Naantali: Old Town, Coastal Trails and Moominworld

Naantali combines a maritime old town with coastal trails and a rich cultural history. Hundreds of historic wooden houses, the medieval church and Moominworld each add a distinctive touch. The Kultaranta Garden and attractions in the municipality are also part of what the area has to offer. When looking for a hotel in Naantali, it helps to first decide what matters most to you: the old town and its history, time on the coast or an imaginatively designed themed world.

Naantali at a glance

• The old town is by the sea and comprises hundreds of historic wooden houses.
• Aurinkopolku runs 1.8 kilometres from Naantali Spa to the heart of the old town; eight information boards present local history through text and images.
• Rantaraitti is about 3.5 kilometres each way and runs from Kuparivuori to Taimo Beach.
• Naantali Church was built between 1460 and 1480 as the church of a Catholic Bridgettine monastery.
• Moominworld features several imaginative settings, as well as theatre performances and a swimming beach.

The old town between wooden houses and the waterfront

The old town is Naantali’s historic heart by the sea. Its hundreds of old wooden houses give the neighbourhood a distinctly different character from the medieval stone church, while cafés, restaurants, boutiques, art galleries and a museum add to the range of visitor attractions. The mix appeals to a variety of interests: you can focus on architecture and history or combine your visit with a meal, art and a little shopping. The range of places open to visitors may change over time.

One specific route through this part of Naantali is Aurinkopolku. It starts at Naantali Spa, follows the waterfront promenade and reaches the heart of the old town. Text and images on eight information boards tell the story of Naantali’s history. The route thus connects the coast and cultural history along a clearly described 1.8-kilometre trail.

Two coastal trails with different routes

Rantaraitti also follows the waterfront of the old town, but at about 3.5 kilometres each way, it is considerably longer. The coastal trail runs from Kuparivuori to Taimo Beach. Aurinkopolku and Rantaraitti therefore differ both in their stated lengths and their endpoints: one leads to the heart of the old town and features information boards, while the other continues as far as Taimo Beach. When comparing them, consider not only their coastal setting but also which route and destination you want to include in your plans. The surface and accessibility of Rantaraitti may change.

Medieval church, museum and music

Naantali Church was built between 1460 and 1480 as the church of a Catholic Bridgettine monastery. It is the only surviving part of the monastery and, after the cathedral in Turku, Finland’s second-largest medieval stone church. It also plays an active role as a concert venue: several concerts are held there every year, and it is the main venue for the Naantali Music Festival. The festival takes place in early June, but its dates and programme vary from year to year.

Another way to discover Naantali’s past is at Humppi, a building belonging to the Naantali Museum. It houses an archaeological exhibition on the city’s early history and a scale model of the Bridgettine monastery. The exhibition content may change over time. Together with the church, Humppi offers a distinct cultural-history focus alongside the old town’s wooden houses and coastal setting.

Moominworld and Kultaranta

Moominworld brings an imaginative themed world to Naantali. Its settings include the Moominhouse, the Witch’s Cottage, Snufkin’s Camp and Snork’s Inventor Park. Between these fairytale locations, visitors can enjoy theatre performances and a swimming beach. For families looking to plan an experience that is quite different from the town’s history, this is a distinctive part of a visit to Naantali. The themed attractions may be updated, and the programme and facilities may change seasonally.

A different attraction is the 56-hectare garden at Kultaranta. Flowerbeds, roses, formal gardens, pergolas, pavilions and ornamental ponds shape the park. Guided tours offer an insight into life at Kultaranta and the summer traditions of Finnish presidents and their spouses in Naantali. Tours are seasonal; dates and booking arrangements may change.

If accessibility is an important consideration in your plans, note that Casa Haartman is not accessible: the house has two storeys and no lift. An accessible visit is therefore not possible.

Trails and history in the municipality

Naantali is also part of the Archipelago Trail, and the archipelago is quickly reached from the old town. In the municipality, the Aurinkukuru hiking trail in Luonnonmaa, near Särkänsalmi, passes through wooded and rocky terrain and offers views of the archipelago. Jätkänpolku is a separate route: it passes under the Särkänsalmi Bridge and follows Porhonkalliontie towards a swimming and boat-landing beach. These trails offer different ways to explore the landscape; trail conditions and access may change.

Historic places in the municipality also tell different local stories. In Rymättylä, the Herring Heritage Museum Dikseli in Röölä presents the history of herring fishing and the traditional production of salted herring. Röölä was the home harbour of the Saukko herring-fishing fleet; Dikseli shows the entire process, from catch to salting. The adjacent windmill museum reopened to visitors in 2016. The medieval church of Rymättylä was built on an isthmus between two sea bays.

In Merimasku, the present-day wooden church was completed in 1726. It is Finland’s sixth-oldest wooden church still in continuous use. The village of Järvensuu is also home to Kollola Heritage House, a former crofter’s cottage on the Isotalo estate. It was redeemed as an independent property in the 1920s. The people of Velkua built their wooden church on the island of Palva in 1793.

If cultural history is your main interest, the old town, church and museum are good places to start; for coastal walks, you can compare Aurinkopolku and Rantaraitti by length and destination. Moominworld offers its own themed experience, while Kultaranta is associated with seasonal guided tours.

Discover more destinations: Raisio, Kaarina, Somerniemi, Korppoo and Kiviniemi.

Frequently asked questions about Naantali

What is the difference between Aurinkopolku and Rantaraitti?

Aurinkopolku is 1.8 kilometres long and runs from Naantali Spa along the waterfront promenade to the heart of the old town; eight boards present local history. Rantaraitti runs from Kuparivuori to Taimo Beach and is about 3.5 kilometres each way.

When does the Naantali Music Festival take place?

The festival takes place in early June. Naantali Church is its main concert venue; the specific dates and programme vary from year to year.

What is there at Moominworld?

Its settings include the Moominhouse, the Witch’s Cottage, Snufkin’s Camp and Snork’s Inventor Park. There are also theatre performances and a swimming beach; the programme and facilities may change seasonally.

Is Casa Haartman accessible?

No. The two-storey house has no lift and is not accessible.

What does the Dikseli Museum show?

In Röölä, Rymättylä, Dikseli presents the history of herring fishing and salt production. The process shown ranges from the catch to salting.

For the broader travel overview: Varsinais-Suomi.