Dark Weekend is an event-filled weekend arranged by locals to celebrate our beautiful villages’ and regions’ history and fascinating stories. Arranged in Halloween, the event will offer the Western-Uusimaa hygge in the form of for example storytelling nights, themed meals, night museums and ghost adventures – not to forget the delicious, locally produced foods and drinks!
Due to the pandemic the weekend will be composed of a multitude of smaller events, arranged following the current recommendations. If you have questions about any of the events, please contact the organizer of the specific event.
The Dark Weekend is a themed event arranged together with the cities of Raseborg and Hanko, as well as local organisations, companies and event organizers. All the event organizers can freely announce their events in the cities’ event calendars, where the public will easily find all information regarding the event.
With the summer bus you can effortlessly visit Hanko’s and Raseborg’s greatest destinations! Stop for a seaside coffee in Ekenäs or visit idyllic Billnäs Village’s brand new terrace! The bus route has been made possible through a collaboration between the city of Raseborg and Hanko.
Summer bus timetable 17.6-14.8.2021 (changes possible)
Thursday-Saturday from Hanko to Fiskars Hanko at 9:30 a.m. Ekenäs at 10:00 a.m. Karis at 10:20-10:35 a.m. Billnäs at 10:42 a.m. Pojo at 10:50 a.m. Fiskars at 10:55 a.m. Antskog at 11:00 a.m. (if needed)
Thursday-Saturday from Fiskars to Hanko Antskog at 14:55 p.m. (if needed) Fiskars at 15:00 p.m. Pojo at 15:05 p.m. Billnäs at 15:12 p.m. Karis at 15:20-15:35 p.m. Ekenäs at 15:55 p.m. Hanko at 16:25 p.m.
Award-winning Fiskars Village offers high-quality and locally produced Christmas gifts in nice little shops all over the historical ironwork village. You can choose from beautiful, Finnish design products, handicraft and arts. You can also visit Fiskars Museum, the winter exhibition at Karin Widnäs ceramic museum KWUM and rest your legs at the village’s atmospheric restaurants and cafes. More info about the Fiskars Christmas markets, events, shopping and bus connection from Helsinki on the village website.
Christmas in Ekenäs (Tammisaari)
The wooden house idyll Ekenäs offers a popular Christmas opening on the pedestrian street Kungsgatan and the market square on November 28th at 10 o’clock. The same area is also a popular Christmas shopping area throughout December. On Wednesdays and Saturdays, many people come to get their Christmas foods on the market place at 7-14. If you want to rest your legs during the Christmas shopping, you can also try Ekenäs’ cozy cafés, such as Carl de Mumma, Cafferie by the market square or Wi-Box café next to the pedestrian street.
Christmas events och traditions in Raseborg
The best way to calm down and find that peaceful Christmas atmosphere, is to enjoy a traditional Christmas concert in one of our beautiful old churches. The Raseborg events calendar offers you a list of Christmas markets, exhibitions, concerts and workshops, be sure to check it regularly for new events. You can also look through our selection of events at the bottom of the page or find even more events on our Facebook page.
Raseborg’s tourist services have developed new concepts and collaboration projects in order to boost domestic tourism. Our tourism secretary Martina Rosenqvist and Anni Pöyhtäri, a graphic designer from Karis, have together designed the handy pocket-size map of Raseborg. The idea originally came from Rosenqvist, who felt that the older brochures were getting old-fashioned and had a negative environmental impact.
Maps have been a popular tourist product for a long time, especially in a city as geographically extensive as Raseborg. This map brings together a comprehensive picture of the area, with of course a broad list of the services our cities offer. On the map you’ll also find our cities and villages, sights, beaches, biking routes and guest harbors.
The goal from the beginning was to develop a map so beautiful it would be nice to look at even hung up on a wall. The map should also be handy and easy for the user. Inspiration for the retro-styled looks came from the love for old maps, and of course the will to capture the beautiful hometown at its best.
The map is now being handed out in our information points, restaurants, hotels, guest harbors and cafés.
If you want to get a sneak peek on the map itself, look at the pdf-file below, where you can see all the nice details of the illustrations. If you want the whole experience, we suggest you pick up the printed map somewhere from Raseborg.
Before you start to plan your visit to Raseborg without a car, it is important to know that traffic-related digital services do not recognize a stop called Raseborg. When you buy tickets online, you should choose e.g. Karis (Finnish: Karjaa), Raseborgs Castle Ruin, Ekenäs (Finnish: Tammisaari) or Fiskars as a destination. Here follows some examples of how to get to some popular destinations in Raseborg without a car.
