EXPERIENCES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR Utö, Örö & Bengtskär Spring & autumn adventures DELICACIES & LOCAL TASTES Charming farmshops and arti sanal food PARGAS & KIMITOÖN FINLAND 2022 PICTURESQUE PLACESkasnas.com | info@kasnas.com | 02-521 0100 WE ARE EXPANDING OUR OPERATION DEAR CUSTOMER IN THE SPRING OF 2022 KASNÄS WILL OPEN A NEW PAVILION WITH SHOPS AND MEETING ROOMS OUR RESTAURANT AND SHOP WILL BE IN NORMAL OPERATION THROUGOUT THE ENTIRE CONSTRACTIONPublisher: Kimitoön Municipality & City of Pargas 2022 | Print: Grano Oy | Layout: Stella Törnroth Cover photo: Jasmin Yuchun | Text: Kimitoön Municipality & City of Pargas | The publisher is not responsible for changes that may occur. BIG ADVENTURES AWAY FROM IT ALL This brochure is about big and small adventures in the Finnish Archipelago. The archipelago is a place for visitors looking to experience something different and unique. Relax and unwind Smack bang between the great capitals of Helsinki and Stockholm, you have probably never even noticed us on the map. This is not a destination for the masses; there are thousands of islands and hidden gems waiting to be discovered. This is the largest archipelago in the world after all! No hotel chains or burger joints! The archipelago is dotted with small family-run and family friendly tourism companies waiting to offer you authentic, locally produced meals, experiences and places to stay. Just thumb through this brochure to meet the locals and find out more! When travelling here, you know that your holiday will not only leave footsteps in the sand but will also leave a lasting positive effect on the seas, forests and island communities you visit. Happy holidays! The Pargas and Kimitoön Islands tourism teams VisitArchipelago.com Turku – Kimitoön ~ 45 min Helsinki – Kimitoön ~ 2 h Salo – Kimitoön ~ 40 min Turku – Pargas ~ 30 min Helsinki – Pargas ~ 2 h Helsinki Salo Turku Vaasa Mariehamn Pargas Kimitoön Hanko TampereCONTENTS Archipelago metro map4 Themed routes for all seasons6 The archipelago islands like a different world8 Högsåra9 Hitis & Rosala10 Örön fortress island11 Bengtskär lighthouse island12 Nagu & Pargas14 Houtskär, Korpo & Iniö16 Out to sea! Utö island18 Adventures with kids 21 Delicacies from the archipelago24 Hidden gems26 Cycling through the archipelago 30 The Coastal Route31 The Small Archipelago Trail32 The Archipelago Trail33 Infomap34 Four seasons42 Activities around the year46 The wings of history54 St. Olav Waterway56 Söderlångvik Manor58 Dalsbruk 60 Västanfjärd 63 The Archipelago National Park64 Biosphere reserve66 Kasnäs68 Practical tips for trips to the archipelago 70 Good to know!72 The responsible boater73 The highest lighthouse in the Nordic countries The archipelago is the perfect place to explore by bike! 12 30 Photo: Nora Wilson Photo: Benjamin DonnerIt’s easy to travel around the archipelago. We welcome visitors to explore our beautiful islands! Responsible travel in the archipelago Four seasons 70 42 73 Photo: Jaska Poikonen Photo: Jaska Poikonen Photo: Jasmin Yuchun€ € € € € ÅLAND AHVENANMAA NAANTALI NÅDENDAL UTÖ NAGU NAUVO SJÄLÖ SEILI RETAIS NORRSKATA KITTUIS KEISTIÖ MOSSALA INIÖ DALEN KANNVIK HEPONIEMIKUSTAVI GUSTAVS HOUTSKÄR HOUTSKARI LÅNGNÄS ÖVERÖ SOTTUNGA HUSÖ KÖKAR RÖÖLÄ HANKA BRÄNNSKÄR BERGHAMN ASPÖ NÖTÖ JURMO GALTBY KORPO KORPPOO PÄRNÄS PÄRNÄINEN € Without ferries, life on the islands would be impossible for most inhabitants. For the visitor, however, understanding the seemingly complicated ferry timetables can be troublesome. Thus some helpful advice in order to make travel easy! • Finnish ferries, apart from those commuting to and between the Åland islands, can be used without charge. Commercial cruises to tourism destinations are of course an exception. These are marked with a €-symbol on the map to the right. • Ferry timetables are easily found on www.ferry.fias long as you know your departure or arrival harbour, or the names of the islands. On www.saaristolautat.fiyou are able to get an even better geographical overview of the routes as well as the timetables. ARCHIPELAGO METRO MAP 6Saaristolautat.fi lautat / färjor / ferries