Ingå

Ingå is a municipality with a vast archipelago situated approximately 60 km west of Helsinki. The population (about 5600 people in 2011) is bilingual with 55% Swedish speakers and 42% Finnish.

Porkkala parenthesis

Between 1944 and 1956 the large parts of Ingå, Siuntio and Kirkkonummi areas at and around Porkkala peninsula were leased to the Soviet Union as a naval base. The Soviet lease for Porkkala had been contracted for 50 years originally, however in 1955 an agreement was reached to return it earlier.

Villages

• Ingå kyrkbyThe largest village and the administrative centre of the municipality. It has a guest harbour.

• DegerbyA small village, the centre of an independent municipality until 1946. It has a museum of the Porkkala Parenthesis.

• Täkter

• Solberg

• FagervikA castle and a former iron works.

• BarösundThe area of the village consists of several larger islands (Barölandet, Orslandet, Elgsjölandet) and hundreds of smaller islands and islets.

Tourist information

• Visit Ingå

  phone: +358 50-464-3374
  address: Strandvägen 2, 10210 Ingå

• Degerby Tourism

  phone: +358 40-541-8526
  address: Furuborgvägen 6, 10160 Degerby

By public transport

There are a handful of coach connections in schooldays, fewer in summer, usually between Helsinki and Karis (most continuing to Ekenäs, Hanko or elsewhere) via the crossroads of e.g. Degerby and Ingå centre. In Karis the coaches usually go via the bus station in the centre, a few also via the train station. They tend to be late, so beware if trying to catch a train.
There is a minibus (VR buss) connecting to some trains, with the stop at the train station, run on behalf of VR between Karis and Kirkkonummi via Ingå. It does not stop at intermediate coach stops (although you could try nicely asking the driver). Search for "Ingå apotek" to get to the main village ("Ingå" in VR parlance signifies Ingå railway station, some kilometres away) and book together with the train ticket (no ticket sale on board). The minibus connection can be used also without a train leg, still booking through the VR pages.
There are local "taxiline" buses or minibuses between Kirkkonummi and Ingå centre stopping also at intermediate coach stops. The stop closest to Kirkkonummi train station is Munkkulla. Fare to Ingå €3.
Ingå municipality publishes a combined timetable on most of the connections (which seems not to be linked from the tourism pages).
In the school year 2019–2020 there is an experiment with free public transport from Lohja hospital once daily on school days (taxiline, stopping at intermediate stops).

By car

Road 51 between Helsinki and Karis goes through Ingå. The distance from Helsinki is about 60 km. For Fagervik, Barösund or more quiet driving, you could instead follow the historic King's Road.

By boat

As Ingå has a nice archipelago and the main yacht fairway between Helsinki and the Archipelago Sea passes through it, yacht is a natural way to get in (or around).

• Ingå guest harbour

  phone: +358 50 354 1909
  address: Strandvägen 2
  Also fuel station and repairs.

• Schola guest harbour

  phone: +358 50 323 3882 (port office/Café Magasinet), +358 40 531 1390 (restaurant)
  address: Valhallavägen 18
  Fuel, shop, laundry.

Scheduled transportation is sparse, mainly the above mentioned connections. You can get around by car, bike, or taxi.
The main village, the Ingå parish village, is 1 km from the main road (road 51). The VR bus stops at the pharmacy (Ingå apotek) close to the supermarket and the church, most coaches have stops also somewhat farther. The tourist information, library and marina are half a kilometre south from the pharmacy.
Degerby village is a few hundred metres north of road 51. Most coaches stop at the crossroads.
Barösund and Fagervik are farther from the main roads, so you need connections specifically to those. Barösund is on the main (inner) yacht fairway from Helsinki westward, so easily reached by boat.
Taxis:

• Taxi station

  phone: +358 100 84090
  address: Strandvägen 8 a1, Ingå parish village

• Taxi Högström Hege

  phone: +358 400 216 136

• GammelgårdenLocal house museum, showcasing the daily life in former days. Gammelgården also hosts market events around the year.

• Ingå churchMedieval church, with a well preserved Danse Macabre-themed fresco.

Historical remains of Porkkala parenthesis

There are still traces of the Soviet lease period to be seen in Ingå. A natural start of your exploration can be the Igor Museum in Degerby.

• Igor Museum in Degerby

  phone: +358 40-541-8526
  address: Furuborgsvägen 6, 10160 Degerby
  Stories of Finnish and Soviet people affected by involuntary re-settling due to the Porkkala lease.

Recreation areas

• KopparnäsThe recreation area (450 ha mainland, 67 ha islands and 195 ha of water area) comprises of a rocky shore, forest, meadows and agricultural land. Several islands are part of the area, the largest one Stora Halsö with a pier for fixing boats (depth about 1.5 m). There are several car parks with compost toilets and sheds (fireplaces) for making BBQs.

• GölisnäsThis small recreation area (11.5 ha) can be reached after a 4 km drive from Barösund. A scenic shore, forest, car park, dry toilets, picnic huts and mosquitoes. Gölisnäs can also be reached by larger boats, as the water depth is 8 feet at the dock.

The main village has a super market and some other shops. During the warmer half of the year fishermen sell their catch in the harbour, and sometimes there are also local farmers selling their produce.
In the other villages the shops may have short hours, be limited to the summer season, be closed in vacations or not cover what you need. Check in advance.

• StrandA small shopping mall with shops and places to eat and drink.

• Degerby Deli

  address: Degerbyvägen 1
  Food store in the village of Degerby, owned by pop singer Kisu Jernström and specializing in local produce.

You can for instance travel east or west along the King's Road. Going east the next town along the road is Siuntio, to the west it's Karis.