At Helsinki central railway station, the train going towards Turku usually leaves from platform 12. Get on the train heading towards Turku at 8:36 am. After about 50 minutes of train ride, get off the train when the train arrives at Karis railway station in Raseborg at 9:31. To get from Karis to Ekenäs, walk past the station building towards track 1, where the small train to Ekenäs departs. The regional train departs at 9:36. Its end destination is Hanko, but it also stops at Ekenäs railway station in Raseborg where you hop off after a 13 minute ride. Now you have arrived in the beautiful Ekenäs!
The bus to Ekenäs departs from Kamppi bus station in Helsinki at 12:40 pm Mondays-Sundays during the summer. There are several bus connections per day, of which this is just one. Get on the Ampers bus heading towards Hanko, which usually departs from platform 16. The bus ride takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes, so you’ll arrive in Ekenäs in Raseborg at 14:10. In Ekenäs, the bus stops at Ekenäs bus station, next to the railway station.
You are now in Ekenäs in Raseborg, at Järnvägsgatan. Opposite the railway station and bus station where you arrived, you will see, among other things, an S-Market. If you follow Torngatan that goes past the store, you’ll come to Stationsvägen. If you follow Stationsvägen up the hill you will reach Ekenäs center. The road leads into Ekenäs pedestrian street and to town square. At the town square you can continue down to the harbour, the beach, the park and its restaurants, cafes and more. You can also walk to Ekenäs Old Town and walk through the small streets, see Ekenäs Church and enjoy the small-town idyll. To the west of the town square is Raseborg museum and Raseborg’s tourist info. More tips on what to see and do in Ekenäs during a day visit.
You can also travel from Ekenäs to its neighbouring rural areas of Tenala or Snappertuna, where the mighty Raseborg’s Castle ruins can be visited. A fun way to get to these areas is for instance by bike. Bicycle rental points and more tips on cycling in Raseborg.
Journey home
The regional train or bus from Ekenäs railway station to Karis railway station leaves at 18:02 and arrives in Karis at 18:15. At the train station, the train back towards Helsinki soon departs at 18:28 from track 2.
If you prefer to return by bus, a bus leaves from Ekenäs bus station at for example 15:35 and arrives at Kamppi bus station in Helsinki at 17:05.
2024: Turku-Ekenäs
By train (Monday-Sunday)
From Turku railway station, the train departs to Helsinki at 8:31 am. This train stops at Karis railway station in Raseborg at 9:26. To get from Karis to Ekenäs, walk past the station building towards track 1, where the small regional train to Ekenäs departs. The regional train departs at 9:36. Its end destination is Hanko, but it also stops at Ekenäs railway station in Raseborg where you hop off after a 13 minute ride. Now you have arrived in the beautiful Ekenäs!
Bus routes between Turku and Ekenäs are unfortunately not available.
Read more about activities in Ekenäs and its surrounding areas under “In Ekenäs“.
2024: Helsinki-Fiskars
Helsinki-Fiskars by train + bus, Monday-Sunday
To get to Fiskars in Raseborg from Helsinki, you should get on the train at Helsinki central railway station at 8:36 am. The train usually departs from platform 12. The train heads towards Turku, and stops at Karis railway station in Raseborg after a 55 minute train ride. Get off at Karis railway station, where the train arrives at 9:31 am. Follow the sign in the tunnel towards the city center and the bus station. At the end of the tunnel, you’ll see the bus station in front of you. Hop on Raseborg’s public transport buses Bosse towards Fiskars, departing from Karis Travel Center at 9:40. After travelling for about 30 minutes, the bus arrives at Fiskars Village center at 10:10. You are now at the town square in Fiskars. There are multiple bus departures to Fiskars on both weekends and weekdays. Tickets can be easily purchased by downloading the Waltti mobile application on your phone.
At 13:50 the bus departs back from Fiskars bus stop at the town square to Karis travel center. You’ll be at Karis bus station at 14:20. The train back to Helsinki leaves at 14:28. Make your way back to the travel center by going through the tunnel, and then up to track 2, where the train to Helsinki usually departs. Have a nice travel home, and welcome back!
Fiskars Village is a small but culturally and historically very rich village. Fiskars Village is known as a center of Finnish design and art. More about Fiskars Village and its attractions on Fiskars Village website.
Fiskars is blooming with wonderful, small craft shops, cafes and restaurants. You will find them along Fiskarsvägen next to the river, as well as on the smaller streets next to the town square. At Åkerraden you can visit Fiskars Museum, where you can get acquainted with the village and its history through themed exhibitions, time travel, workshops and events. In addition, we recommend for those interested in art to look into Onoma‘s art exhibition or KWUM ceramics museum.
