Hanko / Hangö
The small town of Hanko (Swedish: Hangö) lies at the entrance to the Gulf of Finland, the easternmost part of the Baltic Sea, and has several distinctive features. It is Finland’s southernmost town, became a classic seaside resort at the end of the 19th century, especially for the Russian upper class, and has a long history. The area around Hanko was already used as a harbor in the 15th century. But the town of Hanko was not founded until 1874, under Russian rule; it was connected to the railway, its harbor was expanded, and a fortress was built. Small fortifications established during the Swedish period (until 1809) were later expanded. Because of its strategic location, Hanko was forcibly leased to the Soviet Union for a short time (from 1940 to the end of 1941).
_Jussi_Hellsten_4465_3.webp "Hanko / Hangö")
Die Ostseeküste des Finnischen Meerbusens bei Hanko
Photo: © visitfinland.com / Jussi Hellsten
Places of interest in Hanko
The character of Hanko is inseparable from its seaside location. Because the peninsula extends far into the Baltic Sea, its harbor remains ice-free longer than those farther inland. Hanko’s guest harbor is the largest in all of Finland. Today, Hanko is still an important ferry port. The lighthouse on the offshore island of Russarö (Russian Island) signals arrival or departure. The small island of Bengtskär lies 25 kilometers southwest of Hanko and is Finland’s southernmost inhabited island in the Baltic Sea. It is home to Northern Europe’s tallest lighthouse, at 52 meters, which visitors can climb via 252 steps. Although Hanko’s historic spa park was badly damaged during the war, many buildings still bear witness to the town’s former importance as an exclusive seaside resort. As Hanko was Finland’s most important port for emigrants in the 19th century, it is home to an emigration museum. Military installations from different periods can now be visited as a museum. Open year-round, the 65-meter-high water tower has an elevator and offers fantastic views over the town of Hanko and its surroundings.
Holidays in and around Hanko
The town of Hanko itself, together with the scenic surroundings of the southwestern Finnish archipelago in the Baltic Sea, offers ideal conditions for an active family holiday on the Baltic coast. This is true all year round, as winter holidays also have their appeal on this stretch of the Finnish Baltic coast. There is no shortage of enjoyable and relaxing holiday activities. Whether you enjoy hiking, cycling, golf, water sports, fishing, boating and swimming in summer, or ice skating, winter sauna, sledding and ice fishing in winter, Hanko—with its many hotels, holiday homes and campgrounds—is always a great choice.
