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City in Ostrobothnia, Finland
Photo: Mikkoau, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Vaasa (Swedish: Vasa) is the capital of the administrative region Ostrobothnia, Western Finland. The surrounding municipality of Korsholm (Finnish: Mustasaari) is also handled in this article.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
The market place is the centre of the city life. Finland's Statue of Freedom, unveiled in the summer of 1938 is in the northern end of the market square – the headquarters of the Whites was in Vaasa.
Gamla Vasa, Vanha Vaasa
Ruins from the first town of Vaasa that burned down in 1852 and an 18th-century court building that survived the destruction but was redone into the Church of Korsholm when the town was rebuilt at a new location closer to the sea. The banks of the 14th-century Korsholm castle are still visible and can be found west of the Church of Korsholm.
Take a walk in the park areas along the waterfront. Many sights are along the way, like the neo-gothic Court of Appeals and the 19th-century Vaasa prison, which is still in use (though extensively modernized on the inside) and has a shop which sells crafts made by the prisoners.
In the vicinity of the Neo-Gothic Trinity Church you will find City Hall, which also houses the Tourist office on the bottom floor. Along Vaasanpuistikko on the south side of the Church is the City Council and close by is Vaasan Lyseon Lukio, which is a Finnish-speaking upper secondary school. West of the church is another school building with the text Lyceum. This is Vasa Övningsskolas Gymnasium, which is a Swedish-speaking upper secondary school.
Check out what is happening in your corner of the world in the international papers provided in the City Library. If you can't find a suitable paper then try the internet on one of the computers. It's free. And while you are there, breathe in some of the cultural history involved. The first lending library in Finland was established in Vaasa 2.8.1794. The current city library was built in 1936 and in 2001 an extensive renovation and enlargement of the library was completed taking both old and new elements into account..
Bragen ulkomuseo
The museum consists of a complete 19th-century farm with interesting buildings and interiors from the Swedish-speaking part of Ostrobothnia.
A museum for contemporary art opened to the public in 2007 in a former customs warehouse in the Inner Harbour of Vaasa.
Get to know the seafaring past of Vaasa in this museum which is housed in an old storage building which was built by the great shipowner C.G. Wolff in the 19th century.
Pohjanmaan Museo
If you are interested in the region's history then you should visit this place. The Terranova Kvarken Nature Centre displays the uniqueness of the nature in the area (something that should be experienced first hand out in the open air of the archipelago).
Tikanojan taidekoti
A traditional art museum in the former home of local businessman Frithjof Tikanoja (1877–1964). The museum was started when he donated his private collection to the city. The collection includes works by Edgar Degas, Paul Gauguin, Henri Matisse and Pablo Picasso, but also works by Finnish masters like Albert Edelfelt, Axel Gallen-Kallela, Maria Wiik and Tyko Sallinen. The museum also has touring exhibitions.
Large open-air museum made up of about 60 buildings. It is a living centre for culture and art. Christmas market on a December weekend.
10 km south of Vaasa in the rural area of Sundom is a big cultivated area called Söderfjärden. When you climb up Öjberget, a hill right beside the big flat area, you see that the whole area is round. This is because it is an old crater which was caused by impact of a meteorite 520 million years ago. A visitor centre Meteoria (Meteoriihi) is located in the middle of the crater.
Replot Bro, Raippaluodon Silta
Finland's longest bridge: 1045 m. The main opening is 250 m, the pylons 82.5 m high. The bridge leads to Replot, Finland's eighth largest island. Just a bit before the bridge is a lovely public beach where you can easily camp for a day or two. You can also continue your trip out to the islands where there are restaurants and other things to discover. A visitor centre to the Kvarken Archipelago is by the bridge.
Aava Kerttus husdjursgård
Pet farm in an old rural environment. You can also have a cup of coffee and freshly baked buns.
The popular do-it-yourself tv-show Strömsö which has aired since 2002 on Finnish television with topics from woodworking to cooking and knitting has been shot on this former farm with the same name. It can be visited on guided tours during the summer, otherwise you can look at it from the outside.
A tropical spa with various slides, saunas and Jacuzzis. Includes also an outside area in the summer. Located on the Vaskiluoto island just outside the city centre.
Inside the tower there is a challenging indoor climbing wall. On Wednesdays and Sundays the walls are open to the public for an entrance fee of €5.
Climbing park, which also offers a 5-match, bungee trampoline and archery wars.
A jazz club under McDonald's in the northern end of the Market Square. Here you mainly hear jazz, soul and funk. The main principle is that the music is live.
also known as Ritz
A place that tries to combine all forms of local and international culture on to one scene. The performers vary from artists that have travelled all over the world to those who are taking their first tumbling steps.
Vaasan Palloseura
VPS play soccer in Veikkausliiga the top tier. Their home ground (capacity 6000) is 1 km south of town centre. The playing season is April-Oct.
Check out a hockey game during the winter with Vaasa's own Hockey Team Sport that plays in the Finnish ice hockey league "Liiga". The games are played in Vaasa Arena in Kuparisaari.
Once a year the whole city is out witnessing different cultural events. There are free concerts, theatre, exhibitions and other happenings all over the city. Excellent night that should be experienced if you are in the neighbourhood.
One of the most acknowledged chamber music festivals in Finland, brings its own mood to this coastal region as music resounds in concert halls, restaurants, museums and idyllic church buildings.
An international large-scale choir music happening.
An annual pub crawl arranged by most pubs, bars, restaurants and nightclubs in town.
