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16 March 2024 / 2 Comments

Things to do in Ostrobothnia, Finland - 12 tips

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What to do in Ostrobothnia, Finland? This is an interesting area for travelling, full of beautiful nature, picturesque wooden towns and historical sights. Here you'll find all our top tips for things to see and do in Ostrobothnia, with a focus on the summer months.

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Ostrobothnia

Ostrobothnia is a province in Finland, with Vaasa as its capital. The region includes 14 municipalities and six cities: Jakobstad, Kaskö, Kristinestad, Närpes, Nykarleby and Vaasa. Much of Ostrobothnia is bilingual with Swedish as the majority language. The largest city, Vaasa, is also bilingual, but the majority language is Finnish. It is possible to speak Swedish almost everywhere in this area.

We travelled around here last summer, with our camper van, and we really appreciated the beautiful nature, the nice cities and the great tranquillity. For example, we had never problems getting a place on a campsite or pitch, even though we travelled in July and even though we never booked. It simply felt very relaxed travelling here!

We highly recommend travelling in this area, and here are our top tips on what to see and do in Ostrobothnia, with a focus on the summer season.

Ostrobothnia is located in Finland, on the western coast of the country. You can get here from the south (e.g. by ferry to Helsinki). Turku), via Wasaline (ferry Umeå - Vaasa) or from the north (by road from Haparanda).

What can you do in Ostrobothnia?

So what can you do in Ostrobothnia? Whether you like nature, history or culture, there is plenty to discover. Here are our very best tips. If you are travelling from the south, the places we recommend are in the following order:

  • Kristinestad
  • Närpes
  • Solf
  • Vaasa
  • Oravais
  • Nykarleby
  • Jakobstad
  • Larsmo

1. Stroll through charming wooden towns

Ostrobothnia is home to beautiful and well-preserved wooden towns. Above all, you don't want to miss the cosy Kristinestadwhich is one of the few cities in the Nordic region that has not burned down. It is also well worth making a visit to the beautiful Jakobstad, where you will find the cosy wooden house area of Skata.

Att göra i Kristinestad i Finland
The wooden house idyll of Kristinestad in Ostrobothnia

2. Trade in the market

Markets can be arranged in different parts of Ostrobothnia and not least in Kristinestad, where annual markets have been organised since 1873. You can visit the following markets in Kristinestad, of which the summer market is by far the largest. This usually attracts no less than 60,000 visitors.

  • Spring market (early April)
  • Summer market (third weekend after Midsummer)
  • Old-fashioned market day (first Saturday in September)
  • Michaelmas market (early October)

You can also take the opportunity to experience the city festival "Jakob Days", which is organised every year at the end of July in Jakobstad. The festival includes a market, but also various cultural events.

At the summer market in Kristinestad

3. Discover open-air museums

There are some really nice open-air museums in Ostrobothnia, which are well worth checking out. We can recommend visits to Öjskog Park in Närpes, where you'll find a number of historic museum buildings, including a charming country store, as well as a cool revolving auditorium used for theatre.

We can also recommend visits to Stundar Open Air Museumwhich is located in Solf in the municipality of Korsholm, just south of Vaasa. There are 60 historic buildings, many of which are decorated as farms, cottages and craft environments from the past.

Stundars friluftsmuseum
At the Stundar open-air museum south of Vaasa.

4. Check out interesting museums

In addition to open-air museums, there are many other museums worth visiting. Here are some examples of interesting museums that you can check out while travelling through Ostrobothnia (and yes, there are many more!):

  • Museum of Pharmacy in Öjskogsparken in Närpes, displays a wide range of old pharmacy artefacts.
  • Carlsro MuseumKristinestad, is a 19th century villa filled with 11,000 antique artefacts.
  • Kuddnäs Museum, Nykarleby, shows the home where the famous author Zacharias Topelius grew up.
  • Lebellska merchant's houseKristinestad, shows how a rich merchant family lived in the 18th and 19th centuries.
  • NanoqJakobstad, is an Arctic museum where you can learn about Arctic peoples, cultures and customs.
  • Museum of OstrobothniaVasa, tells the story of local culture through the centuries, and also showcases the flora and fauna of the area.
Museum of Ostrobothnia in Vaasa

5. See art

If you like art, there is a lot to discover, not least in the largest city in Ostrobothnia. Vaasa. There you can see art at the Ostrobothnian Museum, the Kuntsi Museum of Modern Art and the Vaasa Art Centre. You can also check out Wasa Graffitilandia, which offers a slightly different art experience.

