A Beginner's Guide To Island Hopping In Finland

Finland is one of the best places in the world for island hopping. The coast is lined with tens of thousands of islands, and even the inland lakes are vast enough to have their own chains of islands to explore. This quick guide will tell you the best places to sail in Finland for fun and adventure:

Where to go

There is a lot of choice for island hopping in Finland. The Turku Archipelago on the south west coast is one of the most obvious, as it is one of the largest archipelagos in the world. The islands can be difficult to navigate by boat, but they are fun to explore and there is a lot to see and do. The Åland Islands to the West are particularly beautiful and peaceful with a fascinating maritime museum and Viking market.

Further North, Finnish Lapland can be seen by boat during the summer. Lake Inari is one of Finland’s largest lakes and contains a sacred Sami site which is only accessible by boat. The west coast of Finland leading up to Lapland also has many islands and lakes to explore, such as Kvarken west of Vaasa and Hailuoto near Oulu.

If you wish to stay close to the capitol city of Helsinki and take advantage of its local amenities, there is also a vast archipelago on the Baltic Sea and excellent fishing. It is common for Helsinki residents to sail to their private islands during the summer, or just use them to take a break from city life.

How to travel

There are two options in Finland for island hopping. The first is to take advantage of the numerous ferries and boat trips which travel between the islands or on the lakes. All of the locations mentioned above have ferry connections, although most of them are seasonal.

The second option is to rent a boat, which provides a greater degree of freedom and flexibility, but does require a strong level of sailing knowledge, unless you also hire a skipper. Most boat rentals are offered by the hour or the day and can be expensive, but they are at least easy to find throughout Finland. Sail-in-Finland has a full list of companies offering boat rentals, and other useful information.

Safety tips

Finland’s coastal waters can be stormy and hazardous, even to experienced sailors. This is why unless you are completely confident in your sailing abilities, it is best to go island hopping during the summer months. Another reason is that many of the lakes and oceans freeze over during the winter, and are impossible to navigate in a small craft anyway.

Mobile phone coverage is excellent in Finland, even in remote areas, so it is best to take a smartphone for emergencies, and for looking up information, and remember the emergency number, 112, and the number for the sea rescue centre, 0294 1000. Weather forecasts are offered in English over VHF or from the Finnish Meteorological Institute.

When passing by summer homes or inhabited islands, it is important to be respectful of the locals. Right of access does mean that you can legally visit and camp anywhere in Finland, but must first gain permission from the landowner. It is a common misconception that it is also legal to light fires anywhere in Finland without seeking the landowner’s permission first, which is not the case. The vegetation of the Turku Archipelago especially is incredibly vulnerable to fire, so only use pre-built fire pits or a portable camping stove. Most harbours in Finland have a fire pit for visitors to use.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.