This nationwide pizza franchise was founded in Vaasa, which is one of the reasons for there being so many of these here.
Excellent food and service. Open during lunch.
Leison offers a great variety of meals, which include salad buffet and coffee.
Sushi and other Asian foods.
Illy's
Arguably one of the best pizza/kebab places. They also offer salads, specialities and different coffees.
Vietnamese food
The oldest independent pizzeria in town, with authentic Italian pizzas.
Find this place if you have a car. Fridays and Saturdays customers get a free limo ride to the town center at half past twelve.
Pizza buffet.
Located on an island in the Vaasa Archipelago. Accessible only by cruise boat from the Inner Harbour of Vaasa during summer. During winter it is possible to walk here over the ice (provided you have someone local with you to guide you).
Situated near the Inner Harbour of Vaasa. Strampen is short for "Strandpaviljongen" which is Swedish for "waterfront pavilion". Has a popular beer terrace. Only open during summers.
Faros is the name of a boat in Kalaranta (Fish harbour). On deck and partly on land there is a terrace for beer and drinks and on board under deck there is a good restaurant. Only open during summers.
Out on the island of Vaskiluoto in the club house of the Wasa Segelförening sailing society. Has a terrace with a great view into town over the bay. Only open during summers.
Small bistro to have lunch in with great service. Get a beer while you're here.
Local home-made Nordic food.
Popular eatery close to the main square, offers a specialist wine menu. Occasionally hosts live music from local musicians in the evenings.
Thai restaurant in the market hall. Lunch buffet with tasty Thai and Southeast Asian dishes.
A small place in connection with Wasa Teater, a Swedish-language theatre.
New Nordic Kitchen. Listed as among Finland's 50 best restaurants by the trade association. Reserve your table. The main menus intended for 2–3-hour sessions, Friday lunch menu 40–75 min.
Describes themselves as a "party pub", which is quite true during weekends. This is the place of choice for Swedish-speaking youth.
This bar used to be a legendary pub called Koti.
Only during summers.
A pub that serves greasy food when in need.
Probably the most popular nightclub in town. On the second floor of the Hartman House in the northern end of the Market Square. There is a lounge available for private parties.
Built into a former bread factory. Offers many club nights and concert nights with local bands.
A nightclub for a more mature public compared with Hullu Pullo which is next door.
Located in a former military compound made up of charming wooden barracks with roots in the 19th century. Within walking distance from the city centre.
All hotel bookings and payments are done on the web (omena.com); you get a code for your room. All rooms have beds for four people; stay as many as you like.
EFÖ is short for Evangeliska Folkhögskolan i Österbotten, which is Swedish for the Evangelical Folk High School in Ostrobothnia. During the summer when the school is closed it becomes a summer hotel. Available rooms can be booked also in winter. Smoking and drinking alcoholic beverages are banned.
Located among student housing. Evening sauna (not on Sundays) and free passage to the gym is included in the price. Some rooms are used as student housing during winter.
A guesthouse.
The camping area is on the island of Vaskiluoto just outside the city centre. Besides places for tents and caravans, they also offer cabins.
Bring your own bed linen. Camping is also possible.
This place offers very well equipped vacation cottages that can also be used during winter. During high season (17 Jun–5 Aug) the cottages can only be rented for a week at a time..
This place offers cabins a long way out of town.
A hotel in connection with the tropical spa next door out on the island of Tropiclandia. More value for the family with kids than the lone traveller.
A small but elegant hotel close to the trainstation and a short walk from the town centre. Most of the rooms have their own Finnish style sauna. The price depends on which day you are staying. Weekends are cheaper as are some summer months.
Big hotel complex stretching to both sides of the street. Good sauna and pool facilities, one on the top floor and another one underground. Free broadband in the rooms, and you can rent a tandem bike for €10/2 hours. There is a nightclub, a restaurant and a pub in the hotel complex.
Free broadband and sauna for customers.
All the rooms have their own saunas and most rooms also has Jacuzzis.
Local handcraft shop not far from the city center. There is also a nice café here where you can have lunch.
This Gothic style market hall (built in 1902) offers meat, fish, cheese, sweets, art and souvenirs. It is one of very few market halls still in use in Finland. As of January 2025, there market hall is rather silent with half of the stalls empty, especially towards Vaasanpuistikko.
Handicrafts market open mostly at summer. On sale are woven garments for children, ornaments, paintings and books. Sells also self-made buns, bread, juice, jams, honey and caramels.
By train
All trains from Helsinki to Oulu and Rovaniemi via Tampere stop in Seinäjoki. From there you can take connection trains, which head to Vaasa.
By bus
There are west coast bus connections from Oulu to Turku, which go through Vaasa. Buses connect Vaasa also to Helsinki, Tampere, Pori, Kokkola and Hämeenlinna.
By boat
The ferry Aurora Botnia, operated by Stena Line/Wasaline crosses daily between Vaasa and Umeå, Sweden (with the port in Holmsund at the mouth of the river).
By plane
Local bus line 4 operated by Vaasan paikallisliikenne go to the city centre; a one-way ticket on these buses costs €2.50. Please note that there may not be bus connections from late evening flights.
By bus
10).90). Vähäkyrö (Lillkyro) in the far east makes up zone C.
By electric kick scooter
German Tier rents electric kick scooters for use in the centre.
By taxi
By boat
For the archipelago, you might want a boat cruise or a kayak. See Kvarken Archipelago for some options.
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Vaasa · International · VAA
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