2024: Turku-Fiskars
By train and bus (Monday-Friday)
The journey from Turku to Fiskars in Raseborg starts at Kupittaa railway station. Hop on the train heading towards Helsinki, which departs at 8:31 am. After approximately 1 hour of train ride, get off the train at Karis railway station in Raseborg, where the train arrives at 9:26. At the platform, go down to the tunnel and follow the signs pointing towards the city center and towards the bus station. At the end of the tunnel, you’ll see the bus station in front of you. Hop on Raseborg’s public transport buses Bosse towards Fiskars, departing from Karis Travel Center at 9:40. After travelling for about 30 minutes, the bus arrives at Fiskars Village center at 10:10. You are now at the town square in Fiskars. There are multiple bus departures to Fiskars on both weekends and weekdays. Tickets can be easily purchased by downloading the Waltti mobile application on your phone.
There will be buses going from Fiskars to Karis for the whole afternoon, but please remember to check if the bus timetables work with the departure time of the train you’re planning top take. A journey home could look for example like this: at 13:50 the bus departs back from Fiskars bus stop at the town square to Karis travel center. You’ll arrive at Karis bus station at 14:20. Go through the tunnel towards the train station and up to track 3, where the Turku trains usually depart. The train arrives at 14:32. Get on the train and have a nice journey home. Welcome back to Raseborg!
City Bikes in Raseborg
City bikes have arrived in Raseborg too! We have bike stations in Karis, Fiskars, Ekenäs and Billnäs. The bikes are a handy and affordable way to get to know the nature and different villages of Raseborg. Why not perhaps take a train to Karis, and after that jump on a bike and pedal along the beautiful Railbank route to see both Billnäs and Fiskars? Learn more about the practicalities of using our city bikes here.
In Raseborg you have all you need for a perfect fishing trip. Whether you’re after a chill boating trip with a few tosses of a fishing rod or weeks living a fisher’s life out in the sea, we’ve got you covered! If you don’t have a boat of your own, you can hire one from a local entrepreneur. Raseborg also offers you several fishing trip organizers, who will tailor you all inclusive fishing trips with the newest equipment for both small and bigger groups.
Tips for a perfect trip
We’re happy you’ve picked Raseborg as your destination! Raseborg arcipelago’s small islands and bays are unique in their beauty – we know you will fall in love with them. From our waters you’ll catch for example pike, pike-perch, burbot and whitefish. Remember to also step ashore! You’ll find hidden treasures you don’t want to miss.
In Raseborg there are several guest harbors that will get you in the real archipelago atmosphere. How about dropping by for a coffee in the beautiful Sommaröstrand or in the archipelago village Bromarv? If you fancy exploring the fascinating, lush archipelago nature, make a stop on the national park’s largest island Älgö. There you’ll find a nature trail, a lookout tower and a charming old fisher’s house. The old mining island Jussarö is also certainly worth a visit – the island has a fascinating history as an army base, but the island also surprises with the beauty of its nature. If you want to see more ascetic archipelago environment, visit the islands of Fladalandet or Mondermagan, the previous one protected as a culturally invaluable landscape.
If you want to go camping in the archipelago, you have numerous options. Further from the mainland, you can camp for example in Fladalandet or Mondermågan. You can also camp in other islands per the everyman’s rights. Remember in all cases to check beforehand where camping is allowed, because in some areas of the national park camping is prohibited. There’s also one camping site with broad services in the archipelago, in Kopparö, and another in Ekenäs.
Are you longing for a fishing trip, but don’t own a boat? We’ve got you covered! You can either rent a boat for yourself, or book a guided fishing trip from a professional fisher. Find out more of the fishing services in Raseborg here.
There are local restrictions and rules for fishing in Ekenäs and Raseborg area. Here you’ll find the map, restrictions and instructions Metsähallitus has made about fishing in Ekenäs archipelago national park (Finnish and Swedish). If you need translation or clarification, contact eraluvat@metsa.fi or call the Metsähallitus service number +358 (0)20 69 2424.
Instructions for fishing
What licences and fees do you need to pay for fishing in Raseborg? The fisheries management fee is required in Finland, if you are between 18-65 years old and will be fishing with lures or traps or crayfishing. The amount of the fee for year 2020 is 45€/ year, 15€ / week and 6€/ day, and it entitles you to fish in nearly the whole country using one rod. In some areas and cases however, anglers will also require the permission of the owner of a given water area. The proceeds from the fisheries management fee are used to manage fishing waters and fish stocks, as well as providing advice to anglers and monitoring fishing activity. For more information, please check eraluvat.fi. You can also email eraluvat@metsa.fi or call the Metsähallitus service number +358 (0)20 69 2424.
You don’t need to pay the fee if you’re only ice fishing, hook and line fishing or fishing with a simple herring rig. However, in some areas fishing with these means can also be prohibited or restricted.
Angling with more than one rod and trap fishing require a fishing permit in addition to paying the fisheries management fee. These permissions are sold by the owner of the water area. There are also restrictions in Raseborg’s archipelago in protected water areas, rapids and running waters with migratory fish stocks, and other special locations. Find out about the restrictions here (Finnish and Swedish) and more information here.
