KristinestadThings to do

Things to do in Kristinestad

  1. Susiluola

    Heading east on Rd 663, you’ll find Susiluola just before the village of Karijoki. This small cave is one of the most significant archaeological finds in Finland with evidence to suggest that humans occupied this area more than 120,000 years ago, before the ice age. As well as walking up the 500m trail to the cave itself, you can view some of the tools and artefacts found here in the visitors centre.

    reviewed

  2. Carlsro Museum

    About 5km north of town, the summer villa of a cashed-up merchant has become Carlsro Museum. If the collection of over 11,000 toys, bric-a-brac and other items from around the area doesn’t impress, then there’s always a wander in the idyllic gardens from the Tsarist era.

    reviewed

  3. Café Alma

    This fabulous place on the waterfront has a bright atrium dining area at the front and a sizeable terrace. Dominating the interior is a sizeable scale model of the ship Alma. There's a fine buffet lunch; the filled rolls and other snacks are also delicious.

    reviewed

  4. Sjöfartsmuseum

    Sjöfartsmuseum was originally built in 1837 as a merchant’s home to dominate the market square. Today it showcases Kristinestad’s maritime heritage, especially ship-building, with reconstructions of a captain’s cabin and a ship’s helm.

    reviewed

  5. Lebell House

    An affluent merchant built Lebell House, a block south of the market square. Dating from the mid-19th century, the museum gives an insight into upper-class life including a baroque-styled salon with original linen wallpaper.

    reviewed

  6. Old Customs House

    In its heyday as a key port, travellers entering the town had to pay customs duty, collected at the Old Customs House, a smallish rust-wood building dating from 1720, just along from the imposing town hall.

    reviewed

  7. Kattpiskargränden

    Three blocks south of the market square is Kattpiskargränden. In the 1880s the town employed a cat catcher, whose job was to kill sick cats in order to prevent the spreading of plague - hence the name of the street.

    reviewed

  8. Crazy Cat

    This frisky feline is a cut above the town’s many pizzerias, adding filling pastas and a generous lunch spread to make you feel like the cat who got the cream.

    reviewed

  9. Wooden Houses

    The most interesting thing in Kristinestad is the town itself, with its rows of colourful, old, painted wooden houses and its charming small-town feel.

    reviewed

  10. Old Church

    Behind the customs house is the striking red-wood Old Church, from 1698 and retaining much of its original detail.

    reviewed

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  12. New Church

    The red-brick New Church has a high wooden ceiling and an archetypal church-ship dedicated by mariners.

    reviewed