Finland Coast and Archipelago

Summer 2025 Vilnius - Finland

Family Trip to Finland: Exploring the Southern Coast by Motorhome

Getting to Finland

After what seemed like a never-ending school term for us all, we finally headed off straight after it ended. We travelled from Vilnius (Lithuania) to the port in Tallinn (Estonia) in the motorhome. We had spent the evenings that week packing clothes, prepping food, and making some meals in advance to ensure I could eat safely (food allergies can be a real concern when travelling). We packed enough snacks to at least last the journey.

In hindsight, leaving immediately after school made for a long day and an intense drive for Dave. I think we were all just so keen to get on holiday and break the monotony. We set out with no real plan other than our return ferry from Tallinn to Helsinki and a rough idea to drive some of Southern Finland’s coast. We mostly used Park4Night to choose where to stay.

The ferry journey was uneventful. There's a nice café onboard with a seating area for those who didn’t reserve seats—make sure you head there early to avoid ending up sitting on the floor. Upon disembarking, we were greeted by a large art installation of a man urinating—an interesting and unexpected first glimpse of Finland! Thankfully, it gave us a good laugh, and we hoped it wasn't a sign of what was to come.

We decided to head along the south coast towards Hanko. That morning, we didn’t have a specific plan but knew we didn’t want to drive too far before stopping for a drink and a walk—we were all still pretty tired.

First Stop – Inkoo

Inkoo was our first stop. We saw a sign and decided to turn off, and we’re glad we did. We parked up in a charming little harbour area, arriving as they were setting up for a market with food stalls, local produce, and clothes. We wandered around the harbour, daydreaming about owning a yacht and what our rich future selves might do.

We walked up a hill from the harbour and discovered a small windmill and some traditional red wooden lodges. After a quick snack in the motorhome, we set off again.

As this was a budget trip, we usually begin by doing a food shop in the country we’re visiting and eat most of our meals in the motorhome, saving restaurant outings for later. This trip was meant to be frugal to allow for a bigger trip later in the year. In recent years, we've opted for Christmas trips instead of unnecessary gifts—something we've come to value greatly.

As we left Inkoo, it felt like we had only scratched the surface of the area.

Kisko

As we drove along the coast, I struggled to find recommended stops. I came across one photo of a quarry with beautiful water and decided it might be a quick place to stretch our legs. It was fenced off and not easy to find, so I wouldn’t recommend it. That said, the drive through the forest was lovely and it made for a good break. We noticed how quiet everything was—few people, few cars—and we even flew the drone for a look around.

Hanko

Hanko was a great Park4Night stop—free, with a view of the harbour, and walkable into town. Other campers were also parked there, which made it feel safer. I’m always a little apprehensive about wild camping spots (imagining noise, disturbances, or... crazy people), but really, campsites aren’t immune to any of that either.

This spot was perfect. I reminded myself to embrace it—free, beautiful, and safe.

We explored the shoreline and even did some rock climbing. We spotted a cute barnacle goose family, and there were plenty of places to eat around the harbour. We saw beautiful wooden houses and enjoyed the calm sea.

While Lithuania wouldn’t be my first choice to live, it has given us many travel opportunities I’m extremely grateful for. After our night in Hanko, we stopped at the supermarket before heading to Kasnäs. I was thrilled to find a huge gluten-free section—better than anything I could get in the UK without paying a fortune, and far beyond what’s available in Lithuania.

Kasnäs

Kasnäs had a lovely harbour, some small shops, a café, and a hotel with a spa. We stayed at the campsite behind the hotel, which had a shower block and was peaceful the first night. The second night, however, a group of caravans arrived, letting their kids roam freely (and noisily) around the site. It took the shine off an otherwise perfect location.

We explored the area by bike and on foot—there were trails through the forest and on roads. We also visited the hotel spa, arriving as it opened and enjoying the outside space almost entirely to ourselves.

From the campsite, we biked to Svartnäs and took the (free!) ferry across to Högsåra. Most ferries to the Finnish Southern Archipelago are free, though check for vehicle restrictions if you’re in a larger van.

Högsåra

We biked from Kasnäs to the ferry, which was mostly quiet road with a mix of flats and inclines. The ferry process was simple: cars first, then pedestrians and cyclists.