Are you a local and wishing to fish with traps? Find out information about fishing permits in Raseborg’s water areas here (Finnish and Swedish).
Take care of your safety
Remember to mind yours and your crew’s safety! Before heading out to sea, make sure you have the skills and equipment you need. Make sure someone that stays on the shore knows where you’re headed and when you plan to return, and always check the weather forecast beforehand. Find out more about safety and responsibility here.
Remember to consider other boaters and the people living on the shores. Locals thank you for keeping a distance to their cottages and docks! When fishing, remember also to keep at least a 50m distance from marked traps, and take care of the beautiful archipelago nature.
Fishing etiquette
On the water, remember to follow the good fishing etiquette. For example the following is good to keep in mind:
Make sure you have the required permissions. Make sure that when needed, you can show you’ve paid the required fees etc.
Pay attention to other boaters and locals.
Remember that the parking lots and docks are used by everyone.
Fish only as much as you will eat.
Avoid fish planting areas.
Make sure to stun and cool your catch right away.
Take care of the environment, so it’ll always stay as beautiful as it is.
From this article you’ll find ideas and information about accessible places to visit in Raseborg. This list doesn’t contain every sight or service in Raseborg, but we tried to conclude a list with the most important and interesting sights of our town. Feel free to contact the companies you’re interested in, as there certainly are accessible places in addition to the ones listed in this article. Welcome to charming Raseborg!
The fascinating old ironworks Fiskars Village is filled with interesting cultural and historical attractions. The village was one of Southern Finland’s most important ironworks, and is nowadays known as the center of art, design and cultural life of whole Finland. This article contains information over many of the most interesting sights of the village.
Museums & Workshops
There are several interesting museums and art exhibitions in Fiskars. The Karin Widnäs ceramics museum and gallery KWUM has a ramp on the entrance. According to the owner people with wheelchairs have gotten in. The Onoma exhibition in Kuparipaja is also accessible by wheelchair, and in both of these museums the lighting is good.
Unfortunately Fiskars Museum is inaccessible to some visitors, as there are several narrow staircases and poorly lighted rooms in the museum. There are stairs at the entrance, and the yard is also non-accessible. Nevertheless the staff of the museum is eager to help visitors, and it is also possible to book a tailored guided tour or presentation for visitors with special needs. Some of the exhibition rooms can be experienced trough the senses of touch, smell and sound. As you may need a personal assistant for visiting the museum, assistants are welcomed for free. Please contact the museum staff in advance if you have more questions – find more information from their web page here.
Fiskars Village is filled with various artists’ and artisans’ workshops and ateliers. Out of these at least the Bianco Blu glassblowing workshop has a smaller threshold, and the door can be opened for bigger wheelchairs. The same goes with the Paatero ceramics workshop on the other side of the village. The smithy’s workshop is non-accessible due to a high threshold.
Restaurants & cafés
The popular restaurant Kuparipaja, that combines local foods with modern design is entered through a door with quite a small threshold – however there have been visitors that have made it in fine nevertheless. The terrace is accessible with wheelchair, and upstairs you can go by lift. There is also an accessible toilet in the restaurant. The famous and traditional restaurant Fiskars Wärdshus has in the side entrance only a small threshold, and the terrace doesn’t have any stairs in it. The cozy Café Antique can be accessed by wheelchair from the other side of the building through Onoma Shop.
Stay the night
Hotel The Torby is committed to promoting equality and accessibility. Yet you might need an assistant, for the thresholds can be quite high in an old building as such. Hotel Fiskars Wärdshus is unfortunately inaccessible due to numerous stairs. Around the Fiskars Village area there are also several cottages rented for tourists. If you wish to stay overnight in a cottage, please contact the person renting it.
Moving around in Fiskars
There are public toilets around the village in several locations. Accessible toilet rooms can be found for example next to the market field and in the old barracks building on the main street Fiskarsvägen. There are several parking areas, the most popular being the ones next to the Town Hall and the other next to the market field. There are also several benches, perfect for resting and admiring the views, for example along the river that flows through the beautiful village.
Ekenäs
Ekenäs is an idyllic seaside town that will charm you with its beauty! Here you’ll get to experience the historical milieu and stories from the fascinating Old Town, and get to sense the atmosphere of the lively small town Ekenäs now is known as. Ekenäs was founded in 1564 by the order of the Swedish king Gustav Vasa and has therefore a long and interesting history.
Museums & Galleries
Raseborgs museum is a popular attraction in Ekenäs. The museum presents regularly changing exhibitions, as well as permanent exhibition about the artist Helene Schjerfbeck and Raseborg’s history. The exhibitions are partly accessible for visitors with special needs, even though some of the rooms have poor lighting. Unfortunately the museum doesn’t have brochures or other texts in Braille. All the doorways of the museum are at least 85 cm wide and the thresholds max. 2,5 cm high. You can also loan a rollator at will, and use the accessible toilet.
