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Town in Satakunta, Finland
Photo: aiko99ann, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Rauma (Finnish) or Raumo (Swedish) is a town in Satakunta. The wooden houses in the centre of the old town are a UNESCO World Heritage site, as is the Bronze Age burial site Sammallahdenmäki about 20 km east of the centre. Rauma is the third oldest town in Finland, and has almost 40,000 inhabitants (2023). It is a historic seafaring town but in the 20th century paper milling became its main industry. The Olkiluoto nuclear power plant in nearby Eurajoki municipality is a major regional employer.
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Vanha Rauma
Old Rauma is the largest uniform wooden town in the Nordic countries, and is a since the 550th anniversary of the city. The oldest inhabited buildings date back to the 17th century. Some of the architecture may make you think you're in southern Sweden or Denmark (e.g. the city hall with its straight yellow walls and brick roof), or the Baltics (the wooden houses with their decorated details). Compared to the wooden old town of Porvoo, the streets are wider and the houses tidier but because of that it also seems less lively.
An island with a lighthouse that operates as a hotel.
A former military area that still has old 152-millimetre coastal artillery cannons.
Island groves can be seen here.
Pyhän ristin kirkko
A former Franciscan monastery, now a Lutheran church, built in the 15th century. Medieval wall and ceiling paintings.
Built in the 15th century as the parish church, it was destroyed in a fire in 1640. Now it is a peaceful setting amidst a park.
A beautiful museum presenting the home of a ship-owner from the turn of the 20th century, at the culmination of Rauma seafaring skill.
A typical building in Old Rauma built in the 18th century. It presents the living conditions and life of the 19th and 20th century. Inhabitants have included sailors, bobbin lace makers, a blacksmith and a firefighter.
Exhibitions about the history of seafaring.
Exhibitions focusing on the Rauma region and the countries surrounding the Baltic Sea.
The former town hall hosts exhibitions of fine art, design, photography, architecture and environmental art.
The workroom and home of a stove tile maker from the early 20th century.
Shows how an old, culturally significant log house is renovated and maintained.
This beautiful chapel was built by Kordelin's family and donated to the parish. It is in a very peaceful setting in the middle of the Old Cemetery.
Also functioning as the city's water tower, has a beautiful manufactured waterfall on its grounds, and the view from the observation level café up on the water tower is likewise beautiful. Rauma souvenirs.
A wooden tower overlooking the Syväraumanlahti bay with a tourist information centre offering info about island cruises.
A Bronze Age burial site in the village of Kivikylä, well signposted off Highway 12 between Rauma and Tampere. While a of great archaeological significance ("The largest, most varied and complete burial site from the Scandinavian Bronze Age, 1500–500 B.C."), it's not all that much to look at, being composed of just 36 burial cairns – piles of stone of varying shapes and sizes. Six of the cairns are highlighted in the official tourist flyer and on the map at the entrance, and the most famous of them is probably Huilu ("flute"), a cairn over 20 m long and perhaps 2-3 m wide. Guided tours starting from the parking lot are available M–F in the summer peak season (June–August).
This is fairly long stretch of sandy beach located a few kilometres out of town. Beach volleyball and swimming are popular.
There's an 18-hole golf course (Ala-Pomppustentie 20).
On those rainy days you can catch a movie at Iso-Hannu Cinema.
Rauma's ice hockey team Lukko is in Finland's top league. Home games are played in winter at the Äijänsuo arena (Kivikylän tuhtitupa). Tickets from Lippupalvelu. The traditional arch-enemy is Ässät, a team from Pori.
An indoor rink is available for ice skating about twice a week, except in the summer. In winter, there are also a dozen outdoor rinks of various quality levels. You need to bring your own skates. More information from the town website.
A visit to a swimming hall (25-metre lanes, sauna) will cost a few euros. In the summertime, open-air swimming pool at Otanlahti Sports Centre (Otanlahti Beach), Suvitie.
Free seaside public saunas a couple of times a week from June to August.
Cross-country skiing in winter at Lähdepelto. Cross-country skiing routes of up to 6 km in winter, lighted until 22. In summer, a nice place to go for a run in a forest.
Rauma City Theater is a Finnish-language theater. For program, see the home pages.
Nature trail on the cape Omenapuunmaa: 6 or 2 km. Varying nature. A boat can be borrowed for rowing over the sound to Reksaari and continue by its trails. Boaters can arrive at 61°11.667′N 021°26.610′ E.
Pitsiviikko
Perhaps the best time to visit Rauma if you want to see something special. The usual time for Lace Week is at the end of July. You should check the dates from City of Rauma website. One of the nights is themed the Night of Black Lace (mustan pitsin yö), which starts as a cultural happening and usually degrades very quickly into a massive (on local scale) bar-crawling exercise.
A small blues festival, often with some world-class artists, in July.
Classical music, in August.
Finnish underground rock, free entrance, in June.
An annual film festival, in August.
A biennial showcase of art around the Baltic Sea, in June-September, every even-numbered year.
Also servers steaks and pasta.
A seafood restaurant at the Kylmäpihlaja lighthouse off the coast of Rauma, open daily early June to mid-August. You need a boat to get there, see listings under the archipelago of Rauma.
Burgers, fajitas, burritos, steaks and other treats in Texas style.
Italian-type restaurant.
Old Rauma. Sleek interior. Probably your best bet if you want a decent espresso based drink.
Old Rauma. Nice terrace in summer.
Large terrace in summer.
A salon in Poroholma. Includes restaurant and café.
Café with a terrace.
Café along with gas station for boats
At Best Western Hotel Raumanlinna. Probably the longest-running of clubs in Rauma, although has changed name and ownership several times during the years. It is run by the SK-ravintolat chain.
Faux-Irish chain pub, but one of the better choices in terms of beer.
Chain pub, moderately good selection.
Open in summer 15 May - 31 August. A nice camping ground by the seaside in Otanlahti. You can sleep in a hostel dormitory, cabin, your campervan or your tent. Also has a guest harbour if you're arriving by boat.
Open only in summer Jun-Aug. A nice hostel near the center.
A B&B near central Rauma. Offers a few rooms and breakfast. Clean facilities.
A hotel in the heart of Old Rauma. Includes a restaurant. Earlier known as Hotel Kalatori and Kalatorin Majatalo.
By bus
Rauma is well connected to other cities by coach and most tourists arrive this way. The bus station (Linja-autoasema) is in the city centre, by the old town.g.
By train
There will again be passenger trains to Rauma from May 2027: four daily trains from Tampere.
By car
The drive to Rauma is easy. From Turku (94 km, 60 mi) and Pori (49 km), drive the E8 along the coast. From Helsinki (242 km) and Tampere (145 km), drive via Huittinen in the inland.
By boat
There is no commercial passenger traffic by sea but many tourists, especially Finns, arrive in Rauma with their private yachts. There are a couple of guest harbours around Rauma.
By bike
By scooter
You can rent electric kick scooters for use in the centre from Finnish Joe Scooter and Finnish Swup.
By taxi
Taxis operate widely around the city and you can flag a cab when you see one or call +358 2 106-400.
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