Att göra i Jakobstad i Finland - 20 tips

What to do in Pietarsaari, Finland? This pretty little Ostrobothnian town offers everything from charming wooden houses and exciting museums to beautiful natural areas and a popular summer event. Here are all our top tips for things to see and do in Pietarsaari.

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Jakobstad, Finland

Jakobstad is a nice little town in Ostrobothnia which is well worth a visit. The city was founded in 1652 by Countess Ebba Brahe, who named it after her late husband Jakob de la Gardie. In Finnish, the town has a completely different name, Pietarsaariwhich is a refinement of the name of the old main parish, as well as the current neighbouring municipality, Pedersöre.

Finland's national poet Johan Ludvig Runeberg was born in this historic little gem, and today the town is known for the annual event "Jakob Days", which we managed to catch when we arrived in our motorhome. In terms of language, Jakobstad is a bilingual municipality, with Swedish as the majority language. So you can get by perfectly well in Swedish here.

Jakobstad is located in Ostrobothnia, Finland, about 10 kilometres northeast of the larger city of Vaasa.

What can you do in Pietarsaari?

So what can you do in Pietarsaari? This is a lovely little town to visit, especially in the summer. Here are our top tips for things to do in Jakobstad and the surrounding area.

1. walking or cycling in the city centre

A nice way to discover Jakobstad is to walk around, or to take a bike ride. If you want, you can stop by the tourist office, located in the beautiful town hall by the square, for maps and suggestions for different walking and cycling routes.

2. Check out the wooden houses in Skata.

The old wooden house town in Jakobstad is called Skata and is one of the largest continuous wooden house areas in Finland. The area has been preserved largely in its original form and is both incredibly charming and incredibly large.

3. Coffee at Skorpan

Skorpan is a super cosy little bakery and café located in Skata in Jakobstad. The picture below doesn't do it justice at all, because the torrential rain when we stopped by. This is a wonderful little oasis where you can buy bread, munch on cinnamon buns in the beer garden or perhaps eat ice cream made in the stall in the courtyard.

4. Hang out in the school garden

In the centre of Pietarsaari is a park called the School Garden. The park was originally built in the early 1900s as a botanical garden that could be used for teaching botany at the school. Today it is a cosy park with many different kinds of plants and a pond with carp.

5. Visit the Malmska farm

Jakobstad Museum operates in several places in the city, including a historical museum in Malmska gården in the centre of town. In the museum you can learn more about shipping and other things that have been important to the city over the years.

Att göra i Jakobstad i Finland - Malmska gården

In a red outbuilding next door, you can step into various reconstructed rooms, including a farm shop and a hairdressing salon.

6. Peek into Runeberg's cottage

Author and poet Johan Ludvig Runeberg was born in Jakobstad in 1804 and is considered Finland's national poet. He is best known for his work 'The Tales of Ensign Steel', from which the lyrics of the Finnish national anthem 'Our Country' were taken.

If you're visiting Pietarsaari in the summer, check out 'Runeberg's Cottage' in Östanpå, one of the best preserved environments from his time. The hunting and fishing lodge was built in 1810 by Runeberg's father, and this is where Runeberg spent his summers as a child.

Att göra i Jakobstad i Finland - Runebergs stuga

7. Discover the Strengberg Tobacco Museum

Strengberg's Tobacco Museum, at Skolgatan 25, tells the story of tobacco in Jakobstad and Finland. It displays products from the Strengberg tobacco factory and other factories in Finland.

Att göra i Jakobstad i Finland - Strengbergs tobaksfabrik — Strengberg's old tobacco factory in Pietarsaari

8. Eat a pizza buffet at Mr Banks.

Hungry in Jakobstad? There are certainly many nice places, but we can recommend the pizza buffet at Mr Banks in the centre of town. Tasty, quick and easy! And you don't have to choose what kind of pizza to order, just that!

Att göra i Jakobstad i Finland - Mr Banks

9. Taste Finnish pigs at Brödhörnet.

When you're in these parts, you can also take the opportunity to try "Finnish pigs", which are a kind of donut with jam in the filling. The pigs are not only here in Pietarsaari, but this is where we tried them, at the bakery Brödhörnet. Good pastries in a cosy café! If you want, you can also enjoy a Jaffa from the Finnish company Hartwall.

10. Strolling in Aspegren's garden

Aspegren's garden, at the Rosenlund vicarage, is a fantastic oasis close to the centre of Pietarsaari. Here it is completely free to stroll among green plants and flowers in every imaginable colour and shape. The area also includes an orangery, a gazebo, the Pedersörenejden village museum and the Rosenlund restaurant. An incredibly beautiful environment!

Att göra i Jakobstad i Finland - Aspegrens trädgård

11. Admire the Pedersöre church

Pedersöre Church, which despite its name is located in Pietarsaari and not in Pedersöre, is one of the oldest medieval churches in Ostrobothnia. In the late 18th century, however, the church was remodelled into a cross church and lost its medieval design. The building is both powerful and beautiful, and worth checking out.

