Vaasa

The port city of Vaasa has deep roots in Finnish and Swedish history. Besides its cultural past, the neighboring UNESCO World Heritage area is reason enough for a visit. The distinctive world of the skerries, with its landscape of contrasts, is a fine sight in calm weather and rough seas alike.

Key facts

• Population: 67,551
• Location: Western Finland on the Gulf of Bothnia
• Language: Finnish (71%), Swedish (25%)
• Currency: euro
• Climate: summer highs up to 20°C, winter lows around -10°C

Vaasa, where Finnish and Swedish history meet

Vaasa was founded in 1606 during the reign of the Swedish king Charles IX and named after the royal House of Vasa.

In the 17th century, Vaasa flourished thanks to its sea connections, shipbuilding and trade. The tar trade in particular was an important source of income.

In the 18th century, the port city grew considerably in importance. Vaasa became the seat of a court of appeal and got the first public library in Finland.

In 1852, however, a catastrophic fire destroyed almost the entire town. One of the few buildings that survived the blaze now houses the Old Museum of Vaasa.

After the fire, the town was rebuilt with the lessons of the disaster in mind. Today's city is divided into five sections by broad avenues.

During the Finnish Civil War, Vaasa was the capital of Finland for about a month in early 1918. Helsinki was occupied, and Vaasa offered a strong position and good contact with the West. Today a statue of liberty on the town square commemorates the city's role in the civil war.

The Swedish language plays an important part in the city. Vaasa has a large Swedish-speaking minority, and some of the surrounding municipalities have a Swedish-speaking majority. Vaasa is considered the most important cultural center of the Finland Swedes.

The archipelago off Vaasa

The Kvarken Archipelago sits at the narrowest point of the Gulf of Bothnia between Finland and Sweden, more precisely between the cities of Vaasa and Umeå.

With its lush green forests and bare rocky terrain, the archipelago is a natural landscape unlike any other. Nowhere in the entire region is the gap between two islands wider than 25 kilometers.

Parts of the Kvarken have been inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and delight locals and tourists year after year. Many parts of this remarkable region can only be reached by kayak, canoe or SUP board, which makes for a trip you won't forget.

6 top things to do in Vaasa

Gamla Vasa

The former town, which burned down almost completely in the great fire of 1852, stood about 6 kilometers southeast of today's city. Some ruins are still visible here and open to visitors.

Söderfjärden

About 10 kilometers south of Vaasa you can make out a large, round, flat area. It is a crater created by a meteorite impact around 520 million years ago. In the middle of the crater sits the Meteoriihi visitor center. The best view is from the Öjberget hill.

Tropiclandia water park

The water park and spa are on the island of Vaskiluoto, just off Vaasa and reachable by car. Numerous slides and a spa with saunas and jacuzzis keep the whole family happy.

Ritz

This nostalgic cinema in the city center hosts all kinds of events. Films, concerts, theater, stand-up comedy or open-stage nights: if you want a relaxed evening and a chance to get to know the local artists, this cultural venue is the right place.

Korsholm Music Festival

The chamber music festival takes place every year in late summer and attracts Finnish and international musicians and visitors. In 2022 the festival ran for the 40th time.

Tickets are available on the festival website.

Wasa by Night

During this pub crawl, held every year in autumn, you can get to know the city's popular pubs, bars, restaurants and nightclubs.

3 museums worth visiting in Vaasa

Kuntsi Museum

The museum of contemporary art is housed in a former customs warehouse in Vaasa's harbor.

Tikanoja Art Museum

This traditional art museum shows works by Edgar Degas, Henri Matisse and Pablo Picasso. Naturally, there are also works by Finnish masters such as Albert Edelfelt, Maria Wiik and Tyko Sallinen.

Brage open-air museum

This 19th-century farmstead displays interesting artifacts from the Swedish-speaking part of Ostrobothnia. It is a few minutes' walk from Vaasa's city center.

Vaasa, easy to reach

Vaasa is connected by road to the country's largest cities. Highway 3 runs from Helsinki via Tampere to Vaasa. Highway 8 is a coastal road that takes you from Turku via Rauma and Pori to Vaasa, and onward to Kokkola and Oulu.

Vaasa airport lies 9 kilometers south of the city. From Vaasa it is 45 minutes to Helsinki and just over an hour to Stockholm. A bus runs from the airport into the city center.

The ferry line between Vaasa and the city of Umeå in Sweden is the shortest sea link between the two countries. The ferry terminal is on the island of Vaskiluoto, just off Vaasa and connected to the city by a causeway. The service runs daily all year round, and the crossing takes about four hours.

There is a rail connection from Vaasa via Seinäjoki with connections to Helsinki, Oulu, Rovaniemi and Tampere. There is also a direct train to Jyväskylä and a direct morning train to Helsinki every day.

Along the west coast there are bus connections between Oulu and Turku via Vaasa, and long-distance buses run to Helsinki, Tampere, Pori, Kokkola and Hämeenlinna. Timetables can be found at Matkahuolto and OnniBus.

Most of Vaasa is easy to cover on foot, but the inner city and surroundings also have a well-developed bus network.

A night in the port city of Vaasa

Accommodation	Address	Description
Original Sokos Hotel Royal Vaasa	Hovioikeudenpuistikko 18, 65100 Vaasa	Centrally located hotel. Conference rooms, gym, 3 saunas, lounge with pool. Rental bikes included in the price
Hotel Astor	Asemakatu 4, 65100 Vaasa	4-star hotel. Some rooms come with a whirlpool and private sauna
Scandic Waskia	Lemmenpolku 3, 65170 Vaasa	4-star hotel. Connected to the Tropiclandia spa. The breakfast buffet even offers a wide choice for vegans

Popular restaurants and cafés in Vaasa

Restaurant 1H+K €€-€€€

At this restaurant serving Scandinavian cooking, you can tell the chefs love what they do. The dishes are seasonal, attractive and prepared with care, and some are suitable for vegans and vegetarians.

Sweet Vaasa €€-€€€

This café is the perfect spot to study or read a book over a slice of delicious homemade cake.

Gustav Wasa €€€€

This restaurant with a wine bar is a place for special occasions. The Scandinavian multi-course menu with matched wines and the friendly atmosphere promise a memorable evening.

Other popular restaurants:

• Strampen, Scandinavian cooking
• Pizzabistro Marco Polo, Italian
• Magokoro, Japanese, sushi

Shopping and strolling in Vaasa

Rewell Center

The Rewell Center is the largest shopping mall in the area. 60 specialty shops invite you to browse, right in the center of Vaasa.

Espen Shopping Center

Espen is the newest shopping center in Vaasa. Alongside numerous boutiques, it has several restaurants and cafés where you can take a comfortable break during a successful day of shopping.

Kivihaka

The Kivihaka district lies east of Vaasa's center. It has a large retail area with numerous shops, a small shopping center and two big supermarkets.

Vaasa market hall

The Gothic-style market hall is one of the few in Finland still in use today. Here you'll find fresh regional products such as fish and cheese, but also artwork and unusual souvenirs.

Conclusion

Vaasa is a rewarding destination for anyone who wants to combine Finnish cultural history with a trip into a natural landscape found nowhere else. The archipelago just off the city opens the door to a whole different world.

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