The delightful seaside town of Loviisa is a wonderful summer destination, known for its old wooden buildings. These can be seen in charming detail during the summer Historical Houses of Loviisa event, when the old houses and their gardens are open to the public. Loviisa also offers music, art, antiques and flea markets, as well as sports and outdoor activities.
Loviisa was originally known as Deberby, but in 1752 the Swedish King Adolf Fredrik renamed the town after his wife. The Svartholma sea fortress, from the same period, can be reached by water bus. Many people travel to Loviisa by boat, and Laivasilta guest harbour is a popular gathering place for both tourists and locals.
You can start your holiday in Loviisa with a walking tour from Laivasilta. The old town plan and well-preserved buildings make this one of the best surviving urban areas from eighteenth-century Finland. Enjoy a cup of coffee in a charming local cafe before continuing your tour of Loviisa old town. You can sense the relaxed summer atmosphere in the market square, which is lined with magnificent stone houses from the nineteenth century.
One of the most interesting and impressive places in Loviisa is the Neo-Gothic Church. You should also visit Loviisa City Museum, located in a stately stone house dating from 1755. Be sure to include the garden in your visit.
You can then continue to the Strömfors Iron Works Area and its forge museum. The iron works area also offers good accommodation in high-quality holiday homes and the partly clay-built Krouvinmäki Inn. If you are looking for scenery and holiday activities, you will find a beautiful landscape of lakes and rivers, with opportunities for swimming and outdoor sports. Loviisa and its surroundings offer good hiking and cross-country skiing trails, great climbing opportunities and a high-quality, 18-hole disc golf course.
You can drive to Loviisa from Helsinki in about an hour. There are also good bus connections between Loviisa and Helsinki international airport. Loviisa is an excellent destination for boaters, with an accessible guest harbour.
