This ferry route passes through the Archipelago National Park, stopping at Berghamn, Nötö, Aspö, Jurmo and Utö along the way. Each island is its own world. The ferry runs year-round, carries no private vehicles and has a small cafeteria on board serving lunch. It is free of charge and requires no advance booking. The most rewarding way to experience this route is to choose one island and stay or plan an island-hopping trip across multiple nights. Aspö is close enough for a day trip on some departures — check current timetables at finferries.fi. For the outer islands, plan to stay.
Nötö is a small island in the outer archipelago known for its wooden houses, guest harbour and peaceful atmosphere. Surrounded by open sea and traditional island landscapes, Nötö offers a quiet glimpse into archipelago life far from the mainland.
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Aspö is a green and sheltered island along the Archipelago Trail, known for its walking paths, red wooden houses and small village harbour.
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Utö is Finland’s southernmost inhabited island, located at the edge of the open Baltic Sea. Known for its lighthouse, dramatic rocky shoreline and maritime history, Utö is remote and completely surrounded by the sea.
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From the deck of M/S Utö, the park reveals itself slowly - raw, vast and gradually wilder the further out you go. The islands along this route are not tourist constructions. They are inhabited year-round by small, tight-knit communities of fishermen, sailors, remote workers and tourism entrepreneurs, and every visitor is made to feel it.
The route stops at five islands, each with its own character:
Autumn is worth mentioning separately. The Archipelago National Park in October is dramatic, colourful and almost completely quiet — a different experience from summer and one that rewards those willing to travel outside peak season.
The Utö lighthouse is the oldest functional lighthouse in Finland.
These islands can only be reached by boat.
Accommodation
Food & drink
Shopping & boutiques
By public transport
You can reach Pärnäs harbour by bus from Turku — check timetables and routes at Seutuplus.
By car
Pärnäs is around 1.5 hours from Turku with one short ferry crossing of about 10 minutes, free of charge and running frequently throughout the day. Night crossings run frequently as well, though departures marked with an asterisk (*) in the timetable require advance notification. A large car park is available within walking distance of the ferry port.
No private vehicles are permitted on the outer archipelago ferry, so leave your car at Pärnäs. The ferry itself is free of charge, requires no advance booking, and runs year-round. Current timetables at Finferries.