This summer you can once again travel directly from Riihimäki to Ekenäs without changing trains. The regional rail service between Riihimäki and Ekenäs, which launched last summer, proved to be a great success. From 22 June to 26 July 2026, a direct connection to the unique town of Ekenäs will run every day of the week. All aboard the summer train!
Delicacies in Ekenäs
When you arrive in Ekenäs feeling hungry, your may want to head straight to one of the town’s many cozy lunch spots, all just a short walk from the train station. On your way to the town center, you’ll pass Lunch Restaurant Piazza, designed by Alvar Aalto himself, as well as the French-inspired restaurant Ribs and the local favorite, Santa Fé.
After lunch, it’s a good idea to pick up a city map to help you get around more easily. You can find one at the tourist information point located in Raseborgs museum, just about 150 meters from Ekenäs market square. This way, you will quickly grasp the town’s structure and also find out what’s going on in Ekenäs. Maps can also be downloaded from this page.
From the stairs of the old Town Hall by the market square, you can get a glimpse of the Ekenäs church tower. If you are in town on a market day, that is Wednesday or Saturday, it’s worth stopping by the square to browse the stalls and enjoy the goods offered by local vendors.
If you want to have a nice cup of coffee and maybe some local pastries, head to one of the cozy cafes by the market place.
Seaside Idyll
Follow Stora Kyrkogatan to the church, which is the heart of the Old Town. The construction of the church began already in the early 1650s, and it took another 20 years to finish the building. Damaged by the fire that raged in the Old Town in 1821, the subsequent reparation of the building transformed the church.
Outside, the church is surrounded by charming wooden houses and a small park. The trees offer a perfect hiding place from the sun.
Continue from the church park towards Basatorget. In the corner of this old market square, a pillory reminds of public punishments in the old days. After Basatorget, the next stop is Stallörsparken. There the children play in the town’s most popular playground, the Lion Park. The beach is filled with swimmers and sunbathers and all kinds of events are held.
On the other side of the beach stands one of the town’s most important landmarks, namely restaurant Knipan. It is said that when the restaurant was planned, the restaurant quota of Ekenäs was already filled and therefore the construction of Knipan wasn’t authorized. However, a loophole was found, and that is why Knipan was built on poles in the sea.
The North Harbour is located on the right side of Strandallén. Enjoy the seaside view or follow the incoming boats from the terraces and restaurants by the harbour.
The Charming Old Town
From Stallörsparken, we turn left to walk along Västvallen. Take in the sea scenery, spot swan couples and look into the winding roads of the Old Town. Turn to Linvävaregatan and enter the Old Town. Further up the street, there is a pink wooden house that is considered to be the oldest house in Ekenäs. If you are feeling thirsty, step into the charming Café Gamla Stan at Bastugatan. Enjoy tasty cakes and a cup of coffee under the apple trees in the cosy garden.
From the café, we continue to Fisktorget, where the fishermen used to gather to sell their catch. You can walk along the pier that starts from the old market square and goes around Södra viken. Make a stop in the park and ring the bell of Helene Schjerbeck’s monument.
From the park Skepparträdgården, you can see the tree tops of the Forest Park Ramsholmen. In the shadows of the trees, it’s easy to relax while listening to the birdsong. On your way to Ramsholmen, you can also admire Villa Skeppet, the last private residence designed by Alvar Aalto.
As you walk back toward the city center, you will soon see the award-winning art museum Chappe. By showing your train ticket, you will receive a sleep mask for free with your ticket purchase. The offer is valid while supplies last.
At the nearby Raseborg Museum, a new Helene Schjerfbeck exhibition opens on June 12. The artist lived in Ekenäs from 1925 to 1941, and the town served as an important source of inspiration for her work.
If you still have time, you can stroll through the charming small shops along Finland’s oldest pedestrian street, Kungsgatan. Head also back toward the beach and enjoy the selection of outdoor cafés and terraces.
We had the honor of welcoming the influencer Elisa Luomaranta, Elluyellow, to Raseborg to showcase the region’s atmospheric destinations in spring. During her visit, she became acquainted with some of Raseborg’s most well-known places, such as Billnäs Iron Works, Ekenäs, and Svartå Manor.
The eventful history of Billnäs is almost 400 years long. The previously prosperous ironworks has taken a step back and given room for modern industry. Today it has become an idyllic village admired by tourists.
The recreation route called Culture Path offers a wonderful outing opportunity in Billnäs. The path travels from Pumpviken in Karis to the center of Billnäs Village, and along the way there are nine information signs telling about the eventful history and cultural life of the region.
“I immediately fell in love with the village’s atmosphere. In some places it felt like I was walking along streets in Southern Europe (especially near the beautiful Billnäs Gård), and in other places the scenery looked like something straight out of an Astrid Lindgren story.” – Elluyellow
Ekenäs
The history of Ekenäs dates all the way back to the 1500s and to a small fishing village that was granted town privileges by the Swedish king Gustav Vasa in 1546.
