17 Best Sights in Southwestern Coast and the Ålands, Finland

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We've compiled the best of the best in Southwestern Coast and the Ålands - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.

Hanko

Fodor's choice

In the coastal town of Hanko (Hangö) on Finland's southernmost tip, you'll find long stretches of beach—about 30 km (19 miles) of it—some sandy and some with sea-smoothed boulders. Sailing abounds here, thanks to Finland's largest guest harbor. A sampling of the grandest and most fanciful wooden villas in Finland dot the coast, their porches edged with gingerbread iron detail and woodwork and crazy towers sprouting from their roofs. Favorite pastimes here are beachside strolls; bike rides along well-kept paths; and, best of all, long walks along the main avenue past those great wooden houses with their wraparound porches. Clean sands and shallow waters make it a popular tourist hotspot, especially during the Hanko Regatta yacht race held every July.

This customs port has a rich history. Fortified in the 18th century, Hanko's defenses were destroyed by the Russians in 1854 during the Crimean War. Later it became a popular spa town for Russians, then the port from which more than 300,000 Finns emigrated to North America between 1880 and 1930. It can be worth visiting in the summer, but it's a long excursion from Turku and requires a change of trains in Karjaa. If you have a rental car, it's faster to drive.

Luostarinmäki Handicrafts Museum

Fodor's choice
Outdoor museums like Luostarinmäki are a Nordic tradition. This authentic collection of wooden structures escaped the city's major 1827 fire and now contains shops and workshops where traditional crafts are demonstrated and sold. Ask staff about the history of a particular workshop or call ahead for a schedule of guided tours, offered several times daily in summer.  

Naantali Church

Fodor's choice

Completed in 1480, this church was a place of worship for both monks and nuns and operated under the aegis of the Catholic Church until it was dissolved by the Reformation in the 16th century. Buildings fell into disrepair, then were restored 1963–65 and again in 2011–12. The church is all that remains of the convent. It’s now the wonderful main venue for concerts during the Naantali Music Festival in June.

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Pargas (Parainen) Old Town

Fodor's choice
The cluster of old wooden buildings is picturesque, if compact, and includes narrow alleyways, a district museum, and an industrial museum (an enormous limestone mine is just outside the town). Its crowning glory is the stone church, typical of the sturdy places of Lutheran worship in the region, the earliest parts of which date back to the 13th century.

Pommern Museum Ship and Åland Maritime Museum

Fodor's choice

The Pommern is one of the last existing grain ships in the world and the only four-masted steel barque remaining anywhere. Once owned by the sailing fleet of the Mariehamn shipping magnate Gustaf Erikson, the ship carried wheat between Australia and England from 1923 to 1939. The ship has reopened after extensive restoration work at a new, more accessible dock just below the Åland Maritime Museum, where you'll find a fascinating collection of seafaring items and a great children's section. The Pommern includes interactive aspects that describe the hardships of life on board the ship as well as an audio tale for children by Karin Erlandsson called Ruby's Voyage.

Turku Art Museum

Fodor's choice

Some of Finland's most famous paintings, including works by Akseli Gallen-Kallela, as well as a broad selection of turn-of-the-20th-century Finnish art and contemporary works, are housed in this imposing granite building. Situated on a hill above the city, the building was completed in 1904 and in itself is worth the visit. Call ahead for information on guided tours.

Turku Castle

Fodor's choice

Where the Aura flows into the sea stands Turku Castle, one of the city's (and the country's) most important historical monuments. The oldest part of the fortress was built at the end of the 13th century; the newer part dates from the 16th century. The castle was damaged by bombing in 1941, and its restoration was completed in 1961. The vaulted chambers give you a sense of the domestic lives of the Swedish royals. Linger for a while in the decent gift shop and pleasant café on the castle grounds.

Aboa Vetus/Ars Nova

This museum of history and contemporary art in Turku displays a unique combination of the two elements. Begun as a straightforward extension of the Villa von Rettig collection, the museum's concept changed when workers discovered archaeological remains, which were excavated and incorporated into the museum. Modern art in the old villa, part of the Matti Koivuranta Foundation Collection, includes works by Auguste Herbin (1882–1960) and Max Ernst (1891–1976), as well as works by Picasso, Warhol, and Hockney, although not all works are always on display. The preserved excavations, revealing the sunken former street level of the city, in the Aboa Vetus section date to as early as the 13th century.

