Helsingin kaupunki, kaupunkiympäristön toimiala

Esplanadi area closed to traffic on May Day Eve

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Motorised traffic on Esplanadi streets and their side streets will be prohibited from 15.00 to 20.00 due to the Havis Amanda capping ceremony. Street-side parking is restricted along Ludviginkatu, Tehtaankatu, Laivurinkatu and Eiranranta.

A map on the restrictions applied in the centre of Helsinki during May Day celebrations of 2025.
A map on the restrictions applied in the centre of Helsinki during May Day celebrations of 2025.

Tens of thousands of people are once again expected to attend the Havis Amanda capping ceremony. The traffic restrictions have been planned and will be implemented together with the City’s security experts, the police and the Rescue Department.

Restrictions applying to May Day traffic:

  • The Esplanadi streets and their side streets are closed to motorised traffic on 30 April between 15.00–20.00. Parking is also prohibited in the area.
  • Parking is prohibited on Tehtaankatu, Eiranranta and Laivurinkatu 30 April–1 May to ensure efficient public transport. This prohibition will also apply to the entirety of Tehtaankatu and will be enforced with posted towing signs. On Laivurinkatu, the parking prohibition will apply between Tehtaankatu and Merikatu. On Eiranranta, the parking prohibition will apply between Telakkakatu and Hernesaarenranta.
  • Parking on Ludviginkatu is prohibited on 30 April to ensure efficient Rescue Department transport operations.
  • Trams will not operate to the Market Square on 30 April between 14.00–20.00. Trams will operate as normal on Aleksanterinkatu and Snellmaninkatu. More detailed information about the May Day schedules of public transport is available at hsl.fi.
  • The May Day Eve’s parade of Aalto University School of Business students will interfere with traffic on 30 April between 16–16.30. The parade will follow the route Eteläinen Rautatiekatu – Arkadiankatu – Mannerheimintie – Eteläesplanadi – Havis Amanda.

Driving to harbours during the restrictions

The traffic connection to Katajanokka Terminal goes through Pohjoisranta and Kanavakatu.

The Olympia Terminal can be accessed via Tehtaankatu and Laivasillankatu, for example. Heavy-duty transport needs to arrive at the Olympia Terminal before the restrictions are set in place.

Svenska Handelshögskolans studentkår to cap the Havis Amanda statue

This year, the capping ceremony will be performed by Svenska Handelshögskolans studentkår SHS student union, which will also be in charge of the ceremony’s arrangements. The capping ceremony can also be viewed on screens to be installed in the Esplanadi Park and via live screenings of different media. The traditional capping ceremony will take place at around 18.00 on May Day Eve.

Contacts

Event Safety Coordinator
Björn Åkerblom
tel. +358 (0)400 800 066

Production Manager Mika Honkasalo (implementation of traffic arrangements)
Helsinki City Construction Services, Stara
tel. +358 (0)9 310 78530

May Day Eve’s parade by the association for business students at Aalto University:
Unna Jahnukainen
tel. +358 (0)45 893 1006

Images

A map on the restrictions applied in the centre of Helsinki during May Day celebrations of 2025.
A map on the restrictions applied in the centre of Helsinki during May Day celebrations of 2025.
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