Get to know Vaasa on foot
Central Vaasa is filled with fine architectural history and the buildings have many interesting stories to tell. Experience the city on foot in the footsteps of architects from different ages or jump into the world of past cultural influences. Choose a guided walk or go out and discover Vaasa on your own.
Walking routes
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If you go for a walk with the members of the walking club, you will get to know Vaasa and its inhabitants better at the same time! For 20 years, the club’s members have walked 10 km every Sunday. The Sunday walks always start from the market square (by the statue) at 10 am. and go in different directions around Vaasa, the pace is set by the participants and no one is left alone.
Organizer Vaasan Kävelyklubi ry, but you do not need to be a member of the club to participate in these hikes, all hiking enthusiasts are welcome.
Also note the Vaasan Marssi walking event in your calendar! The event, which is held annually in August, offers a chance to meet new people and see fantastic nature.
+358 407361238
helena.kyrolainen@netikka.fi
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In this guide, you will find a walking route that goes around the market square and City Hall with a lot of interesting things to see and learn on the way. There are also walking guides with longer routes
available.We hope that this walking guide will help you to discover the rich variety of nature, culture and history that are in our immediate environment.
Paper version of the guide can be bought at Visit Vaasa’s tourist information. Price 1 €.
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In this guide, you will find a walking route that goes northwards from the City Hall and back along the shore with a lot of interesting things to see and learn on the way. There are also walking guides with other routes available.
We hope that this walking guide will help you to discover the rich variety of nature, culture and history that are in our immediate environment.
Paper version of the guide can be bought at Visit Vaasa’s tourist information. Price 1 €.
Natur trails and hiking in Vaasa
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The first part of the nature trail around Vaasa Southern City Bay (Eteläinen kaupunginselkä – Södra Stadsfjärden) is now complete (opening 1.6.2022). The ten kilometer long trail runs along the shores of Vaasa from Kalaranta all the way to Risö, and along the trail, new rest areas and a completely new bridge over the Old Vaasa canal have been built.
Facts about the route
- Kalaranta-Risö is the beginning of an approximately 30 kilometers long outdoor trail around the City Bay.
- Along the trail, rest areas, benches and landing places for paddlers have been built. In addition, the lighting and signs have been improved.
- On the trail there are several culturally and historically valuable objects, which signs erected along the trail tell more about.
- The trail is mostly accessible and, for example, from Suvilahti there is a two-meter-wide accessible passage all the way to Majakkakivi.
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History and culture in the form of Edvin Hevonkoski’s wooden and metal sculptures, in the middle of the nature along the nature trail in Asevelikylä. At the moment there are over 100 named works of art or groups of works of art. The Korsu Museum consists of a crew bunker filled with wartime objects, the maintenance bunker Töpinä and a smoke sauna, all authentic from World War II.
+358 50 560 6496
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Welcome to a walk from the Öjbergsmossen bog to a giant’s pot hole and over a devil’s field to the dwarfed pinetree-covered meteorite-crater rim of Söderfjärden
Öjberget is located in Sundom, at a 9 km distance from the centre of Vaasa. The trail is 2,5 km long and the starting point is beside a big information board in Öjberget´s stadium area.
Öjberget is a unique ”mountain landscape” for the Ostrobothnian coast, with its highest point at an elevation of 50 metres. It is a magically rocky landscape with very old dwarfed pine trees, dramatic rocky formations, a giant’s kettle, and an ancient shore area called the Devil’s Field
The most ancient traces of human activity in the area of Vaasa are also found here. The findings originate from the Stone Age about 4,000 years ago.
In the outlook tower(+65 m a.s.l.) on the top of the slalom hill there are info boards about what you see in different directions: the meteorite impact crater Söderfjärden, the Kvarken archipelago, the village of Sundom and the centre of Vaasa.
Information leaflet: http://www.sundom.fi/getfile.php?fid=94
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Öjen’s nature trail is 4,5 km long. There are 11 information signs along the trail that tell you about the area’s nature, medicinal plants and folk tales. There are also maps showing your location. The trail is easy to walk on because the terrain is fairly flat. However, please remember that the duckboards can be very slippery depending on the weather conditions. It takes about 2,5 to 3 hours to go around the trail.
Facilities: at the campfire site, there are benches, firewood, an axe and a dry toilet.
