Finland's West Coast

Finland’s West Coast region extends along the Gulf of Bothnia from the picturesque UNESCO-listed Old Town of Rauma in the south to the university city of Oulu in the north. A wide, calm landscape of farms and rivers lies beyond long sandy beaches and historical harbour towns.

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The towns along Finland’s West Coast are quietly unassuming, yet surprise visitors with their charm and hospitality. From south to north, they include Uusikaupunki, Rauma, Pori, Kristiinankaupunki, Kaskinen, Vaasa, Uusikaupunki, Pietarsaari, Kokkola, Raahe and Oulu, and each has its own welcoming character and historic story to tell. A drive along the main road number 8 will take you through this region, but you’ll be repeatedly tempted to turn off the route to visit the many museums, manors, handicrafts shops and other attractions along the way. This route makes an exciting alternative if you are driving north to Lapland or even further, to the North Cape, for example.

Western Finland is a unique region, where the sea and myriad islands augment a rich landscape of verdant pastures, lush estuaries, and untouched wilderness inland. It is a landscape that has nurtured a fertile culture, with all the ingredients for a whole multitude of pursuits at any time of the year. For example, the international Jazz Festival at Pori, now in its 40th year, is one of the highlights of the jazz aficionado’s year, bringing the riverside town to musical life each July. In the summer, the sandy dunes at Yyteri are the setting for seaside picnics and windsurfing competitions. Bird-spotting is a popular pastime up and down the coast, especially at Liminganlahti bay and Hailuoto island near Oulu: enthusiasts are attracted by the abundance of resident and migrating species and by the extended opportunities offered by light nights of summer.

Sample the hospitality of a Finnish farm, rent a bicycle, and explore the towns and villages at leisure. Head for the remarkable historical old town of Rauma, with its beautiful wooden architecture, or the Tropiclandia Spa at Vaasa, tailored especially for family outings. Visit one of the many outdoor markets and market halls, stock up with fruit and berries, and treat yourself to a relaxing picnic. Then head for the Tango Market at Seinäjoki and dance the summer night away.


Travel Connections:
The main line railway runs between Helsinki and Oulu at the northern end of the West Coast, with high-speed Pendolino trains stopping at Seinäjoki and Kokkola, and local trains run to Pori and Vaasa. The region is well-served by domestic flights, with airports at Oulu, Seinäjoki, Vaasa, Pori, and Kruunupyy (for Kokkola and Pietarsaari). Regular and frequent Express bus services also run throughout the area.