Leppävaara

Leppävaara is the largest and busiest of Espoo’s urban centres. It is the third-largest transport hub in the capital region, providing convenient and quick train, bus and light rail connections to various parts of the capital region. The long-distance trains that run between Helsinki and Turku also stop at Leppävaara.

Leppävaara’s excellent public transport connections are being improved even further, thanks to the light rail line 15, which started operating in October 2023, and the future Espoo Rail Line. The light rail route runs from Leppävaara via Otaniemi to Keilaniemi.

For those who live in Leppävaara, all aspects of urban life are within easy reach. The area includes Sello, one of the largest shopping centres in Finland in terms of visitor numbers and sales, the Vermo harness racing track, the largest sports park in Espoo, an outdoor swimming pool and several riding schools. Leppävaara also has a wide range of municipal and private services, shops, schools and day care centres. 

There are approximately 30,000 jobs in Leppävaara, which accounts for one fourth of all jobs in Espoo. The most important sectors are retail and wholesale trade, ICT and education. Leppävaara is located within one of Finland's largest information and technology clusters.

The Greater Leppävaara area includes the districts of Leppävaara, Karakallio, Kilo, Laaksolahti, Lintuvaara, Lippajärvi, Sepänkylä and Viherlaakso. The Greater Leppävaara area is currently home to some 80,000 people. The number of residents is expected to grow to 100,000 by 2040.

Are you a property developer or an investor? Read more about the development and investment opportunities in the Leppävaara area. 

The centre of Leppävaara is being developed as a compact and appealing urban area that relies on excellent public transport connections and brings housing and services together.

The preparation of the detailed plan amendment for the northern part of the Leppävaara centre began in 2025, and construction is expected to start in 2029. The plan amendment is based on an international idea competition for Leppävaara, which aimed to find an overall vision for the area north of the railway tracks – one that is financially feasible and of high quality in terms of functionality, urban structure and architecture.

Read more about plans for the area north of the railway tracks.

Read more about the Leppävaara idea competition.

A hotel, office and commercial premises, services and apartments are being planned for Hatsinanpuisto in Perkkaa, right next to Leppävaara. A park with café and restaurant services will be built on the banks of the Monikonpuro stream at the same time. The first stages of construction were completed in 2021. 

The light rail line started operating in October 2023. The Espoo Rail Line will further improve public transport connections in Leppävaara. The section between Leppävaara and Espoon keskus will be completed by the end of 2028. According to the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency’s estimate, the project will be fully completed in 2029. The Espoo Rail Line will add two new tracks between Leppävaara and Kauklahti. Cycling routes along the railway line will also be improved. The construction of the Espoo Rail Line started in January 2024.

Preliminary planning for a new light rail line between Matinkylä and Leppävaara is set to begin in the next few years with the preparation of a general plan.

An event park capable of hosting major events is being planned in the Vermo harness racing track located in Perkkaa. The central field of the racetrack will be developed into an event area suitable for concerts and other events with tens of thousands of participants.