Bothnian Coastal Route takes you around the Gulf of Bothnia, which is the northernmost bay of the Baltic Sea, located between Sweden and Finland. The route takes you past several Unesco heritage sites, beautiful towns, historic sites, unique archipelago, exciting sights, wild rapids and beautiful nature.
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Bothnian coast route
Bothnian Coastal Route runs around the entire Gulf of Bothnia, through Sweden and Finland. Along the way you will experience the Åland Sea, the Archipelago Sea, southern and northern Kvarken, the Bothnian Sea and the Gulf of Bothnia.
We travelled this route ourselves in the summer of 2023, and have visited all the places we recommend. You'll need a mobile vehicle to get around, and we'll give you suggestions for attractions and accommodation, as well as distances to your next destination.
How to travel the Bothnian Coastal Route?
We start and end in Norrtälje, but you can of course start anywhere as it is a round trip. Bothnian Coastal Route goes eastwards past beautiful Åland and into the Finnish archipelago, with smaller ferries and several stops.
Bothnian Coastal Route takes you to Turku, and there will be many nice stops all the way up to Tornio and Haparanda. Here we turn down again and take the whole coastal road south through Sweden, back to Norrtälje.
Are there other ways to travel the Bothnian Coastal Route?
We suggest one way to get around the Bothnian Coastal Route, but you can choose to start the journey anywhere in Sweden or Finland. You can drive in any direction, and you can also shorten the journey by taking the ferry between Vaasa and Umeå, if there is not enough time. This is just one idea to experience the unique Bothnian Coastal Route.
Map of the Bothnian coast route
Fast facts about the Bothnian Coastal Route
- Length: Motorway without Åland 2212 km
- Start: Norrtälje
- Stop: Norrtälje
1. Norrtälje
Norrtälje offers many activities and attractions. The idyllic archipelago town is known for its beautiful old wooden houses, charming alleys and cosy cafés. There are also several museums to explore, such as the Pythagoras Industrial Museum. Outside the city, there are plenty of nature reserves and archipelago islands to discover.
TIP: Kapellskär Camping and Nature Reserve
Kapellskär Camping is beautifully situated in the Riddersholm Nature Reserve, close to the coast and the Åland Sea. The campsite offers cabins and is just three minutes from the boats that take visitors along the Bothnian Coastal Route.
2. Around the Åland Islands
Åland is an autonomous, Swedish-speaking archipelago that is both beautiful and exciting to visit. You can of course explore the main town of Mariehamn, but it's also great to get to Eckerö and visit sights such as Kastelholm Castle and Bomarsund Fortress. From Åland, you can take a ferry from Långnäs to Naantali in Finland. Another option is to take a car ferry from Svinö in mainland Åland to Föglö, then ferry to Kökar and then ferry to Galby in the Åboland archipelago.
Tips: Helsingfors (Helsinki)
Known for its rich design and architecture, Helsinki is also a wonderful summer city with its outdoor cafés and boat trips. You can take a boat trip to interesting Suomenlinna, for example, or visit museums such as the Amos Rex Museum.
3. Turku - Bothnian Coast Route
Turku, once the largest city in Finland, is a real gem with its beautiful riverside promenade. Here you will find many nice restaurants, interesting museums and lovely excursions.
4. Naantali (Naantali)
Naantali is a fantastic little archipelago gem that is well worth a visit. Here you'll find charming wooden houses, cosy outdoor cafés and several great museums. You can also meet the Moomins in Moominworld.
5. Rauma (Rauma)
Rauma is a historic town, founded in 1442. This small town charms visitors with its beautiful old wooden town and no less than two Unesco World Heritage Sites.
Tip: Ytterö (Yyteri) sand dunes - Bothnian Coastal Route
Ytterö (Yyteri) is the longest sandy beach in Finland, at 6 kilometres. The shallow beach is located outside Pori, less than an hour north of Rauma by car. A trip here, on a nice summer day, is highly recommended! If you want to stay overnight, there is a large campsite with catering and cabins.
