Vallila is a central-northern neighbourhood, bordered by Pasila to the west and Alppiharju to the south.

Vallila though still retains its roots from 1910s to 1980s by being one of the rare neighbourhoods which still has an industrial area and abundant amount of workshop businesses.

Because of gentrification Vallila is nowadays considered a trendy area in Helsinki (like Kallio) among young adults and housing is expensive, particularly in Puu-Vallila.

It is located closest to the city center of all the wooden-house residential areas in Helsinki.

Perhaps the most famous scene in Vallila is the small flea market square featured in Aki Kaurismäki's film The Man Without a Past.