Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
9:00-18:00, open most Sundays 12:00-18:00, great basement supermarket, Aleksan-
terinkatu 52B,
www.stockmann.fi
)
.
The rest of the Esplanade is lined with smaller stores ideal for window-shopping. Keep
an eye out for sleek Scan-design gifts. Consider the purses, scarves, clothes, and fabrics
from
Marimekko,
the well-known Finnish fashion company famous for striped designs (at
#33, plus a new larger branch nearby at the corner of Aleksanterinkatu and Keskuskatu;
www.marimekko.com
)
. The
Artek
store (#18), founded by designers Alvar and Elissa
Aalto, showcases expensive, high-end housewares in the modern, practical style that Ikea
commercialized successfully for the mass market (
www.artek.fi
)
.
Aarikka
(#25) and
Iit-
tala
(#27) also have Finnish housewares and ceramics. Bookworms enjoy the impressive
Academic Bookstore
just before Stockmann (#39, same hours as Stockmann).
Fans of Tove Jansson's Moomin children's stories will enjoy the
MoominShop,
on the
second floor of the Forum shopping mall at Mannerheimintie 20, across from Stockmann
(Mon-Fri 9:00-21:00, Sat 9:00-18:00, Sun 12:00-18:00,
www.moomin.fi
)
.
Bus Station:
For less glamorous shopping needs, the
Kamppi
mall above and around
the bus station is good.
Market Square:
This harborfront square is packed not only with fishmongers and pro-
ducers, but also with stands selling Finnish souvenirs and more refined crafts (roughly
Mon-Fri 6:30-17:00, Sat 6:30-16:00, only tourist stalls open on Sun 10:00-16:00). Sniff the
stacks of trivets, made from cross-sections of juniper twigs—an ideal, fragrant, easy-to-
pack gift for the folks back home (they smell even nicer when you set something hot on
them).
