Address: Keskuskatu 1, 00100 Helsinki, Finland Open Google map
Entrance fee: Free entry
Themes: Office buildings, Restaurants
Website: Academic Bookstore
Opening hours
Sat 9-19
Sun 11-18
The Academic Bookstore, or ‘Book Palace’, is in Helsinki’s city centre, in the same block as the Aalto-designed office building, the Rautatalo. The building was finished in 1969 and it is still in its original use. The Academic Bookstore moved in to the building in October 1969.
The plot’s owner, Stockmann, held an architectural competition for the design of the building in 1961–62. Aalto won this with a proposal using the same ideas as in the nearby Rautatalo.
The design of the copper-clad façade on Keskuskatu takes into account the adjacent building’s façade. The building’s main interior space, the central hall, corresponds in its ideas to the marble interior courtyard of the Rautatalo. The central hall gets natural light from the prism-shaped skylights. The floor and closed balustrades of the balconies running round the central hall are of Carrara marble.
Alterations have been made to the interiors. Some of the rooms on the upper floors originally used for offices have been taken over for the bookshop. Nowadays, there are two cafes. The one in the second floor is partly furnished with original Aalto furniture from the Rautatalo cafe. Open for public as a bookstore and cafe.


The plot’s owner, Stockmann, held an architectural competition for the design of the building in 1961–62. Aalto won this with a proposal using the same ideas as in the nearby Rautatalo.

Information for visitors
Good to know
Academic Bookstore
Academic Bookstore is located right in the city centre of Helsinki on Keskuskatu 1. The building is within easy reach with public transport.
Bookstore is open:
Monday – Friday 9-21
Saturday 9-19
Sunday 11-18
Please note:
Please note: public holidays may bring exceptions to the opening hours! Always check opening times directly from The Academic Bookstore website.