This post was originally published on A Globe Well Travelled in 2016. The content has been revised and updated with fresh information.
The people of the Finnish Archipelago make many claims of its awesomeness. The world’s most beautiful archipelago is one of them.
Whether or not that is the case, there’s no denying that the Finnish Archipelago is still pretty damn great.
The Archipelago Sea, which stretches from the coast of Finland out to the autonomous Åland, holds a total of about 50,000 islands. So what does this area have to offer travellers like ourselves?
After being awed by the natural beauty of this stunning destination, I’ve compiled a list for you – here are 12 reasons to visit the Finnish Archipelago.
Quick summary:
Discover why the Finnish Archipelago is one of Northern Europe’s most unique destinations. From endless summer sunsets and red island cottages to kayaking, wildlife spotting and driving the Archipelago Trail, here are 12 reasons this maze of 50,000 islands is worth visiting.
Recommended tours & tickets:
🧖 Turku Archipelago: Sauna, Ice Swimming & Dinner – Traditional Finnish sauna evening with jacuzzis, icy sea swims and dinner
🚤 Turku: Full-Day Boat Tour to Nauvo Island – Scenic cruise through the Archipelago Sea with free time in a charming island village
🏝️ Turku: Full-Day Boat Tour to Seili Island with Lunch – Archipelago cruise to historic Seili Island with guided tour and buffet lunch
🛶 Sea Kayaking Tour in Archipelago National Park – Guided kayaking between remote islands with a stop on a wild island for lunch
How to Visit the Finnish Archipelago from Turku
Turku is the main gateway to the Finnish Archipelago, and it’s the easiest place to begin exploring the islands. The city sits right at the edge of the Archipelago Sea, so within a short drive you can already be crossing bridges and hopping ferries between islands.
One of the most popular ways to experience the region is by following the Archipelago Trail, a 250-kilometre circular route that links together several islands using a mix of bridges and ferries. Many travellers drive the route over a few days, while more adventurous visitors cycle the entire loop.
If you don’t have time for the full trail, you can still get a taste of the archipelago with shorter trips from Turku. Several nearby islands can be reached in under an hour, making them perfect for day trips.
For a more relaxing introduction to Finnish island life, you can also join a local experience that combines sauna culture, swimming and traditional food in the archipelago.
Recommended experience from Turku
🧖 Turku Archipelago: Sauna, Ice Swimming & Dinner – Spend a Friday evening relaxing in a traditional sauna at Villa Wolax, followed by outdoor jacuzzis, optional ice swimming, and dinner overlooking the archipelago.
Located on Kuusisto Island, about 20 minutes from Turku, Villa Wolax offers a classic Finnish sauna experience in a peaceful archipelago setting. Guests can rotate between the sauna, outdoor jacuzzis and the icy Baltic waters before finishing the evening with dinner at the on-site restaurant.
If you’re brave enough to try ice swimming, bring slippers, a hat and gloves to stay warm between dips. Towels and swimsuits aren’t provided, so you’ll need to bring your own.
This would be a fun way to experience one of Finland’s most beloved traditions while enjoying the scenery of the Turku Archipelago.
1. Breathe in the fresh archipelago air
As soon as you arrive in the archipelago, you’ll notice the scents of pine trees and sea water filling your nasal passages.
If you’ve been immersed in city living for a while (as I have), you may just be overwhelmed by all this nature.
2. Watch incredible sunsets over the archipelago
One thing I noticed about the Finnish archipelago was the sunsets were phenomenal, and due to the latitude, they drag on for hours.
You’re always surrounded by water in the archipelago, so the colours of the sunset will often be reflected in the sea around you. Sunsets just don’t get better than this.
3. You can visit a secluded island
Most of the islands in the archipelago are empty or sparsely populated – there are only 60,000 permanent residents who stay on the islands year-round.
So if you’re looking for somewhere to spend a week on an island with barely anyone else around, spending your days reading books and taking a few snaps of your pretty surroundings (my dream vacation, basically!), then this is the perfect place for it.
