engel. The park contains a statue of Johan Ludvig Runeberg, Finland’s national poet, carved by his son Walter Runeberg. Other sculptures in the green space include works by Viktor Jansson, Gunnar Finne and Lauri Leppänen. Along the edges stand several well-known restaurants, including Olo and Savoy, as well as luxury shops such as Stockmann, Louis Vuitton and the Kämp Galleria. Hotel Kämp overlooks the southern end of the promenade. Visitors find a long, tree-lined walkway bordered by benches and flower beds. The central statue of Runeberg stands on a pedestal near the middle of the park. Street musicians and artists perform close to the Market Square end. At the northern end the Swedish Theatre, still active today, marks the spot where Helsinki’s theatrical life began. The surrounding streets contain cafés and shops that open onto the promenade, creating a lively urban scene.