Raahe: Archipelago and maritime urban history

Raahe combines a varied archipelago with a remarkable history as a coastal town. It is a destination for a trip where you can explore both the archipelago’s landscape and the inhabited Old Town and maritime culture. There are a range of experiences to choose from, including skerries and outdoor trails, museums, guided city tours and traditional crafts.

Islands, skerries and trails in the archipelago

The Raahe Archipelago consists of around 50 small islands and skerries. The inner islands close to the coast are more heavily wooded, while smaller, open skerries lie farther out in the open sea. These differences give the archipelago’s islands a variety of landscapes. A significant part of the archipelago is included in the Natura 2000 network because of its birdlife, vegetation and habitat types.

If you would like to experience the archipelago on an island-hopping excursion, consider the Island Hopping Cruise: it visits three islands and goes ashore on two of them. The tour also includes a light maritime lunch on one of the islands. So, when planning your trip, there is more to enjoy than just the journey through the archipelago: you can also spend time ashore and share a meal.

The archipelago has networks of trails, information boards, campfire sites and rest areas. In winter, you can reach it across the ice on foot, on skis, snowshoes, a fat bike or a sled. The nature experiences available therefore vary according to the season and your preferred way of getting around; in winter, the route crosses the ice.

An inhabited Old Town and maritime history

Old Town Raahe is not a museum area, but an inhabited district. It is one of Finland’s best-preserved 19th-century wooden towns and offers an insight into architectural history and ways of life from the past to the present. If you are interested in urban history beyond museum exhibitions, this is a district where historic character and modern life go hand in hand.

The Crown Granary Museum presents highlights from Raahe’s history, from prehistoric times to the present. One of its special exhibits is the Old Gentleman: the Crown Granary houses the world’s oldest surviving diving suit. The exhibition also offers an interactive way to explore archaeology: you can carry out an excavation at Tervakangas using a touchscreen.

The Packhouse Museum focuses on the history of sailing in Raahe and the exotic treasures sailors brought back from their voyages. The museum’s Church Hall also houses 17th-century wooden sculptures by Mikael Balt. They were made for Raahe’s old church. A guided tour by the Raahe Guides Association explores the Old Town on foot or by bus and tells stories of the former lives of locals, sailors, artisans and members of the upper class.

Crafts, local flavours and active days

At Himmelipaja – Raahen Taitopaja, you can make a himmeli beneath a “himmeli sky”. Choose from traditional or modern designs made with natural materials or glass tubes. Over coffee, you can learn more about the himmeli tradition. This experience combines making something yourself with an introduction to a traditional craft.

The culinary offerings also draw on a variety of cultural influences: Brahe Afternoon Tea pairs local flavours from Raahe with the traditional English afternoon tea experience. “Koe Elämää Langin Kauppahuoneella” (“Experience Life at Lang’s Trading House”) focuses on stories about life in 19th-century Raahe and includes coffee and a slice of cake of your choice.

The Flatland Route passes through Raahe and is ideal for a cycling trip. Together with the trails in the archipelago, it offers another reason to include active experiences in your trip. Choose your focus according to your interests: island nature and skerries, the history of sailing, the inhabited wooden town or local craft traditions.

For more ideas on where to go, explore Nivankylä, Haukipudas, Kuivaniemi, Lavia, Keskijärvi, Kauhajoki, Keitele and Laakkola.

For an overview of the wider region, see Northern Ostrobothnia.