Kaarina - city in the region of Southwest Finland

Kaarina (Swedish: Sankt Karins‎) is a town in the Finland Proper region of Finland, about 10 km east of Turku. The neighbouring municipality of Piikkiö has now merged with this one.

Understand

The municipality is named after the Katariina church that is in turn named after Catherine of Alexandria (Saint Catherine of the Wheel).

From a rural community, Kaarina has grown to 32,000 inhabitants and has been a town since 1993. Many of the inhabitants work in Turku. Though officially monolingual, Kaarina has a growing Swedish minority of about 5%, with its own comprehensive school.

The former main village of Kaarina (Nummi) has been part of Turku since 1939. The present Kaarina has a few distinct centres. Kuusisto was annexed to Kaarina 1946 and Piikkiö 2009. Littoinen was the biggest settlement in the 1960s, with some industry and a train station (now out of use, on the Turku–Helsinki railway). The modern centre is where the road to the archipelago (Saaristotie, Skärgårdsvägen) used to start, by the then main road to Helsinki.

The remains of a 12th-century church were found in Ravattula in 2013. This is the oldest known church in Finland. The Kaarina parish is mentioned 1309 and the wooden predecessor of the Katariina church was taken into use in 1351.

• Tourist Information, Lautakunnankatu 4 (City Offices, street level), +358 2 588-4010. M 09:00–17:00, Tu–Th 09:00–16:00, F 09:00–15:45. 2017-02-17

Get in and around

See Turku#Get around for information about fares and tickets for the buses.

Kaarina is well connected to Turku. The former main road from Helsinki (now regional road 110) passes by the Kaarina and Piikkiö centres. The motorway from Helsinki (highway 1) also goes through Kaarina, but at a distance from the centre. Highway 10 (from Hämeenlinna) passes through the northern parts of the municipality (by Auranlaakso and Ravattula), and Turku bypass (highway 40 from Naantali) by Ravattula and Piikkiö.

E18 follows highway 1 to highway 40 and continues by that road to Naantali. The junction is north of Piikkiö centre.

By bus

Most coaches from Helsinki to Turku (even most express buses) leave the motorway in Kaarina and use road 110 for driving into Turku, stopping at "Krossi", "Paraisten tienhaara" and "Piispanristi", the latter two by Kaarina centre and the Turku border, respectively. See Matkahuolto

Kaarina takes part in the Turku region "Föli" bus cooperation, which means bus tickets are treated as if Kaarina was part of the same municipality as Turku, Raisio, Naantali, Rusko and Lieto. Most regional buses (such as to Pargas, Kimito and Salo – look for line numbers or a "Föli" sign) can be used with the same tickets as long as you board and get off in the Föli area. A single ticket with two hours unlimited transfer paid by card costs €3 (children 7–14 €1.50). For other ticket options, see Turku#By bus.

The main bus lines from Turku to Kaarina centre are number 801 (Turku to Pargas) and 7 (from Naantali via Turku, with a detour to Koristo). Also e.g. lines 700–708 to Piikkiö pass by Kaarina centre and can be used in the same manner; line 701 continues to Toivonlinna, 703–708 continue to Paimio and beyond. Lines 2B and 2C go from Turku to Littoinen, line 6 from Naantali via Turku along road 10 to Lieto. Internal buses (often minibuses) have a number prefixed by "K". Some of these latter zigzag by any residential areas on their way, so are good for a kind of sightseeing, but not very fast, and have limited schedules. K1 and K3 drive from Auranlaakso via Littoinen to Kaarina centre, K2 serves areas south of road 110, including Lemu and Kuusisto, line K4 and K6 serve Piikkiö (K6 Toivonlinna–Piikkiö–Teerlakia), and K5 drives around most of Kaarina except Auranlaakso, Kuusisto and the far south-west and north-east.

The Föli route planner is useful for getting around by bus in Kaarina.

By bike

Kaarina has good bike routes mostly as needed. Distances are suitable for bike trips, but for getting around you have to budget quite some time, as the points of interest are spread around.

The map at kartta.turku.fi can show biking routes: open the layers menu in the upper left corner, choose Traffic, then Bicycle paths, and use the check boxes. Regional biking route 9 goes from Turku along Hämeentie by Auranlaakso to Lieto, route 10 from Turku via Littoinen and Pyydysmäki to Piikkiö, route 11 along Uudenmaantie via Kaarina centre and Piikkiö to Paimio, route 22 from Auranlaakso via Littoinen and Kaarina centre to Parainen, the Archipelago Trail (in the map: "small ring route") from Turku via Kaarina centre and Pargas farther out in the archipelago. At least these routes are well signposted.