Right next to the Raseborg Museum is the new, award-winning museum Chappe, where you can admire modern and contemporary art in Ekenäs. Chappe is an accessible museum with an accessible entrance from Gustav Wasas gatan. The museum’s three floors can be easily accessed by elevator, and the spaces are designed to facilitate movement with both a cane and a walker. Walkers can be borrowed from the ticket office. There are benches around the exhibition halls, but you can also borrow a lightweight chair to carry with you.
Hanko Front Museum of military history is a terrific attraction for history-lovers. The museum is located precisely where the front line of the Finnish-Soviet Continuation War in 1940’s and is therefore especially fascinating. The museum building has a ramp on the entrance, and the parking lot is located right next to the museum. The museum exhibits also old trenches, and if you’re interested about their accessibility you should contact the museum staff.
Next to the Raseborg museum the Gallery Elverket, presenting various changing exhibitions, can be entered nicely via a door with a small threshold. There’s also an accessible toilet available. There’s also two more galleries with entrances without stairs in Ekenäs, Lilla Galleriet on Gustav Vasas Gata and Gallery Perspective near the library of Ekenäs.
In addition to these sights, the church of Ekenäs can be visited via a ramp by the side door, since the main entrance has three stairs. However you may need assistance, since the ramp needs to be brought from inside the church. There’s an induction loop for hearing-impaired people.
Restaurants & cafés
Most of the restaurants in Ekenäs are accessible by wheelchair, even though some places might have higher thresholds. You can find an accessible toilet from at least the seaside restaurant GH Fyren and Ekenäs library in which you’ll find the vegetarian restaurant Hemma Hos Rastachef. By the Northern Harbor the popular restaurant Albatros is accessible with a wheelchair. The Pub Niska summer restaurant is inaccessible due to three stairs at the entrance and interiors with poor lighting.
Next to the Radhustorget market area the café Cafferiet has an entrance suitable for wheelchairs, and offers delicious lunch salads. Café Schjerfbeck on the opposite side of the market square has three stairs on it’s entrance, and next to it the Café Carl de Mumma has a terrace with a staircase, however it’s possible to go in the café. There are no accessible toilet facilities on these cafés.
Stay overnight
Motel Marine, which is located on perfectly in central Ekenäs near the beach, offers according to the owner one hotel room equipped for people with special needs. The room has a ramp, the doors are wide and the toilet is accessible. The motel’s restaurant and its terrace are also accessible. In addition to this, Hotel Sea Front can be entered accessibly, but there are no rooms equipped for special needs. The other hotels in town are non-accessible. If you’re interested about sleeping on a cottage, please contact the person renting it.
Ekenäs Camping is a camping site near the center of Ekenäs and the beautiful Ramsholmen nature park. The area is partly accessible: the reception and restaurant building is accessible, and there’s an accessible toilet in the building. However, there’s unfortunately a small threshold to the terrace. The toilet building of the camping site has a ramp, and there’s a shower chair in the accessible bathroom. However, the kitchen building is inaccessible due to an over 10cm threshold. The rental boats are relatively easy to be entered, for they’re in the nearby lawn.
Nature areas
The beautiful pearl of Ekenäs, protected forest area Ramsholmen is an excellent place for refreshing your mind. The lush park has been the local’s favorite for hundreds of years – for example the famous artist Helene Schjerfbeck has spoken admiringly of the area in her letters. The area consists of two islands and a cape, from which the cape Hagen and the first island, Ramsholmen are accessible. From the parking lot the journey starts with about 300m of gravel road, and after that the road turns into broad paths, easy to move on. Going from Hagen further to Ramsholmen, we’ll cross a bridge shown in the picture above. After this the path divides. The paths are wide and the altitude doesn’t change much. There are also benches along the way for resting with beautiful views. You can tailor the length of your visit by yourself, since the paths divide on several directions. Further in Högholmen area the paths turn narrower and more challenging.
From Ekenäs about eight kilometers towards Hanko, the beautiful Dagmar’s Park nature area surprises with it’s beauty. The crown of the park is its natural spring, which as well as the whole area is named after the Russian empress Dagmar or Maria Fedorovna, who fell in love with the beautiful bay on her cruises. The wide path starts from the parking lot going towards the spring and the beach, however accessing the beach can be difficult for the path is quite steep and turns narrower. Nevertheless the paths divide up on top of the hill into several directions and are easy to move on. In total the paths are a few kilometers long, and along them you’ll get to see beautiful views out to the sea. Unfortunately there’s no accessible toilet on the area: there’s a ramp to one of the toilets, but the toilet space is small and there are no armrests. Check out the map of the area from this link.