Ekenäs is known for its idyllic Old town with narrow alleyways and its proximity to the sea. The colourful wooden houses in the Old town area, the small cafés, and the harbour make the town one of Finland’s most charming coastal destinations. Did you know that Ekenäs is home to Finland’s oldest still-operating cinema, Bio Forum, which has been running since 1912?
Ekenäs’ cultural life is diverse and of high quality. A visit to the award-winning art museum Chappe is highly recommended, as is Raseborgs Museum, where a new exhibition on Helene Schjerfbeck opens on 12 June.
Elluyellow spent an afternoon in the forest park Ramsholmen, which delights visitors year-round. It is especially impressive in spring, when the forest is covered in a sea of wood anemones.
“This place must be wonderful in all seasons, but I dare say I happened to come at the very best time, namely during the wood anemone bloom. I have never seen so many wood anemones in full bloom! A sea of wood anemones stretched as far as the eye could see.” – Elluyellow
Svartå Manor
Svartå manor is one of Finland’s most valuable mansions, with over 200 year-old history. Today the manor serves as a museum and hotel, and its interiors have been restored to their original condition.
The wooden castle is embedded in one of the biggest private historical parks of Finland. The park is a retreat for the soul with its winding paths, romantic bridges, statues, follies and the unique water lily path over the water. In summer, open-air theatre performances are also arranged, and a new feature this year is the ART26 art exhibition in July.
The manor’s restaurant, Slottskrogen, serves varied high-quality dishes based on the season and the availability of ingredients.
Raseborg’s nine districts and villages offer much more to discover. Fiskars Village is known for its idyllic setting, design, and craftsmanship, where old buildings have been given new life as galleries, shops, and restaurants.
Karis, on the other hand, offers a relaxed small-town atmosphere and excellent flea markets – Elluyellow also made some great finds here.
Whether you enjoy outdoors or indoors, the autumn holidays in Raseborg offer something for everyone. The diverse range of nature trails invites you to go and discover the nature and its cones, rocks and trees. Explore the city’s exciting history in the old iron works or Ekenäs old town. Or enjoy a cozy fairy tale in one of the city’s six libraries.
Here are three reasons to visit Raseborg during the autumn holidays.
1. A wide range of activities
As the largest city in Uusimaa province, by area, Raseborg is both diverse and rich in activities. Here you can find for example a wide range of nature trails with the mix of nature, culture and history. Pack a tasty snack and enjoy a break in the middle of nature. In Västerby outdoor recreation area, Kopparö, Gumnäs as well as at some other outdoor destinations, there is the possibility of a barbecue area.
Do not forget geocaching either – Raseborg is an excellent place for this and the search for hiding places makes wandering in nature guaranteed to be more exciting.
On October 18, children aged 5–10 are invited to a Halloween fun and craft session at Ramsholmen (take the first path on the right). From 1–3 PM, they can enjoy nature-based activities and simple crafts. Activities will take place weather permitting.
Curious to see the best view of Ekenäs? Pick up the key to the old water tower from Ekenäs library, climb 164 steps and admire the magical view!
If you enjoy riding a bike, there are several nice bike routes that takes you between villages and historical sites. For the more adventurous, Fiskars Village offers excellent mountain bike routes in beautiful surroundings. The city bikes are also available until the end of the month.
For the smaller ones in the family, there is a wide range of different playgrounds, so go and discover the city’s 36 playgrounds. Among the children’s favourites Fiskars playground and the new adventure course at Pumpviken in Karis. The Lion Park in Ekenäs will be reopening in October after renovations.
When the evening darkness falls and the autumn chill sets in, it’s the perfect time to move your activities indoors. Raseborg has a wide range of activities to choose from – for example, you can visit the public swimming pool, watch a film at one of the two cinemas, try bowling or play padel. Aktia ice hall in Karis also organises public ice skating on Fridays and Saturdays from 3th October!
The public pool in Ekenäs hosts Friday Fun every Friday for children who can swim, from 5 to 7 PM. During these two hours, kids can enjoy the pool’s water toys and other equipment in lanes 4–6. On Thursday, 16 October, there will be games and activities for children aged 6 and older at Ekenäs sports hall, Flemingsgatan 19.
2. Exciting history
Although the city of Raseborg is only 15 years old, its districts and villages hold a much older history than that. In the old iron works in Svartå, Billnäs and Fiskars, you can learn more about the history behind the old iron mills. In order for the old iron mills to once function, coal was produced in the forests of Snappertuna. In the coal village of Malmbacka, you can learn about the history behind coal production. Here you can also relax in a real wood-fired sauna.
