On the following pages you’ll find suggestions on sightseeing tours that can be carried out in the Vaasa region. Please contact the Tourist Office if you have other wishes for tours or if you would like a tailor-made tour for your group. It’s of course also possible to book just a guide, but please notice that in these cases the social security and pension fees will be added to the guide fee. Please note that if your group is big (40-50 persons), you may have to reserve longer time for the tour, or maybe leave out a stop at some sight.
The Vaasa – Korsholm guide club has existed for 38 years and has at the moment 32 authorised guides. The languages in which the members guide are Finnish, Swedish, English, German, French and Russian. A guide can also be booked for only one person, or join you on the archipelago cruise or take part in a biketour.
Guide onboard the Lilliputti city train in July 14.30-16.30, guided in Finnish, Swedish and English.
Book a guide: Contact the Tourist Office, tel. (06) 325 1145, touristinfo(at)vaasa.fi
After the fire (1852) the new town rose about 7 kilometres away from where the old Vaasa had been situated, in order to get a new harbour. Architect Carl Axel Setterberg made the new town plan. He also planned the first public buildings and about 150 private houses. Today Vaasa is a lively tourism town, with about 58 500 inhabitants. During the guided walk we will get information about sights, shopping, events and the history of the town. The guided walk ends with coffee in Konsulinnan’s coffee room (a cosy café in the House of Crafts - Loftet), also time for shopping.
- Duration: 2,5 hours
- Distance: about 3 km
- Size of group: at least 10 persons (max. 20 pers)
- Price 2010: 21,50€/person, Sunday price: 42,50€ / person.
- The price includes:
- Coffee and cake at Loftet Monday-Saturday
- Guide fee (incl. language, soc.security & pension fees)
- Agent´s commission
Sightseeing tour in the centre of Vaasa and in Palosaari with the University of Vaasa, the science library and the Universities of Applied Sciences. We also see a part of the historical Palosaari where the harbour of Vaasa was moved in the end of the 18th century. The harbour of today is on Vaskiluoto Island, which also is a paradise for summer tourists with its amusement park, spa hotel and Water Park. The tour continues along Rantakatu passing Vaasa prison and then on to the Barrack Square with St. Nicolaus’ Orthodox Church and the old barracks buildings from the 1860-1880s.
In old Vaasa we pass the ruin area and visit the former Court of Appeal of Vaasa built in 1786, today Korsholm church. The building is considered one of the most beautiful building structures in Finland from the Gustavian era.
After the fire in Vaasa 1852 a new court of appeal and church was built in the new Vaasa. The tsar donated the Court of Appeal house to the Korsholms congregation to be converted into a church. Today the name of the municipality surrounding Vaasa is Korsholm. So the church is Korsholm church even though it is situated in Old Vaasa.
On our way back to the centre of Vaasa we drive through Huutoniemi and pass Huutoniemi church that represents concrete brutality from the 1960s. We arrive in Asevelikylä a part of the city that was built after the 2nd World War, in the end of the 1940s and in the beginning of the 1950s, for and by the men returning from the war. We visit Edvin’s art park, a nature trail with about 100 sculptures of metal and wood made by the retired tinsmith, Edvin Hevonkoski. There is also a trench, a “korsu” (dugout) museum and a smoke sauna.
- Duration: 3 hours
- Size of group: at least 20 persons
- The group have their own bus
- Price 2010: 9,00 €/person (Sundays 14,00 €/person)
The price includes:
- Entrance fee to the ”Korsu”-museum
- Guide fee (incl. language, soc.security & pension fees)
- Agent´s commission
During this tour we get to know Old Vaasa, Stundars and Söderfjärden. We drive through the centre of Vaasa, pass the Barrack Square and continue to Old Vaasa. At the Barrack Square we can see the St. Nicolaus’ Orthodox Church from the 1860s and the barrack buildings from the 1860-1880s. Vaasa burned to the ground 3rd of August 1852 and in Old Vaasa we pass the ruin area and visit Korsholm church a former Court of Appeal house.
Stundars in Korsholm is a large open-air museum and a living centre of culture and art. The museum area is made up of about 60 buildings, for example, a village shop, a school, a farmstead, and crofter’s cabins. In Hemmersgården art exhibitions and cultural events are held. There are also art studios, a printing museum, a handicraft shop, café and restaurant (opened on request).
After the guided tour in the village we have coffee and a sandwich in Hemmersgården and some time to shop in the handicraft shop.
On our way back to Vaasa we drive through Söderfjärden a round shaped field area, about 2 300 hectares, that was formed 520 million years ago by a meteorite. Söderfjärden was drained during the 1920s but still today some parts are below sea level. The area is a wellknown resting-place for migratory birds.