Moving around
There are no public toilet facilities in downtown Ekenäs on public places expect for portable toilets. The closest accessible toilets are in Ekenäs library, in Raseborgs museum and in the restaurant GH Fyren. There are several benches across the town, mostly near the shore along for example Västvallen and Skepparträdgården and Stallörensparken parks.
In addition to the accessible parking lots by the grocery stores, there are parking lots reserved for visitors with special needs on Radhustorget parking area and the parking lot in front of GH Fyren restaurant.
Sommarö & Öudden nature path
If you long for the archipelago, take a trip to the picturesque Skärlandet island and Sommaröstrand! The summer café and bistro Skärgårdsbageri & bistro offers self-baked delicious artisan products, which you can enjoy while admiring the view over the small guest harbor. There’s an accessible toilet on the sauna facilities of the café. However entering the inner facilities of the café can be challenging due to a high stair.
There’s a real nature treasure in Skärlandet island: the Öudden nature path, which was designed precisely for people with disabilities. The path passes for example a beautiful water lily pond. Since the path is a part of the arboretum area you’ll get to admire diverse plant species. At the end of the path there’s a garden for people with visual impairments, equipped with texts in Braille and a relief map of the arboretum. There are several parking lots nearby, the closest very near the path.
Karis
In Karis the Restaurant KW offers diverse quality food in an elegant setting. The restaurant rooms can be entered from behind the building via a ramp, and there’s also an accessible toilet. Hotel-restaurant Socis unfortunately doesn’t offer accessible stays. Neither does the Dönsby B&B near Karis due to several stairs both inside and at the entrance. Art Café Serendipity isn’t accessible due to several staircases in the restaurant and on the entrance. The cozy B&B Eden in Billnäs ironworks village is accessible, but as for wheelchairs, only smaller ones fit in and only with assistance.
Near the city center of Karis, the beautiful Pumpviken park area is perfect for recreation. The park stretches around the meandering Svartån river, and the wide paths are easy to move on. Along the paths there are benches for resting and admiring the lush vegetation – and perhaps even birdwatching! A specialty of the area is a quite wide hanging bridge, which connects the different parts of the park. Crossing it isn’t however necessary for seeing the whole area.
Near Karis lies a golfer’s dream, the Nordcenter Golf & Country Club. The club has a reputation of being one of the finest and most challenging golf courses in whole Finland. Therefore it’s a must-see for golfers! The area is partly accessible. The club’s parking lot is even, and the restaurant has an accessible toilet. However the entrance of the restaurant isn’t accessible. The locker rooms as well as the showers are suitable for people with disabilities. The range area is accessible, there are golf cars for use and of the courses the Benz course is accessible. The Fream course has quite an uneven terrain.
Svartå Manor
The magnificent Svartå Manor is one of the most prestigious manors in Finland. The estate was built in the 1700’s and has therefore an interesting history. The manor building itself is architecturally terrific, and the large garden area is also worth visiting, as it is well known for its beauty. During a visit make sure to take a look at the menu of the award-winning Restaurant Slottskrogen.
Svartå Manor operates as a hotel as well as a museum. The hotel unfortunately doesn’t offer rooms equipped for visitors with special needs, but the downstairs rooms are accessible for example with a wheelchair. The restaurant has an accessible toilet and has large rooms with quite a lot of space. The Manor museums first floor is accessible with large rooms with good lightning. Accessing the second floor requires climbing some stairs. Nonetheless the museum staff offers guided tours also just for the downstairs area, and even though you won’t experience the whole manor, they’ll teach you the same stories and anecdotes as for all!
The large English styled garden of the Manor is an arboretum-like park and one of the biggest private parks in Finland. The paths are wide and well-kept, and therefore nearly the whole area is accessible. How does for example a water lily pond sound like?
Raseborg’s Castle Ruins
Near the idyllic countryside village of Snappertuna lies one of the most exciting historical sight in Raseborg, the Raseborg Castle ruins. The castle was built in 1370’s to protect the coast and monitor the coastal trade lines. The original idea was for the castle to compete with Tallinn from being the most important trade center of the Baltic Sea. After it was abandoned in 1558 and has later been restored into what it looks like now.
There’s a Castle Taxi taking tourists to the castle and back. The taxi has a wheelchair seat and can be booked in advance. You can alternatively arrive by car to the nearby parking lot, where it’s about 300 meters path to the castle area and the ticket sale. The entrance of the castle courtyard is accessible via a broad bridge. However there are steep stairs and poorly lighted rooms in the interiors. The castle can therefore be admired from the courtyard.
The nearby Slottknektens stuga is a historical restaurant. It can be accessed with assistance as the hill before it is quite steep. There isn’t an accessible toilet in the restaurant, as the nearest is by the ticket sale. Unfortunately the Forngården museum in Snappertuna isn’t accessible, for the houses are old and poorly lighted.
