Things to Do in Ekenas, Finland: A Summer Weekend 1.5h from Helsinki
If you're looking for a summer weekend trip from Helsinki, let me tell you about Ekenäs. It's a small seaside town on Finland's south coast, about 1.5 hours from Helsinki, and I barely see anyone posting about it. Blue water, a wooden Old Town that actually feels alive, and a beach you can bike to. Honestly? I liked it even more than Porvoo.
In this guide I'm sharing the things to do in Ekenas over one easy weekend, the way I did it: Saturday in town, Sunday morning on a bike, and the cosy villa where I stayed.
Quick name tip: Ekenäs is the Swedish name. In Finnish it's Tammisaari, and you'll see both names on the station signs. Most locals speak Swedish as their first language, and the town belongs to the municipality of Raseborg (Raasepori in Finnish).
Why Ekenäs is worth a weekend
Ekenäs is an old town. It got its town rights back in 1546, and you can feel that history when you walk around. But it doesn't feel like a museum. People live in the wooden houses, small shops and studios are open, and in summer everyone seems to be outside by the water.
It's also close to the sea and the archipelago (part of it is protected as Ekenäs Archipelago National Park), so the water is everywhere you look. If you want a slower, quieter side of Finland without going far from Helsinki, this is it.
How to get to Ekenäs from Helsinki
First, get yourself to Helsinki. If you're flying in, I usually compare flights to Helsinki on Omio from my home country, then spend a night or two in the city before heading west to Ekenäs.
By train (about 1 hour 20 minutes): Take the IC train from Helsinki Central Station (Helsingin päärautatieasema) towards Turku and get off at Karis (Karjaa in Finnish). That part takes about 1 hour. At Karis, change to the small H train towards Hanko and ride two stops to Ekenäs, about 11 minutes. You can buy tickets in the VR app, or compare times and book the whole trip on Omio, change included, so you don't have to buy two tickets.
By bus (about 1 hour 45 minutes): Bus 192 to Tammisaari leaves from Kamppi bus station in Helsinki and goes straight to Ekenäs, no changes. It's run by Oy Amper & Wikström, so check their website for tickets. If you're staying at Knipnäs Läkarvillan, get off at the Uusi hautausmaa stop and walk about 10 minutes.
From Ekenäs station, the Old Town is an easy walk, and everything in this guide is easy to reach on foot or by bike. Knipnäs Läkarvillan is about a 25-minute walk from the station.
Things to do in Ekenas on Saturday
1. Wander the wooden Old Town
Start with no plan at all. The Old Town is a small maze of wooden houses, narrow streets and little gardens that run all the way down to the shore. The street layout has stayed the same for centuries, and you can still find craftspeople working here.
Red wooden house in Ekenäs Old Town, Finland Lilla Gallerian, a small shop in Ekenäs Old Town Art Showroom 5 on Kungsgatan, one of the things to do in Ekenas Flower boxes on a red wall in Ekenäs Old Town (Tammisaari)
Some places I loved popping into:
Spruthuset, for local crafts
Bokstugan Kirjapuoti, a little bookshop in a red wooden house and a well-known spot in town. Right next to it is a "Kirppis" (flea market) sign, so you can go thrifting in the second-hand shops too.
Lilla Gallerian, a tiny shop with a pretty window
Art Showroom 5 on Kungsgatan
Studio Lördag and a lovely little flower shop
Keep an eye out for the small details too: decorative gates, flower boxes on red walls, and the old "gossip mirrors" on some windows. Just wander. That's the whole point here.
2. Cake in the garden at Café Gamla Stan
This was one of my favourite stops. Café Gamla Stan is a family-run café in a restored 1700s cottage on Bastugatan 5, right in the Old Town. You sit in the garden under apple trees with your coffee and cake, and it feels like visiting someone's grandma in summer.
Café Gamla Stan in Ekenäs Old Town, open in summer Cake with berries and flowers at Café Gamla Stan, Ekenäs Flower window at Café Gamla Stan, Ekenäs Finland Inside Café Gamla Stan, a cosy café in Ekenäs
The cakes are as pretty as the garden. Mine came with berries and edible flowers on top. It's 6 Euro for a slice of carrot cake.
Good to know: the café is seasonal. It's open in summer and around Advent, so check before you go. On summer Tuesdays they sometimes have troubadours playing in the garden.
3. Slow down at the beach
After the café, find a spot by the water and slow down. Stallorsparken has trees for shade, and in summer you'll see locals sitting on the grass, reading or going for a swim. Bring a towel and stay as long as you like. Nobody is in a hurry here.
4. The old red windmill and Ekenäs Church
Ekenäs has an old red wooden windmill that's worth a short detour for photos. You'll find it in the small park right next to the water tower, at Tornikatu 11, 10600 Raasepori.