Att göra i Jakobstad i Finland - Pedersöre kyrka

12. Experience the Old Harbour

Until the mid-19th century, the Old Harbour served as Jakobstad's harbour, with a bustling and active maritime life. Today, this is a quiet area with a marina and a beach with a diving tower. The galleass Jakobstads Wapen and the war indemnity schooner Vega are also located here. The latter is located in Skeppsgården and is on display at certain times during the summer and by appointment.

13. Cruise to Mässkär

Mässkär is an island in the outermost sea belt outside Jakobstad and on the island there is, in addition to beautiful nature, a summer open restaurant. In summer you can also get here by regular boat trips from the Old Harbour.

14. Enjoy nature in Fäboda

Fäboda is located just outside the centre of Pietarsaari and is an extremely popular area for holidays and pleasant days in nature. There is a fantastically beautiful sandy beach, as well as fine cliffs and several different hiking trails in lovely nature.

You can come here to sunbathe and swim, or to hike, cycle, fish or pick berries. If you want to stay overnight with a motorhome, there is a caravan park (Lillsand Matkaparkki), where you can watch the sunset over the water.

Fäboda is also home to Fäboda Kaffestuga, where you will find simple dishes, homemade cakes and homemade Italian ice cream. The café has a lovely view of the sea, and right next to it is a barrier-free nature trail on fine footpaths. In the area you will also find an entertaining nature trail for children, with animal sculptures, animal information and a balancing course.

15. Visit the Arctic Museum Nanoq

Just outside the centre of Pietarsaari, at Fäboda, is Finland's first Arctic museum. The museum is called Nanoq, which means polar bear in Greenlandic, and was founded by Pentti Kronqvist, a retired firefighter and polar explorer.

Pentti has participated in several expeditions to Greenland, including the Finnish-Norwegian Trans Greenland expedition in 1981, which was a 700 kilometre journey across Greenland.

In the museum, visitors can familiarise themselves with Arctic peoples, cultures and customs, and gain insight into many of the expeditions undertaken over the years. The museum area also includes reconstructions of buildings in the Arctic region, such as peat houses, gold panning camps and the world's northernmost church. Visiting the Nanoq Museum is a must-do in Jakobstad!

16. Experience the days of St James

Once a year, during a week at the end of July, Pietarsaari comes alive during the city festival 'Jacob's Days'. During these days a market is organised, but also lots of different cultural events and activities for children and young people. By downloading the 'Jacob's Days' app, you can see what's happening throughout the week, hour by hour. When we visited the market and the auction, it was raining but still lively.

Att göra i Jakobstad i Finland - Jakobs dagar — Auction during St James' Day 2023

17. Ride the Road of Seven Bridges

The Seven Bridges Road (regional road 749) is a road that runs from Nykarleby, via Jakobstad and Larsmo, to Kokkola. This is a nice route to drive, passing seven bridges along the coast, and perfect if you want to continue to Nykarleby or Kokkola. If you drive in the direction of Kokkola, you can also experience Larsmo, Köpmanholmen and the Tyynelän Tontut world of gnomes.

18. Take a boat to Köpmanholmen - for lunch

One experience we highly recommend is having lunch at Köpmanholmen in Larsmo municipality. A lunch here does not only mean a break for food, but also offers an experience. Köpmanholmen is a charming little island with no bridge or ferry connection. However, if you plan to visit the summer open restaurant, it's completely free to get here, and there are two options:

Borrow a rowing boat! The boats are moored at the jetty, and there are also life jackets to borrow, in a box.
Call a water taxi! The phone number for Köpmanholmen's boat taxi is at the jetty, and they will come and pick you up shortly. The trip takes 5-7 minutes.

On the green and beautiful island of Köpmanholmen, there is a restaurant that serves simple meals (we had halloumi burgers) as well as a delicious floating sauna where you can spend the night and an overnight cabin. There are also short walking trails and a small lookout tower.

19. See gnomes at Tyynelän Tontut.

Tyynelän Tontut is a fantastic gnome farm in Larsmo that offers pure joy. The couple who run the farm make handmade gnomes - she makes the faces out of plaster and paper pulp and he makes the clothes. The beautiful gnomes, which are sold at the farm and at various fairs, all have a personal touch.

In summer, the couple open up the farm as a museum, where you can see the gnomes come to life in one charming setting after another.

However, Tyynelän Tontut is much more than a gnome museum. The couple who own the farm have devoted their entire lives to collecting beautiful, historic and special furniture and artefacts. Every room on the farm, and every little outbuilding, is now decorated with original fabrics, clothes, artefacts and toys. You can take a look at the chapel, the trading shed and the gnomes' workshop.

Not only are the plots and rooms beautiful, but it's a dream to walk around in the beautiful environment. The green garden, which is full of surprises, is full of flowers. And yes, of course, there is a café with delicious pastries too!