By taxi

• Taxidata, Taksi Länsi-Suomi, iTaksi: see Turku#By taxi
• Smartphone apps: Valopilkku, 02 Taksi

See

• Kuusisto Castle (Kuusiston linna), Linnanrauniontie 633, 60.407778°, 22.474722°, +358 20-639-4620, rannikko@metsa.fi. 24 hours daily; no winter maintenance. Ruins of an episcopal castle from 14th century, demolished after the Lutheran reformation, not to offer a stronghold for the Church. Nearby is Kuusisto manor, which functioned as the farm for the castle and subsequently as a residence for high-ranking governmental officials. The present main building is from 1738. The castle is accessible also by boat. Free

Do

• Hovirinta Beach Park (Hovirinnan rantapuisto), Uimarannantie 54, 60.3959°, 22.3781°. Summer season 15 Jun–31 Aug, Winter swimming Oct–Apr. Beach with playground and traffic park. Free. Fees for sauna, etc. 2017-07-13
• Järvelä wetland, Järveläntie (near Lake Littoistenjärvi), 60.462°, 22.380°. Bird sanctuary by Lake Littoistenjärvi. Nature path and bird watching tower. 2017-02-17
• Kuusistonlahti, Lyhdyntie (eastern part of Kuusisto island south of Kaarina centre), 60.396556°, 22.460667°. Bird sanctuary in a bay of the sea, part of a Natura 2000 special protection area and a great place to observe nesting and resting birds. Birdwatching towers. 2017-02-17
• Littoistenjärvi beach, Vanha Littoistentie 150, 60.4584°, 22.3772°. Beach, dance pavilion and nature trail by Lake Littoistenjärvi. The lake is shallow, which makes the beach ideal for smaller children. It also makes the water warm early in the summer. 2017-02-17
  • Littoistenjärvi dance pavilion (Littoisten lava), Littoistenjärventie 153 (by the Littoistenjärvi beach), 60.4596°, 22.3776°. middle May to early September: Th 18:00/19:30–23:00. Social dancing. The night begins with a 1½-hr dance course included in the price, for one dance, beginning with the basics but with something also for more advanced dancers. Live music the rest of the night: foxtrot, tango, waltz, jive, cha-cha-cha etc., with slightly overweight for the dance taught. Kiosk with coffee, water (free), sandwiches etc. Mostly €15, youth under 25 years €5 2022-06-01
• Pyhän Katariinan polut, 60.3958°, 22.3047°. Trails in western Kaarina. Outcrop hills, steep hillsides, lush forest, fields and seascape views. Souhuvuori prehistoric graves (a guide may be needed to find them). Memorial of the Lemu Battle of 1808. The Vaarniemi, Yli-Lemu and Ala-Lemu mansions. The Vaarniemi tower gives views over a large area. Lean-to shelter 📍 at Vaarniemi (firewood below the stairs from Rauvolanlahti; no fires allowed during wildfire warnings).
• Rauvolanlahti (Rauvolaviken), 60.4087°, 22.2874°. Bird sanctuary. Nature path through the reed; bird watching towers. Connection to the Katariinanlaakso nature reserve in Turku. The path (Vaarniemen–Rauvolanlahden luontopolku) is part of the St. Olav Waterway and the Pyhän Katariinan polut trail network. The duckboards can be flooded at high waters, i.e. suitable footwear may be needed.
• Swimming pool (Kaarinan uimahalli), Uimahallintie 4 (750 m south-east of the centre), 60.4027°, 22.3742°, +358 50-320-7870. Cash desk open M W F 06:00–20:00. Tu 10:00–20:00, Th 08:00–20:00, Sa Su 12:00–17:00, the pool closes 30 min later. Indoor swimming pool. Also gym. €6.50, students €4, children 5–16 yrs €3.50, toddlers free 2022-10-28
• Tuorla observatory and planetarium, 60.415833°, 22.443333°. Skywatching. For a walk through the ages, see also the Time Trek in Go next.

Events

• Saaristo Open. 2020: 4–6 June. Music festival, 20,000–30,000 visitors. 2019-11-04

Buy

Some shopping in the centre.

Eat

There are hamburgers, kebab, pizza and Chinese food available in Kaarina centre, and even a Nepali lunch restaurant. For fine dining, however, the common solution is to go to Turku. Nice dinners are also available in some former manors and similar businesses (see Sleep below).

