What’s it like living in Aurinkolahti?
Discover your dream neighbourhood. As you stroll along Aurinkolahti’s seafront boulevard, you can almost feel the atmosphere of a Mediterranean beach holiday. The colourful buildings brighten even the darkest winter days, while the nature trails in Uutela help keep you active all year round. This constantly developing neighbourhood offers rental apartments to suit everyone, from singles and couples to larger families.
Travel conveniently by metro
The easiest way to get around from Aurinkolahti is by metro. Vuosaari Metro Station is less than a 15-minute walk away, and from the terminus you can enjoy a seat all the way to Helsinki Central Railway Station in around 20 minutes. Itäkeskus and the Itis shopping centre are just a couple of metro stops away.
Bus services complement public transport, providing connections across East Helsinki. If you drive, the Itäväylä motorway offers convenient access both to the city centre and Ring I. Meanwhile, cyclists can enjoy scenic coastal routes.
Everyday life in Aurinkolahti
In Aurinkolahti, you’re far from the noise of the city while still close to everything you need. The Columbus shopping centre is just north of Aurinkolahti, while Itis, the largest shopping centre in the Nordic countries, is home to more than 100 shops.
The Port of Vuosaari is probably the area’s largest employer. Many people also commute to the major employment hubs in Itäkeskus and Herttoniemi.
Helsinki’s longest shoreline
Spend a day at Helsinki’s longest sandy beach. Stretching for more than 500 metres, Aurinkolahti Beach has the longest shoreline of any sandy beach in Helsinki. By comparison, Hietaniemi Beach is around 450 metres long. In winter, local volunteers clear an ice-skating rink on the frozen sea in front of the beach.
One of Aurinkolahti’s hidden gems is Café Kampela, located by the marina of the Vuosaari Sports Fishing Club and much loved by locals. In summer, its welcoming terrace is the perfect place to soak up the sunshine. In winter, you can warm up with the café’s popular salmon soup for lunch.
And whenever you feel like spending time in nature, Uutela, which extends into Aurinkolahti, is an exceptionally large coastal outdoor recreation area by Helsinki standards. It is also of considerable natural historical and geological interest. While exploring Uutela, you can follow a figure-of-eight nature trail. The route is 2.5 kilometres long and takes you through both grazing landscapes and woodland.
Modern living by the sea
Aurinkolahti is a neighbourhood that was built mainly during the 2000s, characterised by modern apartment buildings, spacious residential blocks and sea views. Even the area’s name promises something special. The atmosphere is peaceful, but especially during the summer, the seafront boulevard comes alive with activity and fills with cheerful city residents.
SATO rental homes in Aurinkolahti are located along the Uutela Canal. Take a look, for example, at Kauniinilmankuja 3, where a distinctive curved residential building stands in a coastal setting right next to outdoor recreation routes.
Places similar to Aurinkolahti
Are you moving to Aurinkolahti from abroad? Would it help you to know that Aurinkolahti is like Hammarby Sjöstad in Stockholm, Islands Brygge in Copenhagen, IJburg in Amsterdam, and Western Harbour (Västra Hamnen) in Malmö? They all combine modern waterfront living, inviting places to swim and relax by the water, excellent public transport, and easy access to a vibrant city centre. Nice, right? Welcome to Finland!