Kotka

Kotka, Finnish for "eagle", is the southeasternmost major city in Finland and part of the Kymenlaakso region. The municipality has a population of around 55,000 and much of its area is made up of water. The city centre of Kotka is located at Kotkansaari — the "Eagle's Island". A few kilometres north of it, around the motorway is Karhula which is a kind of second centre and home to several shopping malls.

By train

Unfortunately there are no fast InterCity or Pendolino trains to Kotka, but slower yet acceptably quick local trains connect Kotka to Kouvola where you can change trains to get into Helsinki and numerous other destinations.

By car

Route E18 connects Kotka to Helsinki, Hamina and Saint Petersburg. Also highway 15 connects Kotka to Kouvola.

By bus

Matkahuolto, Onnibus and other bus companies operate frequently to Helsinki and other cities, even Saint Petersburg in Russia.

Centre of the city, Kotkansaari (Island of Kotka) is small enough to get around by feet. However if you need to go to other parts of the city you should use bus, take a taxi or rent a car. Check bus schedules from www.kotka.fi/aikataulut. You can use route planner to seek local bus routes between given locations and addresses. You can call a taxi from number 10041.
There is a bike sharing system using bluetooth and the Donkey Republic app. €1.50/1 hr, €4/5 hr, €12/24 hr. For longer stays becoming a member is cheaper: €9 or €18/month covers all trips of less than 1 hr respectively 12 hr, also in other towns using Donkey Republic – but you need to register as member in the country of your card (available: most countries in western Europe and USA). Customer service , daily 09:00–21:00. Several towns in south-east Finland use the same system.

• Maretarium Aquarium

  address: Sapokankatu 2
  An aquarium displaying almost all Finnish fish species.

• Sapokka ParkPonds, trees, flowers, a waterfall, a rock exhibition.

• Langinkoski Imperial Fishing Lodge and Nature Reserve'

  address: Keisarinmajantie 118
  This old fishing lodge was made of timber in 1889 for Russian Emperor & Grand Duke Alexander the Third. It is situated in beautiful surroundings with rapids, trees and small rivers. The area of the nature reserve consists 28 hectares (60 acres). There is also a small Orthodox Chapel on the area.

• Maritime Centre Vellamo

  address: Tornatorintie 99
  The Maritime Museum of Finland and The Museum of Kymenlaakso are located in an architectural masterpiece in the old port of Kotka. In addition to the exhibition, work, teaching and seminar facilities of the Maritime Museum of Finland and Museum of Kymenlaakso, the building will house a 200-seat auditorium, museum shop, restaurant and an extensive library with emphasis on maritime topics.

• Orthodox Church of St NicholasThe present Church of St Nicholas was built between 1799 and 1801 in accordance with drawings by Jakov Perrin, architect of the St Petersburg Admiralty. The columns at the three entrances together with the belfry and dome of this church representing Neoclassicism form an impressive façade. The icons and several objects inside the church are very beautiful. One of the most extraordinary icons depicts St Nicholas in Kotkansaari, with a view of the area of the Ruotsinsalmi naval battle behind him. Outside the church, there is a statue of Maria Purpur, who is reputed to have prevented the destruction of the church during the Crimean War. The church is the oldest building in today’s Kotka.

• Haukkavuori observation towerA former water tower converted to an observation tower where you can see all of Kotka and its surroundings, and if the weather is clear, all the way to Suursaari island.

• Cruises to Kaunissaari and other islandsKaunissaari (literally Beautiful Island) Island is a traditional, small but still lively fisherman village. Boats from Sapokka Harbour (in front of Maretarium Aquarium) about 2-3 times a day in the summer. Tickets are sold on boats. On the island you find a very small museum, a restaurant (good fish dishes) and accommodation. Remember to taste extremely delicious salmon pastries which are sold at a kiosk near the museum. There are also cruises to the islands of Tammio (only one permanent inhabitant!), Ulkotammio and Haapasaari (10 inhabitants, 25 kilometers from Kotka).

Festivals

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• Pasaati shopping centre

  address: Keskuskatu 10
  Pasaati is a large shopping centre right in the centre of Kotka. It has shops for every taste and is particularly full of Russian shopping tourists.

• Jumalniemi

  address: Jumalniementie 7-10
  Jumalniemi shopping area can be found next to the E18 freeway. You can find many different shopping malls in the area.

Budget

Cheap places to eat include:

• Erkan Kebab

  address: Keskuskatu 35
  Standard-issue Finnish-style kebab.

• Hot dog stand

  address: at the corner of Keskuskatu and Kaivokatu
  As traditional Finnish night food as it gets. Try Lihapiirakka kahdella nakilla (small meat pie with two frankfurters).

• Efes Pizzeria

  address: Keskuskatu 29
  Kotka's staple pizzeria/kebab house. Budget, no frills. Go for Kebab ranskalaisilla for gyros meat and fries.

Mid-range

• Ravintola Kairo

  phone: +358 5 212787
  address: Satamakatu 7
  A "traditional seafarer's restaurant" in central Kotka.

• Amarillo

  phone: +358 201234666
  address: Keskuskatu 21
  A Texmex-style chain restaurant close to the bus station.

• Canttiini

  phone: +358 5214130
  address: Kaivokatu 15

Splurge

• Rosso

  address: Kauppakatu 5
  Italian style chain restaurant offers mainly pizza and salad bar, some other plates as well.

• Ilon talo

  phone: +358 20 7759 480
  address: Kirkkokatu 8
  A classy nightclub with plenty of music, drinks and good company.

Budget

Mid-range

• NEXT Hotel Karhulan Hovi

  phone: +358 10 234 6710
  address: Ahlströmintie 26
  French style manor in Karhula, 9 km from Kotka downtown.

• Hotelli Merikotka

  phone: +358 5 215222
  address: Satamakatu 9

Splurge

• Hotelli Cumulus Kotka

  phone: +358 5 269 3100
  address: Tiilikuja 9

You can go more or less anywhere in Kotka any time of the day. Although Kotka has its share of violence and drug use, violent crime happens mostly between addicts and criminals themselves. Robbings are very uncommon.
You might want to avoid jumping a line anywhere during the night, particularly at Finnish hot dog stands ("nakkikioski"). Drunken fights are not unheard of.

• Hamina — A historical fortress town, the easternmost sea port in Finland.
• Russia — If you have a valid visa, the Russian border isn't far away.