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The Pilvilampi recreational area is located approximately nine kilometers east of the city centre. It makes up a proportion of an elongated ridge, of which includes Höstvesi and continues north of Vaasa. The recreational area itself covers an area of roughly 800 hectares. In the winter, the area is ridden with marked cross-country ski trails, which in summer are transformed into bicycle and hiking paths.
Download brochure for the nature path at Pilvilampi here.
https://www.vaasa.fi/en/living/freetime/naturevaasa/attractions/natural-environments/pilvilampi/
Guided walks (June-August)
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Historical Waasa from statue to statue
The historical Vaasa, statues, old architecture, parks and esplanades become known by walking through the city centre
Starting point: Finland’s Statue of Liberty in the market square.
Tour days 2022: July-August, on Mondays at 1-2.30 pm.Book at least one day in advance!
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Mathilda Wrede, the views of life
Vaasa-born Mathilda was a noble lady who became known as prisoner`s true friend. The walk passes her childhood and youth surroundings.
Start in front of Vaasa Court of appeal, in the crossroads of Rantakatu and Hovioikeudenpuistikko.
Time: Wednesdays in July, 5 – 6.30 pmBook at least one day in advance!
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Guided walk at Kappelinmäki graveyard
Kappelinmäki graveyard dates back from 1782 and is one of Finland`s oldest cemeteries still in active use. Much of Vaasa`s ancient history lies buried in its soil.
Tour dates in 2022: Tuesdays in June from 6 – 7.30 pm
Starting Address: Kappelinmäentie 159, VaasaBookings one day in advance!
From the city center you can take bus 7 or 9 to the starting point for the tour. You find timetables for the local buses 7 and 9 here.
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It’s not often that a TV show focusing on household subjects manages to generate entirely new sayings. When something doesn’t work out Finns like to say “it didn’t go like in Strömsö.” In the Strömsö TV show, all the cooking, crafts and building projects are always a success. This trip gives you the opportunity to visit the set of this Swedish
language lifestyle show in Västervik in Vaasa.You will be guidad in the old villa premises which today is a well-known TV studio for a very popular life style TV series. The garden area is part of the program and well worth seeing.
Tour days 2022 in July:
Tuesdays 2-3.30 pm
Thursdays 5-6.30 pm
Saturdays 2-3.30 pm.Buy tickets at least one day in advance!
Address: Strömsöntie, Vaasa
No arranged transportation, but you can reach Strömsö (Västervik) with local buses number 1 and number 2. -
King Charles IX established Vaasa in 1606. In 1852 a big fire destroyed the town. Some of the houses: Wasastjerna house and the old Court of Appeal luckily survived. We also visit the ancient place of a castle and ruins of the medieval St Maria church.
Starting point: Falander house (Musuem of Old Vaasa), Kauppiaankatu 10.
Time 2022: June, on Thursdays at 5-6.30 pmBookings at least one day in advance!
To get to Old Vaasa you can take the local traffic bus line number 9 or 7. You find the timetables here.
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This historical area, the first suburban area of the new Vaasa has a special place in the town`s history. Writers, shipbuilders, artists, factory workers have shaped the history of this island. The university campus situated here is sad to the most beautiful in Finland.
Starting place: Marketsquare at Palosaari
Time 2022: June, on Wednesdays at 5-6.30 pmBookings at least one day in advance!
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When driving over the longest bridge in Finland to Replot one reaches the old archipelago village. Learn about the picturesque church, hear stories of how people survived here, etc.
Starting point: Replot school, Kirkkotie 94, Replot.
Time 2022: In August on Saturdays at 1 – 2.30 pm.Book at least one day in advance!
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What did Karl Hedman and Emil Wikström do in Vaasa?
Karl Hedman, Doctor of Medicine gathered a huge art and old items collection and started the Ostrobohnian Museum. Sculptor Emil Wikström was a good friend to Karl, and together these two men left a strong mark onto the art imago of Vaasa.
Departure Ostrobothnia Museum, Museokatu 3.
Time 2022: Wednesdays in August 2-3.30 pm and 5 – 6.30 pmBook at least one day in advance.
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Nature walk at the old farm Alkula
The ALKULA was the first steam mill in Finland, established by A.A. Levón in 1849. His passion in gardening left visible marks here, still be to seen. Much work has been done in the garden in 2018-2019 to renovate it; now it is easily accessible.
Start from Alkula Farm, Gripinpolku 1
Time 2022: June, mondays 17.00-18.30Bookings at least one day in advance.