The Most Instagrammable Places in the Raahe region

Old Town Raahe

Old Town Raahe is one of the best-preserved 19th-century wooden towns in Finland. Old Town Raahe is not a museum are but a living town district, telling the tale of the construction of the town’s life from centuries ago to the modern day. 

Locating next to the sea, Old Town Raahe is filled with paste-colored and vibrant old wooden houses, magnificent ornate doors, narrow pedestratian streets, and large inner courtyards with old-timey gardens. 

 

Pekkatori Square

In the heart of Old Town Raahe, you’ll find Pekkatori Square. This impressive enclosed square is the best-preserved among Finland’s wooden town marketplaces and is considered a heritage site of international value. At its center stands a statue of the town’s founder, Count Per Brahe—known locally as Pekka—gazing toward the sea that opens at the end of Brahenkatu street.

Trade House of Lang

On the edge of Pekkatori, you’ll find the historic Trade House of Lang. This old merchant’s manor has been restored to reflect the spirit of the 19th century. Today, it serves as a café-restaurant, shop, and boutique hotel. Coffee is served in rose-patterned cups, and even the delicious cakes are a treat for the eyes.

Church of the Holy Trinity

The Church of the Holy Trinity rises in the center of Raahe, with its tower visible far out to sea. The church's striking granite stones were quarried from the Raahe archipelago. This fire-resistant material was chosen after Raahe’s previous wooden church burned to the ground. Designed by architect Josef Stenbäck, the church is a blend of national romanticism and Jugendstil (Art Nouveau).

The Packhouse Museum and Museum Shore

The blue Packhouse Museum building and Museum Shore are iconic landmarks in Raahe. The Museum Shore is a popular spot for leisure activities. It's also a place where you can capture the changing seasons throughout the year.

Tasku Island

The stunning maritime landscapes of Tasku Island should be experienced at least once in a lifetime. The archipelago nature provides unique settings for photos. The island features both a sandy beach and a rocky shore. The sunrises and sunsets experienced in Tasku are particularly spectacular.

Tasku Island is home to a special feature of the Arctic archipelago: a lightless lighthouse called a pooki, built in 1853. The striking yellow pooki resembles a church tower with its pyramid-shaped roof.

You can reach Tasku Island by taking an archipelago cruise or using your own boat.

Iso-Kraaseli Island

Iso-Kraaseli is the second largest island in the Raahe archipelago. Like Tasku Island, it features a pooki (daymark) built in the 1800s. However, its appearance is notably different from that of Tasku’s. At the same time the pooki was built, a yellow pilot’s cabin was constructed to guide ships in and out of the harbor. The island also has two sail sheds. A 2.3 km nature trail loops around the island, offering a chance to explore the local birds, plants, and the phenomenon of post-glacial land uplift.

You can reach Tasku Island by taking an archipelago cruise, using your own boat or borrowing a boat.

Tauvo

Tauvo is a hidden gem of Siikajoki, a naturally beautiful seaside village. The shoreline is encircled by a long, pristine white sandy beach that stretches as far as the eye can see. The crashing waves and dunes formed by land uplift add a unique charm. The view includes a harbor and fishermen's storage sheds.

In spring and autumn, the abundance of migratory birds provides excellent opportunities for bird photography.

Sunsets by the Sea

The numerous seashores and the Raahe Archipelago in the Raahe region offer stunning spots for capturing sunsets and sunrises in late summer.

Hourunkoski Rapids

In Koskipuisto, located south of the northern branch of the Pyhäjoki River, you can admire Hourunkoski Rapids. Capture the rapids on a beautiful summer day or in early spring when the melted snow causes the rapids to flood, and the flow is at its strongest.

Pattijoki Stone Arch Bridge

The stone arch bridge in Pattijoki, built in the late 1800s, is a nationally recognized road museum site. It is surrounded by lush, atmospheric nature that provides a beautiful frame for the graceful arch bridge.