Bomarsund Fortress

About 8 km (5 miles) from the village of Kastelholm in Sund are the scattered ruins of a huge naval fortress, which was built by the Russians in the early 19th century. It was only half-finished when it was destroyed by Anglo-French forces during the Crimean War. The fortress is open for touring at all times and has explanatory signs. An informative visitor center presents the history of Bomarsund and the circumstances in which it was attacked. Cross the short bridge over the channel to visit the secluded cemeteries of the fortress's diverse former occupants.   

Eckerö Post and Customs House

Eckerö is a small coastal community some 40 km (24 miles) northwest of Mariehamn and the site of one of its most interesting and unusual attractions: the Post and Customs House. The grand building, designed by Carl Ludvig Engel, who also planned Helsinki's Senate Square, was constructed in 1828 and houses an artists' residence, with exhibition space, a gift and book shop, and café. The building was a hub on a postal route that took mail by small boats and overland from Stockholm, crossing Åland to Turku and onward to the Russian capital at the time, St. Petersburg. A similar system persisted until 1910, when Åland was still part of the Russian Empire. The route extends for 65 km (39 miles) through the islands and is marked with information signs at places of interest. 

Forum Marinum

Close to the castle, toward the seaward end of the Aura River, and signaled by the magnificent Suomen Joutsen (Swan of Finland) three-mast, full-rigger sailing ship berthed nearby, Forum Marinum contains a nautical museum and the museum of the Finnish navy and stages exhibitions and conferences connected to seafaring. In summer, you can also visit the Suomen Joutsen, the Bore ferry (also used as a hostel), and two naval vessels, namely a corvette and a minelayer.

Hammarland Church

Åland is known for its many beautiful stone churches adorned with votive ships. One of the best examples is at Hammarland, a village about 30 km (18 miles) northwest of Mariehamn, with 12th-century origins.

Prästgårdsgatan 41, Hammarland, 22240, Åland Islands
018-36029
Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free

Jan Karlsgården Open Air Museum

At this popular museum near the castle at Kastelholm, the buildings and outhouses from the 18th century show what farming life was like on the island 200 years ago. A traditional maypole, which is a typical feature of the Åland landscape, is erected here on Midsummer Eve. The buildings are open only in the summer months, but the museum hosts a small Christmas market during Advent season.

Kastelholm Castle

Kastelholm is a wonderfully preserved medieval castle, with 14th-century origins, built by the Swedes to strengthen their presence on Åland. The nearby 18th-century Vita Björn prison is also worth a visit, and there is a treasure hunt and period costumes for the children, making this a great family destination. By turns, the castle has been a seat of Swedish royal bailiffs and a hunting lodge as well as the victim of damaging fires and sieges. Visits out of season can be made by arrangement.

Moominworld

The Moominworld theme park brings to life all the famous characters of the beloved children's stories written by Finnish author Tove Jansson. The stories emphasize family, respect for the environment, and new adventures. Obviously, it’s a very popular family destination—though somewhat overpriced as such—but it’s a draw for tourists of all ages. Sadly, it’s open only in summer.

Kaivokatu 5, Naantali, 21101, Finland
02- 511–1111
Sight Details
Rate Includes: €35, 2-day ticket €43, Closed mid-Aug–mid-June

Nagu Church

Perhaps the best example of the well-preserved churches in the islands and a landmark on the St. Olav pilgrimage route, the 13th-century church at Nagu (Nauvo), close to red boathouses and a bustling marina, is surrounded by a well-tended and restful cemetery.
Kyrkvallen 1, Nauvo, 21660, Finland
040-312–4430
Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free

Turku Cathedral

The "mother church" of the Finnish Lutheran faith and Finland's national shrine, this medieval cathedral was first consecrated in 1300 (before the Reformation) and its 101-meter-tall stone tower is one of the city's main landmarks in its most historic quarter next to a broad cobbled square and close to the river. It contains a small museum of historic items as well as the tomb of Bishop Hemming, one of the cathedral's first benefactors.  

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