How it works
Parainen
Experience the Unique Finnish Archipelago
The town of Pargas is situated in the southwestern part of Finland in the beautiful Finnish archipelago right next to city of Turku and a 2 hour drive from Helsinki. Whenever you want to visit seaside, do island hopping, enjoy lovely landscapes or just relax in the sauna, this is the place to be. For active seekers you will find a lot to do from paddling to cycling and fishing.
Take a tour on an archipelago ring route called the Archipelago trail, have a shorter break on a Small Archipelago trail or take time for yourself and hike on a newly-launched pilgrim route St. Olav waterway. You find many different types of accommodation in the archipelago: sleep in a cozy b&b, put up a tent in one of our camping areas or have a bit more luxurious overnight in a lovely boutique hotel. If you love to rent a cottage, in the Archipelago you will find many opportunities for both summer and winter time.
UNESCO´s Archipelago Biosphere Reserve and Sea National Park. You can experience the Archipelago Sea Area Biosphere Reserve through small-scale tourism in the archipelago. Enjoy authentic experiences in a clean environment, as well as locally produces food and unique Artesan food. With tens of thousands of islands and skerries, the Archipelago Sea area is a unique place on earth. It is a living archipelago, with nearly 100 inhabited islands. The cultural landscapes and many different types of biotopes, both above and below the water surface, make the Archipelago Sea one of the most species-rich areas in the entire country. Since 1994, large parts of the archipelago have been part of UNESCO’s global network of biosphere reserves. All biosphere reserves strive to improve the relationship between people and nature. You can visit the area either by your own boat or you can travel around with the ferries that traffic in the archipelago. The area is also a paradise for kayakers!
In co-operation with Visit Parainen, we welcome You to the archipelago!
Take a tour on an archipelago ring route called the Archipelago trail, have a shorter break on a Small Archipelago trail or take time for yourself and hike on a newly-launched pilgrim route St. Olav waterway. You find many different types of accommodation in the archipelago: sleep in a cozy b&b, put up a tent in one of our camping areas or have a bit more luxurious overnight in a lovely boutique hotel. If you love to rent a cottage, in the Archipelago you will find many opportunities for both summer and winter time.
UNESCO´s Archipelago Biosphere Reserve and Sea National Park. You can experience the Archipelago Sea Area Biosphere Reserve through small-scale tourism in the archipelago. Enjoy authentic experiences in a clean environment, as well as locally produces food and unique Artesan food. With tens of thousands of islands and skerries, the Archipelago Sea area is a unique place on earth. It is a living archipelago, with nearly 100 inhabited islands. The cultural landscapes and many different types of biotopes, both above and below the water surface, make the Archipelago Sea one of the most species-rich areas in the entire country. Since 1994, large parts of the archipelago have been part of UNESCO’s global network of biosphere reserves. All biosphere reserves strive to improve the relationship between people and nature. You can visit the area either by your own boat or you can travel around with the ferries that traffic in the archipelago. The area is also a paradise for kayakers!
In co-operation with Visit Parainen, we welcome You to the archipelago!
Juuri sitä parasta
Kohokohtia
The Archipelago Trail
Landscapes & Sceneries
The Trail has attracted cyclists, bikers and motorists since 1996. Island hopping is the route's specialty - there are no less than nine ferries and a multitude of bridges. There are great restaurants and places to stay the night. Farm shops and kiosks have increased during the last few years providing delicious treats and fresh local food along the way. Travelling the Archipelago Trail is a great way to come in contact with the archipelago. The trail passes all the main islands of Pargas (Pargas, Nagu, Korpo, Houtskär and Iniö).
The guest harbor in Nagu
Landscapes & Sceneries
Nagu is a charming and lively archipelago community, with about 1500 inhabitants all year round but during the summer this number increases a lot because of all the summer guests that come to Nagu. Farming and tourism is among the most important industries in Nagu. The products and services that are produced here are of high quality. Many of these products and services you can find in the guest harbor that lies north of Kyrkbacken. The guest harbor has a lot to offer, everything from designer clothing, vintage and souvenirs to smoked fish.
The island Utö
Wildlife & Nature
The outer archipelago is the most extraordinary out of all the municipalities in the archipelago city Pargas. Utö is the southernmost island and has a beautiful red-and-white lighthouse that is still in use and you can visit it on a guided tour. Utö is in average the sunniest place in Finland during the period May-August! This island is popular amongst bird watchers in the spring and autumn. The outer archipelago is a part of the Archipelago Sea National Park and also a part of the UNESCO´s Archipelago Biosphere Reserve.
The island Själö
History & Architecture
The island Själö has a dark past with its leprosy hospice (founded in 1619) and Finlands largest mental hospital after 1785. The institution started to house only women in the end of the 1800s and closed at the beginning of the 1960s. Turku University´s Archipelago Research Institute is nowadays housed in the former hospital buildings. Guided tours about the island´s history, nature and present activities are organized. The old wooden church is nowadays also a museum.
Archipelago Centre Korpoström
Wildlife & Nature
The center works in an interdisciplinary manner to create exhibitions and happenings with interesting angles of approach on matters and phenomena that are peculiar to the archipelago. The center also works as station for marine biology (Åbo Akademi University) and as base for the Archipelago National Park. At the Kids’ Lab our youngest visitors can be introduced to the diverse activities of the center. There center is located directly by the sea and is also a guest harbor, restaurant, hotel and has a shop with local handicraft and souvenirs.
The Small Archipelago Trail is a shorter option of the main Archipelago Trail. It turns off the large trail in Nagu where you take a ferry via the remarkable Seili Island directly to Hanka in Naantali. The Small Archipelago Trail is a roundtrip that is about 120 km. The route runs through five towns, fifteen permanently inhabited islands and some smaller uninhabited islands. By cycling around the Small Archipelago Trail by bike you get flexibile during the whole way you can enjoy unbelievable sceneries Availability until 29.08.2021
Small Archipelago Trail
2 - 5 days
You will face the seaside nature and cultural encounters just by the water. Combining nature destinations and city experiences you will get most out of your journey. Every place you visit offers you options for local restaurants and cafés. In Turku and Rauma you can visit and learn about maritime culture and history in exhibitions.
Seaside experiences at the Finnish Archipelago
3 - 6 days
