Lasipalatsi, Helsinki, Visitor Guide & Things to Do Nearby

Lasipalatsi, the Glass Palace, is a functionalist building on Mannerheimintie in central Helsinki, completed in the 1930s. Made of glass, steel and concrete, it is one of the best-known examples of Finnish modernist architecture and still a busy meeting place in the middle of the city.

The story behind it

Lasipalatsi went up in the mid-1930s as a modern, glass-fronted block of shops, cafés and offices. It was meant to be temporary, built for a limited period rather than for the long term. Helsinki grew fond of it, and it stayed.

That stubborn survival fits the Finnish idea of sisu, a word Finns say is hard to translate fully. It means grit: getting through something difficult, whether a long winter or a tough spell, against the odds. The building has been threatened with demolition more than once, yet it was kept and restored, and it is now a protected piece of the city's modern heritage. Today it houses cafés, restaurants and a media centre, and the square in front of it has become a gathering spot of its own.

What to look for

• The long glass and concrete facade is the building's signature, with clean horizontal lines typical of 1930s functionalism.
• The neon signs and lettering along the front are part of its character, and they look best as the light fades.
• On the square in front, the raised skylights of the Amos Rex museum, which lies underground, make a sharp contrast with the older building.
• The position on Mannerheimintie is worth noticing, since the street runs past the main sights of central Helsinki.

Tips for your visit

• You can see the exterior in a few minutes, but allow 30 to 45 minutes if you want a coffee or a look around inside.
• The square in front is pleasant on a summer afternoon, when people sit out and the glass catches the light.
• It is a short walk from the main railway station and the shops of the city centre, so it fits easily into a walk around downtown.
• Shops, cafés and other venues keep their own hours, so check current opening hours before you plan a visit.

See it on a quest

On Helsinki Highlights: Gold Heist, you reach Lasipalatsi on foot as one stop of a longer route through central Helsinki. The app tells you about the place when you get there and sets a puzzle based on what is in front of you, so you look at the facade properly instead of walking past it. You can start any time, with no guide and no group to join, and one ticket covers the whole group.