We go to the Finnish Archipelago! Finland is known as a land of thousands of lakes and islands. But somehow I have noticed, that most of the visitors just limit themselves to the Helsinki city center. Yes, you do see a bit of archipelago from Suomenlinna, but this is just a fraction of the experience. I would like to recommend you a day trip from Helsinki – visiting the archipelago in Espoo, which is my favorite nature escape.

The archipelago in Finland wakes up in summer

In summer the Finnish archipelago is full of life. There are hundreds of sailing boats and kayakers. Warm weather is precious and many people are trying to escape the city, they go for shoreside picnics or stay on the islands. I love the island camping at Espoo archipelago. Day visit – nice, but not quite as good as an overnight stay. You would see colorful sunsets and experience the bright Nordic summer nights.

But the most important thing is people. Finns normally don’t talk to strangers, but cultural barriers disappear when you sit next to a bonfire or in a sauna. And on the islands, you have both! I found it nice and easy to talk to strangers and share stories. If you are the one, who likes engaging with locals when traveling, instead of sightseeing – go to Espoo archipelago. (Another natural site, where people are more important than nature is Nuuksio) There is… just right amount of people. The islands don’t look uninhabited (not like empty Åland), but are also not overcrowded. There is enough place at the grill and enough place around if you want to stay alone.

How to plan a trip to Espoo archipelago?

There are scheduled boats running around the islands. The nearest station from Helsinki is Otaniemi (30 minutes from city center). If you want just to see the islands from the boat – the round trip would take 3 hours. It is also possible to get the first ferry, spend a day at an island and get a ferry back in the early evening. The nature at the islands is very well managed, you have grills, firewood, and shelters.

If it is your first time, I would recommend stepping off on Stora Herröis or Gåsgrundet. Stora Herröis is one of the largest islands and probably the most popular. It has a sandy beach and an observation tower, from where you see lights of Tallinn. A sauna can be rented by a group of people. Gåsgrundet, which is my favorite, is relatively small but has all things needed plus free small sauna. (when you leave sauna, put some firewood, it is open 24 hours)

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