Fagerholm Island: Your private island canvas in the Finnish archipelago

By Ndéla Faye | Photos: Fagerholm Island & Marc Goodwin at Archmospheres

Located along Finland’s emerald coast, in the south-western archipelago, Fagerholm is an exclusive private island reserved for a single group at a time. Corporate groups, family gatherings and private retreats share the same concept: complete privacy, supported by a discreet on-site team, who quietly shapes each stay.

“Fagerholm isn’t a hotel; it’s a hosted experience. We offer our guests privacy and discretion, comfort and connection. Every detail – from arrival to departure – is distinctive and thoughtfully tailored,” says Serena Koivurinta, owner and operator at Fagerholm. Her family has cared for the island for years, restoring its historic buildings with patience and respect for their heritage, while working closely with the surrounding archipelago community and local tradespeople; the same network that has historically sustained life in the region.

Archipelago Biosphere Area by Fagerholm.

For over three centuries, the island of Fagerholm has served maritime life: first as a customs station, and later as a base for the Finnish Coast Guard overseeing the Baltic shipping lanes. Today, the Koivurinta family continues this legacy with care and intention, preserving the island’s heritage while offering guests a private four-hectare island retreat.

Fagerholm is open year-round and accessible by boat or helicopter, providing an exclusive escape shaped entirely around its visitors. Here, it is not only the island’s natural beauty that defines the experience, but the rare freedom it offers: a private setting that adapts seamlessly to its guests, intuitively refined to suit the purpose of each stay.

Serena Koivurinta, owner-operator.

The heart of the heritage island

Many of the island’s historic buildings remain, with the oldest – a stone house that once served as a customs station – dating to the 1700s. The buildings have been lovingly restored and renovated while still preserving their heritage maritime character.

At the centre of Fagerholm stands the Main House, a 1960s coast guard building, recently extensively renovated to balance its history with contemporary comfort. Energy needs are supplemented by solar energy and geothermal heating, reflecting Fagerholm’s commitment to sustainability.

The accommodation blends seamlessly into the surrounding archipelago scenery, and inside the nature-inspired Nordic interiors and custom-made Finnish furniture showcase local carpentry and craftsmanship. Shared living spaces, an open-plan kitchen and 12 guest bedrooms comfortably accommodate eight to 20 guests, while larger events of up to 40 guests can be arranged with additional accommodation nearby.

Dining atrium at Fagerholm Island.

Local traditions and sauna rituals

During the summer months, the island’s long days dissolve into the famed Nordic nightless nights. Guests arrive to experience the region’s rich cultural traditions: Midsummer magic, flower crowns, and crayfish suppers by the sea that stretch late into the evening.

They also come for quieter pleasures: the stillness of early mornings, the hush of evening light, the soft wash of water against the rocks, and the unhurried rhythm of island life. Fagerholm is a place to inhabit the archipelago on its own terms, at a pace that suits each visitor.

Fagerholm’s three saunas – a rare smoke sauna, a small wood-heated shoreline sauna, and a contemporary indoor sauna overlooking the sea – offer a profound immersion into Finnish island traditions. Each sauna brings its own pace of unwinding, and as the heat builds, a plunge into the sea often completes the ritual. “Together, the saunas form a defining element of the island experience, often playfully referred to by guests as Fagerholm’s informal sauna triathlon,” Koivurinta says.

Fagerholm Island from East.

Cuisine guided by the seasons and the sea

Dining lies at the heart of the Finnish archipelago experience, and at Fagerholm it is largely defined by seasonality and locality. The island’s on-site team prepares daily meals using local produce and fresh catch from the archipelago, alongside traditional staples such as gravadlax, new potatoes, seasonal vegetables, and homemade archipelago bread.

Drinks, too, come from nearby, from akvavit to gin and whiskey from Nagu Distillery.

Each stay can also be personalised: guests may request a private chef, distillery visits, wine tastings, or cocktail-making sessions, allowing dining to complement the experience.

1960s Coast Guard Accommodation.

A blank canvas for bespoke experiences

Beyond its natural beauty, unparalleled exclusivity and first-class personalised service, Fagerholm is distinguished by its capacity to adapt completely to its guests. Every experience on and around the island is bespoke – from wellness itineraries, archipelago nature experiences, kayaking excursions, guided yoga, to immersive cultural traditions.

“The island itself is a blank canvas, ready to become exactly what each group needs it to be,” says Koivurinta. Fagerholm provides an exquisite and private setting, where every aspect of the experience is carefully curated to the desires of its guests.