The Finnish Gulf (or formally Gulf of Finland) is a water mass stretching from the Baltic Sea’s main basin to the east, around the northwest tip of Estonia. The overall length of the Gulf is approximately 400 kilometers (ยด250 miles) and the maximum width around 130 kilometers (81 miles). The Gulf forms a natural border between Finland in the north and Estonia in the south.
Contrary to the archipelago in the western parts of the Gulf, the Eastern Finnish Gulf Archipelago is more rugged, the islands smaller and the changes in microclimate appear in much smaller areaa. The difference between the inner archipelago’s almost lakelike serenity and the open seas and rugged rocks of the outer archipelago are only half an hours drive away from each others.
Finnish Gulf Travels operates in this very special Archipelago setting right east of the country’s capital, Helsinki, in the archipelagos of Sipoo municipality and the city of Porvoo. Although formally located in the city of Porvoo, the city center itself is over a 2 hour boat drive away!
The islands in the Finnish Gulf Archipelago have been inhabited at least since the bronze age.
An important waterway for trade already in times predating the Vikings, there are known marks from permanent settlements around the Archipelago from the 9th to 13th century.
Many of the islands were permanently inhabitated from the early 17th century onwards, with mainly fishermen dwelling around the wind whipped shores of the outer archipelago. During the early decades of Finland’s independence, the military importance of the Archipelago as a stronghold sheltering the capital city of Helsinki was emphasized. One of our most popular tour options includes a visit to the now decommissioned Pirttisaari island fort with its 152 mm coastal artillery guns still in place (but now deactivated).
Please feel free to contact us if you wish to know more about travel options to the archipelago!