landmark
Linnanmäki
Helsinki's beloved amusement park operating since 1950 with all profits going to Finnish child welfare organizations.
13 km · about 25 min drive
EuropeFinlandUusimaa
Vantaa
Uusimaa, Finland · Europe
About Vantaa
Vantaa works well as a base: 29km from Nuuksio National Park.
Vantaa is in Uusimaa, Finland, with about 250,000 people. You drive on the right here.
Vantaa (Finnish pronunciation: [ˈʋɑntɑː]; Swedish: Vanda, Finland Swedish: [ˈvɑnːdɑ]) is a city in Finland. It is located to the north of the capital, Helsinki, in southern Uusimaa. The population of Vantaa is approximately 253,000. It is the 4th most populous municipality in Finland. Vantaa is part of the HelsinkiRead more
Metropolitan Area, which has approximately 1.6 million inhabitants.
The administrative centre of Vantaa is located in the Tikkurila district. Vantaa lies in Southern Finland and shares borders with Helsinki, the Finnish capital, to the south, Espoo to the southwest, Nurmijärvi to the northwest, Kerava and Tuusula to the north, and Sipoo to the east. The city covers a total area of 240.35 square kilometres (92.80 sq mi), of which 1.97 km2 (0.76 sq mi) is water.
Vantaa's significant attractions include the Vantaa River (Vantaanjoki), which runs through the city before flowing into the Gulf of Finland. The Helsinki Airport, situated in Vantaa, serves as the largest airport in Finland and the primary airline hub for the Helsinki metropolitan area. Companies headquartered in Vantaa comprise Finnair, Finavia, R-kioski, Tikkurila Oyj, Veikkaus, and Metsähallitus. Additionally, Vantaa is home to Heureka, a science center.
Vantaa is a bilingual municipality with Finnish and Swedish as its official languages. The population consists of 68% Finnish speakers, 2% Swedish speakers (the lowest percentage out of any bilingual municipality in Finland), and 30% speakers of other languages, which is well above the national average. According to the 2025 disturbance index used by the Finnish Police, Vantaa is currently the most unsafe city in Finland.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Vantaa?
Within an hour or so of Vantaa: Linnanmäki (13 km), Helsinki Cathedral (15 km), Temppeliaukio Church (Rock Church) (15 km), Café Regatta (15 km).
Are there any good drives near Vantaa?
The nearest famous roads are Hanko.
Where is Vantaa?
Vantaa is in Uusimaa, Finland.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 252,724
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- Finland
- Region
- Uusimaa
- Timezone
- Europe/Helsinki
- Coordinates
- 60.2941, 25.0410
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in Finland
Winter tyres mandatory December–February.
Full driving guide for FinlandTags
Worth the detour from Vantaa
7 notable places within an hour's drive.
cathedral
Helsinki Cathedral
A striking neoclassical Lutheran cathedral overlooking Senate Square in the heart of Helsinki.
15 km · about 30 min drive
cathedral
Temppeliaukio Church (Rock Church)
A remarkable Lutheran church in Helsinki excavated directly into solid rock, topped with a copper dome that floods the interior with natural light.
15 km · about 30 min drive
cafe
Café Regatta
Tiny red 1887 fisherman's hut on the Töölö shoreline, now Helsinki's best-loved café: cinnamon buns and coffee by the water, sausages grilled over an open fire, kayaks and SUPs for rent off the jetty.
15 km · about 25 min drive
castle
Suomenlinna
A sea fortress built on a group of islands off the coast of Helsinki, one of the largest maritime fortresses in the world.
17 km · about 20 min drive
national park
Nuuksio National Park
A pristine forest and lake wilderness just 30 minutes from Helsinki, offering easy access to quintessential Finnish nature.
29 km · about 35 min drive
landmark
Porvoo Old Town
A riverside town of cobbled lanes and ochre-red shore warehouses, a favourite day-drive east of Helsinki.
36 km · about 40 min drive
When to drive here
May to September
Far northern latitude: short daylight hours outside summer make long drives harder.
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