Location: Kotka
Top Things to do in Kotka
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Top 10 Things to do in Kotka, Finland
Kotka in Finland, from Europe region, is best know for Parks. Discover best things to do in Kotka with beautiful photos and great reviews from traveller around the world here!
Restaurants in Kotka
1. Sapokka Water Garden
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 182 reviews
Reviewed By niinan2 - Nurmijarvi, Finland
A nice city park in Kotka. There are lots of places you can sit and admire the lush green park or just walk around it. There is also a waterfall. The rhododendrons and azaleas will bloom in the end of June and they are just beautiful.
2. Maritime Centre Vellamo
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 117 reviews
Reviewed By Maari100 - Helsinki
This is a very modern building in Kotka. The exhibition is very nicely prepared and tells about the sea/maritime history, our ships, travelling by boat, big sailing boats whatever. There is also a Kymenlaakso museum and a good museum store and excellent restaurant with perfect sea view
3. Langinkoski Imperial Fishing Lodge Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 96 reviews
Reviewed By lmsk2014 - Helsinki, Finland
The fishing lodge is situated amidst breathtakingly beautiful nature: forest, white rapids...
The imperial fishing lodge itself is a beautiful wooden building - with associated buildings such as a chapel and a warden' lodgings, all very charming. You can take a walk on the grounds, enjoy the amazing nature, sit down for a coffee (there are two cafes) - and have a relaxed time.
You only need to pay entrance for the actual fishing lodge, otherwise you can walk about for free of charge!
4. Katariina Seaside Park
Overall Ratings
5 based on 34 reviews
Reviewed By J J A - Turku, Finland
The newest one of the many parks in Kotka. The area used to be in control of oil industry, ugly and with restricted access. After the old industry area was demolished and cleaned it has been renovated into into a great and beautiful recreational area. It's still under development and there's something new being constructed here all the time.
There's something for everyone. Playgrounds for kids with lots of different stuff, skate park, ruins of historical fort, Gardens, fitness equipment, many good places for grilling / picnic etc...
It's usually windy so take enough clothes.
5. Kotka Church
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 34 reviews
6. Sibelius Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 34 reviews
Reviewed By mishmishapricot - Casablanca, Morocco
Every town in Finland seems to have a Sibelius Park and Kotka is no exception. Kotka's park has been renovated recently to adhere to the original plans and to allow it better to cope with the crowds of "Meripaiva" (the sea festival). It's a popular place with locals and the day we went, there were many people around taking advantage of some sun after some grey days.
There is a famous sculpture on a large column in the central part of the park called “Kotkat” (Eagles) by Jussi Mäntynen. "Kotka" is "Eagle" in Finnish. Another thing we didn't miss was the part of the park down by Kirkkokatu where part of an old cobbled road was rediscovered. It has been repaired and there are some interesting noticeboards giving the history of the area. There's also an old well at the far corner from the cobbles that has been reconstructed after excavations found the opening that had been covered.
The park is relatively small, but there's lots of history here. We had a nice time simply sitting there for a while and Reading the notices and looking at the features mentioned above. It's certainly worth a visit during a day's exploration of the city. Now that the park is part of the "Sculpture Promenade" (Veistospromenadi) it makes sense to take in all of the attractions (including here) along the route of the Promenade which is what we did.
7. Maretarium
Overall Ratings
4 based on 93 reviews
Reviewed By Jellona - Espoo, Finland
Very interesting aquarium showing just Finnish fish species. However, "Finnish" was sometimes a bit stretched... For example, they had plenty of sturgeons, even though they admitted that there are virtually no wild sturgeons left in Finland - sure, a hundred years ago Finland had plenty of those, too.
8. Kotka Sculpture Promenade
Overall Ratings
4 based on 30 reviews
Reviewed By mishmishapricot - Casablanca, Morocco
It's quite amazing that a small provincial town should have firstly had the idea for a defined walk lined with statues and carvings and then that the artworks are of such consistently high quality. But then, this is that fabulous country Finland for you!
I loved the walk, not least that there are other attractions and things to see on the way.
9. St. Nicholas Orthodox Church
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 17 reviews
Reviewed By Mikael K
My other brother lives just on the other side of the park. This Russian Orthodox Church was the very few of buildings which were not bombed down during the WWII. The entire city was bombed down, and so this church maintained its power as the shrine for the patron saint of sailors, helper of the poor ( all we know Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas ) and also patron saint of the island Kotka.
What you go to see are the beautiful icons covered in gemstones and precious metals, and the rose oil and galbanum burning always as an eternal prayer. The ceiling with its gold stars is worth a peek, just lay down on the floor and amazement the beauty of the thousands of stars on a blue background. This church is also worth seeing for its Christmas Mass, pompous of course because it is the church of Santa Claus, Saint Nicholas, Nicholaj...and the Easter Mass with the entire community lead by gold clad priests round the church seven times...take a picnic with you and enjoy on the greens, or check if they have the fish pond, selling fresh salmon, and cure and prepare it if you want to!
10. Linden Esplanade
Overall Ratings
5 based on 13 reviews
Reviewed By mishmishapricot - Casablanca, Morocco
This is part of the "Sculpture Promenade" and as such contains many interesting and original artworks. We were fortunate enough to visit on a relatively sunny day after a cold period and saw the whole Esplanade lit to its best advantage.
Quite apart from the artworks, the Linden trees are what make this street. Some of them were planted over 120 years ago and join with the Linden trees in the Sibelius Park to make a stunning vista. In the winter, I've seen extremely original-looking illuminations attached to the trees.
There are several good restaurants and cafes on and just off the Esplanade which makes it even more worthwhile if you're a glutton for Finnish food like me.
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