Oodi Central Library Tour: Helsinki's Community Hub of the Future

(4 reviews)

Helsinki audio tour: Oodi Central Library Tour: Helsinki's Community Hub of the Future

This is an indoor tour

Helsinki

Finland

$9.99

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About the Tour

Oodi, Helsinki’s award-winning central library, is a striking showcase of Finnish design and innovation. On this tour, you’ll explore this stunning building with its flowing wooden curves and crisp white roof, and experience firsthand how Finnish culture, technology, and creativity converge in this dynamic community hub.

The tour begins on the bustling ground floor, where floor-to-ceiling glass walls symbolize Finnish transparency and openness. You’ll discover how this architectural gem earned its name (”Ode” in English) through a public competition, and why it was crowned the world’s best public library in 2019. As you explore, I’ll share insights into Finnish values and cultural quirks – with a touch of my characteristic dry humor.

You’ll make your way through all three of Oodi’s delightfully distinct floors, each with its own personality. You’ll ascend to the book-filled third floor where 100,000 volumes in over 80 languages share space with living trees, art installations, and breathtaking views of the Finnish Parliament. I’ll show you the second floor’s creative paradise – the Urban Workshop area – filled with recording studios, 3D printers, sewing machines, and instrument libraries – all free for public use.

Along the way, you’ll have a chance to:

Admire the building’s sustainable Finnish spruce façade and innovative design by ALA Architects
View the Finnish Parliament from the Citizen’s Balcony, positioned at the exact same level as the parliamentary debate floor to symbolize equality
Explore the high-tech ”Cube” meeting room, with smart walls and 3D virtual reality capabilities
Learn about Finland’s proud library legacy and why it’s consistently ranked as one of the world’s most literate nations
Marvel at Ai Weiwei’s Divina Proportione, a mathematical sculpture crafted from rare Chinese rosewood
See the experimental white dot pattern on the windows, an ingenious Finnish solution for controlling sunlight
Encounter artistic rugs that tell the stories of Finnish literary and cultural icons, from national author Aleksis Kivi to feminist pioneer Minna Canth

By the end of this 75-minute tour, you’ll understand why Oodi welcomed 3.1 million visitors in its first year alone, and how it represents Finland’s commitment to literacy, creativity, and equality.

Tour Producer

Arto Mieskolainen

2 tours

Hey there!

I'm Arto, your friendly neighbourhood Helsinki aficionado. Born here on the city's founding day — June 12th — it's almost like I was destined to guide you through its charming streets! Fun fact: I was baptised in the iconic Temppeliaukio Church, affectionately known as the Church of the Rock, and yes, Helsinki actually is my official Godfather, as I was the first baby born in Helsinki that year.

I'm fluent in English and Finnish, can navigate conversations in Swedish, and even toss in a few Thai phrases. As a people person, I love connecting with folks from around the globe.

With years and thousands of hours of tour guiding experience, an actual professional degree in it, and a passport full of stamps and multiple years lived abroad, exploring new cultures is my jam.

Helsinki in the summertime is my absolute favourite place in the world, and I'm thrilled to share its magic with you. Winters are awesome as well, as there is so much to do here, warm and safely indoors and even underground.

Welcome to discover My Helsinki together! <3

Preview Location

Location 9

The Pinnacle of Oodi on the 3rd Floor

You should be standing on the highest sitting area on this floor, which has one of the best vantage points in this building.

Please look along the centre line of the space towards the other end of the building, and just take in the whole floor in its entirety. Pretty impre... You should be standing on the highest sitting area on this floor, which has one of the best vantage points in this building.

Please look along the centre line of the space towards the other end of the building, and just take in the whole floor in its entirety. Pretty impressive, isn’t it? The library’s skeleton is a steel frame with a span of 100 meters. That means no support columns are needed cluttering up the inside, as you can see.

This 3rd floor is the only one dedicated to books, and it has over 100,000 of them in over 80 different languages. In addition to books, you´ll find magazines, newspapers, comic books, sheet music, DVDs and even board games here, all in a multitude of languages. The trees you see scattered around the floor are real, and they help in cleaning the air here.

Look at the brown football-shaped piece of art slightly to your right. It is a piece called Divina Proportione by Ai Weiwei. It is a sculpture that blends sustainability, geometry, and a touch of whimsy. It´s crafted from rare and recycled Chinese rosewood, also known as huanghuali. Ai Weiwei insists on creating his art without cutting down living trees. Its intricate form, an icosahedron, was inspired by a cat toy. The shape consists of 12 pentagonal faces, 20 hexagonal faces, 90 edges, and 60 vertices, making it as mathematically impressive as it is visually stunning. The name of the piece is a nod to Luca Pacioli’s 1509 Renaissance classic, De Divina Proportione, which explores the golden ratio’s influence on geometry, art, and architecture. A work of art that’s equal parts brains and beauty—what’s not to marvel at?

Now, let me tell you about the acoustics here. It’s a library after all—peace and quiet are sacred here. Engineers put a lot of thought into the roof structure on this 3rd floor to stop sound waves from bouncing like kids on a trampoline. You can have a conversation here in this end without someone on the far end overhearing every word. Clever, don’t you think? And look up at the ceiling—it’s kind of dreamy, isn’t it? Like soft clouds rolling across a midsummer sky. The sprinklers and ventilation systems are all tucked away seamlessly, and the air flows quietly from the sides, keeping everything calm and well, very Finnish. Even the lighting is gentle, indirect, and devoid of harsh glare. If buildings could hug you, this one definitely would.

Now here’s a little tip from a local: turn around and head to the highest corner of the building, up there where the two glass facades meet. This is your ultimate selfie spot! Snap a photo with the Citizens´ Square and the Finnish Parliament House in the background. Helsinki’s modern magic awaits your Instagram debut.

When you’re ready, start making your way down the accessible ramp on the opposite side where we climbed up and stop by the quirky chairs halfway down. Click “I’m here” when you get there. Read More

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Major Landmarks

Helsinki Central Library Oodi

Getting There

Route Overview

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Start location
Töölönlahdenkatu 4, 00100 Helsinki, Finland
Total distance

0m
Final location
Töölönlahdenkatu 4, 00100 Helsinki, Finland
Distance back to start location

0m

Directions to Starting Point

The Oodi library is reachable by public transportation, on foot and by bicycle. There are 3 entrances to the building on the ground floor. You can use any of them to access our starting location inside.

Oodi is located about a 5-minute walk from the Helsinki Central Railway Station.

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Tips

Places to stop along the way

Oodi has an amazing restaurant & cafe on the premises. They keep their daily lunch menu (always a vegetarian option available) updated here: https://www.compass-group.fi/en/ravintolat-ja-ruokalistat/food--co/kaupungit/helsinki/oodi/

Best time of day

This tour can be done at any time during the opening hours. Oodi Library is open daily for over 300 days annually.
The regular opening hours are Monday–Friday 8.00–21.00 and Saturday–Sunday 10.00–20.00. Please check Oodi´s official website for exceptions during national holidays at: https://oodihelsinki.fi/en/

Precautions

Helsinki is a safe city, but just like every major city in the world, we get pick-pockets as well. Please keep your valuables with you during the tour and don´t leave them unattended.
There are opportunities to sit down everywhere during the tour. You can refill your drinking water bottle for free here as well. The building is completely accessible with free unisex toilet facilities available on all floors.

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“Great app. walk around at your own pace, stop where you want, move on or speed up when you want. Read the script before you go or during the commentary, speed it up or replay it. Repeat the tour whenever you like.”