Uusimaa: Coastal Trails, Nature and Culture

Uusimaa offers several points of interest for planning a trip: marked trails in Espoo, maritime landscapes in Porvoo, historic townscapes and cultural destinations. The places below provide concrete ideas.

Trails and waterfront landscapes in Espoo

The R2 route in Espoo is a fully marked, trail-style route of more than ten kilometres through the landscapes of Oittaa and Pirttimäki. It is suitable for hiking, trekking, trail running and mountain biking. Both starting points are accessible by bus and offer car parking. This also makes it possible to choose a route based on which of the four activities will shape the day.

Espoo’s Rantaraitti offers a different experience: the 40-kilometre waterfront route is intended for walks and relaxation in a maritime setting. There are almost a hundred sights along the route. They showcase flora and fauna, cultural history and the built heritage, and share anecdotes about life on the coast in the past. In this way, the longer waterfront route differs in focus from the R2 route, with its explicitly named sports.

Porvoo: Coast, Old Town and local history

The Varlaxudden recreation area is located on the island of Emäsalo in Porvoo. From there, views stretch across the archipelago and open sea. The coastal landscape is ideal for picnics in summer and birdwatching in spring and autumn. If you are planning a seasonal visit, you can take these different opportunities into account when choosing when to travel.

Old Porvoo offers a different scene: visitors can admire the colourful wooden houses and stroll through winding, cobbled streets. Red-ochre warehouses stand by the river; together with the lanes and wooden houses, they shape the historic townscape. Founded in 1896, the Porvoo Museum helps preserve and present the cultural and natural heritage of Porvoo and Eastern Uusimaa.

Culinary and craft traditions are also part of Porvoo’s character. The Runeberg tart, named after Finland’s national poet, is available there all year round. The Brunberg confectionery factory has been making chocolate and sweets in Porvoo since 1871. These details bring together a year-round speciality and a long history of local production.

Suomenlinna: World Heritage and a walking route

Suomenlinna is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a maritime district of Helsinki. The marked Blue Route runs from north to south, from the main quay to the King’s Gate, and is about 1.5 kilometres long one way. In Finland, the HSL ferry connects Helsinki’s Market Square with Suomenlinna all year round; the crossing takes about 15 minutes. Check the timetable before departure. On the island, you can include both a manageable walk and Suomenlinna’s maritime history in your day’s plans.

Nature trails and cultural landscapes

Activities in Sipoonkorpi National Park include skiing, hiking, cycling, climbing and geocaching; the park is easily accessible by bicycle. The 1.4-kilometre Byabäcken nature trail passes through lush forests and golden fields. Meikonkierros is another specific option for route planning: it is 8.3 kilometres long, marked with yellow diamonds and has a campfire site along the way. The Meiko Nature Reserve near Kirkkonummi includes Lake Meiko, smaller ponds and forest landscapes.

The Nuuksio Lakeland in the Uusimaa region covers approximately 200 square kilometres. It features well-maintained, marked hiking trails and a variety of unspoilt wilderness. The area is on a very different scale from the measured routes in Espoo and Sipoonkorpi National Park: Nuuksio describes a landscape, while the individual trail details refer to specific routes.

Uusimaa also offers a range of destinations for culture enthusiasts. Founded in the 17th century, Fiskars Village in Raseborg is a former ironworks village. Today it is considered a centre of Finnish design and art, with culture, exhibitions, handicrafts, activities and events available all year round. The Fiskars Museum tells the story of the village through stories and historical objects. Raseborg Castle offers another historical perspective; in the Middle Ages, it served as the administrative centre of Western Uusimaa. The park at Svartå Manor, meanwhile, is defined by winding paths, romantic bridges, statues, ornamental buildings and a water lily path over the water.

Discover more destinations: Järvenpää, Lohja, Skuru, Hermala, Rajamäki, Kurkimäki, Savijoki, Raseborg, Nurmijärvi, Hattom, Helsinki, Tuusula, Karjalohja, Hanko, Sammatti, Sipoo, Nummi-Pusula, Siuntio, Ruotsinpyhtää, Ingå, Svartå, Vihti, Lapinjärvi, Mäntsälä, Hyvinkää, Porvoo, Åminnefors, Espoo, Vantaa, Kirkkonummi, Pernå, Kerava, Billnäs, Sipoo, Klaukkala and Mörskom.