summer

STAY IN A LIGHTHOUSE

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to stay in a lighthouse? Well, it is possible in Finland.

Bengtskär, the tallest lighthouse in the Nordic countries, towers 52 meters above the sea and is located in the Archipelago Sea national park. The lighthouse has 6 guest rooms for overnight stays. Kylmäpihlaja, built in 1952, is located near the historic town of Rauma on the Western Coast of Finland. The lighthouse hotel has 30 rooms.

Isokari is near the town of Uusikaupunki. At Isokari, you can stay on the lighthouse island in the old quarters of the lighthouse keeper (‘Majakkamestari’ in Finnish). Other lighthouse islands that you can visit in Finland include Utö, which is also the southernmost inhabited island in Finland, and Söderskär, located less than 30km from Helsinki.

visit an ironwork village

If local food, artisanal treats and microbrewed beer is your thing, a visit to an ironwork village is a must. In the 17th century, when Finland was still a part of Sweden, there were more than 100 ironworks situated along the picturesque southwestern coast of Finland. While most of the historic factories and villages that sprung from them have disappeared, the few that remain have been beautifully preserved and are now home to thriving artisanal communities. Located less than two hours away from Helsinki, the ironworks are great for a day trip.

Read more: 8 artisan villages in Finland you simply must visit 

island hop, bike or hike – or simply sail away

Finland’s archipelago has more than 180,000 islands running along much of the coastline making the region an island-hoppers dream. The sizes vary from larger populated islands to very small ones – some accessible by road and others by a ferry or a boat. Looking for the new ‘bubbling under’ cycling destination? Try the Archipelago Trail (‘Saariston Rengastie’ in Finnish), a 200 kilometer route made of roads and ferry connections, which starts from the historical Turku Cathedral. If you would like to go for a hike, visit one of the ten spectacular national parks in the Coast and Archipelago region. Or simply sail – or kayak – away into the ethereal nightless nights of the Finnish summer.

Find the national parks and other unique sights of the region here.

hug a moomin

Is there a thought more comforting? Visit Naantali’s Moominworld, a great family destination in the summer, to see the iconic Finnish cartoon characters in action – and maybe squeeze  in a hug, too. Moominworld is open from June to August.

autumn

Try the harvest flavors

Finland is a haven of clean and naturally nutrient-rich foods. The long summer days and cool temperatures enhance the aromas and pigments in plants and berries making them an inseparable part of the Finnish cuisine. When fall comes, it is time to celebrate the harvest season. Visit the ironwork villages, like Fiskars and Mathildedal, for many harvest-themed food events in August and September. Foodies ahoy! If you want to try something truly iconic to the coastal region, go for a slice of the dark and sweet Finnish Archipelago Bread (called ‘saaristolaisleipä’ in Finnish) with lots of butter, fresh fish with a side of sea-buckthorn (‘tyrni’) jam and for dessert cardamom-flavored Åland pancakes.

eat, cray, love

Crayfish parties (‘rapujuhlat’ in Finnish) are an essential part of end-of-summer and autumn life especially in the coastal regions of Finland. The parties were originally a Swedish tradition that the Finns adopted and celebrate with finesse each summer. These small fresh water lobsters are considered a gourmet treat, which is why they are feted in style – often accompanied by schnapps and special crayfish party songs. These elegant and elaborate parties are thrown typically between July and early fall. If you are not quite lucky enough to get an invitation to one, you can also find tasty crayfish dishes in restaurants.

winter

ice ice, baby

The frozen Baltic Sea brings a kind of calm to the Coast and Archipelago region in the winter time. Time seems to stands still and the dark winter nights reveal a sky illuminated only by the stars and the moon. This calmness if perfectly described by Tove Jansson in the Moomin stories – the Moomintrolls hibernate every winter from November to spring. But winter is more than just rest in Finland’s coastal region. In fact, it can be quite an exhilarating time, especially if you want to try some icy experiences. Go ice floating up north in Kemi, take a walk on the frozen Baltic Sea right outside of Helsinki or swim in an ‘avanto’ (meaning ‘a hole in the ice’ Finnish) – if you’re brave enough! Due to the salt, frozen sea water might be under zero Celcius degrees.

find the Christmas magic in a wooden town

Christmas is truly a magical time in the small wooden towns of the coastal region. Porvoo is one of the most iconic and charming wooden towns during Christmas time. The picturesque medieval town is located just a little more than half an hour outside of Helsinki. During Christmas, the old town of Porvoo is particularly charming and you might easily feel as if you are stepping back in time. 40 kilometers east of Porvoo is another idyllic wooden town, Loviisa, where Christmas is also celebrated in charming style. During early December, you can visit the homes of the locals living in the traditional wooden buildings in the city center. The historic wooden town of Rauma in the West coast, the third oldest city in Finland, is also a Christmas-time gem.

Read more: Wintertime magic in Porvoo

spring

spot the (not so angry) birds

The best sign of the awakening spring time is the migrating birds. In Finland, we have a popular poem about this: “Kuu kiurusta kesään, puolikuuta peipposesta, västäräkistä vähäsen, pääskysestä ei päivääkään.”  The poem describes the different species of birds and the times when they fly back to Finland in the spring time. The last rhyme ends with the sight of a swallow – this means that summer has arrived. The Coast and Archipelago region is one of the best places to go bird-watching. In fact, birdwatchers flock to Finland to find species that are hard to spot anywhere else in Europe. Visit the Kvarken Archipelago, Hailuoto or Liminka Bay in the north, Yyteri near Pori, Porkkalanniemi near Kirkkonummi or Virolahti close to the Russian border in the south to spot swans, divers or even the white-tailed eagle.