How to get to the Finnish archipelago?
Photo: Visit Seili
The archipelago is easily accessible by bike. All ferries along the Archipelago Road, except for the ferry between Houtskär and Iniö and the one serving Nagu-Själö-Rimito, are free of charge and cannot be booked or reserved in advance. All ferries accommodate bicycles. Read here how to travel by ferry in the archipelago.
4 tips for cyclists
– Wait at the ferry landing after you have left the ferry so that the car queue can pass you. After that, you can cycle at your own pace until you reach the car queue for the next ferry.
-Always consider other traffic. Bike paths are only available around the largest cities and towns (Pargas, Nådendal, Turku, Kaarina). Otherwise, the roads are narrow.
– Wear a bicycle helmet.
-Bring a small repair kit for longer bike rides
Welcome Cyclist
The Welcome Cyclist sign helps you find services for cyclists.
Accommodations are awarded the badge when their services include:
– Secure bicycle parking and storage
– Basic bicycle service equipment and a place where basic service can be performed
– A place for bicycle cleaning
– A place for safe charging of electric bicycles
Restaurants/cafés are awarded the badge when their services include:
– Secure bicycle parking
– A foot pump suitable for all common valve types
– A place for charging electric bicycles
– Free WiFi
Welcome Cyclist webpage
Hiking in the archipelago
Did you know that an international 1200 km hiking trail runs through the archipelago? The St. Olav Waterway is an official cultural route of the Council of Europe and will take you from Turku through the archipelago to Åland and further to Sweden and Norway. The trail is well-marked with digital maps and navigation apps. (Read more here)
Distances
Distances in the archipelago are relatively short, and traveling on foot gives you the flexibility to take some interesting shorter ferry routes and explore the smaller islands, many of which have places to stay. For example, you can stay on the following small islands: Björkholm, Pensar, Brännskär, Själö, Nötö, Aspö, Jurmo, Utö.
If you follow the main islands of Pargas, Nagu, Korpo, and Houtskär, you can use the local buses on the longer stretches to give you more time to explore the local village roads and nature trails. Iniö, to the north, is also connected to Turku by a bus line to the ferry terminal in Heponiemi.
Ferries
All public ferries are free for foot passengers, but you need to purchase a ticket for tourist ferries or taxiboats. The larger car ferries have frequent departures every hour while the smaller routes may only have one departure per day and stop at different ports on different departures. Check the timetables carefully and call the ferry or our tourist information if you are unsure. Public ferries cannot be booked.
The tourist passenger ferry from Turku to Själö takes you directly from the city to the heart of the archipelago. It is easy to then combine a round trip to Turku by bus after your archipelago island-hopping excursion has ended.
There are also several unique islands in the Archipelago Sea National Park accessible by public ferry for adventurous campers. You will find a basic campsite with fire pits and outdoor toilets in a wonderful environment, but you may need to carry your own supplies and water on most of these islands as there are no services or shops, and the ferries do not arrive every day, even some departures must be booked in advance with the ferry operator. The national park’s website has full details.
Hiking trails and nature trails
Nature trails and other hiking trails are available on our digital maps. The St. Olav Waterway is part of a network of pilgrim routes to Trondheim, Norway, and a perfect route for hikers wishing to continue to Åland. Start your adventure at the St. Olav milestone in front of Turku Cathedral and embark on a journey back in time.
There are plenty of options for getting around and exploring the fantastic Finnish archipelago. If you’re looking for a quick and easy way to get from Turku to Pargas or further out into the archipelago, there are many daily connections available. For routes, you can check out Seutu+.
The Archipelago Bus (routes 901-904) is a frequent and convenient option for travel between Turku, Pargas, Nauvo, Korpo, and Houtskär. The timetables for this service change seasonally and are available in Swedish or Finnish. Additionally, the local bus (route 801) runs between Turku and Pargas, and you can easily recognize these buses as they are yellow.
If you’re coming from other parts of Finland, there are regular direct bus connections to Turku, as well as a direct bus line from Helsinki Airport that can take as little as 2 hours. So no matter where you’re coming from, getting to and around the beautiful Finnish archipelago is easy and hassle-free.
Travel planners and timetables:
Matkahuolto
Archipelago Bus (Seutu+)
Buses from Helsinki to Turku
By train to the archipelago
Turku is the nearest train station to the archipelago, and you can easily get there by train from any major city in Finland or from Helsinki Airport. Once you’ve arrived at the train station, you’ll need to take a short walk to either Turku’s bus station to catch a bus (routes 901-904 or 801) that will take you to the archipelago. It’s a straightforward journey that will be filled with beautiful views.
The Finnish archipelago consists of several islands, including Pargas, Nagu, Korpo, Houtskär, and Iniö. To reach the center of Pargas from Turku or Helsinki, you can drive for about 35 minutes or 1.5 hours respectively. From Pargas, you can continue further along the Archipelago Road and out into the archipelago.
Ferry timetables can be found here.
One of the best ways to experience the archipelago is by boat, as it makes it easy to navigate between the islands and take in the beautiful nature. The Finnish archipelago, located in the Baltic Sea, is a popular destination for boating enthusiasts. The Archipelago Sea consists of over 40,000 islands, making it a unique and beautiful place to explore.
Remember to respect the environment and maritime laws. Always be aware of weather and sea conditions and make sure to follow the laws and regulations that apply to boating in the archipelago
Guest harbors
There are many guest harbors in the archipelago in Pargas, many of which are easily accessible from both land and sea. Some of the harbors listed on the map are natural harbors. These harbors are naturally formed and do not have guest harbor services.
Service stations and grocery stores
There are service stations and access to fuel on all the main islands in Pargas, Nagu, Korpo, Houtskär, and Iniö. There are grocery stores on the main islands. In the outer archipelago and on smaller islands, there may be small stores or kiosks, but it’s not guaranteed.
Check out guest harbours on this website.
The nearest airport is Turku Airport, located 7 km north of the Turku city center. You can easily fly directly to Turku from Stockholm or Helsinki, and there are also flights from other cities such as Riga, Gdansk, Kaunas, Krakow, London, and Skopje. If you arrive at Helsinki or Tampere Airport, you don’t need to worry as there are several daily bus and train connections to Turku.
From Turku, you can then take a short bus trip to your chosen island in the Finnish archipelago. Feel free to contact us; we’re happy to help you plan your trip!
Exploring the Finnish archipelago by bike is an unforgettable way to immerse yourself in the culture and landscape of the archipelago. The wind in your hair and the sound of pedals spinning take you beyond the usual tourist trails and into the heart of the local community.
Photo: Juho Kuva