Utö (Finland)

Utö is the southernmost inhabited island in Finland, from the mainland, by the main fairway from the Baltic Sea to Turku and Naantali. As such it was important early on, with maritime pilots inhabiting the island since the 18th century and the first lighthouse built in 1753. The current lighthouse was built in 1814 and its current outfit is from 1935. The island was shared between the four pilot families.
The island was first mentioned in a letter by king Gustav Vasa in 1550 saying that there is a stone cairn on the island. A dutch nautical guide from 1592 knows that the island called Wttoy has a mast with a barrel and one must circumnavigate the island from west. A pilot station was established in 1697.
The island got heavy coastal artillery during World War I. The garrison was turned into a hotel in 2005. The island had long been a popular destination, but this made the island much more accessible. Even though the military personnel left the island, there are still some equipment and the cannons are ready to use.
Due to the pilot station, lighthouse and military there is some infrastructure on the island, such as a small primary school and a library, making the island ideal for people wishing to stay or live far from everything. There are a few dozens year-round inhabitants but many more people in summertime.
The island belonged to the municipality of Korpo, which now has merged into Pargas.
As an island far out it has been involved in several tragic accidents, the most famous being the coastal defence ship Ilmarinen, which was sunk by a mine in World War II, the shipwreck of the US freighter m/s Park Victory on nearby rocks in 1947 and the sinking of cruise ferry m/s Estonia in the open sea in 1994.
The climate is relatively mild because of the sea, but wind and moisture make the temperature feel colder.

There are ferries from Turku (from the river) and Nagu (Kyrkbacken or Pärnäs, 4–5 hr from the latter), taxi boats available on request, and a pier for visiting yachts:

• m/s KökarFrom Turku (downstream from Martinsilta, right bank of Aura) via Nagu Kyrkbacken, calling also at Pärnäs by request. Bar, some food served.

• m/s Eivor

  phone: +358 44 500 0503
  From Pärnäs via a few other islands. Coach stop and parking in Pärnäs. Some departures and arrivals have coach connection to Turku. Some food and breweries available. Arrives to the ferry jetty next to the hotel.

• Utö guest harbour

  phone: +358 400 143 814
  Literally in the middle of the village. The east side of the long jetty may be used by visitors. Operated by café Hannas horisont.

The island is small enough to get around by foot: . Private cars are not allowed.
The west part of the island as well as a small area surrounding the monitoring tower close to the chapel are closed military areas. Outside the roads there are old military constructions including trenches and weapons emplacements. Watch your steps!

• The barren landscape and the sea.
• Birds. As the island is the last before the sea, many migrating birds rest here before or after the tough journey, making it one of the best birdwatching locations in Finland. Birds life is rich except for midwinter.

• Utö LighthouseGuided tours daily in summertime. There is an old chapel in the top floor but no public access to the lantern room.

• Utö hembygdsmuseum StenhusetA small museum telling about life on Utö. The building itself was built in 1753 and it is the oldest remaining building on the island.

• The (new) chapelA new chapel was built in 1907-1909 because some of the oldest islanders couldn't climb to the chapel in the lighthouse anymore. At the altar there is a chandelier with the names of the ten men lost with Park Victory and thank you letters from the men rescued and the US embassy are framed hung on the wall of the chapel. Service is held once a year, usually at the Midsummer Sunday.

• The graveyardSand was brought for the graveyard in 1962, earlier the deceased were transported to Jurmo. There is a memorial for those taken by the sea. On the meadow next to the graveyard there is a lonely grave of a German sailor named Buchwald. His body was found on the shore in December 1916.

• Draken memorialA monument to the victims of Draken av Nystad shipwreck. The vessel was destroyed in a severe storm in November 12th 1929. The sailors managed to the islet just hundred meters away but villagers' attempts to help them were hopeless. When the storm ceased, only few men were alive.

• Enjoy the peace.
• Rowing boats for hire.
• SCUBA diving to Park Victory, a Victory class steamship built during World War II, with home port in Newport, Virginia, lost during the Christmas Night 1947. Diving not arranged by the locals, contact diving clubs elsewhere. Parts of the ship risk collapse, so due care is required.

There is a small grocery store on the island: Utö handel. Beside normal produce it sells a beer dedicated to the island and some souvenirs, such as picture-heavy trilingual books about the island or the Archipelago Sea. There are more souvenirs for sale at Hannas Horisont.

• Utö handel

  phone: +358 2 464-7128
  Groceries and some hardware. Mail service.

• Utö havshotel

  phone: +358 20-730-8090
  address: Enskärsvägen 23

• Hannas horisont

  phone: +358 400 143 814
  Café

• Utö havshotell

  phone: +358 20-730-8090
  address: Enskärsvägen 23
  Hotel in former military barracks. Different types of accommodation, mostly double rooms. Restaurant.

• Hannas horisont

  phone: +358 400 143 814
  B&B. Café. Souvenirs.

• Private attached homes

• Camping siteThe camping site is by the road, next to the weather station. Small site but the terrain is good and the place is quite well sheltered from the winds behind some military constructions. No services. The are 430 meters away.

• Jurmo, one of the islands on the way out to Utö, with seal safaris and a very special nature.
• Gotland. Utö is the last harbour for yachts venturing out on the Baltic Sea proper, and Gotland is a quite popular destination. If you are aiming for southern Sweden, it is a convenient waypoint.