Töölöntori ( sv, Tölö torg) is an

urban square A town square (or square, plaza, public square, city square, urban square, or ''piazza'') is an open public space, commonly found in the heart of a traditional town but not necessarily a true geometric square, used for community gatherings. ...

and

marketplace A marketplace or market place is a location where people regularly gather for the purchase and sale of provisions, livestock, and other goods. In different parts of the world, a marketplace may be described as a '' souk'' (from the Arabic), ' ...

in the

Töölö Töölö (; sv, Tölö, formerly spelled ''Thölö'') is the collective name for the neighbourhoods Etu-Töölö ( sv, Främre Tölö, lit=Front Töölö, links=no) and Taka-Töölö ( sv, Bortre Tölö, lit=Rear Töölö, links=no) in Helsinki ...

district of central

Helsinki Helsinki ( or ; ; sv, Helsingfors, ) is the Capital city, capital, primate city, primate, and List of cities and towns in Finland, most populous city of Finland. Located on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, it is the seat of the region of U ...

, Finland. It is bounded in the west by Runeberginkatu and the southern end of Topeliuksenkatu, in the north by Tykistönkatu; Töölöntorinkatu forms its eastern limit, and Sandelsinkatu its southern. Töölöntori is a local transport node, due to the busy road traffic along Runeberginkatu and Topeliuksenkatu, as well as

tram A tram (called a streetcar or trolley in North America) is a rail vehicle that travels on tramway tracks on public urban streets; some include segments on segregated right-of-way. The tramlines or networks operated as public transport are ...

s (as of January 2021, routes 1, 2 and 8) traversing it. The planned extension of the

Helsinki Metro The Helsinki Metro ( fi, Helsingin metro, sv, Helsingfors metro) is a rapid transit system serving Greater Helsinki, Finland. It is the world's northernmost metro system. It was opened to the general public on 2 August 1982 after 27 years of p ...

network also includes a new station at Töölöntori. The square is used for daily (Mon-Sat) open-air markets, as well as occasionally hosting other functions. It is also partly used for car parking. Following a design competition by the City of Helsinki, there are plans to develop the space in a more resident-friendly manner, to include a fountain, new seating areas, a market hall and, in the winter, an

ice rink An ice rink (or ice skating rink) is a frozen body of water and/or an artificial sheet of ice created using hardened chemicals where people can ice skate or play winter sports. Ice rinks are also used for exhibitions, contests and ice shows. The ...

. Much of the Töölöntori and surrounding cityscape dates back to 1930s, and forms part of the Taka-Töölö urban milieu, recognised by

Docomomo Docomomo International (sometimes written as DoCoMoMo or simply Docomomo) is a non-profit organization whose full title is: International Committee for Documentation and Conservation of Buildings, Sites and Neighbourhoods of the Modern Movement. ...

for its architectural merits, and designated and protected by the

Finnish Heritage Agency The Finnish Heritage Agency ( fi, Museovirasto, sv, Museiverket), previously known in English as the National Board of Antiquities, preserves Finland's material cultural heritage: collects, studies and distributes knowledge of it. The agency is a ...

as a nationally important built cultural environment (''Valtakunnallisesti merkittävä rakennettu kulttuuriympäristö'').

References

{{coord, 60.1790, 24.9242, display=title Töölö Squares in Helsinki