Naantali: Old Town by the Sea, Cultural Heritage and Moominworld

Old Town and Coastal Paths

Naantali’s old town lies by the sea and includes hundreds of historic wooden houses. It also has numerous cafés, restaurants, boutiques, art galleries and a museum; this selection may change over time.

The Aurinkopolku runs for 1.8 kilometres from Naantali Spa along the waterfront promenade to the heart of the old town. Eight information boards with text and images tell the story of Naantali. The Rantaraitti offers a different route: it runs from Kuparivuori along the old town waterfront to Taimo Beach and is about 3.5 kilometres long each way. The surface and access may change; check current conditions before setting out if needed.

Moominworld and Kultaranta

Moominworld includes the Moominhouse, the Witch’s House, Snufkin’s camp and the Snork Inventors’ Park. The fairytale settings feature theatre performances and a beach for swimming. Attractions and offerings may change seasonally. This makes it possible to plan your stay around the themed attraction without confusing it with the historic sites in the old town.

The garden at Kultaranta is a 56-hectare park with flower beds, roses, formal gardens, pergolas, pavilions and ornamental ponds. Guided tours of the garden offer insights into life at Kultaranta and the summer traditions of Finnish presidents and their spouses in Naantali. The tours take place seasonally; dates and booking arrangements may change.

Medieval Heritage and Music

Naantali Church was built between 1460 and 1480 as the church of a Catholic Bridgettine monastery. It is the only surviving part of the monastery and Finland’s second-largest medieval stone church, after Turku Cathedral. Several concerts are held in the church every year; it is also the main concert venue for the Naantali Music Festival. The festival takes place in early June, when artists and ensembles perform in Naantali’s charming surroundings and in historic churches. Dates and programmes vary from year to year.

The Naantali Museum also offers a perspective on the town’s history: the Humppi building houses an archaeological exhibition on Naantali’s early history and a scale model of the Bridgettine monastery. Exhibition content may change.

Other Places in the Municipality of Naantali

Merimasku is home to a wooden church completed in 1726. It is Finland’s sixth-oldest wooden church still in continuous use. In Röölä, Rymättylä, the Dikseli Herring Heritage Museum explores the history of herring fishing and the traditional production of salted herring. The exhibition shows the processing stages from catch to salting; Röölä was the home port of the Saukko herring fishing fleet. The medieval church of Rymättylä was built on an isthmus between two sea bays.

Archipelago and Trip Planning

The archipelago is easily reached from the old town, and Naantali is part of the Archipelago Trail. If you plan to include this route in your trip, check current ferry services and route information, as operations and route details may change. Together with the coastal paths, old town and varied cultural sites, this provides a clear framework for weighing your own interests when planning your trip.

Discover more destinations: Korppoo, Uro, Raisio, Mynämäki, Kimitoön, Kustavi, Taivassalo, Askainen.

Back to the main travel overview: Varsinais-Suomi.