On the island, we explored via bike, took a few wrong turns, and admired the local houses. We stopped at Farmors Café for lunch—it was delicious and accommodating to food allergies (gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan options available). It was a bit pricey, but worth it. The café had a play area for young children and was spacious.

We then biked back to the harbour, admiring the yachts docked there.

Rosala & Bengtskär Lighthouse

To visit the lighthouse, we booked a boat tour that included a stop at the Rosala Viking Centre. It was a bit busier than we’d hoped—I always envision a private tour on a group-tour budget!

At the Viking Centre, everything was initially in Finnish and Swedish, but they spoke English too. We had lunch in the old hall—delicious fish soup for the regular option and alternatives for vegetarians or those with dietary needs. Felicity stuck to bread (not a soup fan!), but we had snacks packed.

The kids loved the costumes, swordplay, and archery games. It ended up being a really fun stop.

Afterward, we continued to Bengtskär Lighthouse. The open sea was choppier, which I struggled with (motion sickness is real). At the lighthouse, there was confusion about the plan, so we skipped the talk and went exploring.

We climbed the massive staircase to the top (it felt never-ending), enjoyed the views, and appreciated being there alone at the top. There’s a café inside and, apparently, overnight stays are possible!

Koverhar

Dave chose our next stop based on a site that promised “the best of the Southern Finland Archipelago.” It was… underwhelming. The entrance was through an industrial area and the site was forested but not as idyllic as promised.

Still, we got to try jet skiing, which we all loved! It gave us a different view of the area, even if the night was noisy with locals and early morning cleaning. Our bed mechanism in the motorhome also broke, adding to the chaos.

We biked into town and ended up in a fancy café. The staff were kind and helpful, offering local suggestions, though not of interest to us.

Turku

We walked along the river past the castle, stopped for elevenses, and visited a few free exhibits outside Forum Marinum. You can see many boats along the river, though we found the full pass overpriced.

We aimed to ride the free funicular (based on our previous fun experience in Åre), but this one lacked views and wasn’t worth the walk—don’t bother unless you have a reason to go uphill.

We visited the Cathedral, browsed food stalls, and promised the kids scooter rides back to the motorhome after lunch, which lifted their spirits!

Naantali

On arrival, motorhome parking was tricky, with most areas marked "no motorhome parking" except the hotel spa, which was full. We circled until a space opened and Dave masterfully parked.

Naantali was beautiful—harbourside cafes, charming streets, and scenic walks. We even took a walk over the bridge to Moomin World (though we didn’t go in) and explored the rocky coastline.

The next morning, we visited the hotel spa. It was nice, but the water was disappointingly cold. A quick note: in Finland, public showers are often naked showers, something that took us by surprise! We kept our swimwear on.

Mathildedal

Heading back towards Helsinki, we stopped in Mathildedal, planning to park in the town, but signs prohibited overnight parking. Luckily, we found a nearby campsite with power, showers, and toilets.

We walked to the water and through the forest to town. It was a lovely little spot, with cute streets, shops, paddle tennis, and a relaxed vibe. Elliott hurt his leg, so Dave and Felicity continued while I stayed back with our unimpressed pre-teen.

That night, we enjoyed a BBQ and toasted marshmallows at the fire pits (after a false start trying to light the fire!). Thankfully, the leg injury healed overnight.

Helsinki

For our final day, we drove into Helsinki and parked near the port, despite the high parking fee (city parking for motorhomes is always tricky). We used the tram to get into the city.

We visited the Cathedral and square (under renovation), then walked to Temppeliaukio Church, which looked interesting but didn’t feel worth the entrance fee.

Dave was on a Starbucks mission (we don’t have them in Lithuania), so we wandered past stunning architecture: the Central Library, Parliament, Train Station, and Amos Rex. There was a skateboarding competition in full swing at the time—fun to see.

Final Thoughts

We loved the smiles of the Finnish people, the scenery, the easy access to food, and most of all, the time away as a family.

On the ferry home, we considered stopping in Estonia again, but after facing a boat full of grumpy faces, we decided to just head straight back.

Another awesome adventure and a new collection of family memories.