Helsinki city centre is making a real comeback in 2025. After years of quiet streets and closed shops, signs of life are returning in a big way. More restaurants and stores are opening, and empty spaces are finally filling up. The city’s latest urban vitality survey shows clear growth and movement in the heart of the Finnish capital.
Businesses are bouncing back. In spring 2025, data showed a shift: Helsinki’s commercial core is finally moving forward after the slow post-pandemic years. Restaurants, cafes and local shops are leading the charge.
Foot traffic is picking up too. It’s not yet like the old days, but there’s clear progress. Two key spots in the city, Aleksanterinkatu and Ylioppilastalo, almost reached pre-2019 numbers between January and May 2025, with pedestrian traffic hitting 99 percent of what it was in the same months before the pandemic.
The hospitality sector is booming.
According to Timo Hämäläinen from the city’s Economic Development office, a record-breaking 697 restaurants and cafes were open on Saturdays throughout the year. That’s more than ever before. It confirms Helsinki city centre as Finland’s top destination for dining and food experiences.
The vitality survey, running yearly since 2016, keeps tabs on shop openings, closings and how often they’re open, especially on weekends. The latest numbers show retail vacancy dropping and more weekend activity.
Even though central footfall is recovering, city-wide mobile data shows visitor levels still 30 percent below what they were before the pandemic. Timo Hämäläinen believes remote work is a big part of that change. People now come into the city for different reasons than they used to.
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Tourism tells a brighter story. In 2024, Helsinki had its best year ever for hotel stays with over 4.55 million overnight visits. The first few months of 2025 are already breaking previous monthly records. More travellers are choosing Helsinki, and that’s giving the local economy a needed push.
Local people are feeling better about the centre too. A new Helsinki Barometer released in June says half of all residents think the city centre is pleasant. The good vibes are even stronger among people who visit often, especially the younger crowd. They say there’s more to see and do now.
Retail is still shifting. Fashion and accessory stores continue to fade, but wellness, food and beauty businesses are growing. Helsinki’s city centre is becoming less about shopping and more about experiences.
“The centre is changing,” says Timo Hämäläinen. “We’re working together with businesses to create a more exciting, experience-driven space. That’s what people want, and we’re listening.”
