Vaasa: City History, Art and Outdoor Routes

Vaasa combines city history and art with beaches, cycling routes and outdoor trails. When planning your trip, it helps to first consider whether museums, outdoor activities or seasonal beach days will be your main focus. These different themes can also guide you when looking for a hotel for your stay in Vaasa.

City history, regional themes and art

On the ground floor of the Ostrobothnian Museum, the permanent exhibition “Vaasa 400” tells the story of the city’s 400-year history. The permanent exhibitions at Vaasa’s museums also cover the history of the Vaasa region, as well as the nature and world heritage of the Kvarken Archipelago. The city museums serve as the regional museum responsible for Ostrobothnia, preserving, sharing and presenting the region’s science, art and history. The museums thus bring together perspectives on the city and themes from the wider region.

The Museum of Old Vaasa is a local history museum in Wasastjerna House, built in 1782. The Brage Open Air Museum offers a different perspective on Swedish-speaking Ostrobothnia: it comprises a complete 19th-century farm, with buildings and interiors from the region. Each of these two places focuses on a different aspect—the local history of Wasastjerna House and rural life at the open-air museum.

The art museums also have distinct focuses. Kuntsi Museum of Modern Art presents changing exhibitions of modern and contemporary art. Tikanoja Art Home features exhibitions of older Finnish and international art, as well as cultural history and collection exhibitions. These profiles give you a specific choice if you would like to focus your stay on modern art or on older art and collection themes.

Villa Strömsö and a guided visit

Built in 1852, Villa Strömsö serves as the setting for the television show of the same name. A guide must be booked to visit the interior; the tour lasts one hour. If you would like to include the villa in your plans, schedule it as a guided visit and confirm the arrangements before your trip.

Cycling routes, outdoor trails and seasonal activities

Vaasa has almost 200 kilometres of cycling paths. There are also seven signposted main cycling routes that follow cycling paths. These figures describe different things: the extent of the cycling paths and the number of marked main routes. When planning, you can therefore decide whether to follow a signposted route or put together a cycling trip using the available network. The outdoor activity routes also form a connected network of around 70 kilometres.

At Öjberget in Sundom, there is a downhill ski slope and trails that are often used in winter. In summer, the ski slope and trails become hiking or jogging routes. Use therefore varies by season: in winter, the slope and trails are the focus; in summer, the options for hiking or jogging take centre stage.

Vaasa has nine beaches maintained by the city’s public services. Swimming conditions vary seasonally. The beaches can be reached by car, on foot or by bicycle; public transport is available within a reasonable distance. Outdoor amenities also include public campfire sites, which residents and visitors can use free of charge. Bring your own firewood and equipment.

Getting here and choosing where to stay

Vaasa railway station is in the city centre. Vaasa Airport is ten minutes from the city centre; travel time may vary depending on traffic. When looking for a hotel in Vaasa, you can use your interests and travel dates as a starting point: museums, cycling, other outdoor activities and beaches offer different ways to shape your stay.

Discover more destinations: Isokyrö, Iskmo, Nykarleby, Nordanå, Larsmo, Korsholm, Vörå, Kristinestad.

Go to the regional travel overview: Ostrobothnia.