Ruissalo: The ideal location to experience summer in Finland

By Molly McPharlin

During the summer months, many travellers traditionally head for the Mediterranean. In recent years, however, uncomfortable heat has pushed some to look for more temperate locations. With long, light days, mild temperatures and a relaxed atmosphere, Finland is an ideal alternative. Turku, the country’s oldest cultural centre and new culinary capital, welcomes visitors to explore Ruissalo Island, the gateway to Turku’s archipelago of over 40,000 islands, offering the perfect combination for a Nordic holiday: proximity to a vibrant city mixed with the calm pleasure of Island life.

Ruissalo Island is Turku’s urban park, a magnificent green oasis just off the coast of the city. In summer, Ruissalo is a wonderful location to enjoy the outdoors. The temperature stays in the 20s with occasional spikes to 30. The days are long, with spring in April and May transforming into summer weather that remains well into September. “It’s easy to breathe in the warm sea wind,” says Sanna Suomi, part of the destination development team of Ruissalo. “From the end of June and the midsummer holiday, the evenings are so light that you can read a book all night without a light on.”

There are over forty varieties of edible mushrooms on Ruissalo. Photo: Sanna Suomi

The importance of the sea

Much of life in Ruissalo revolves around the sea. At Ruissalon Telakka, or the Old Shipyard, people sailing by can moor in the guest marina, view the large fleet of classic boats on display and enjoy local restaurants such as Zaké Pizzeria & Wine Bar and Tenlén BBQ and Smokery. “The marina is a boating gem located between the Aura River and the archipelago,” says Suomi. “Thousands of boats were built there between 1889 and 1954. But now it’s also a great setting for a party and offers the chance to enjoy leisure time by the sea.” Traditionally specialising in wooden boats, visitors can book a historical tour with Jani Vahto, a local wooden boat aficionado. His Instagram page Classic Boats Finland is followed by over 100,000 people all over the world.

Ruissalo: The ideal location to experience summer in Finland

Enjoy a bike ride from Turku to Ruissalo or around the archipelago ring road. Photo: Sanna Suomi

Turun Pursiseura, the Sailing Club of Turku, is also located in Ruissalo. Formed in 1906, this is the oldest sailing club in the region. Situated in the middle of the island, it is within easy reach of the restaurant Alex 1917, housed in what was between 1927 and 1938 the first civil aviation terminal in Finland for seaplanes. Restaurant Alex focuses on fresh seafood, produce from local farms, combining Nordic cuisine with a touch of Mauritian flavours, found in their curries and tamarind sauce.

Farm to table cuisine at Ruissalo Spa Hotel. Photo: Kari Kauppi

Experience a Finnish spa or camping

For those looking for comfortable accommodation, the recently renovated Ruissalo Spa Hotel is located by the water in the Ruissalo Marina. The hotel oversees the marina and all its services, from spa treatments to its popular restaurant Loisto, are available to people travelling by boat. For those wishing to use Ruissalo as their homebase while visiting the popular Moominworld in Naantali (also near Turku) in summer, there is a new private water bus leaving from the city with stops at both Saaronniemi, the farthest tip of Ruissalo, and Naantali.

A magical forest walk through Ruissalo’s 20+ kilometres of trails. Photo: Sanna Suomi

Ruissalo also has an ideal environment for camping. Combining a peaceful location with the convenience of a metropolitan area, the island provides excellent camping facilities with the fun of the city nearby. For those travellers interested in experiencing Finnish foraging, the island holds a forest rich in berries and mushrooms. Finland follows the legal concept of ‘Everyman’s Right’. This means that it is universally acceptable for anyone to collect wild food and enjoy the outdoors, as long as they do not damage or disturb the land. Just make sure to know what varieties are safe to eat.

Photo: Sanna Suomi

Cultural both in the city and outside

Two places to stock up on local foods before heading off to camp is the large and varied outdoor famer’s market and the Market Hall in Turku. Stalls and shops offer a wide variety of delicacies. The hall itself is a cultural landmark, the second-oldest market building in Finland. First opened in 1896, it is well worth a visit.
In July, Ruissalo hosts the popular Ruisrock festival, one of the oldest musical festivals in Finland. Other cultural events can be found in the island’s two theatres.

Ruissalon Telakka. Photo: Kari Kauppi

For outdoor fun, the island is popular for swimming, sauna, golf, beaches, and the University of Turku’s botanic gardens. While exploring the environment and Ruissalo’s 20 kilometres of nature trails, visitors should stop by for lunch, coffee and cake at Villa Kuuva, a café housed in one of the island’s famed wooden villas. Guests can relax, enjoy seasonal cooking, and admire the original interiors and glass windows with views of the Baltic Sea.

“Whether you’re hoping to enjoy a relaxing holiday or have some new adventures and experiences, there’s space in Ruissalo for it all,” says Suomi. “Also, you can just sit and enjoy the summer sky. In my opinion, late summer evenings are the most beautiful, still warm but beginning to get dark, and you can see millions of stars in the sky.”