• Prego, Uimahallintie 2 (by the swimming hall), 60.4022°, 22.3762°, +358 44-799-1000, ravintola@ravintolaprego.fi. M–F 10:30–14:30. Lunch buffet: salad, soup, two warm dishes and desert. €10.50/€6.50
• Tsing tao, Kiesikatu 8–10 (east part of the centre), 60.4085°, 22.3756°, +358 2 243-1888. M–Th 11:00–21:00, F 11:00–22:00, Sa 12:00–22:00, Su 12:00–21:00; lunch M–F 11:00–15:00. Chinese food. €10–30, children's dishes €7.50; lunch €9.70
• Huikopala, Lautakunnankatu 1 (in the centre: Kaarina-talo), 60.4084°, 22.3680°, +358 50-569-6247, info@huikopala.fi. 11:00–14:00. Lunch buffet, home-cooked style. €10, soup lunch €8

Drink

Some pubs and cafés, most people go to Turku for nightlife.

Sleep

• Hotel Kivitasku, Aittakatu 1 (in the centre), 60.40762°, 22.37074°, +358 2 242-4920, kivitasku@avainhotellit.fi. Located in the town centre. Single, double and triple rooms. Lunch restaurant. €88; lunch €10
• Hostel Tuorla (Tuorlan majatalo), Tuorlantie 1 (Tuorla manor, 3 km east from the centre along Uudenmaantie (road 110), with adequate bus connections from Turku and the centre: most of the 70x lines; good cycleway), 60.41617°, 22.43746°, +358 2 472-6625, myynti@tuorlanmajatalo.fi. Accommodation in the former pupil's rooms of a boarding school (agriculture), in the countryside. Tries to offer a cosy homelike atmosphere. Most rooms have shared toilet, showers and kitchen/living room. Breakfast and linen included. Also programme services, mainly for groups. €65/€80/€95 for single/double/triple, €5 cheaper in winter, pets +€15; breakfast €10/5; M–F lunch €10.40, soup lunch € €8.50, children 4–12 years 5.50, toddlers €1/year, Sa–Su €16/7/2–6; historic guiding tour €120
• Kavalto Farm (Kavaltontila), Kavaltontie 11, 21500 Piikkiö, 60.41055°, 22.51103°, +358 2 475-0000, kavalton@kavaltontila.com. An alternative to the city hotels, Kavalto Farm offers bed and breakfast in Finnish countryside
• Lomakeskus Koivukankare, Munkkentie 251 (on Kuusisto; turn toward the church and the castle ruins, turn left after 250 m to Munkkentie, drive 2,5 km), 60.4005°, 22.4312°, +358 40-719-9970, info@koivukankare.com. "Leisure centre" at two former farms, with minigolf, badminton, etc. Rowing boats, canoes, bikes and motorboats for rent. Fishing and nature trips etc. Modern wheelchair enabled accommodation building (shared bathrooms and toilets) and caravan site. Wi-Fi. Restaurant: lunch in summer 12:00–14:00, otherwise à la carte (check hours). Founded 1940. double €61, 3-pers €81, pet €10; caravan €25+showers €5/person; breakfast €8; à la carte: most meals €15–20, soup, hamburger or vegetarian €6–10
• Villa Wolax, Villa Wolaxin tie 40 (Kuusisto, turn left before the Kirjalansalmi bridge, drive 3 km along Vuolahdentie, turn left to Villa Volaxin tie), 60.3691°, 22.3265°, +358 40-533-1469 (M–F 09:00–16:00), myynti@villawolax.fi. Nice villa in nice milieu. Mostly targeted at conferences, retreats and business meetings, weddings etc. The rooms are in five buildings with separate private areas. The buildings and rooms are in different style, some in line with the villa, others more modernistic, some rather simple. Activities for groups. Restaurant in summer and on request. Guest marina with water, electricity, toilets, and row boat and bikes to borrow. As of 2022 the business is for sale (still going strong though), check whether things change with new owners. Single €90, double €140; breakfast €14 (order in advance); harbour fee €20, day visit for dinner free; private sauna €250/2 hr, €70/hr for marina guests

Connect

Go next

• Kaarina is a good starting point for the Archipelago Trail – head south along regional road 180 towards Pargas.
• The King's Road comes from Turku and continues along the southern coast.
• Time Trek (Aikavaellus). A walk through the ages to Turku – 13,8 billion years in 13,8 km. The walk (or bike route) leads from the Big Bang near the Tuorla observatory to our time at the University of Turku, with major events signposted. The signs are in Finnish only, but the web site is bilingual with English, with descriptions of the events. The route mostly follows wide gravel paths accessible by bike and wheelchair; the last 300 m or so have stairs, mostly avoidable by detours.