Kuntsi Museum of Modern Art in Vaasa (Finland)

6. Visit historical sites

Ostrobothnia is full of historical sites that tell the story of times gone by. Here are some places where you might want to make a stop along the way:

  • Gamla Vasa burned down in a violent fire in 1852, and today the site contains the old court, ruins and a fine museum.
  • Oravais battlefield is the site of the Battle of Oravais was in 1808, when the Swedes lost Finland to Russia.
  • Söderfjärden meteorite crater, south of Vaasa, was formed about 520 million years ago when a burning meteorite struck.
There are several memorials at the Oravainen battlefield.

7. admire beautiful churches

There are plenty of beautiful historic churches in Ostrobothnia. Here are some that might be worth checking out:

  • Närpes church is a beautiful medieval church and next to it are the unique church stables, where horses were once housed.
  • Pedersöre church, in Jakobstad, is a powerful and beautiful church, remodelled in the 18th century.
  • Church of Ulrika Eleonora, in Kristinestad, is a fine old wooden church that is famous for its leaning tower.
Närpes church

8. Fascinated by Replot Bridge and the Kvarken Archipelago

The Kvarken Archipelago, together with High Coast in Sweden, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, tells the story of the land uplift that occurred after the last ice age. Via the Replot Bridge, located north of Vaasa, you can reach Sommarsund, Klobbskat or Svedjehamn on the island of Björkö in the Kvarken archipelago. The bridge, which is the longest in Finland, was opened in 1997 and measures 1045 metres.

Replot Bridge is Finland's longest bridge

9. Hiking, cycling or canoeing

There are many places in Ostrobothnia where you can go hiking, cycling or canoeing, such as in the Kvarken archipelago. In Svedjehamn on the island of Björkö there are two popular hiking trails: Bodvattnet around and Björköby-Panike hiking trail.

About 800 metres from Svedjehamn you will also find the popular viewing tower Saltkaret, from where you have a great view and can see the unique moraines called "de Geer moraines". 

Saltkaret viewing tower in the Kvarken archipelago

10. go on boat trips

In the summer, it is nice to go on different boat trips in the sea area. For example, we made a short boat trip to Köpmanholmen in Larsmo municipality, where you can spend a few hours walking, relaxing and visiting restaurants. Wonderful!

In the area around Vaasa, you can cruise with m/s Corina from the World Heritage Gate/Replot Bridge or with m/s Tiira in Vaasa's inner archipelago. Starting from Pietarsaari, you can take a boat to the island of Mässkär, where there is beautiful nature and a restaurant open in the summer.

Boat trip to Köpmanholmen in Larsmo municipality

11. Try local delicacies

When travelling, it is always exciting to try local delicacies. For example, don't miss the amazing tomatoes when you visit the city of tomatoes. Närpes - you can try them in the lovely Linds kitchen, or why not in the form of tomato ice cream?

You can also try "Finnish pigs", which is a kind of donut with jam in the filling. Other things we appreciated were the large selection of fresh perch, the delicious Finnish ice cream and the opportunity to buy eggs in the countryside directly from small "egg stalls".

Lunch with amazing tomatoes at Lind's kitchen in Närpes.

12. Learn about the dialects of Ostrobothnia

Ostrobothnian is a collective name for the Finnish-Swedish dialects spoken in Ostrobothnia. The best known is the dialect spoken in Närpes, which is so special that it can be difficult for other Swedish speakers to understand. Swedish linguist and broadcaster Fredrik Lindström has taken an interest in the dialect, claiming that the Närpes language is similar to the Swedish spoken in Stockholm in the 16th century. Fascinating, isn't it?

Sign with text in Närpes dialect, national Swedish, Finnish and English.

More things to do in Ostrobothnia for culture and history lovers

There is, of course, even more to experience in Ostrobothnia than our tips. Here you will find even more suggestions for things to do in Ostrobothnia for those who like culture and history.

  • Brändö is an old working-class neighbourhood in Vaasa, where you can find the Vaasa Maritime Museum.
  • Kaskö is Finland's smallest town, located on the island of Bockholmen outside Närpes.
  • Strömsö is located in Västervik, in Vaasa, and offers a marina and nice villas, known from the TV programme "Strömsö".
Wooden town centre in Kaskö

More things to do in Ostrobothnia for nature lovers

Are you most comfortable in nature or on the water? Here you'll find even more tips on things to do in Ostrobothnia that might suit you.

