Hamina Old Town

Hamina, a world-class fortress city, is an eye-candy lover’s dream and will spark your imagination. It is the oldest town in Southeast Finland and is built on a rare circular town plan. In the middle of the circle stands the Town Hall, from which the streets of the old town and their colorful houses, museums, churches, boutiques, and cafés intersect. Take a bite at Café Huovila and wander around the historic cobbled streets. But be careful, you might be going in circles!

In Hamina, you can see a lot on foot. Walk the Fortress Path to see the fortified wall ruins of the early 19th century, built to protect the city in all directions. The famous Hamina Bastion has been renovated for modern use and takes in visitors nowadays as an international event arena.

During the summer, Hamina hosts the annual international military music festival Hamina Tattoo, and the town bustles with musicians and music lovers from all over the world. It is here that you can also find the world’s tallest flag of Finland.

For a small town, Hamina has a lot to see. Don’t miss its beautiful churches, such as the orthodox church of Saints Peter & Paul built in the Neoclassicism style. It has Byzantine features, topped by a classic onion dome, and was designed by the architect Louis Visconti who also designed Napoleon’s mausoleum. There are also magnificent murals for those who love the arts by one of Finland’s cultural treasures, Tove Jansson, at Hamina Seurahuone, which is one of the oldest functioning hotels in Finland.