Otaniemi campus area is ideal for international congresses
Otaniemi area, just 15 minutes from Helsinki, is the centre of research and science in Espoo, where most of our city's international scientific conferences are held. The compact area provides a modern and effective conference location with everything you need within walking distance.
Otaniemi is home to Aalto University and its main building Dipoli. Dipoli, the Undergraduate Center, Väre, the university's other units, and Technopolis offer numerous modern venue options. You will also find several accommodation options for your event within walking distance.
The video below summarises the opportunities and capacities for organising congresses in the area. At the same time, you can see from a bird's eye view how close the services are to each other and how the Baltic Sea surrounds the area.
Welcome to organise an international congress or seminar on the Otaniemi campus in Espoo!
See from a bird's-eye view where the conference halls, hotels, restaurants and recreational facilities are located in the dense but green campus area surrounded by the sea. And where the congress delegates can also find the nearest metro station.
Otaniemi campus attracts scientists and scientific congresses
Otaniemi is home to Finland's leading university of science and technology, Aalto University, and its main campus. Aalto University is known internationally as a multidisciplinary science and art community in technical sciences, business, and the arts. Also, VTT - Technical Research Centre of Finland, one of Europe's leading research institutions, keeps its home in the area.
Both Aalto and VTT significantly impact Espoo's popularity as a congress destination thanks to their extensive international networks and active researchers and experts who invite these important scientific events to Espoo.
Otaniemi area also forms the core of the largest technology hub in the Nordic countries. This hub includes the headquarters of several major international companies, such as Kone and Neste. Moreover, Otaniemi is home to A Grid, one of Europe's largest centres for growth and startup companies.
If you want to explore Aalto University's campus in more detail, hop on a virtual campus tour at virtualtour.aalto.fi and enjoy different thematic tours.
Congress Venues
The campus area provides state-of-the-art conference facilities, combining brand-new buildings with iconic Alvar Aalto architecture. Overall there are over 100 different-sized rooms, making it possible to find the best combination for the conference needs.
The biggest seminar halls are at Dipoli, Aalto Univerity's main building (up to 1000 persons), and the Undergraduate Centre (Aalto Hall for 570 persons).
- Dipoli - Event and conference facilities
- Aalto University's other facilities in Otaniemi
- Meeting facilities at Technopolis Espoo
Although the largest single space can accommodate 1,000 people in rows of chairs, organising events larger than congresses on campus is possible. In the summer of 2022, Aalto University hosted the EURO 2022 congress, attended by 1,800 delegates. The congress program was divided into different buildings of the university, making use of the largest halls.
Let us help you to find the best-suited venue for your congress
Contact the Visit Espoo meeting and congress team to find the space that best suits your needs. With the help of our free services, you can get started on your congress project, and together we make sure you know all the options and service providers in the area. Read more about Visit Espoo's congress services.
Accommodation
Many congresses prefer hotels within walking distance of the main venue, and in Otaniemi, this is easy. In total, there are more than 700 hotel rooms in the area. Delegates can choose either hotel, hostel or apartment hotel for their stay.
- Radisson Blu Hotel Espoo (209 rooms), located on the campus.
- Heymo 1 by Sokos Hotels (263 rooms), located on the campus.
- Original Sokos Hotel Tapiola Garden (154 rooms), located in Tapiola, one metro stop from Otaniemi.
- Forenom Hostel Espoo Otaniemi (94 apartment units), located on the campus.
- Aalto Inn apartment hotel (52 rooms)
In addition, the conference hotel Hanasaari often functions as one of the official conference hotels. The hotel is on a beautiful island, just two metro stops from Otaniemi.
At the beginning of 2024, an apartment hotel with more than 400 units, Noli Studios, will also open in Otaniemi, with a capacity of about 70 rooms for short-term accommodation. Noli will add another great option for congress participants.
Especially in larger congresses, accommodation quotas are naturally also reserved in Helsinki. After all, it's easy to get to campus by metro!
How to get to Otaniemi and move around the city
From the Helsinki international airport to Otaniemi
Otaniemi is approximately 22 km away from the Helsinki Airport. The journey time by taxi is about 30 minutes, and with public transport, the journey time is about an hour. You can either
- take a train or bus from the airport to Helsinki Central Railway station, and there hop on a metro to Aalto University
- or take a train from the airport to Huopalahti and change to bus number 550, which takes you directly to Otaniemi.
From Helsinki city centre to Otaniemi
Helsinki city centre is approximately 10 kilometres from Otaniemi and can be reached by metro and bus directly from the campus. Metro takes around 15 minutes.
Moving around Espoo and the capital region
Read more on how to arrive in and move around Espoo on our Getting to and around Espoo page. You'll find more info about the public transportation ticket system, how to arrive with long-haul trains and ferry boats, and about taxis and car rentals there.
Services and Attractions in the Otaniemi area
Otaniemi has much to see and experience after congress day. Check out our recommendations below for restaurants, cafes and activities!