In Snappertuna, further towards the coast from the castle, is the small forest area of Uusimaa Recreational Area Association, Kolaholmen. Kolaholmen is suitable for a short visit when you’re passing by the area. There’s a splendid archipelago view, a small sandy beach and some old, foreign tree species. The path to the beach is short, wide and flat.
Tenala & Bromarv
Tenala is a small countryside village near Ekenäs. Traveling past, you should definitely check out the local cheese shop, Frimans Diversehandel. The shop in addition to locally made cheese sells also diverse tools and artisan products. In addition to it, the cozy Restaurant Bakfickan is accessible with a wheelchair, however it doesn’t have an accessible toilet.
In the beautiful archipelago village of Bromarv the restaurant Theodors and the restaurant Strandbistro in the harbor are worth stopping by. Both the interior and the terrace of Theodors and Strandbistro are accessible for example by wheelchair. There’s also an accessible toilet in Theodors.
Near Bromarv the Sandviken nature area surprises with its beauty. Sandviken is part of the Uusimaa recreational area association’s areas, and has splendid views over the bay and Turku archipelago. There are no services on the area, but the paths are quite easy to move on as they are wide and even. Read more here.
Guided tours
Raseborg has a large amount of professional guides offering themed guided tours on different villages and areas. By taking a tour you’ll dive into the stories and history of the area, and experience your surroundings on a completely different way than before. It is also possible to book a tailored guided tour specifically for your or your group’s needs. The tours can be made for example suitable for people with wheelchairs, guidings made in sign language or suitable for people with different disabilities. We recommend contacting the Western Uusimaa guideclub’s Viveca Blomberg, who will brief you about the different possibilities.
General information
There are several taxi companies that provide wheelchair spaces, for example Menevä and Raseborgs Taxi & Buss (web page in Swedish and Finnish).
If you’re traveling with a guide dog, you might be in need of veterinary aid. Read more about the veterinaries in Raseborg here.
This article doesn’t list every enterprise in Raseborg, and the information on it might change over time – yet we plan to update it regularly. This list has been concluded from the information we as the tourism office got from companies by calling them directly, and it can be subject to changes. Most of the companies told us how they have usually done when for example a person with a wheelchair has visited, but we do not have precise information about the spaces and services, when it comes to all possible disabilities. Hopefully we will have more places sending us information about their own properties, so we can update this article to be more precise in the future.
We would love to get feedback from this article! You can send your feedback via email to tourist.office@raseborg.fi or call to +358 19 2892010.
In the middle of Ekenäs city center in Raseborg you can find Ekecenter, a marble and brick building designed by Alvar Aalto for Ekenäs Savings Bank. Aalto got a free rein to design the building and its interiors. The construction work began in the summer of 1967, and the building was completed already that same fall. The bank moved in and the Piazza restaurant, also designed by Aalto, opened in the second floor of the building. The restaurant is open for lunch and it also offers catering services. Inspired by Aalto, the Piazza Restaurant also offers a special Bank Manager’s menu, which includes a brief introduction to the fascinating history of the building.
Villa Skeppet
Alvar Aalto, picture taken by Göran Schildt.
Villa Skeppet is another building representing the characteristic style of Alvar Aalto. The history of the building originates from the friendship of Alvar Aalto and the author Göran Schildt. Aalto and Schildt met for the first time already while studying, but they did not become close friends until many years later. They were both interested in e.g. Mediterranean culture and made several trips together.
When Göran Schildt lost his home, Villa Itaka in Helsinki, the architect friend offered to design a new home for Schildt. Schildt only had to choose a suitable lot. He chose a quiet place close to nature in his wife Christine’s hometown Ekenäs. Aalto designed Villa Skeppet as a gift for the couple. The planning and construction of the villa was done in 1969-70, the building being the last home Aalto designed. After Aalto’s death in 1976, Göran Schildt wrote a multipart biography of his good friend.
In Villa Skeppet Alvar Aalto carried out many of the distinctive ideas and design solutions that he had developed over the years. Aalto was inspired by Göran Schildt’s great passion for sailing and Mediterranean culture and made this part of Villa Skeppet’s design. The most outstanding feature of the building is the sail-like roof, which connects the two different parts of the building. The living room is characterized by large windows overlooking the beautiful garden and the sea, as well as by an open fireplace sculptured by Aalto himself.
In 2018, Villa Skeppet was donated to the Christine and Göran Schildt Foundation. The foundation opened the villa for the public in December 2020.
Visiting the buildings
The Ekenäs Savings Bank building can be viewed at Stationsvägen 6, 10600 Raseborg. The entrance of Restaurant Piazza is located in the passage between Ystadsgatan and Stationsvägen.
Villa Skeppet can be admired from the outside at Snäcksundsvägen 8, 10600 Raseborg. You can visit the house by booking a guided tour here. Please note that it is not allowed to enter the property.