Saaristolautat.fi yhteysalukset / förbindelsebåtar / commuter ferries vitharun.fi wilsoncharter.fi coastalroute.fi meriliikenne.fi alandstrafiken.ax utohotel.fi Tie / Bilväg / Road Saaristotie Skärgårdsvägen Avgiftsbelagd rutt Maksullinen reitti Fees will apply € Design KRUT Collective, krut.fi € € € DALSBRUK TAALINTEHDAS KIMITOÖN KEMIÖNSAARI PARGAS PARAINEN TURKU ÅBO BENGTSKÄR KASNÄS LÖ I BOLAXBÖTESÖ GRANVIKBJÖRKHOLM PENSAR GULLKRONA STENSKÄR VÄNÖ HOLMA TUNNHAMN HELSINGHOLMEN ROSALA ÖRÖ HITIS HIITTINEN BISKOPSÖ VÄNOXA DJUPÖ GRÖNVIK HÖGSÅRA KIRJAIS PROSTVIK LILLMÄLÖ KA NNSKÄR ÄNGESÖ HANKO HANGÖ € € € BORSTÖ BJÖRKÖ Skärgårdsrutten Saaristoreitti Lilla skärgårdsrutten Pieni saaristoreitti 7Silence is spectacular in the archipelago during autumn, winter and spring. Give yourself time and enjoy nature during the seasons of total peace. Where to see the spectacular night sky on the Kimitoön Islands: the view tower of Senatsberget and lean-to shelter in Dalsbruk, the lean-to shel- ter of Sundsvedja in Söderlångvik, island village of Vänön, Örö fortress island Where to see the spectacular night sky in the ar- chipelago: Jurmo with its barren moonlike land- scape, Brännskär, the island of living culture, or the larger islands of Nagu, Korpo and Houtskär. It is worthwhile visiting the archipelago outside the high season as well, as there is plenty to see and experience from autumn to spring. Here you can find themed routes for all seasons: Themed routes for all seasons Factory villages, maritime pilot´s villages, fish- ing villages – the coastal villages tell fascinat- ing stories! Get to know the charming villages on the southwest coast and travel to the ar- chipelago area all year around! Unique villages on the Kimitoön Islands: Dalsbruk maritime factory village, the old maritime pilot´s village of Högsåra, Hitis Archipelago village and Rosala Viking village. Unique villages in the archipelago: the remote and wild, yet easily accessible islands of Iniö, Aspö and Utö, Finland’s most southerly inhab- ited island. 1. UNIQUE COASTAL VILLAGES 2. SPECTACULAR SILENCE Photo: Jarina Leskinen Photo: Santeri Haranto 8Experience the glow of autumn in cultural envi- ronments, magnificent parks, and along beautiful routes in the national parks. See the autumn colours on the Kimitoön Islands: the attractions in the centre of Kemiö and Sagalund Museum, the environment around the Västanfjärd churches and the nature trails, the maritime factory village of Dalsbruk, Dragsfjärd church village, manor milieu of Söderlångvik, Örö fortress island See the autumn colours in the archipelago: Pargas old town “Gamla Malmen”, the oak meadows of Lenholmen, the traditional landscape of Berghamn island, the cultural landscapes of Nagu, Korpo and Houtskär. Island hopping takes you to the beautiful islands of the Archipelago Sea all year around. Take the ferry and stop at your preferred island and find your favourite place in the archipelago! Island hopping on the Kimitoön Islands: take a day trip by car or by bike to explore the traces of the Vikings on Rosala and Hitis islands, take a spring cruise to Örö and Bengtskär islands in the outer archipelago, do island hopping during 3-5 days with the ferry from Dalsbruk factory village to Vänö island. lsland hopping in the archipelago: go for an adventure to the outer archipelago with the ferry from Pärnäs in Nagu, and visit the islands of Berghamn, Nötö, Aspö, Jurmo and Utö lighthouse island, plan well and you can visit more than one island on a day trip. Take a trip to fascinating Seili island with the ferry from Nagu harbour. 4. ISLAND HOPPING 3. COLOUR THERAPY Paddle with a kayak or stand up paddling board, or do boating around the Kimitoön Island, and experi- ence the unique archipelago culture as well as the beautiful landscapes of the Archipelago Sea and Teijo national park from sea. This route takes you from the calm waters of the inner archipelago to open landscapes of the outer archipelago. You can find services and plenty to do along the route. 5. THE SEA EAGLE TRAIL VisitArchipelago.com Explore the routes at Photo: Panu Kunttu Photo: Jaska Poikonen Photo: Sanna-Mari Kunttu 9Next >