At Fiskars Museum, the autumn holiday gets a traditional twist with a celebration of Kekri! Once celebrated on farms across Finland, Kekri was a harvest festival marking the end of the harvest season and the start of a new year. The museum offers fun activities for the whole family while learning more about this old Finnish tradition. Try your hand at solving tricky riddles about different objects or have a go at the intriguing fortune-telling game.
If you’re interested in art, head to the art house Chappe in Ekenäs, where new thought-provoking exhibitions open on 2 October. You can also explore the works, objects and photographs of Helene Schjerfbeck at Raseborgs Museum, or learn more about the fascinating history of the magnificent Svartå Manor.
2. Plenty of indoor fun
The autumn weather can be wonderfully unpredictable, but luckily there are plenty of fun indoor activities to enjoy in Raseborg. Challenge the family to a game of bowling, try indoor climbing at Keiv or play a game of padel at one of our fantastic padel centres.
In Karis, you can lace up your skates and enjoy some public ice skating, while the library in Ekenäs has autumn holiday crafts for creative minds of all ages.
For something a little more relaxed, Raseborg also has two retro cinemas in Ekenäs and Karis, where you can sit back and enjoy a film together. On Sunday 11 October, Bio Pallas will host a cultural event for children, featuring Grammy-nominated children’s musician Brady Rymer and magician Professor Bluffo.
3. Walk among trees and trolls
There are dozens of nature trails and hiking routes to explore in Raseborg. The approximately two-kilometre-long Tree Species Path in Fiskars is perfect for children who enjoy spending time outdoors. Along the trail, you’ll come across 25 different tree species, including an oak that is as old as the ironworks itself. Why not see who in the family can recognise the most trees?
Older children can take on the approximately five-kilometre Troll Forest Trail in Ekenäs. Keep your eyes peeled. Could there be a troll hiding among the trees? Pack a tasty snack and take a break at the shelter along the way.
Although the city of Raseborg is only 16 years old, the history of its districts and villages goes back much further. In the historic ironworks villages of Svartå, Billnäs and Fiskars, you can learn more about the ironworks and their importance to the history of Raseborg.
Deep in the forests of Snappertuna, charcoal was once produced to fuel iron production. At The Charchoal Village Malmbacka, you can learn more about the traditional charcoal-making process through an exhibition or guided tour. Afterwards, unwind in the wood-fired sauna.
In Ekenäs Old Town, wander along the charming streets, admire the old wooden houses and imagine what life in the town was like in the past. The street names offer clues, telling stories of everyday life and how the townspeople made their living.
Want to dive even deeper into Raseborg’s history? Book a guided tour and let a knowledgeable guide bring the people, places and events that have shaped the region to life.
5. Fill your belly with local flavours
In Raseborg, we value clean, fair and locally produced food. Local chefs know the importance of using ingredients from the area, and you’ll find local produce on the menus of many restaurants. Enjoy a delicious lunch or take a refreshing coffee break in a historic setting or with a sea view.
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.
