Oodi Library Helsinki: It's Not Just a Library
Someone told me Oodi was "just a library". Then I walked in and spent way longer there than I planned. Oodi Library in Helsinki is free, it's right in the centre, and it's more like a giant living room for the whole city.
Oodi Library Helsinki: quick facts
Full name: Helsinki Central Library Oodi
Opened: 5 December 2018
Architects: ALA Architects, who won the design competition in 2013
Floors: 3, each with a different vibe
Entry: free
Where: opposite Parliament House, about 10 minutes on foot from Helsinki Central Station
Opening hours change on holidays, so check the official site before you go: oodihelsinki.fi.
Getting to Oodi
I walked from Central Station, past the National Theatre, and you can't miss it. The outside is clad in Finnish spruce and curves like a wave. There's a Helsinki sign close by if you want the classic photo. Coming to Helsinki by train from another city? You can check times and book on Omio here, or compare flights to Helsinki on Booking.com if you're flying in.
Main hall of Helsinki Central Station | Travel with Tarry Laurensia Finnish National Theatre near Oodi Library | Travel with Tarry Laurensia Helsinki sign near Oodi Library | Travel with Tarry Laurensia Wave-shaped wooden exterior of Oodi Library, Helsinki | Travel with Tarry Laurensia
What to do inside Oodi Library
First floor: the open lobby
Big, bright and busy. This is where you'll find the café and the Kino Regina cinema. It's also a good spot to sit, warm up and use the free toilets.
Second floor: the makerspace
This floor surprised me most. There are 3D printers, a laser cutter, sewing machines, recording studios and rooms you can book. Locals come here to make things, not just to read.
Third floor: Book Heaven
The famous one. A huge open floor with about 100,000 books, a white wavy ceiling and big windows. The outdoor Citizens' Balcony looks out towards Parliament House. I could have stayed all day.
Book Heaven, the top floor of Oodi Library in Helsinki | Travel with Tarry Laurensia Tarry by the glass windows on the top floor of Oodi Library | Travel with Tarry Laurensia Spiral staircase inside Oodi Library | Travel with Tarry Laurensia Looking down the spiral staircase at Oodi Library | Travel with Tarry Laurensia
Best photo spots in Oodi
The white spiral staircase between floors. Shoot from the top looking down.
Book Heaven by the windows. Lots of light, and the ceiling makes a nice frame.
The outside curve from across the square.
Tips for visiting Oodi
Keep your voice down on the third floor. People are reading and studying.
Ask before photographing people, especially kids.
Pair it with the National Library. They're 15 to 20 minutes apart and feel completely different. Oodi is the modern hangout, the National Library is the old palace of books.
It's on my one day route. See the full plan in One Day in Helsinki.
Oodi has free wifi, but you'll want your own data for the rest of the city. You can get a Saily eSIM here before you land.
Oodi vs the National Library of Finland
If you only have time for one: go to Oodi for the design and the fun stuff to do, and go to the National Library for the wow-I'm-in-a-palace feeling. Honestly, do both. Here's my guide to the National Library of Finland.
More Helsinki guides
Staying a few nights? You can browse hotels in Helsinki on Agoda here, and these guides will help with the rest:
Questions? Message me on Instagram @tarrylaurensia.
Comments