- Duration: 4 hours
- Size of group: at least 20 persons
- The group have their own bus
- Price 2010: 23,00 €/person (Sundays 29,50 €/person)
The price includes:
- Entrance fee, guide and coffee & savoury snack at Stundars
- Guide fee (incl. language, soc.security & pension fees)
- Agent´s commission
We drive through the centre of Vaasa pass the Barrack’s area to Sunnanvik and the area for the Vaasa Housing Fair 2008. The housing fair area consists of 20 private houses, small housing associations and 3 blocks of flats, all of which have been built in an urban style, while still succeeding in remaining close to nature. One important theme at the Vaasa Housing Fair was Ecology. The most noticeable ecological feature is the low-energy system, which is unique in
the world and utilises the warmth from the seabed to heat up the houses. If you wish we can take a short walk in the area. The tour goes on to the district Kappsäkki and then through Pukinjärvi to Västervik, which has both new and old houses. We arrive at Strömsö, a park and recreation area, where the main building is being used for filming the program “Strömsö” for Finnish TV. Guided walk in the area.
We continue via Västervik’s and Gerby’s newest living areas back towards the centre of Vaasa via Palosaari. Palosaaren Puuvillatehdas (Palosaari Cotton Mill) was established in the middle of the 19th century; today the old cotton mill buildings are called Palosaaren Yrityskeskus and are owned by the city of Vaasa. Vaasa harbour was moved to Palosaari in the end of the 18th century. Due to land uplift the ships couldn’t get in to Vaasa of that time. The University of Vaasa, the Finnish and Swedish Universities of Applied Sciences, the Tritonia Academic Library and Technobothnia Research Centre are also located in Palosaari.
Back in the city centre we drive along Rantakatu and pass the old building of Vaasa Steam Mill, today Academill which accommodates Åbo Akademi University. Kuntsi museum of modern art is in the old Customs house at the Inner harbour, and in Hovioikeudenpuistikko the Court of Appeal building and Tikanoja art museum, both in buildings from the 1860s.
- Duration: 3 hours
- Size of the group: at least 20 persons
- The group have their own bus
- Price 2010: 8,00 €/person (Sundays 13,00 €/person)
The price includes:
- Guide fee (incl. language, soc.security & pension fees)
- Agent´s commission
A guided cruise onboard M/S Tiira in the beautiful inner archipelago of Vaasa, with its many islands and summerhouses. We also pass through a part of the Kvarken natural heritage site, the only such site in Finland to date. We also see the longest bridge in Finland, Replot Bridge.
On the Island of Kuusisaari in Janne’s Saloon we eat delicious salmon soup and after that we return to Vaasa and the inner harbour.
NOTE! The cruise ship has regular cruising traffic from the 27th of June to the 15th of August from 12-18.30. So this programme can be carried out the whole day in the spring and early summer and also after 15th of August. During the season only in the mornings until 11.30 and also in the evening after 18.30.
- Duration: 3 hours
- Size of the group: at least 30 persons
- Price 2010: 36,00 €/person (Sundays 40,00 €/person)
The price includes:
- Cruising with M/S Tiira
- Salmon soup in Jannes Saloon
- Guide fee (incl. language, soc.security & pension fees)
- Agent´s commission
Short tour in the centre of Vaasa and then we continue to the village Sundom and to Söderfjärden, the clearest and most beautiful crater formation in Northern Europe previously bay and swamp, nowadays a continuous large area of cultivation land, totally 2 300 hectares. Especially during the autumn this round field is a halting place of cranes. We drive through Söderfjärden to Meteoria Söderfjärden, which opened its doors in 2008. Inside an exhibition about Söderfjärden and we also get to experience 520 million years in just six minutes – a dramatic history from meteorite crash until this day in an intense, colourful and deafening multimedia-show.
Coffee and sandwich in Restaurant Söderfjärden and after that we return to the city through the idyllic village of Solf.
- Duration: 3 hours
- Size of the group: at least 20 persons
- The group have their own bus
- Price 2010: 18,50 €/person (Sundays 23,50 €/person)
The price includes:
- Entrance fee
- Coffee and sandwich in
- Restaurant Söderfjärden
- Guide fee (incl. language, soc.security & pension fees)
- Agent’s commission
The tour starts with a short sightseeing in Vaasa and continues towards the archipelago. We first arrive to the longest bridge in Finland, Replot Bridge. At the highest point of the bridge you have a lovely view over the Kvarken archipelago, the first and to this date only natural heritage in Finland.
In Replot a visit in the church, built in the 18th century, and a short tour in the village. After this we head towards Björköby and the old fishing harbour of the village – Bodback, with the monument of the post boat service (a 500 metre walk). Today the fishing harbour is on dry land and here you can see the land uplift and moraine formations. We continue to Svedjehamn, where we take a walk and get to know about the world heritage monument that president Ahtisaari unveiled September 8th 2007.
Coffee and a De Geer Moraine fish sandwich in Björkö Wärdshus.
We return to Vaasa via Palosaari. As early as in the end of the 18th century Vaasa’s second harbour was moved to Palosaari due to the land uplift. University of Vaasa, Tritonia Academic Library, Technobothnia Research Centre and parts of the Finnish and Swedish Universities of Applied Sciences are also situated in Palosaari.
