Kotka: Sea, River and Green Parks

Kotka brings together the sea, river and urban greenery with a distinctive maritime history. Parks and waterscapes sit alongside museums, an aquarium for Finnish fish and opportunities for walks. Whether you want to focus on nature, culture or activity, the city offers a range of themes to shape your stay around.

Kotka at a glance

• Kotka National Urban Park covers about 2,400 hectares, including sea areas, parks, built-up districts and the banks of the Kymijoki River.
• Sapokka Water Garden features small streams, ponds and a waterfall almost 20 metres high.
• At Maretarium, you can see more than 60 fish species and other small animals.
• Maritime Centre Vellamo houses three museums: the Maritime Museum of Finland, Kymenlaakso Museum and Coast Guard Museum.
• The Kotkansaari park route is five kilometres long and can be travelled on foot or by bicycle.

Green spaces between the sea and river

Established in 2014, Kotka National Urban Park brings together river and marine nature with architectural heritage from the city’s industrial development, as well as its fortress and defence history. Its area includes marine areas in the eastern Gulf of Finland, parks and built-up districts in the city centre, and the banks of the Kymijoki River as far as Korkeakoski and Siikakoski. The different elements provide a shared setting for nature and urban history without reducing them to a single theme.

At Sapokka Water Garden, you can experience water in different forms: small streams and ponds complement the waterfall on the park’s southern slope. The planting also follows the seasons. Tens of thousands of bulb flowers bloom there from spring to late autumn, while azaleas and rhododendrons flower in early summer. The long flowering period of the bulbs and the shrubs’ distinctive early-summer bloom create different highlights depending on when you visit.

Maritime history and Finnish fish

Maritime Centre Vellamo is located in the historic Kantasatama harbour and presents exhibitions on maritime and regional history. The three museums housed there offer different perspectives on Finnish seafaring, the Kymenlaakso region and the coast guard. In summer, the steam-powered icebreaker Tarmo (1907), the museum quay and the Kuuri outdoor exhibition add to the centre’s offerings. Access to the ship is seasonal.

Maretarium, a nature aquarium for Finnish fish, offers another perspective on the water. Visitors can see more than 60 fish species and other small animals. Together with the exhibitions at Vellamo, it creates a vivid contrast: the aquarium focuses on Finland’s aquatic life, while the Maritime Centre explores the history of the coast and the region.

Parks, remembrance and views

In Katariina Seaside Park, 28 oak-wood figures commemorate the Battle of Svensksund. The park also offers a variety of play and activity facilities: frisbee baskets, a parkour course, a skateboard ramp, a Moomin playground and a maze. Large lawns are suitable for ball games and kite flying. This means a range of opportunities for shared activities are available in one park. Facilities may be subject to seasonal maintenance.

Haukkavuori Observation Tower stands at the highest point of Kotkansaari Island. From there, panoramic views stretch across the city, the archipelago and the eastern Gulf of Finland. The building’s history is also part of the site: in the 1960s, it was converted into an observation tower while retaining its historical significance.

Planning your stay

Maretarium is 800 metres from Kotka bus station and 1.3 kilometres from Kantasatama railway station. Scheduled archipelago boats have berths at Kotka Sapokka Service Marina in Sapokanlahti; timetables and operators may change. As of September 2026, MeriSet charter trips run along the Kymijoki River from Sapokka Water Garden to Riverside Park, or in the opposite direction. Availability and routes may change. If a boat trip is a fixed part of your day, plan a flexible alternative as well.

When looking for a hotel in Kotka, it helps to first decide what mix you want for your days: gardens and waterscapes, maritime history, aquatic life or activity in the park.

Discover more destinations: Iitti, Kannusjärvi, Mankala, Jaala, Veikkola, Rekola, Hamina

Frequently asked questions about Kotka

When do the plants bloom at Sapokka Water Garden?

Tens of thousands of bulb flowers bloom from spring to late autumn. Azaleas and rhododendrons flower in early summer.

What else is included in a visit to Maretarium besides the aquarium?

The offerings include nature photography exhibitions, nature film screenings, the Finnish Fishing Hall of Fame, fish feeding sessions and activities for children in the nature classroom. Programme details may change.

How long is the Kotkansaari park route, and how can you use it?

The route is five kilometres long and can be travelled on foot or by bicycle.

When are Tarmo, the museum quay and Kuuri part of Vellamo’s offerings?

These additions are part of Maritime Centre Vellamo’s offerings in summer. Access to the steam-powered icebreaker Tarmo is seasonal.

What walking opportunities are there around Langinkoski?

The nature reserve around Langinkoski has numerous walking trails.

Go to the main travel overview: Kymenlaakso.