In the old town of Ekenäs, you can walk along the narrow streets, admire the old wooden houses and imagine how the life in the city used to be. You get clues from the street names in the old town, which reveals how the townspeople made their living. Here, the streets have existed in the same place since the 16th century. The oldest remaining houses are from the 18th–19th centuries.
Learn more about Raseborg and book a talented guide with you. Choose your field of interest and learn more about the old iron works, the old city of Ekenäs or perhaps one of the beautiful natural areas.
3. Diverse cultural life and locally produced delicacies
Let your imagination and creativity flow during the autumn holidays! Try glassblowing in Fiskars or book a chocolate class in Billnäs. Or immerse yourself in the world of fairy tales in one of the city’s six libraries. The city’s library offers books in at least 28 different languages. For film enthusiasts, there are also two cosy cinemas in Raseborg: Bio Pallas in Karis and Bio Forum in Ekenäs.
Combine history and culture and visit interesting museums. Learn about how the residents of Fiskars lived in the past at Fiskars Museum, or admire the brand-new art exhibition at Chappe Art Museum. Admission to both museums is free for visitors under 18.
Treat yourself with something delicious and fill your stomach with local delicacies! Visit cosy cafes, versatile restaurants and traditional markets during your visit. In Raseborg there is also a dense network of local food lovers, producers and organic farms.
Smaller and larger events are also organized around the city, so take a look at Raseborgs event guide to see what is happening during your visit. The event calendar is continuously updated.
Bonus reasons
• Raseborg is located halfway between Helsinki and Turku, so it is easy to travel to Raseborg by public transport as well as by car.
• Raseborg offers a diverse range of accommodation, from cottages to castles and hotels, so extend your stay and discover all the fun that can be found here.
• Raseborg is a bilingual city, with Swedish as the majority language, so during your visit you can practice both local languages - if you want.
Fall in love with the Raseborg’s beautiful nature, rich history, and vast area. In this article, you will find tips on how to plan your trip, bike rental, and other helpful information to help make your trip to Raseborg by bike unforgettable.
Pick your Path!
Whether you’re looking for a short daytrip or a longer adventure, there’s a route for you in Raseborg. Here you will find some inspiration for planning your trip, but all bicycle routes can be found here. Check out the service Bikeland, where you can find both local and national routes.
Daytrips or Shorter Adventures
Railbank Route runs from Karis to Billnäs, all the way to Fiskars through Åminnefors. This nature lovers’ path is 12 km long. Looking for something longer? Try the Ironworks Village Route, that passes through six historical Ironworks in the Raseborg area on its 79 km long route. Only have an afternoon? Try the short bike- and hiking friendly Culture Route from Pumpviken in Karis to Billnäs Ironworks.
Historical Routes
For the historically inclined, Raseborg offers much to discover on a bike. Try the 46km long Frontline route, which takes you through many historically significant war locations. If you’re more interested in medieval times, try the Castle route. You will discover many ruins of castles that tell the story of Raseborg’s rich medieval culture.
Mountain Biking
Fiskars Village Trail Center offers great mountain biking routes, enjoy the restaurants and cafés in Fiskars Village while you’re there.
The Coastal Route and Longer Adventures
If you love the seaside and you’re looking for a longer adventure, check out the Coastal route that takes you through Raseborg to the neighboring cities of Hangö, Kimitoön and Salo. Read more about the Coastal route here.
Additionally, the European cycle route EuroVelo 10—also known as the Baltic Sea Cycle Route—passes through Raseborg, continuing along the Baltic Sea and further into continental Europe.
Practical Information for Cyclists
Raseborg provides a range of practical amenities for cyclists. The city has improved its cycling infrastructure with increased signs and numerous bicycle parking areas throughout the region.
In Predium, Sommaröstrand and Stallörsparken in Ekenäs, there is even a battery charging station for e-bikes, where you can safely charge your battery in a secure storage locker.
Combine your cycling trip with a visit to one of Raseborgs many beautiful beaches, enjoy delicious local food at one of our restaurants, or why not stay the night in one of our many welcoming accommodations?
Welcome Cyclist-initiative
In Raseborg, you’ll find a wide range of bicycle-friendly businesses that are part of Bikeland’s “Welcome Cyclist” initiative. Through Bikeland’s route services, you can easily discover both cycling routes and businesses that warmly welcome cyclists. Participating businesses offer essential amenities for cyclists, such as bicycle pumps, secure storage, and local route information, helping to make your journey as smooth and enjoyable as possible.
No bicycle? No problem!
If you didn’t bring a bike with you, don’t worry – in Raseborg you can find lots of options. During summer, the city provides its own city bikes, ideal for exploring the different villages and neighborhoods. In addition, there are also several private rental businesses offering bicycles to suit your needs. Find more information here.
We wish you a wonderful bicycle adventure in Raseborg!