- Duration: 5 hours
- Size of the group: at least 20 persons
- The group have their own bus
- Price 2010: 23,00 €/person (Sundays 31,00 €/person)
The price includes:
- Coffee and a fish sandwich in Björkö Wärdshus
- Guide fee (incl. language, soc.security & pension fees)
- Agent´s commission
Start with M/S Corina from the inner harbour in Vaasa. During the tour we get a chance to see untouched islands and rocky islets and also a little of the life at the summerhouses. Closer to Replot Island the tour takes us through a part of Finland’s first natural heritage and we pass under the Replot Bridge, which was opened in August 1997. With a length of 1 045 metre it is the longest bridge in Finland.
From the bridge the tour continues (app. 30 minutes) by bus through the villages Replot and Norra Vallgrund towards Klobbskat fishing harbour. The nature here is unique, only rocks and low vegetation. The environment is wild, barren and of great natural beauty. The view over the sea is wonderful. A short walk to the fishing harbour and after the walk we enjoy fish soup and have coffee in Café Compass situated close to the harbour.
On our way back to Vaasa we can visit the local baker’s shop in Replot and buy fresh bread or buns or we can stop at Björklund´s handicraft shop or Sommaröhallen that sell products from the archipelago.
This tour can be carried out app. May-September
- Duration: 5,5 hours
- Size of the group: at least 30 persons (maximum 48 persons)
- The group have their own bus.
- Price 2010: 37,00 €/person (Sundays 45,00 €/person)
The price includes:
- Cruise Vaasa - Replot
- Food and drink (fish soup, bread, coffee)
- Guide fee (incl. language, soc.security & pension fees)
- Agent’s commission
Replot is an island in Korsholm. Since 1997 the Replot Bridge joins the archipelago to the mainland, replacing the ferries used before. Replot Bridge is the longest bridge in Finland and its high pylons can bee seen from the centre of Vaasa. The bridge was opened in August 1997 by president Martti Ahtisaari, who returned to Replot after 10 years to inaugurate the first natural heritage in Finland.
The land uplift exists in only a few places in the world, and is extremely fast in the Vaasa region, about one metre every hundred years. As the continental ice withdrew and melted, the land was covered with water. The Vaasa area of today has risen from the sea for about 10 000 years.
After a short tour in Vaasa we head towards Alskat (about 20 kilometres) and cross the Replot Bridge. From the highest point of the bridge you have a magnificent view of the archipelago. Sightseeing in Replot village where we visit the church from 1781. The altarpiece and the pulpit are from the 17th century and were moved to Replot church from Vaasa in the 1840s. Opportunity to buy fresh bread from the local bakery.
We continue towards the villages Norra Vallgrund and Södra Vallgrund and make a visit either at Sommaröhallen (open during the summer), where you can buy products from the archipelago, or at Björklund handicraft shop with wool products made of wool from Finnish sheep. Before we return to Vaasa we drive to Sommarösund, today (due to the land uplift) a two kilometre shallow bay but in the 15th century the bay was used as a protected passage for seafarers.
Lunch at Restaurant Berny’s at the Replot Bridge. (The time for lunch depends on the time of departure).
- Duration: 5 hours
- Size of the group: at least 20 persons
- The group have their own bus
- Prices 2010:
Mon-Sat (Bridge buffet): 24,00 €/person
Sunday (archipelago buffet): 47,00 €/person
The price includes:
- Lunch
- Guide fee (incl. language, soc.security & pension fees)
- Agent’s commission
Groups over 20 pers. - > driver for free
Groups over 30 pers. - > driver and guide for free
We leave with bus from Vaasa and drive through Alskat and Replot villages to Vikarskat fishing harbour in Björköby, from here M/S Corina takes us through the archipelago to Valsörarna (about 2 h). This archipelago is a part of the area that in 2006 became the first natural heritage in Finland on Unesco’s list of world heritages. To this date Finland has 6 Cultural Heritage sites and 1 Natural Heritage site. We walk the “love path” a cross the island and the guide tells us: Why there is a “Russian-grave” on the island. What the Eiffel Tower and the lighthouse on the island has got in common. And do you dare to climb the lighthouse?
On request a visit in the station of the coast guards and after that we have lunch (fish soup or meat soup) in the nature. After lunch M/S Corina takes us back to Björköby, where the bus is waiting to take us to Vaasa.
- Duration: 9 hours
- Size of the group: at least 30 persons (maximum 48 persons)
- The group have their own bus
- Price 2010: 80,50 €/person (Sundays 86,50 €/person)
The price includes:
- Boat transportations
- Coffee and a sandwich on the way to Valsörarna
- Lunch
- Coffee and bun during the return trip
- Guide fee (incl. language, soc.security & pension fees)
- Agent´s commission
We reserve the right to changes.