You’ll find privacy, relaxation, and creative inspiration in the Finnish Archipelago.
Some islands also have fascinating histories. One of the most interesting is Seili Island, which once served as both a leper colony and later a mental asylum. Today the island is peaceful and quiet, with walking paths, historic buildings and beautiful coastal views.
🏝️ It’s possible to visit Seili on a boat tour from Turku, making it an easy way to experience life on one of the archipelago’s smaller islands.
4. You can do a loop of the entire archipelago by car or bike
The Archipelago Trail is a ring road that will take you around a loop of the entire archipelago. It stretches for 250km and includes 12 bridges and 9 ferries between the islands – most of which are completely free for cars and passengers.
Some people are even brave enough to cycle the entire route. If you decide to do that, kudos to you for being so fit.
One of the most charming stops along the Archipelago Trail is the island village of Nauvo, known for its colourful harbour, cafés and relaxed maritime atmosphere.
🚤 If you’re based in Turku and don’t want to drive the entire route yourself, it’s also possible to visit Nauvo on a Nauvo boat tour from Turku.
5. Spend a day on the water in the archipelago
Sailing, kayaking, paddle boarding, fishing, row boating… take your pick! If you enjoy spending your days on the water, then you’re gonna love this place.
The water here in the Baltic Sea has only 1% salinity, compared to the 3.5% salinity found in most ocean water. I don’t know about you, but I prefer to play in this less salty water, thank you very much.
If you want to explore the archipelago a little more actively, sea kayaking is one of the best ways to experience the islands up close.
🛶 You can take a guided kayaking trip in Archipelago National Park, departing from Saaristokeskus Korpoström, take you paddling between rocky islets and quiet waterways where you can really appreciate the scale of the archipelago.
Many tours stop on a small island along the way, giving you time to stretch your legs, enjoy a snack or even go for a swim before continuing through the maze of islands.
6. Night time barely exists in the summer
If you’re in Finland around midsummer (21st June), the sun will officially set around 11PM and because of the latitude, it won’t sink all that far below the horizon. If you manage to stay awake only 5 more hours until 4AM, you’ll see the sunrise!
7. You can camp basically anywhere for free
Like in Åland, there is a law called Everyman’s right. This law says that you can camp anywhere as long as you don’t stay more than a few nights in the one place, don’t light an open campfire, and aren’t too close to a house on someone’s private property. Free accommodation, anyone?
8. The summer temperatures are perfect
It’s never too hot or too cold. Most days will be between 18-25°C (64-77°F) and low humidity. Why would you go to sweaty tropical islands when you could have these pleasant Finnish temperatures!
9. Most houses are the same adorable red
These red houses are all over the archipelago. The paint colour, named ‘Falu Red’, used to be made from copper found in a Swedish mine in Dalarna.
Fun fact: I was told that if you live in the archipelago and decide to paint your house a colour other than red, then you have to get special permission from the Finnish government.
10. Most of the food is locally grown
Mainly due to the fact that importing food to all these islands would be an absolute pain in the ass, most of the food that you’ll find in the Finnish Archipelago is locally sourced.
Some of my favourite foods were lingonberries and saskatoon berries, black bread, porridge with nuts and seeds, potatoes, beets, and cheeses.
11. You get to learn both Finnish and Swedish
If you look at a local map of the archipelago, the name of each island is listed in both Swedish and Finnish, and the language listed first will change depending on which is spoken more dominantly in the area. Confusing, yes, but also kind of fun! You can try your hand at both languages while you’re here.
12. Spot wildlife in the Finnish Archipelago
While staying on one of the islands, you might get to see any one of the following animals: Moose, Seals, Water Snakes, Porpoises, and White-tailed Eagles.
Personally, I got to see a bucketload of ladybugs (which I love) and mosquitos (which I detest), so I’ve got my hopes up for seeing something decent next time. Bring on the moose!
*My trip to Finland was sponsored by Visit Finland. I’m proud to be an honest and transparent blogger, so every opinion expressed on AGWT is a true review of my experience!
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