Welcome to the green and peaceful Pakkala

Pakkala consists of several areas that have been built up for housing since the 1950s: Veromäki (1950s–1960s), Sandbacka (1990s), Kartanonkoski (2000–2008), and Pakkalanrinne (around 2005-). Over time, the Tammisto-Pakkala area has developed into the commercial center of the region. Pakkala and its surroundings also offer plenty to see and do. Let’s explore this green gem of Vantaa a little further!

Excellent services and diverse transport connections

Pakkala is a district of contrasts in the best sense: its residential areas are green and tranquil, yet just a stone’s throw away is one of Finland's busiest shopping centers. The diverse Jumbo shopping center is part of the Vantaanportti business park and commercial center, which also includes Finland’s most popular water park, Flamingo, with its hotels, leisure services, and business hub. Aviapolis station serves train commuters, and in the future, the Vantaa light rail will bring tracks all the way to Jumbo.

Ylästöntie runs through the district and is part of the medieval Turku-Vyborg road, known as the King’s Road. To the north is one of the main roads crossing the Helsinki metropolitan area, Ring Road III. Bus lines connect Pakkala to Helsinki, Myyrmäki, Tikkurila, Malmi, Itäkeskus, and the airport, which is just over 3 kilometers away.

Pakkala's written history begins with Backas Manor

Signs of early habitation have been found in Pakkala from as far back as the Stone Age and the Middle Ages. The name Pakkala comes from Backas Manor, established in the 17th century. During the Swedish rule, the wealthy manor was a “säteri” or cavalry estate, with the obligation to provide a cavalryman for the king’s troops.

Over the years, the estate passed through the hands of several powerful families and was eventually sold to the Elanto Cooperative. By the early 1900s, the vast estate, stretching from the Vantaa River to the Tuusula border, supplied most of the food consumed by Helsinki residents. The estate’s forests were used to transport timber and peat to the city via its own railway, and Elanto even established a brick factory.

After World War II, however, Helsinki’s expansion gradually consumed the manor’s extensive landholdings, which were expropriated for housing and the airport. In 1986, Elanto sold the remaining land to construction companies, retaining only the manor and its outbuildings. Today, the buildings of Backas Manor are protected, and the estate continues to operate as a catering service.

Education and public services

Over the past 25 years, Pakkala’s population has grown to nearly 10,000, making it Vantaa’s fourth-largest district by population. About 60% of the housing stock consists of rental and right-of-occupancy apartments. The population is young and family-oriented, with many preschool-age children and few residents over 65.

Pakkala is home to several schools and kindergartens. Hagelstamintie hosts the Point Information and Learning Center, which includes a library, the International School of Vantaa, and a daycare. At the Kartanonkoski School, young people can express themselves at the city’s youth center Wintti.

The Leija business service center, which is responsible for apprenticeship and employment services at Vantaa Vocational College Varia, operates in Pakkala. The area also has a health clinic and care home, with the city’s health center located in Tikkurila.

Relax in protected forests

Hikers and nature enthusiasts will find many interesting spots in Pakkala. All the areas listed here are protected, so it’s worth researching in advance what activities are allowed and where you can walk without damaging the delicate natural habitat.

The Tammisto Nature Reserve is home to oak forests and is Vantaa’s first protected woodland. Its goal is to preserve the unique hardwood forests and hazel groves, as well as open rocky meadows, in the capital region.

The lush riverside meadows of Ruutinkoski, with their fertile woods, are part of Finland’s National Grove Protection Program. These leafy groves are rich in species like maple, aspen, rowan, bird cherry, gray alder, and black alder. The area’s abundant birdlife also contributed to its protection. Fly fishing and lure fishing with a permit are allowed on the stretch of the Vantaa River between Pitkäkoski Bridge and Ruutinkoski, but angling is prohibited.

Krakanpuisto, protected in 2020, is home to a traditional-looking spruce-dominated forest. The park also includes a stream flowing through its natural channel and the surrounding forest.

Additionally, explore the green riverbanks and outdoor trails along the Vantaa River at the outskirts of Pakkala.

Find peace by caring for animals – maybe you’ll even spot a Moomin soon!

Haltiala Farm is a family favorite! Owned by the City of Helsinki, this recreational and educational farm is dedicated to keeping centuries-old fields in agricultural use. A close second is the joy of children getting to see animals like sheep, chickens, and goats. The farm also offers sleigh rides and summer events such as line dancing evenings. Alongside these experiences, you can enjoy the refreshments at Café-Restaurant Wanha Pehtoori while the children play at the farm’s playground.

Have you ever attended a wedding at Pyhän Laurin Kirkko church? Completed in the mid-15th century, this late medieval church is the oldest surviving building in the Helsinki metropolitan area, although its wooden parts were replaced after a fire in the late 1800s. The church and its surroundings are part of the Helsinki Parish Village, one of the best-preserved historic village environments in Southern Finland.

Since 2020, plans have been underway for the world’s first Moomin-themed indoor park near Backas, close to Ylästöntie. The project will include an event center for up to 2,000 people. The zoning change that makes this possible has already been approved.

SATO offers rental homes in Pakkala, just a short distance from a wide range of services and transport connections. Could your dream rental home be here?