Things to do in Rauma – 14 tips for a Finnish UNESCO city

Writer: Helena Bergström

Updated: September 2026 | Rauma is a small Finnish coastal town that surprises with a fantastically beautiful old wooden town, exciting maritime history and no less than two world heritage sites. We spent a few nice summer days here with the camper and had time to discover both Old Rauma, museums, the archipelago and beach life. Here are our 14 best tips for things to see and do in Rauma.

Rauma, Finland

Rauma has a beautiful coastline and a lovely campsite where you can enjoy sunbathing and swimming. There is also a historic city centre, Old Rauma, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There is also another World Heritage Site, the Bronze Age burial site of Sammallahdenmäki.

Raumo is monolingual Finnish and the only place so far during our trip along the Finnish coast where the museums do not have text in Swedish, but only in Finnish and English. The city is also known for its special Finnish dialect, Rauman giäl, which can be difficult to understand for other Finnish speakers.

Rauma, or Raumo as it is called in Finnish, is located near the Finnish coast, just over 30 miles north of Turku and about 30 miles south of Pori.

What can you do in Rauma?

So what can you do in Rauma? Well, first of all you have to discover Old Rauma, with its beautiful houses, alleys and museums. Here are our top tips.

1. Stroll among the wooden houses in the Old Town

Old Rauma was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1991, as an excellent example of an old Nordic wooden town. This old neighbourhood is truly fantastic nice, and it's also very big. You can walk up and down the street, admiring the charming houses and buildings.

2. Look inside the Church of the Holy Cross

One of the most important sights in Old Rauma is the Church of the Holy Cross. Around the time the town was founded, the Franciscans established a monastery and a church. The church was consecrated in 1512 and is still standing.

3. Admire the Town Hall

The Old Town Hall at the Market Square is one of the most characteristic buildings in Old Rauma. It was built in 1776 and is one of only two preserved 18th-century town halls in Finland.

During 2024–2026, the building has undergone extensive restoration and will reopen to visitors on 16 October 2026. Rauma Museum's new permanent exhibition on the city's history will be located here, along with a visitor centre for Rauma's two World Heritage Sites – Old Rauma and Sammallahdenmäki.

4. Visit Museum Marela

Marela is a museum in Old Rauma that showcases the homes of wealthy merchant and shipowner families. Here you can see everything from beautiful tiled stoves to fine furniture, crafts and clothing. An enjoyable visit!

5. See art at Rauma Art Museum

If you like art, check out the Rauma Art Museum, also located in Old Rauma. The museum hosts a variety of changing exhibitions, featuring both national and international artists.

6. peek into the old home Kirsti

The Kirsti Museum, which is open in the summer, showcases a home inhabited by sailors, craftsmen and labourers. Before becoming a museum, the house has been owned by the same family for 200 years, so it also displays furnishings from different periods in history.

7. Walk through Kitukränn.

Between Kuninkaankatu and Kauppakatu is a street called Kitukränn, which is considered the narrowest street in Finland. Whether it is the narrowest or not, it is charming!

8. Shopping

As well as plenty of museums and restaurants in Old Rauma, there are also plenty of small shops. Here you can shop for fashion, accessories, home furnishings, gifts, toys and handicrafts.

9. Go for a ride on the Little Tourist Train

A small "tourist train" leaves from the town hall and for once we jumped on it. The train took us around Old Rauma, and then it turned out that the train also runs to and from the Poroholma campsite.

10. See the ruins of the Church of the Trinity

Old Rauma also contains the ruins of the Holy Trinity Church. The church was built in the 15th century and was destroyed by fire in 1640.

11. Climb the viewing tower in the harbour

There is a small marina in Rauma, just north of Poroholma camping. This place is really nice, with lots of small boats.

There is also an old and beautiful viewing tower, which you can climb up to get a better view of the area.

12. go on a boat trip to an island

From Rauma, you can take boat trips out into the archipelago in the summer. Excursion destinations include the Kylmäpihlaja lighthouse, the former military island of Kuuskajaskari, and Reksaari with its beautiful nature. Check current tours and timetables before your visit.

13. Sunbathing and swimming at Poroholma Camping

Poroholma Camping is more than just a campsite - it's also an experience. The campsite has a peaceful setting by the water, but also a great atmosphere with restaurants, boats, boat restaurants, juice bars and beach bars.

There is a nice sandy beach at the campsite, which is perfect for spending some lazy summer days.

14. Discover Sammallahdenmäki Unesco heritage site

The Bronze Age burial site of Sammallahdenmäki, which includes 36 burial cairns and was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1999, is considered to be the most diverse Scandinavian burial site representing the Bronze Age culture on the Gulf of Bothnia coast.

Excursions from Rauma

Outer island

Ytterö, or Yyteri as it is called in Finnish, is located on the coast outside Pori, just under an hour north of Rauma by car. There are fantastic sand dunes and an incredibly beautiful sandy beach. A trip here on a nice summer day is highly recommended!

More to see and do in Rauma

There is of course even more to see and do in Rauma than our suggestions. You can find some more tips here.

• Lappi Church was completed in 1760 and is one of the oldest wooden churches in the region.
• Rauma Maritime Museum tells about the maritime traditions in the area.
• Rauma water tower offers a view of the city and all the way to the sea.

Where can you stay in Rauma, or park your campervan?

There are various accommodations to choose from in Rauma, ranging from hotels to apartments. We traveled by camper van and checked into Poroholma Camping. Here we got a nice spot by the water (after an entertaining guided tour in a golf cart) and we really enjoyed our days here. From the campsite you can get to Old Rauma by car, bike or the little ”tourist train”.

More to see and do near Rauma

Starting in Rauma, you can continue to other nice destinations. Here you will find tips and inspiration:

• Things to do in Naantali
• Things to do in Turku
• Things to do in Kristinestad