Kaarina

Understand

The municipality is named after the Katariina church that in turn is 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 primary school. The former main village of Kaarina (Nummi) has been part of Turku since 1939. The present municipality of Kaarina has a few distinct centres. Kuusisto was annexed to Kaarina in 1946 and Piikkiö in 2009. Littoinen was the biggest settlement in the 1960s, with some industry and a train station (on the Turku–Helsinki railway, now out of use). 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. (updated Feb 2017)

See

1 Kuusisto Castle (Kuusiston linna), Linnanrauniontie 633, ☏ +358 20-639-4620, [email protected]. 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. 2 Kuusisto Art Manor (Kuusiston taidekartano), Linnanrauniontie 577 (600 m from the caste ruins, en route), ☏ +358 40-580-3901, [email protected]. In summer; the sculpture park available all year. Art exhibitions and events at the former episcopal manor. Café. Free. (updated Oct 2024) 3 Mökkigalleria, Rauhalinnantie 1 (old small house in the Rauhanlinna area, across Saaristotie from the centre; buses 701–709), ☏ +358 44-306-1970, [email protected]. W–F 12:00–17:00 Sa 12:00–15:00. Small art gallery. Events.

Do

1 Hovirinta Beach Park (Hovirinnan rantapuisto), Uimarannantie 54. Summer season 15 Jun–31 Aug, Winter swimming Oct–Apr. Beach with playground, outdoor gym, ice cream kiosk and traffic park. Free. Fees for sauna, etc.. (updated Jul 2017) 2 Järvelä wetland, Järveläntie (near Littoistenjärvi). Bird sanctuary by Lake Littoistenjärvi. Nature path (between Järveläntie and the Littoistenjärvi beach) and bird watching tower. (updated Feb 2017) 3 Kino Piispanristi, Jännekatu 2 (near the Turku border 3 km west-north-west of the centre; use buses along Uudenmaankatu, such as 700–708, 720–723 and 801, and walk 400 m, or drive), ☏ +358 40-484-8822, [email protected]. Cinema with bar and five auditoriums. Accessible by wheelchair. At some showings the auditorium is included in the licensed premises, and thus the age limit 18 applies regardless of the film. The non-Finnkino company has cinemas also in Turku (Diana, age limit 18), Salo (Lumo) and Laitila (Laitilankino), with the same multi-use tickets. €10–17, 5 persons €54 by multi-use ticket. (updated Apr 2025) 4 Kuusistonlahti, Lyhdyntie (eastern part of Kuusisto island south of Kaarina centre). 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. (updated Feb 2017) 5 Littoistenjärvi beach, Vanha Littoistentie 150. Beach, dance pavilion and nature trail by Littoistenjärvi. The lake is shallow, which makes the beach ideal for smaller children. It also makes the water warm early in the summer. There are sometimes water quality problems. There's a dog haven by the beach. (updated Feb 2017) 6 Littoistenjärvi dance pavilion (Littoisten lava), Littoistenjärventie 153 (by the Littoistenjärvi beach; bus K1 stop Hiekkarannantie on Kaarinantie, walk 800 m, or buses from Turku to the Ukonkatu/Akankatu stops, walk 400 m; last buses to Turku 23:20 and 23:50 from the Akankatu stop, for the former you may need to skip the last walt

Buy

Some shopping in the centre. Large stores around the crossroads between highway 40 (Turku bypass, E18) and highway 10

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 available in some former manors and similar businesses (see Sleep below). For a nice lunch, also consider Tuorlan majatalo 4 km east of Kaarina centre.

1 Huikopala, Lautakunnankatu 1 (in the centre: Kaarina-talo), ☏ +358 50-569-6247, [email protected]. 11:00–14:00. Lunch buffet, home-cooked style. €10, soup lunch €8. 2 Prego, Uimahallintie 2 (by the swimming hall), ☏ +358 44-799-1000, [email protected]. M–F 10:30–14:30. Lunch buffet: salad, soup, two warm dishes and dessert. €10.50/€6.50. 3 Tsing tao, Kiesikatu 8–10 (east part of the centre), ☏ +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.

Drink & nightlife

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

Sleep

2 Hotel Kivitasku, Aittakatu 1 (in the centre), ☏ +358 2 242-4920, [email protected]. Located in the town centre. Single, double and triple rooms. Lunch restaurant. €88; lunch €10. 3 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), ☏ +358 40-719-9970, [email protected]. reception open 09:00–22:00. "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. 4 Villa Wolax, Villa Wolaxin tie 40 (Kuusisto, turn left before the Kirjalansalmi bridge, drive 3 km along Vuolahdentie, turn left to Villa Volaxin tie), ☏ +358 40-533-1469 (M–F 09:00–16:00), [email protected]. 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. Single €90, double €140; breakfast €14 (order in advance); harbour fee €20, da