Vihti

Vihti (Swedish: Vichtis) is a municipality in Uusimaa, some 50 km (31 mi) northwest of Helsinki. Vihti is the northernmost part of the Helsinki region and it has a population of about 29,000 residents.

Understand

From the traveller's perspective, Vihti can be divided into three areas:

• 🌍 Nummela is a town and municipality seat. With the population of 15,000, it holds roughly half of the municipality's population. Here's where you can find most of the shopping options, restaurants, nightlife, etc.
• 🌍 Vihdin kirkonkylä (lit. Vihti's church village) is a much smaller yet more historical town and a former municipality seat. It is often abbreviated as Vihti kk. In road signs and bus windows Vihti refers this particular town, not the municipality as a whole.
• The surrounding rural area (including small settlements like Ojakkala, Otalampi, etc.) has very limited shopping and eating options but some of the top attractions of the area.

Get in

By bus

Buses to Vihti from Helsinki depart from Kamppi long distance terminal. They charge 9.80 € (Nummela) or 11 € (Vihti kk), although buying in advance from Matkahuolto website you might found a ticket as low as 3.90 €. Travelling time is 40 - 65 minutes.

About 15 daily connections run from Lohja to Nummela. Ticket costs 5.90 €

By car

Vihti is in a triangle within three major roads, so getting in by car is easy.

• From Helsinki, take Highway 1 towards Turku, then turn right to Highway 2; 45 km (28 mi)
• From Turku, take Highway 1 towards Helsinki, then turn left to Highway 2; 128 km (80 mi)

Get around

By bus

About 20 daily connections link Nummela and Vihti kk. Full price ticket costs 4.10 € / one-way. Buses to minor settlements are more infrequent, so consult the timetables carefully beforehand. Buses are most frequent on schooldays.

By foot

Both urban centers, Nummela and Vihti kk, are itself easily covered by foot. Entire municipality is rather large (approx 550 km²) and the distances between different locations can be too long to walk. For example, the distance between Nummela and Vihti kk is roughly 10 km (6.2 mi).

See

Ruins of St. Bridget's church

• 🌍 Nuuksio National Park (Nuuksion kansallispuisto) (Entry from Tervalampi or Veikkola). Nuuksio National Park is a small (at least compared to natural parks in Lapland) but interesting piece of Finnish nature surprisingly close to the buzz of the capital region. Getting there by car is easy, with the public transport you can take an infrequent bus to Tervalampi or frequent bus to Veikkola. From both you still need to cover about 2.5 km (1.6 mi) by foot. 0€. (updated Nov 2018)
• 🌍 Pyhän Birgitan kirkon rauniot (Ruins of St Bridget's Church), Kirkkoniementie 1, Vihti kk. A medieval church ruins, unusual, as most of the Finnish churches from that era are either still standing or totally perished. Located on a beautiful cape, with a view to a lake next to it. (updated Nov 2018)

Do

• 🌍 Puuhapark, Jussinrinne 1, Ojakkala, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. A theme park. Instead of mechanical rides, it has activities, such as pedal cars, miniature golf and trampolines. Most suitable for kids under 12. 24 €. (updated Dec 2018)

Festivals

• Wuosisatamarkkinat, Vihti kk. Last Saturday of August. Wuosisatamarkkinat (Century Market) attracts more than 15 000 visitors annually to Vihdin kirkonkylä. During the festival, the main street of Vihti kk, Niuhalanraitti is closed to car traffic and is instead scattered with merchants selling more-or-less medieval-themed handicrafts. The stage built on the market square holds free folk music concerts. Entry to the event is free. (updated Nov 2018)

Buy

• 🌍 Citymarket, Tuusankaari 1. Hypermarket in Nummela. In the same premises a handful of specialty shops and eating options such as Kotipizza and Subway. (updated Nov 2018)
• 🌍 Prisma, Naaranpajuntie 3, Nummela, ☎ [phone]. Mon-Sat 7-21; Sun 10-21. Another hypermarket in Nummela. Some specialty shops under the same roof as well as Hesburger fast food. (updated Dec 2018)

Money

The vast majority of places of business, including shops, bars, buses and taxis, accept Finnish and foreign credit and debit cards. To withdraw cash euros, there are five Otto-branded ATMs (four in Nummela and one in Vihti kk). However, there are no currency exchanges in Vihti.

Eat

• 🌍 Ismet Vihti, Niuhalanraitti 21, ☎ [phone]. (updated Nov 2018)
• 🌍 Cantina Antonio, Pisteenkaari 4, Nummela (At the market square), ☎ [phone]. Mon - Tue 10.30 - 20.30; Wed - Thu 10.30 - 21.00; Fri 10.30 - 23.00; Sat 12.00 - 04.00; Sun 12.00 - 20.30. Mexican cuisine, although more geared towards the Finnish taste at the cost of authenticity. Doubles as a crowded night club on Saturday nights. Lunch 8.40 - 11.40€, mains 15.80 - 28.30 €. (updated Nov 2018)
• 🌍 Heng Feng, Tuusantie 3, Nummela, ☎ [phone]. Mon-Thu 10.30 - 21.00; Fri 10.30-22.00; Sat 12-22; Sun 12-21. Chinese restaurant. Beautifully decorated, large menu. Take-away discount 20%. Also offers all-you-can-eat buffet at lunch time. Mains from 13 €. (updated Dec 2018)

Drink

• 🌍 Ned Kelly's, Pilkkukuja 1, Nummela, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Fri & Sat 10.00 - 06.00; other days 10.00 - 05.00. Nice, laid-back atmosphere on weekdays, extremely crowded at Friday & Saturday nights. Wide variety of beers and ciders, pint from a tap is 5.50 € (updated Nov 2018)
• 🌍 Pub Pilvenhattara, Tuusantie 3, Nummela, ☎ [phone]. Fri & Sat 9 - 03; other days 09-02. Live music on most Saturdays. Karaoke on Fridays & Saturdays (if no live music). Admission to live bands 5 € / otherwise 2.5 €. Pint 5 €. (updated Dec 2018)

Sleep

• 🌍 Selli, Linjalankuja 3A, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Built to former police station's premises, hence the name (Selli means "jail"). Rooms equipped with refrigerator, coffee maker and wi-fi connection. Shared kitchen, bathroom and laundry room. Doubles 80 €. (updated Nov 2018)
• 🌍 Air Hotel, Lentokentätie 5, Nummela, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Check-in: 14.00, check-out: 12.00. Bit outside of the town center, on the top of the esker. During the summer possibility to fly with the glider, ask the reception for details. Sauna and wi-fi included to the price. 98 € / double. (updated Nov 2018)

Connect

Internet

Finland in general lacks internet cafes as most of the people have connections in their home and in their pocket, and Vihti is no exception. Many of the places of business do have wi-fi for customers (although it's usually called "WLAN"); ask the staff for details. For free wi-fi and internet terminals, check the Vihti Public Library. The branches of the library are in Nummela at Pisteenkaari 9 and in Vihti kk at Kyläaukio 1.

Post offices

Vihti has two post offices: Nummela (at the K-Supermarket Nummela premises, Keskikuja 3) and Vihti kk (at the R-kioski, Vaunukuja 1).

Go next

• Karkkila, a small town next north along Highway 2
• Helsinki, the capital of Finland
• Hyvinkää, an industrial town and a railway hub.
• Lohja, a town with interesting mine and beautiful medieval church