  • Aspegren's garden, in Jakobstad, is a lovely oasis with flowers, an orangery, a gazebo, a village museum and a restaurant. 
  • Fäboda is a popular area on the coast outside Jakobstad, with a sandy beach, cliffs, hiking trails and a cosy coffee shop.
  • The way of seven bridges (regional road 749) is a beautiful road that runs from Nykarleby, via Jakobstad and Larsmo, to Kokkola.
Fäboda outside Jakobstad

More to do in Ostrobothnia with children

Here are some more tips on things to do in Ostrobothnia for families with children or teenagers.

  • Sandö beach is a swimming area located in the centre of Vaasa, on the island of Sandö, with lifeguards and diving towers.
  • Tropiclandia is a water park in Vaasa, and can be reached by the 'Little Train' from Top Camping Vaasa.
  • Tyynelän Tontut, in Larsmo, is a fantastic farm with handmade gnomes and beautiful museum settings. Note, not just for children - for everyone!
Fantastic Tyynelän Tontut in Larsmo

Where can you stay in Ostrobothnia, or park your caravan?

In Ostrobothnia there are many hotels and other accommodation options to choose from. There are also plenty of campsites where you can stay with a motorhome, caravan, tent or cabin. There are also parking spaces for motorhomes, and it is also possible to hitchhike.

Motorhome parking space in Oravainen harbour

More things to see and do in the neighbourhood of Ostrobothnia

There is of course even more to see and experience in the neighbourhood of Ostrobothnia. Just south of Ostrobothnia, you can visit the beautiful Unesco city of Helsinki. Rauma. If you head north instead, you can take the opportunity to discover the charming neighbourhood of Karleby and Kalajoki sand dunes. Even more tips for things to see and do in Finland can be found below.

All our top tips about Finland. Click on the image!

Even more things to do in Ostrobothnia?

Have you visited Ostrobothnia? Do you have any other tips on what to see and do in Ostrobothnia? Please tell us!

Facts about Ostrobothnia

  • Country: Finland
  • Location: On the west coast of Finland.
  • Population: More than 180 000 (2019)
  • Municipalities: Jakobstad (Pietarsaari), Kaskö (Kaskinen), Korsholm (Mustasaari), Korsnäs, Kristinestad (Kristiinankaupunki), Kronoby (Kruunupyy), Laihela (Laihia), Larsmo (Luoto), Malax (Maalahti), Närpes (Närpiö), Nykarleby (Uusikaarlepyy), Pedersöre (Pedersören kunta), Vaasa (Vaasa) and Vörå (Vöyri).
  • The name: The word 'bottom' is also found in the Gulf of Bothnia, the Bothnian Sea and Västerbotten. In Finnish: Pohjanmaan maakunta.
  • Language: Eleven of Ostrobothnia's 14 municipalities are bilingual with Swedish as the majority language. Kaskinen and Vaasa are bilingual with Finnish as the majority language. Laihela is monolingual Finnish. 

You might also like:

Att besöka Kastelholms slott på ÅlandVisiting Kastelholm Castle - Åland's only medieval castle Att göra på Föglö i ÅlandThings to do in Föglö, Åland - our top 10 tips Att besöka Åbo slottVisiting Turku Castle - Swedish and Finnish history Things to do in Rauma - 15 tips for a Finnish UNESCO city Att göra i Närpes i FinlandWhat to do in Närpes - 12 tips for the tomato town in Finland Things to do in Oravais, Ostrobothnia - 10 tips

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16 March 2024 6:00
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2 Comments

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  1. Sylvia larsson says:

    After you published your trip to Finland 🇫🇮 we were inspired to make this trip. Seen some of the Nordic countries and Norway but Finland has been forgotten so thank you.
    I will come back to you with tips, but I haven't read your latest post, which I will read carefully.
    So your report became our planning for the motorhome this spring.
    Thank you

    16 March 2024 - 22:35

    Reply

  2. Lena - gott för själen says:

    After your reports from Finland, I have become very keen to do something similar. Looks very nice and the calmness attracts me.

    Hug Lena

    18 March 2024 - 20:06

    Reply

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