6. Kristinestad (Kristiinankaupunki)
Kristiinankaupunki is a picturesque Ostrobothnian town, known for its charming wooden houses and lively markets, which are organised several times a year. There are also a number of interesting museums.
7. Närpes (Närpiö)
Närpes (Närpiö) is a fascinating Ostrobothnian town that offers everything from tomato farms and local delicacies to war history and a unique Swedish dialect. Don't miss out on a visit here!
8. Vaasa (Vaasa) - Bothnian coastal route
Vaasa is the centre of the Ostrobothnia region. This city offers everything from interesting museums to fantastic nature experiences in the surroundings. For example, you can start from here to experience the Kvarken Archipelago, which together with the High Coast is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
9. Oravais (Oravainen)
Oravais (Oravainen) is just a small village, but it has a history that has dramatically influenced both Sweden and Finland. In other words, don't miss Oravais on your journey through Ostrobothnia!
10. Jakobstad (Pietarsaari)
Pietarsaari has everything from historic wooden houses and fascinating museums to scenic areas and a popular summer event, the Jacob's Days. Here you will find, for example, the beautiful Fäboda area and the Nanoq Arctic Museum.
11. Kokkola (Kokkola)
What to do in Kokkola, Finland? This cosy coastal town offers everything from historic wooden houses to sun, swimming and boat trips. You can also take a boat trip to Lighthouse Island Tankar.
Tip: Kalajoki camping
Visiting Kalajoki Camping in Finland can be a really great experience. This campsite is located on stunning sand dunes and offers a long, beautiful sandy beach for swimming.
12. Brahestad (Raahe) - Bothnian coast route
Raahe is a small and very charming town with a beautiful wooden house district, several interesting museums and a lovely waterfront location. You can also find the world's oldest diving suit here!
13. Oulu (Oulu)
What can you do in Oulu, Finland? Located at the mouth of the Oulu River in the Gulf of Bothnia, this city has a lot to offer. You'll find parks, museums and the beautiful Nallikari beach. You can also take an excursion by ferry to the beautiful island of Karlö (Hailuoto).
14. Tornio and Haparanda
What can you do in Haparanda and Tornio? Two cities in two different countries, but almost intertwined with each other. This is clearly a unique place with a very special history.
TIP: Kukkulaforsen
A visit to Kukkolaforsen, which gushes into the Torne River just north of Haparanda, is well worthwhile. The rapids are a natural attraction, and there is also a lot of interesting history to learn. There are also hotels, restaurants, camping, museums and various activities.
15. Kalix - Bothnian coastal route
Kalix is a small town in the north of Sweden, famous for its exclusive vendace roe. The area also offers beautiful scenery and interesting sights from the Cold War, in the form of Siknäs Fort and the submarine museum in Töre harbour.
16. Luleå
Luleå boasts a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the form of Gammelstad Church Town, but there's also plenty more to discover. For example, you can visit the Norrbotten Railway Museum and take a trip to the wild Storforsen.
TIP: Old Town Church Town (UNESCO)
Visiting Gammelstad Church Town in Luleå is a fascinating and historically interesting experience. The church town is not only charming, but also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
17. Piteå
Piteå is a northern holiday paradise known for its long, fine sandy beaches, including at Pite havsbad. You may also want to try classic Pitepalt during your visit.
18. Skellefteå
Skellefteå offers both culture and history, as well as a lot of beautiful nature. Here you will find, among other things, the beautiful church town of Bonnstan and the lovely Bjuröklubb nature reserve.
19. Umeå - Bothnian coastal route
Sometimes referred to as the city of birches, the lovely city of Umeå offers everything from rooftop bars and exciting museums to fantastic nature experiences. For example, you can stroll along the Umeälven river or swim at some of Umeå's sea baths.
20. Örnsköldsvik
Örnsköldsvik, or Ö-vik as it is known, offers everything from culture and museums to wonderful nature experiences. This is the hometown of Modo hockey and you can head to the beautiful islands of Trysunda or Ulvön.
