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Town in Uusimaa, Finland
Photo: Tomisti, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
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A pretty medieval castle (from 14th century). It was built near the sea shore, but due the post-glacial rise of land, it eventually lost its access to the sea and therefore also its strategic importance. Guided tours more or less weekly and on advance request (ask for English on booking, or the guide on public tours). Café Slottsknektens stuga (The Castle Guard's Lodge) near the ruin was open already in 1893 to serve tourists. Apart from offering refreshments (in season, hours somewhat shorter than the castle's), it sells tickets to the castle and provides local information. A beautiful forest path, Kärleksstigen (Lovers’ Walk), leads from the castle ruins to the folk museum "Snappertuna Forngård".
Visitor centre for Ekenäs Archipelago National Park. Information on the Baltic Sea and western Uusimaa archipelago. Also activities for children.
The museum shows life at the Fiskars Ironworks from the 17th century to present days.
Jussaari
Jussarö was a mining city where iron ore was mined once. In 1967–2005 the island was used by the Finnish Defence Forces. The island's services in season include guest marina services operated from Café Ön, a small shop of some sorts, rent-a-sauna, guided tours and since 2016 also lodging.
Part of the archipelago off Ekenäs is a national park. The larger wooded islands and the general seascape are reachable by taxi boat. A sailboat or sea kayak is ideal to explore all of the archipelago.
Kayak rentals, courses, guided tours in archipelago.
Finland's southernmost ski centre, run by a non-profit association. Rentals, ski and snowboard instruction and very affordable café with small eats and alcoholic beverages.
Cultural and environmental path (about 2.3 km) along the Läppträsket lake. Several ancient remains and nature attractions.
The Faces Festival features its usual unusual mix of all kinds of music and food, a celebration of ethnic world music from home and abroad. Also for families, which are offered camping with a swimming beach. Indoor and outdoor venues.
Raseborg Festival
Series of events including Raseborg's summer theatre, Midsummer festival, Medieval fair and tournaments in July, etc.
A yearly event in mid-July bringing professional antique sellers with their wares and buyers together.
A Chinese restaurant.
Lunch served in the loft restaurant in a building designed by Alvar Aalto.
A hamburger stand since 1969.
Pizzeria by former Michelin chef. Local ingredients (including game and mushroom) from small scale producers except for salt, olive oil, coffee and wines. Pizzas may sell out before closing time. Groups of more than four should book (by e-mail) Tu–Th.
Excellent pizzeria with a reputation of high quality kebabs and very large and well presented pizzas with reasonable prices.
Hotel restaurant. Despite the name (short for societetshuset) not glamorous, although also used for business meetings and family celebrations. Pub Norris in the basement.
One of the finer dining establishments in Karis. Lunch and à la carte.
Vegetarian restaurant. Short changing menu with good food. Seems run by a few friends in a rather amateurish way (although well established by 2024), which may add to cosiness, but e.g. means that some dishes may run out of ingredients and some nice surrogate be improvised instead. If you tell your wishes, they are often able to adapt, but if you like chain restaurants, this is not the place for you.
Fiskars Wärdshus Restaurant has been serving travellers since 1836.
A pub restaurant.
In the building locally famous as Gnägget.
Small eats, drinks, occasional live and recorded music, graphic arts and non-alcoholic possibilities in hearty atmosphere: a second (or first?) living room for many of the youth. The garden is lovely for refreshments in the summer and live fire in the stove keeps the house warm in the winter.
Restaurant by day and one centre for social life in Karis day and night. Billiard, dart. Pizzas, burgers, hot wings.
Peaceful hotel to the north of the city centre. Boat places but only for motor boats as it is north of the low railway and highway bridge.
Tammisaaren kaupunginhotelli
Hotel with 20 rooms and 2 restaurants.
Located in a serene country side setting. Max 10 guests in four rooms. Classic Finnish close-sourced breakfast during summer-season; off-season guests are welcome to use the guest kitchen.
Hotel with restaurant (see above) and pub. Despite the name (short for societetshuset), the rooms are quite basic. En suite bathrooms except in the budget rooms. Pub Norris in the basement.
Hotel Tegel
Fiskars Wärdshus Hotel has been serving travellers since 1836.
Mustion Linna / Svartå Slott
Svartå Manor offers the most luxurious lodging in a beautiful park setting.
Offers lodging around the year.
Traditional Finnish holiday cottages. You can also rent a motorboat and see domestic farm animals.
Mansion with retreats and cultural events. Four rooms with beds for 3–4 persons in the main building from 1809. Shared toilets and kitchen, breakfast and linen included. Laid-back and tranquil atmosphere. One wing can be combined to a suit with own bathroom and kitchen. Arrangements for artist (with broad interpretation) on longer stays, including discount, possibly full board and perhaps a separate study. Musicians can get access to a professional studio. Restaurant with 3-course lunch and 4-course dinner (table reservations at latest the preceding day). Summer café in the garden, with lunch. Farm animals. Most info is in Finnish, but owners (the same family since 1811) and other staff Swedish-speaking, some events in Swedish.
Local farmers' and market Wednesdays and Saturdays with fresh fish at good prices from local fishers
Kungsgatan is Finland's first pedestrian street and still sided by boutiques of various wares.
Company stores of favourite Finnish brands: Fiskars, Arabia, Hackman and Iittala.
Rekola Brewery
Established in 2011. Offers artisan brews.
By car
Karis, about 80 km west from Helsinki, can be reached by road 51 from the capital via Ingå. After another 20 km along road 25 from Lohja towards Hanko you will arrive in Ekenäs.
By train
Karis is a railway junction, on the Kustbanan railway between Helsinki and Turku (with mostly hourly trains from early morning to late night) and on the railways from Hanko and Hyvinkää (replaced by…
By bus
There are some coaches from Helsinki, Lohja and Hanko, some going all the way to Bromarv. See Matkahuolto.
By boat
The fairways between Helsinki and the Archipelago Sea pass through the archipelago of Ekenäs. Pojo is in the narrow bay stretching inland from Ekenäs.
By bus
Bosse is the name of Raseborg's local transport. The Bosse route planner can be used for bus trips.
By bike
There is a cycleway between Karis and Ekenäs.
By taxi
See Uusimaa#By taxi for information about other companies.
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