Alvar Aalto Route
The Alvar Aalto Route connects all sites designed by Alvar Aalto’s architectural office into a fascinating cultural travel route across Europe. Together with the Ekenäs Savings Bank building and Villa Skeppet, Raseborg can proudly be part of the route. In addition to destinations in Finland, you can visit Aalto’s masterpieces in countries such as Estonia, Germany, France, and Italy.
If you have had enough of crowded shopping centers and noisy streets in Christmas time, Raseborg’s picturesque small towns and villages offers a completely different Christmas experience. Here you can wander outdoors in fantastic, historic environments and admire the cozy Christmas windows and atmospheric old buildings.
Christmas markets
One of the best ways to get a real Christmas atmosphere is to visit our various Christmas markets in eg Ekenäs, at the organic farm Mörby Gård or the Härkätalli shop in an old stable in Billnäs village. Here you can shop handicrafts, decorations and locally produced foods and drinks for the Christmas dinner.
Christmas in Fiskars Village
Award-winning Fiskars Village offers high-quality and locally produced Christmas gifts in nice little shops all over the historical ironwork village. You can choose from beautiful, Finnish design products, handicraft and arts. You can also visit Fiskars Museum, the winter exhibition at Karin Widnäs ceramic museum KWUM and rest your legs at the village’s atmospheric restaurants and cafes. More info about the Fiskars Christmas markets, events, shopping and bus connection from Helsinki on the village website.
Christmas in Ekenäs (Tammisaari)
The wooden house idyll Ekenäs offers a popular Christmas market on the pedestrian street Kungsgatan and the market square on 7-8 December. The same area is also a popular Christmas shopping area throughout December and on Wednesdays and Saturdays, many people come to get their Christmas foods on the market place at 7-14. If you seek for an old-fashioned Christmas atmosphere, visit the Café Gamla Stan Christmas cottage, where you are greeted by home baked pastries, a nice fireplace and local crafts. If you want to rest your legs during the Christmas shopping, you can also try Ekenäs’ other cozy cafés, such as Carl de Mumma, Cafferie by the market square or Wi-Box café next to the pedestrian street.
Christmas events och traditions in Raseborg
The best way to calm down and find that peaceful Christmas atmosphere, is to enjoy a traditional Christmas concert in one of our beautiful old churches. The Raseborg events calendar offers you a list of Christmas markets, exhibitions, concerts and workshops, be sure to check it regularly for new events. You can also look through our selection of events at the bottom of the page or find even more events on our Facebook page.
If you happen to celebrate Christmas in Ekenäs, the traditional Christmas Peace is declared on Christmas Eve at 18 o’clock from the stairs of the Old Town Hall next to the market square . During the holidays, you can go out for a walk in our beautiful parks and forests, or enjoy a movie at our cozy retro cinema theaters Bio Pallas in Karis and Bio Forum in Ekenäs.
Tourist info during Christmas
Raseborg’s tourism services are closed 23.12-31.12.2019, but during the Christmas holidays you can get tourist information at the newly renovated EKTA museum in Ekenäs between 27-29.12.2019 (closed on new year’s eve and day). The museum also has many nice exhibitions and a café with a cozy museum shop.
A. Visit Raseborg has a summer pop-up at Ekenäs Nature Centre, which serves from 24.6 to 17.8. The temporary info point is open Mon-Fri at 10-18. Our three summer workers Maija, Julia and Emma answer questions both over the counter, by email tourist.office@raseborg.fi or by phone + 358 19 289 2010. The address is: Strandallén 5, 10600 Ekenäs.
B. EKTA Museum in Ekenäs is being renovated in the beginning of summer, but still functions as a tourist information and customer service point. The museum is located at Gustav Wasas gata 11, 10600 Ekenäs and is open from Tuesday to Sunday at 11-17 during 28.5–25.8, after that Wed-Sun at 11-17.
C. In order help local customers in our vast region, there will be five additional information points in Raseborg this summer. The additional service points are 1. The Frimans Diversehandel-shop i Tenala village 2. The archipelago harbour in Bromarv village 3. The Sommaröstrand guest harbour on Skåldö island 4. The information point at Raseborg’s castle ruin 5. The Luckan Raseborg- information centre in Karis (open during the whole year). The info points all have a green info sign outside and can provide for basic material like brochures and maps.
D. Fiskars Village has its own tourist info in the middle of the beautiful village. The info is open daily at 10-18 during 15.5-31.8. From 1.9 the info will be open Tue-Sun at 10-17. You can also call 020 439 2099 or send an email to fiskarsvillage@fiskars.com. Address: Fiskarsvägen 360
E. The stately Svartå Manor also serves its local customers and can help with booking guided tours, accomodation or perhaps reserving a table to have a good meal at Slottskrogen-restaurant.
