Visiting Kalajoki Camping - lovely sand dunes in Finland

Writer: Helena Bergström

Updated: September 2026 | Kalajoki Camping is located right by the famous sand dunes and long sandy beach of Hiekkasärkät on the west coast of Finland. We had received many tips about the place before our motorhome trip through Finland and decided to try it out. Here we tell you about the campsite, the beach and everything there is to do in the area

Kalajoki Camping

Kalajoki Camping, or Kalajoki Top Camping as the campsite is actually called, is located by the sea and is known for its fantastic dunes and sandy beaches.

The campsite is located less than a mile southwest of the town of Kalajoki, on the coast of Northern Ostrobothnia, Finland.

Visiting Kalajoki Camping

When we turned into Kalajoki Camping we passed a tourist area filled with hotels, restaurants and shops. At the reception we were given brochures in Swedish and we also got help in Swedish, but you can't count on that since Kalajoki is a monolingual Finnish municipality. We checked in and chose a regular camper pitch with electricity. When we visited the campsite in 2023 we paid 37 euros per day.

Campsites and cabins at Kalajoki Camping

At Top Camping Kalajoki you can stay with a camper, caravan or tent, but there are also a large number of cottages, rooms and apartments. We booked a regular camper pitch with electricity, and could then choose to pitch anywhere, except for the beach pitches (which were both more expensive and fully booked) and the areas for longer stays.

The beach sites are really down by the beach, so you stand with your wheels in the sand, nose to the sea.

Beach and surf

Kalajoki Camping is perhaps best known for its lovely sand dunes and fine sandy beach. It's very popular for sunbathing and swimming, although the air was a bit cool when we were here, so the beach was sparse.

Of course, this being Finland, there is also a sauna on the beach. On weekend mornings in high season, the sauna is heated for all guests, and in the afternoons you can rent the sauna privately.

There is also a surfing centre on the beach, offering windsurfing and kite-surfing courses, guided SUP classes and equipment rental and sales.

High ropes course and zipline

Right at the entrance to the campsite - and thus outside the campsite area - is the Pakka adventure park. There is a really nice high-altitude course here, and we got stuck here for a while while we watched all the children, young people and adults who bravely made their way through the treetops ...

When we were here, on a relatively sunny and nice summer day, it was full of people who wanted to both climb and ride the zipline. A popular park in other words!

More activities in and around Kalajoki Camping

There are also plenty of other activities to do while staying at Kalajoki Camping, if you want to. Inside the campsite there is miniature golf and the possibility to rent pedal cars, bicycles and canoes.

There are also many activities in the area around the campsite. These include an 18-hole golf course, a disc golf park, the JukuPark water park and the SaniFani spa. It is also possible to book tours or private cruises on the traditional galleass Ansio.

Restaurants and entertainment

The campsite has a beach restaurant, Surffari, where you can order a pizza, hamburger or salad.

It also hosts a lot of events, and when we walked by in the evening, it was full of live music.

For myself, during the day, it was an ice cream in the campsite's small ice cream parlour. We ordered two scoops each, and they were well taken!

Tourist area - with hotels, restaurants and shops

Kalajoki Camping is located in a tourist area full of hotels, restaurants and shops. You can get here easily by bike.

More to see and do in the neighbourhood

All in all, we can say that it was interesting to check out this Finnish summer paradise. What amazing beaches!

If you drive south from Kalajoki Camping, you can discover the Ohtakari fishing village as well as the lovely town of Karleby. If you drive north instead, you can get to the charming and historic little town. Brahestad. Below you will find even more tips for things to see and do in Finland.