Surrounded by the sea on three sides, Hanko is a dream destination for boaters and sun-worshippers.
Hanko is a gorgeous summer city with beautiful beaches and a splendid marine environment. Hanko is easily reached by boat, and the Eastern Harbour is constantly receiving visitors. See the military history of Hanko from its days as a Soviet naval base, or tour the city’s charming villa area. On a cruise to the archipelago you will see, for instance, grey seals, a guest book carved in rock, and the tallest lighthouse in the Nordic countries, Bengtskär.
Start your holiday in Hanko from the Eastern Harbour, with its restaurants and evening market. Nearby, you will find the beautiful wooden villa area known as Spa Park. To get an overview of Hanko and its surroundings, climb the Water Tower, or the Storm Tower in the Western Harbour.
A summer holiday in Hanko would be nothing without some time on the city’s 80 miles of beaches, of which 19 miles are sand. Families with children favour Plagen, known for its water roundabouts, while those interested in water sports gravitate towards Tulliranta Beach.
If you are interested in history, it is worth seeing the exhibitions at Hanko Museum. A trip to Hanko is an excellent chance to familiarize yourself with the period when Hanko Peninsula was leased to the Soviet Union as a military base. In addition to the Front Museum, relics from this period can be seen in Varisniemi.
You can get to know the beautiful scenery and interesting history of Hanko at the same time by taking a cruise to the Pike’s Gut, for example. The lighthouse island of Bengtskär is located around 16 miles southwest of Hanko, and includes a Lighthouse Museum. Climb to the top of the lighthouse for a fantastic view over the Baltic Sea.
The city centre of Hanko is easily navigable on foot or by bicycle. The city is can be reached conveniently by train or bus from Turku or Helsinki, where the nearest international airport is. If you are driving, take highway 25. Travellers arriving in Hanko by boat will first encounter the joyful atmosphere of the Eastern Harbour.
