This coastal Finnish town is home to the largest preserved wooden old town in the Nordic countries, with buildings from the 1700s and local crafts like traditional lace making.
In Rauma, Finland's third oldest town, you can wander through 600 wooden buildings from the 17th century in the UNESCO World Heritage listed Old Town. Watch local artisans create intricate lace pieces in traditional workshops, climb aboard a navigation simulator at the Maritime Museum, or examine 15th-century frescoes in the Church of the Holy Cross. Sleep in a lighthouse on Kylmäpihlaja island, where the keeper's quarters have been converted into guest rooms.
Exploring Old Rauma
Walk through 28 hectares of wooden buildings in Scandinavia's largest unified wooden town center. The streets follow their original medieval paths, while the buildings date mainly from the 1600s. Along the main streets, you'll see decorated wooden facades from the 1890s, when sailing ship captains built their homes here. Small shops and cafes now occupy many of these historic buildings, which you can explore by following the narrow alleyways between them.
Maritime Legacy and Museum
Step into Rauma's seafaring world at the Maritime Museum, housed in the former Nautical School. Try your hand at navigating a ship in Finland's only public navigation simulator, or examine items from the town's peak sailing era of 1897, when 57 commercial vessels called Rauma their home port. The museum chronicles the town's evolution from a sailing ship harbor to its current status as a commercial port with one of Finland's largest drydocks.
Lace-Making Tradition
Watch skilled artisans create intricate patterns in local lace workshops, continuing a craft that has defined Rauma since the 1700s. Visit during the July Lace Week to see exhibitions throughout Old Rauma's buildings. Join the Black Lace Night celebrations, when locals wear black lace clothing for evening concerts and shows, and shops stay open late.
Getting Around Rauma
Find Rauma between Turku and Pori along national road 8 (E8). Regular buses connect to Helsinki (3.5 hours), Turku (1.5 hours), and Tampere (2.5 hours). You can walk everywhere in the compact old town. In summer, take a water bus to Kylmäpihlaja Lighthouse for meals or overnight stays.
Beyond the Old Town
Visit the Sammallahdenmäki Bronze Age burial site, 20 kilometers from town. This UNESCO World Heritage site contains 36 granite burial cairns built over 3,000 years ago. Take a trip to Kylmäpihlaja Lighthouse Island at the edge of Rauma's archipelago for a meal or overnight stay. In winter, you might reach the island by walking, skiing, or skating across the frozen sea.
