The Finnish West Coast

The Finnish West Coast and its archipelago speared out from Turku and Pori over Vaasa to Oulu in the Gulf of Bothnia. The coast embrace hundreds of kilometres of coastline and tens of thousands of Islands. The laid-back islander lifestyle and a strong maritime culture are key characteristics of this fascinating area. Old wooden towns, lighthouses, historical manors and stone churches, large national parks stretching over land and sea – this all sums up coastal Finland in a nutshell. Lively Seaside cities with their relaxed atmosphere are perfect for energetic leisure activities and family holidays as well as pampering and quieting down, either alone or with company. Experiences in the peaceful nature and in the vicinity of water can easily be combined with cultural events in the vibrant city centres. The West Coast offers visitors a mix of maritime culture, beach and sea, stunning natural beauty and history. Discover yourself the variety of the Riviera of the North!

Highlights:

Oulu:
Formerly a centre for tar trade, and now a technology hub, Oulu is the biggest city within a 500 kilometre radius and is considered the unofficial capital of Northern Finland. Cultural events with a touch of northern madness take place all year round, the best known being the Air Guitar World Championships each August.

Kokkola:
Kokkola is a city with surprising and rewarding variety and vitality. Enjoy the tranquillity of the idyllic Neristan Old Town. Neristan is one of Finland’s most extensively preserved historical area of wooden houses. The archipelago can easily be experienced by taking ferry m/s Jenny to the lighthouse island Tankar. Tankar is one of the most remarkable lighthouse islands in Finland and definitely Kokkola´s marine pearl. it is easy to come to Kokkola, by car, train or plane.
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Vaasa:
Welcome to Vaasa and the Vaasa region! It’s easy to get here – whether you are travelling by car, train, plane or boat. The Ostrobothnian coast is exotic in many ways – and certainly worth exploring. The unique natural environment in the Kvarken Archipelago is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. We have an unlimited supply of unspoilt nature and peace and quiet.

The Kvarken Archipelago:
The Kvarken Archipelago (Finland) and the High Coast (Sweden) are situated in the Gulf of Bothnia, a northern extension of the Baltic Sea. The 5,600 islands of the Kvarken Archipelago feature unusual ridged washboard moraines, ‘De Geer moraines’, formed by the melting of the continental ice sheet, 10,000 to 24,000 years ago.

Pori:
Pori and the region around it are great for urban and rural sightseeing. Old wooden villages, converted iron works and small harbor towns lie within short driving distances. The Yyteri sandy beach is one of the best-known in Finland and the Kirjurinluoto area plays home to highly popular international Pori Jazz Festival that sees its 50th (!) edition in 2015.

Old Rauma:
Situated on the Gulf of Botnia, Rauma is one of the oldest harbours in Finland. Built around a Franciscan monastery, where the mid-15th-century Holy Cross Church still stands, it is an outstanding example of an old Nordic city constructed in wood. Although ravaged by fire in the late 17th century, it has preserved its ancient vernacular architectural heritage. (© UNESCO World Heritage Centre). Old Rauma is a typical Scandinavian wooden town. It forms a unified area of historical, single-storey buildings, a partly medieval street network and a viable urban community complete with dwellings, shops and services. Old Rauma was inscribed in 1991.