Things to do in Rauma
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Vanha Rauma
Vanha Rauma, the World Heritage-listed Old Town in the heart of modern Rauma, is not a museum but a living centre, with low-key cafés, hardware shops, residences and a smattering of artisans and lacemakers working in small studios.
Most of the low wooden buildings of Vanha Rauma were erected in the 18th and 19th centuries. There are some 600 houses and 180 shops, and each building has a name - look for it on a small oval sign near the door. You can spend a pleasant half day wandering around Vanha Rauma's cobbled streets and visiting its shops and museums. The tourist office has an excellent pamphlet detailing a self-guided walk.
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Kauppatori
The Kauppatori is in the heart of Old Rauma. It's a typically lively market square teeming with food and craft stalls, buskers and tourists. On the south side is Rauma's most imposing building, the Vanha Raatihuone (old town hall), built in 1776. It now houses the Rauma Museum, with exhibits relating to seafaring and the city's lacemaking heritage, including model ships, paintings, baroque furniture and lace costumes.
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Church of the Holy Cross
North of the kauppatori is the bold stone Church of the Holy Cross, a 15th-century Franciscan monastery church set by the Raumanjoki. It has early-16th-century frescoes and several beautiful painted panels, a fine Prussian triptych from the 15th century and an ornate pulpit. On the north wall is Finland’s oldest votive painting, an image of Margareta, a former mayor’s daughter.
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Wanhan Rauman Kellari
Looking for atmospheric dining? Serving easily the best meals in Vanha Rauma, this ever-busy cellar restaurant has a sun-drenched rooftop terrace in summer. Meals run to top-notch salads and French food, with seafood and chicken prevailing. If you can, snaffle a booth, because historic leather slingback chairs prove to be crippling for longer meals.
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Rosmariini
This winning lunchroom is decked out in traditional woods and throws on good old-fashioned belly-busting buffets that include salads, sweet-grandmotherly pastries, house-baked breads and fruity pot roasts. The terrace out the back is relaxed given its closeness to the bustling kauppatori.
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Rauma Maritime Museum
Wandering around the Old Town, it’s easy to forget that Rauma is a port, so the Rauma Maritime Museum is a good reminder of the town’s seafaring livelihood. As well as old photos and displays, there’s a thrilling navigation simulator.
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Maffi
The best spot in town for a few sociable beers, this is actually a hotel bar, but doesn't feel like one. It's warmly decorated in wood and stone, has a couple of levels and a terrace. Out the back are several pool tables; there's also Internet access.
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Marela
Marela is the most interesting of Rauma’s museums and one of its most elaborate buildings. The preserved home of a wealthy 19th-century merchant family is furnished with antiques, wall paintings and Swedish ceramic stoves.
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Ravintola Arturi
This popular spot has snug booths inside but it’s hard not to keep drinking in the sunny kauppatori seats. Food isn’t particularly Finnish but does good-sized mains with crispy fries and affordable pizzas, plus a varied salad bar.
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Savenvalajan Verstas
Located outside of Old Town, due to the fire risk, Savenvalajan Verstas is a small museum that once made distinctive stove tiles. It provides an insight into this fascinating trade, and you can have a go yourself.
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Kontion Leipomo
Charming cafés are plentiful in Vanha Rauma and this is a perennial favourite. It's a great place for compassionately priced coffee, cakes or pastries, has teddy bears lounging on the seats, and a large garden at the back.
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Old Town
The World Heritage–listed Old Town in the heart of modern Rauma remains a living centre, with low-key cafes, hardware shops, residences and a few artisans and lacemakers working in small studios.
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Kirsti
Kirsti is a lovable collection of buildings with a yard that’s circled by a stable, granary and barn. Inside, rooms represent different periods of the home’s life right through to the 1970s.
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Rauma Museum
Rauma’s most impressive building, Vanha Raatihuone (Old Town Hall), built in 1776, houses the Rauma Museum, which exhibits maritime heritage and a few choice lace pieces.
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Wähä Tallbo
This sophisticated Old Town eatery maintains many of its original fittings. Food is unspectacular but affordable – particularly the lunch special – but the ambience is the real appeal.
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Otava
This likeable Finnish dance club is the place for tango and humppa (Finnish jazz) music. Otava II, just around the corner, is more of a drinking pub that attracts serious barflies.
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Rauma Art Museum
Rauma Art Museum, in the heart of Vanha Rauma, features changing exhibitions of traditional and modern art. The Old Town well is in the courtyard.
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Lounaskahvila Hjalmar
A hearty home-cooking kind of place in Vanha Rauma. You'll find fare such as chicken nuggets, Wiener schnitzel, and pan pizza on the menu for a relative pittance.
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Pits-Priia
The venerable lacemaking workshop, Pits-Priia, is the place to buy the town’s distinctive bobbin lace. You can also watch it being made.
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Savenvalajan Verstas
Savenvalajan Verstas is a small museum of pottery, and a workshop where you can see potters at work and have a go yourself.
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