20. Take a trip to the Kuddnäs Museum in Nykarleby.

Kuddnäs Museum, located in Nykarleby 2 kilometres south of Pietarsaari, showcases the home where the famous author Zacharias Topelius grew up. Topelius was born on the farm in 1818, when the Grand Duchy of Finland was part of the Russian Empire.

A historian and newspaperman, Topelius became best known as a poet and writer, and has sometimes been described as 'Finland's fairy tale brother', as he wrote many popular stories, as well as textbooks, for children.

At the museum you can see where Topelius grew up with his siblings. It displays period furniture and artefacts, as well as Topelius' suggestions for a Finnish flag. Topelius was a strong advocate of Finnish independence, but unfortunately did not live to see the day.

More to see and do in Pietarsaari

Of course, there is even more to see and do in Pietarsaari than our tips. Here are some more suggestions.

Jakobstad church is a traditional cross-shaped church that was consecrated in 1731 (Kyrkgatan 3).
Strandis Smokehouse is a restaurant with smoked fish and meat (Assarskärsvägen 1, Larsmo).
Tobacco warehouse is an exhibition centre, which sometimes hosts art and cultural history exhibitions (Jakobsgatan 9).
Exhibition hall Tempus is a hall for temporary exhibitions, belonging to Jakobstad Museum. (Otto Malmsgatan 3)
Villa Sveden is a nice summer house, where various cultural activities are sometimes organised in the summer.

Att göra i Jakobstad — Jakobstad Church is located in the centre of town

Where can you stay in Pietarsaari, or park your campervan?

In Jakobstad, there are a few different hotels to choose from, such as Hotel Epoque and Stadshotellet. If, like us, you're travelling by motorhome, there are also a whole bunch of different options:

Camping Svanen is located on the shore of Lake Larsmo (Larsmovägen 50).
Lillsand Matkaparkki is a car park in Fäboda (pitches with and without electricity), which is paid for and booked using an app.
Old Harbour Park & Camping is a small campsite in a good location for visiting the city (Pavisvägen 1).
Parking 6 Equator is a free car park, with water views and a great location for visiting the city.

The FREEDOM camper van in the car park at 6 Equator.

From the car park at 6 Equatorn we could walk or cycle into the city centre. Nearby is also the restaurant Pavis, in a beautiful house.

More things to see and do near Pietarsaari

From Pietarsaari it is not far to the beautiful Karleby, which is located just north of Pietarsaari. If you are travelling south instead, we can recommend a visit to the historically interesting Oravais and in the pleasant city of Vaasa. If you like nature, don't miss the Kvarken Archipelago, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Below you will find even more tips for things to do in Finland.

More tips for things to do in Jakobstad?

Have you visited Pietarsaari in Finland? Do you have even more suggestions for what to see and do in Pietarsaari? Let us know!

Facts about Jakobstad

Country: Finland
Landscape: Ostrobothnia
Population: More than 19 000 (2020)
The name: Jakobstad in Swedish and Pietarsaari in Finnish. The city is also called Jeppis. The Swedish name comes from Jakob de la Gardie. The Finnish name comes from the neighbouring municipality's name Pedersöre, which in Finnish becomes Pietarsaari.
Language: Swedish about 56 % and Finnish about 34 %
Currency: Euro
Read more: You can find more information at tourist office website.

Getting around in jakob city

Walking/cycling: It is easy to get around the centre of Pietarsaari by walking or cycling.
Car/caravan: You can drive into town and park in a reasonably central location, then walk around.
Municipal: During the summer, a bus may run between Pietarsaari and Fäboda.

History of Jakobstad

1652: The city was founded by Ebba Brahe, widow of Jakob de la Gardie.
19th century: Shipowners resisted the railway, resulting in the main line between Oulu and Helsinki being moved further inland.
1918: During the Finnish Civil War, there was a white artillery school in the city, which was Finland's first artillery school.
1944: The city was bombed by the Russians on Shrove Tuesday, 22 February, resulting in several casualties.
1960s: With industrialisation, more Finnish speakers moved to the city, where Swedish was previously more dominant.
1960s-1900s: The town had a ferry connection with Skellefteå.

3 Comments

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Mr Pelle Lillkvist says:

Was. Became ,Motor Museum in Jakobstad ?

07 August 2023 - 12:10

Lena in Wales and a bit everywhere says:

Oh, I can't wait to get there. Yes, the whole area around is virtually unknown to me.
It's a shame that so many places are only open for a few weeks over the summer, you don't have time to be everywhere in such a short time.
Take care!

09 August 2023 - 9:35

Coco says:

Thanks for your comprehensive list!
Oh how I would have loved to visit Tyynelän Tontut - unfortunatelly only open in July.

09 September 2024 - 22:08

What to do in Jakobstad, Finland - 20 tips