Vaasa

Aava Kertun Kotitila

Aava Kerttus husdjursgård

Pet farm in an old rural environment. You can also have a cup of coffee and freshly baked buns.

€7

Bistro Ernst Café

A small place in connection with Wasa Teater, a Swedish-language theatre.

Brage Open Air Museum

Bragen ulkomuseo

The museum consists of a complete 19th-century farm with interesting buildings and interiors from the Swedish-speaking part of Ostrobothnia.

Cafe Leison

Leison offers a great variety of meals, which include salad buffet and coffee.

serves lunch between 11:00 and 15:00

Dallas Pizza Palazzo

Find this place if you have a car. Fridays and Saturdays customers get a free limo ride to the town center at half past twelve.

Doo-Bop Club

A jazz club under McDonald's in the northern end of the Market Square. Here you mainly hear jazz, soul and funk. The main principle is that the music is live.

Faros

Faros is the name of a boat in Kalaranta (Fish harbour). On deck and partly on land there is a terrace for beer and drinks and on board under deck there is a good restaurant. Only open during summers.

Fontana

Probably the most popular nightclub in town. On the second floor of the Hartman House in the northern end of the Market Square. There is a lounge available for private parties.

Fröj

New Nordic Kitchen. Listed as among Finland's 50 best restaurants by the trade association. Reserve your table. The main menus intended for 2–3-hour sessions, Friday lunch menu 40–75 min.

Tue–Thu 16:30– Fri 11:00–15:00 (last booking 13:30) + 16:30– (last booking 21:00) Sat 16:30– Sun Mon closed·Evening à la carte €30–35, Friday lunch €30–35, other set menus including drinks €90–140

Janne's Saloon

Located on an island in the Vaasa Archipelago. Accessible only by cruise boat from the Inner Harbour of Vaasa during summer. During winter it is possible to walk here over the ice (provided you have someone local with you to guide you).

Kaffehuset August

Popular eatery close to the main square, offers a specialist wine menu. Occasionally hosts live music from local musicians in the evenings.

Kotipizza

This nationwide pizza franchise was founded in Vaasa, which is one of the reasons for there being so many of these here.

Kuntsi Museum of Modern Art

A museum for contemporary art opened to the public in 2007 in a former customs warehouse in the Inner Harbour of Vaasa.

Leipätehdas

Built into a former bread factory. Offers many club nights and concert nights with local bands.

Loftet

Local handcraft shop not far from the city center. There is also a nice café here where you can have lunch.

Market Hall

This Gothic style market hall (built in 1902) offers meat, fish, cheese, sweets, art and souvenirs. It is one of very few market halls still in use in Finland. As of January 2025, there market hall is rather silent with half of the stalls empty, especially towards Vaasanpuistikko.

Market place and Finland's Statue of freedom

The market place is the centre of the city life. Finland's Statue of Freedom, unveiled in the summer of 1938 is in the northern end of the market square – the headquarters of the Whites was in Vaasa.

Martin Baari

Small bistro to have lunch in with great service. Get a beer while you're here.

Niyon Thai

Thai restaurant in the market hall. Lunch buffet with tasty Thai and Southeast Asian dishes.

Mon–Sat 11:00–-14:30·Buffet lunch €14

Old Vaasa

Gamla Vasa, Vanha Vaasa

Ruins from the first town of Vaasa that burned down in 1852 and an 18th-century court building that survived the destruction but was redone into the Church of Korsholm when the town was rebuilt at a new location closer to the sea. The banks of the 14th-century Korsholm castle are still visible and can be found west of the Church of Korsholm.

Oliver's Inn

Describes themselves as a "party pub", which is quite true during weekends. This is the place of choice for Swedish-speaking youth.

Ostrobothnian Museum and Terranova Kvarken Nature Centre

Pohjanmaan Museo

If you are interested in the region's history then you should visit this place. The Terranova Kvarken Nature Centre displays the uniqueness of the nature in the area (something that should be experienced first hand out in the open air of the archipelago).

Pizzeria Marco Polo

The oldest independent pizzeria in town, with authentic Italian pizzas.

Replot bridge

Replot Bro, Raippaluodon Silta

Finland's longest bridge: 1045 m. The main opening is 250 m, the pylons 82.5 m high. The bridge leads to Replot, Finland's eighth largest island. Just a bit before the bridge is a lovely public beach where you can easily camp for a day or two. You can also continue your trip out to the islands where there are restaurants and other things to discover. A visitor centre to the Kvarken Archipelago is by the bridge.

Seglis

Out on the island of Vaskiluoto in the club house of the Wasa Segelförening sailing society. Has a terrace with a great view into town over the bay. Only open during summers.

Skafferiet

also known as Ritz

A place that tries to combine all forms of local and international culture on to one scene. The performers vary from artists that have travelled all over the world to those who are taking their first tumbling steps.

Sommaröhallen

Handicrafts market open mostly at summer. On sale are woven garments for children, ornaments, paintings and books. Sells also self-made buns, bread, juice, jams, honey and caramels.

Strampen

Situated near the Inner Harbour of Vaasa. Strampen is short for "Strandpaviljongen" which is Swedish for "waterfront pavilion". Has a popular beer terrace. Only open during summers.

Strömsö

The popular do-it-yourself tv-show Strömsö which has aired since 2002 on Finnish television with topics from woodworking to cooking and knitting has been shot on this former farm with the same name. It can be visited on guided tours during the summer, otherwise you can look at it from the outside.

Stundars

Large open-air museum made up of about 60 buildings. It is a living centre for culture and art. Christmas market on a December weekend.

Daily in summer, occasionally in the rest of the year