TIP: Nämforsen rock carvings
Visiting the Nämforsen rock carvings in Ångermanland is a fascinating experience, partly because the nature at the rapids is fantastic, but mainly because this is one of the largest rock carving sites in northern Europe.
TIP: High Coast (UNESCO) - Bothnian Coastal Route
What can you do in Höga kusten? This scenic area in Ångermanland is not only beautiful to visit, but is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here you will find the Höga kusten trail, Skuleberget, Skuleskogen National Park and Slåttdalsskrevan. In addition, you can experience the open-air museum Mannaminne.
TIP: Hemsö Fortress
Visiting Hemsö Fortress, in the High Coast, is very interesting. There are guided tours that take you down into the once super-secret military facility hidden in the mountain.
21. Härnösand - Bothnian coastal route
What can you do in Härnösand? This lovely little town, located in the High Coast, is often described as the best summer town in Norrland. Here you'll find cosy streets, beautiful nature and several exciting museums, such as the Härnösand Car Museum.
22. Sundsvall
What can you do in Sundsvall? This city, sometimes referred to as Drakstaden, offers the beautiful and grand district of Stenstan. Here you can also experience Södra berget, with outdoor activities, and Norra berget, with an outdoor museum. Or why not sunbathe and swim on Alnön?
23. Hudiksvall
Hudiksvall (Glada hudik), which is the largest town in Hälsingland, is beautifully situated on the coast. Here you will find a charming environment with boathouses and the opportunity for great nature experiences in the surroundings.
Tip: Celebrate a Swedish Midsummer along the Bothnian Coastal Route
In Hälsingland there are many opportunities to celebrate a traditional Midsummer Eve. Just 15 minutes from the centre of Hudiksvall, for example, is Forsa Forngård, with several 18th-century houses, which give the feeling of celebrating a beautiful Swedish Midsummer. Try the cheesecake from Hälsingland that is sold on site. Don't miss this if you're travelling the Bothnian Coastal Route at the end of June.
Tips: Hälsingegårdar (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
There are seven unique UNESCO World Heritage Hälsingland farms located inland between Hudiksvall and Söderhamn. Take the opportunity to see beautiful paintings and wallpapers from the houses on your journey around the Bothnian Coastal Route!
24. Söderhamn
Söderhamn is a coastal and pleasant town, with lovely surroundings. Here you will find several nice fishing villages, such as super charming Skärså fishing village. In addition, you will find nice beaches and nature reserves.
TIP: Axmar pier & mill
Axmar Brygga is a lovely seaside restaurant - with a very popular caravan park - beautifully situated on the east coast, right next to the historic Axmar Mill. It's a great place to make a stop on your way through Sweden.
25. Gävle - Bothnian coastal route
Gävle is the largest city in Norrland and the 14th largest city in Sweden. Here you can discover the beautiful Boulongerskogen park and visit interesting museums such as the County Museum and the Prison Museum.
TIP: Sandbanks (Beaches)
Stop by and just enjoy the fine-grained sand and a lovely sea swim!
TIP: Rullsand Sea Baths & Camping
Rullsands camping is a nice campsite outside Gävle, with a lovely sandy beach. Definitely worth one or more visits!
TIP: Ängskär seaside resort - Bothnian coastal route
Ängskärs havsbad is scenically located on the Hållnäs peninsula in north-eastern Uppland. Here you can enjoy beautiful nature and lovely cliffs by the sea.
TIP: Leaves
Lövstabruk in Uppland is one of the so-called 'vallonbruks' in Sweden, a historic ironworks dating back to the 16th century. It was once the largest ironworks in Sweden, owned by the de Geer family for 13 generations. Today, the mill is a popular tourist destination with attractions, exhibitions and an inn.
TIP: Forsmark Mill - Bothnian Coastal Route
Forsmark's mill in Roslagen is one of the many beautiful Walloon mills in the area. Iron was once produced here, and in the 17th century the Walloons came from Belgium to improve production. Today the mill is a great place to visit with historic buildings, an English park, a restaurant and a café.