The old red wooden windmill in Ekenäs (Tammisaari) Ekenäs Church and the fountain in its garden, Finland
The stone church is one of the oldest buildings in town. It was built in the 1600s with granite walls about two metres thick, and it was rebuilt after a big fire in 1821. Walk around the garden too. There's a fountain there, and it's a calm little place to sit for a moment.
5. Buffet lunch at Villa Smakhus
For lunch, go to Villa Smakhus. It's a buffet lunch inside an old villa, with patterned wallpaper and a dining room that feels like a home, not a restaurant.
Villa Smakhus, a buffet lunch spot in Ekenäs Dining room at Villa Smakhus, Ekenäs Finland Buffet lunch at Villa Smakhus in Ekenäs
It's clearly a local favourite too. On the wall you'll see their "Årets Lunchställe / Vuoden Lounaspaikka" (Lunch Place of the Year) awards for Ekenäs/Tammisaari from 2019, 2020, 2023 and 2024.
Price: Lunch is 13.50 € (12.50 € for pensioners). Kids aged 1 to 12 pay 1 € per year of age. The menu changes every weekday, and the buffet comes with salad and coffee.
Hours: From 1 September 2026, lunch is served from 10.30 to 14.00. Hours can change with the season, so check before you go.
6. Saturday night at Stallet Bar & Terrace
End your Saturday with drinks on the terrace at Stallet Bar & Terrace. On a summer Saturday night it's lively and relaxed at the same time, the kind of place where you order one drink and end up staying for three.
Stallet Bar & Terrace in Ekenäs Saturday night at Stallet Bar & Terrace, Ekenäs Inside Stallet Bar, a night out in Ekenäs Drinks on the terrace at Stallet, Ekenäs Finland
Sunday morning: bike to Ramsholmen
On Sunday morning, take a slow bike ride to Ramsholmen. It's about 1 km from the town centre (a signpost in town says 1.2 km), so it's an easy ride even if you don't bike much.
Forest path in Ramsholmen nature reserve, Ekenäs Cycling through Ramsholmen on a Sunday morning in Ekenäs Bike break on a wooden deck at Ramsholmen, Ekenäs
Ramsholmen is a forest park and nature reserve of around 55 hectares, part of the Natura 2000 network. The paths are easy to bike on, there are little wooden bridges and old villas along the way, and there's even a beach inside the park.
Please be nice to it: dogs on a leash, no campfires or camping, and leave the plants alone (you can pick berries and mushrooms).
Where to stay in Ekenäs: Knipnäs Läkarvillan
I stayed at Knipnäs Läkarvillan, a house among the trees that's walkable to the Old Town. For me, the best part was the beach nearby. You can wake up, walk down to the water, and be back for breakfast.
Knipnäs Läkarvillan, where I stayed in Ekenäs Bedroom at Knipnäs Läkarvillan, Ekenäs Wooden sauna at Knipnäs Läkarvillan, Ekenäs Finland The beach near Knipnäs Läkarvillan in Ekenäs
The rooms are simple and cosy, and there's a wooden sauna, which is basically a must in Finland.
I wrote a full review of my stay here: Knipnäs Läkarvillan Stay in Ekenas Finland
Tips for your Ekenäs weekend
Use both names. Search for Ekenäs and Tammisaari when you look up trains or maps.
Go in summer. Many of the best spots, like Café Gamla Stan, are seasonal.
Pack a swimsuit and a towel. Between Stallorsparken, Ramsholmen and the beach near Knipnäs Läkarvillan, you'll want them.
Stay connected. I use a Saily eSIM so maps, the VR app and my train tickets work the moment I land in Finland.
Check opening hours before you go. Small towns keep shorter hours, especially outside peak summer.
Ekenäs FAQ
Is Ekenäs worth visiting?
Yes, especially in summer. It has a lively wooden Old Town, cafés, beaches and nature parks, all in a small town that's easy to explore in a weekend.
How far is Ekenäs from Helsinki?
About 1 hour 20 minutes by train (with one change at Karis, easy to book in one go on Omio) or about 1 hour 45 minutes on the direct bus 192 from Kamppi. That makes it an easy weekend trip from Helsinki, or even a long day trip.
What is Ekenäs called in Finnish?
Tammisaari. The town is part of the municipality of Raseborg (Raasepori).
What are the best things to do in Ekenas?
Wander the Old Town, have cake at Café Gamla Stan, relax at the beach, visit the stone church and the windmill, have drinks at Stallet Bar & Terrace, and bike to Ramsholmen.
More Finland guides
Save this for your Finland summer. And tell me: had you heard of Ekenäs before?
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