Kotka: Nature, Harbour and Family Discoveries

A waterfall almost 20 metres high, an aquarium featuring Finnish fish species and museums dedicated to maritime history give Kotka a varied character. There are also parks with seasonal blooms and opportunities for walks, bike rides and outdoor activities. If you’re looking for a holiday rental in Kotka, you can base your choice on whether nature, family experiences or the history of this coastal town will be the focus of your stay.

Nature and parks throughout the seasons

Established in 2014, Kotka National Urban Park covers about 2,400 hectares. It brings together river and marine nature with built heritage from the city’s industrial development, as well as its history of fortifications and defence. This combination makes the park a point of interest for anyone keen to discover the city’s historical traces as well as its natural surroundings.

Small streams, ponds and a waterfall almost 20 metres high shape the grounds of Sapokka Water Garden. Tens of thousands of bulb flowers bloom there from spring until late autumn; azaleas and rhododendrons are especially impressive in early summer. The changing flowering seasons offer different sights throughout the year. When choosing your travel dates, you can take these seasonal highlights into account without limiting your visit to a single flowering period.

Katariina Seaside Park also combines natural and outdoor attractions with distinctive features: 28 oak sculptures commemorate the Battle of Svensksund. For exercise and play, there are frisbee baskets, a parkour course, a skateboard ramp, a Moomin playground and a maze. Large lawns are designated for ball games and kite flying. Depending on your interests, you can focus your park visit on the sculptures, physical activities or games to enjoy together.

Maritime history and family experiences

The Maritime Centre Vellamo in the historic port of Kantasatama features exhibitions on maritime and regional history. It houses the Maritime Museum of Finland, the Kymenlaakso Museum and the Coast Guard Museum. In summer, the 1907 icebreaker Tarmo, the museum quay and the Kuuri outdoor exhibition add to what’s on offer. Anyone interested in shipping and the region’s past will find several different museum themes in one place.

At Maretarium, you can see more than 60 species of fish and other small animals. The Natura Aquarium is dedicated to Finnish fish, and its tank water comes from the Gulf of Finland off Kotka. In addition to the aquarium tour, the centre offers nature photography exhibitions, nature film screenings, a Finnish fishing Hall of Fame gallery, fish feeding sessions and activities for children in the nature classroom. This makes it possible to combine different interests during a visit, from observing wildlife to enjoying activities for younger visitors.

For planning your journey to Maretarium, the distances from two transport hubs are also specified: it is 800 metres from Kotka bus station and 1.3 kilometres from Kantasatama railway station. These distances refer to Maretarium and give you a useful guide for planning.

Routes, views and trips on the water

The Kotkansaari park route is five kilometres long and can be travelled on foot or by bike. If you prefer walking trails, there are numerous paths in the nature reserve around Langinkoski Imperial Fishing Lodge. These two options suit different preferences: a set route that can also be cycled, or walks on the trails in the nature reserve.

Haukkavuori Observation Tower stands at the highest point on the island of Kotkansaari and offers panoramic views of the city, the archipelago and the eastern Gulf of Finland. The building was converted into an observation tower in the 1960s, preserving its historical significance. The views and the building’s history each give a visit its own distinctive character.

For trips on the water, Kotka Sapokka Service Marina has berths for scheduled archipelago boats. MeriSet charter trips run from Sapokka Water Garden to Riverside Park along the Kymijoki, and in the opposite direction too. When choosing your accommodation in Kotka, it’s helpful to consider in advance which of these nature, culture or water experiences matter most for your trip.

More places to discover: Pyhtää, Kannusjärvi, Hamina, Jaala, Iitti, Mankala, Rekola and Verla.

For the broader travel overview: Kymenlaakso.