26. Öregrund
Öregrund is a real gem in Roslagen with charming alleys, beautiful old wooden houses and a harbour full of boats and restaurants. Here you can enjoy a pleasant holiday atmosphere and watch the sun sink over the sea.
27. Grisslehamn
Grisslehamn is located on Väddö in Roslagen and is a charming little town, which is lively thanks to the Eckerölinjen line that allows people to cruise to Åland. There's camping, a marina, a spa hotel and a cosy little fishing harbour with restaurants. You'll also find the Albert Engström Museum here and you can cross over to the small island of Singö.
28. Väddö - Bothnian coastal route
Väddö havsbad och camping on Väddö is a campsite with a sandy beach, surrounded by beautiful nature. Although the campsite is quite simple, it offers beautiful surroundings.
Back to the starting point Norrtälje
Fast facts about the Bothnian Coastal Route
- The Gulf of Bothnia is 80-240 kilometres wide and 587 kilometres long.
- The Gulf of Bothnia has an average depth of about 55 metres and a maximum depth of 301 metres
- The area is approximately 116,000 square kilometres
- The volume is about 6500 cubic kilometres
- Rivers flow into the Gulf of Bothnia from both Finland and Sweden, which means that the water is fresher in the north and more brackish in the southern Gulf of Bothnia. It also means that the sea freezes longer in the northern Bothnian Bay and up to 5 months a year.
Landscape
- Swedish landscapes around the Bothnian coastal route: Norrbotten, Västerbotten, Ångermanland, Medelpad, Hälsingland, Gästrikland and Uppland
- Finnish landscapes around the Bothnian Coastal Route: Lapland incl. Northern Ostrobothnia, Northern Ostrobothnia, Central Ostrobothnia, Ostrobothnia, Satakunta, Southwest Finland and Åland
Fairies
- Swedish rivers flowing around the Bothnian coastal route: Dala River (542 km long), Kalix River (430 km long), Lule River (461 km long), Pite River (410 km long), Skellefte River (410 km long), Torne River (520 km long), Ume River (470 km long), Ångerman River (463 km long)
- Finnish rivers flowing around the Bothnian Coastal Route: Kemi river (500 km long), Ule river (107 km long)
Cities and towns
- Swedish cities and towns around the Bothnian Coastal Route: Norrtälje, Öregrund, Gävle, Söderhamn, Hudiksvall, Sundsvall, Härnösand, Örnsköldsvik, Umeå, Skellefteå, Piteå, Luleå, Kalix, Haparanda
- Finnish cities and towns along the Bothnian Coastal Route: Åland, Helsinki, Turku, Naantali, Rauma, Pori, Kristiinankaupunki, Närpes, Vaasa, Oravainen, Jakobstad, Kokkola, Raahe, Luleåborg, Tornio
National parks
- Swedish national parks around the Bothnian Coastal Route: Haparanda Archipelago National Park, Skuleskogen National Park, Ängsö National Park
- Finnish national parks around the Bothnian Coastal Route: Bothnian Bay National Park, Rokua National Park, Lauhanvuori National Park, Bothnian Sea National Park, Archipelago National Park, Ekenäs Archipelago National Park, Valkmusa National Park
UNESCO heritage
- Swedish UNESCO heritage around the Bothnian Coastal Route: Struve's meridian arch in Haparanda, Gammelstad church town in Luleå, High Coast, decorated farmhouses of Hälsingland, Falu copper mine in Falun, Engelsberg mill in Engelsberg,
- Finnish UNESCO heritage around the Bothnian Coastal Route: Laponia in Lapland, Meridian arc as a measuring point in the church tower in Nedertorneå, Kvarken archipelago, Sammallahdenmäki in Rauma, Rauma wooden town
Delicacies
- Swedish delicacies: Pitepalt, Västerbotten cheese, sour herring, flatbread, Hälsinge cheese, mess butter, vendace roe.
- Finnish delicacies: Tomato ice cream, Liquorice, Salty waffles, Finnish pigs, Apple juice, Åland pancake, Deer ice cream.
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