Feel the Christmas Spirit on the East Coast
Get into the Christmas spirit at the wonderful Christmas events on the East Coast! Roam around Christmas markets shopping for artisan gifts and sipping warm drinks. Admire wonderfully decorated old buildings, Christmas windows, and private homes dressed for the occasion and open for visitors looking for Christmas inspiration. Get the best Christmas gifts from artisan stalls, farms, and small boutiques. Find something new for this season on the East Coast of Finland!
Visit the Historic Houses of Loviisa
Less than an hour’s drive east of Helsinki, you will find the charming old town of Loviisa. Every year, at the beginning of December, a group of locals who live in the historic houses in Loviisa, organize an event where you can visit their homes decorated for Christmas and full of inventive ideas. This year, the Historic Houses of Loviisa (Loviisan Wanhat Talot) are open December 13-14.
Discover the gift and design shops
Loviisa is also known for its marvelous gift and design shops. So whatever you do, don’t miss the unique Krinti, and Cerisa’s , just to name a few.
Meet Count Henrik in the Malmgård Manor
You can also make excellent discoveries in the villages of Loviisa. Visit Malmgård Manor for organic flour and award-winning self-cultivated beer, and Finland’s Smallest Shop Museum at Skinnarby for time travel to the Finnish countryside in the 50s.
Discover One of the Oldest Ironworks in Finland
Where the westernmost fork of the mighty Kymi River flows to the Baltic Sea, a village was born at the end of the 17th century. The power from the river was used for the blacksmith’s jackhammer, and other businesses followed. During the 18th century Virginia af Forselles, a widowed mother of two, ran the village of Strömfors Ironworks for more than five decades. Today it remains a picturesque, idyllic community for artisan lifestyle and outdoor pursuits.
Strömfors Christmas Market 29th-30th November
December 29-30th Strömfors Ironworks invites you to enjoy its unique milieu and atmosphere. Make gift finds, chat with Santa, pet farm animals, taste Christmas delicacies, at the end of all the Christmas festivities! It doesn’t get more unique than that!
Welcome to Strömfors Christmas workshop December 13th. Join a delightful day of handicrafts with a Christmas theme. Come and dedicate a day to yourself alone or with friends. There will be a range of workshop options and a hearty lunch at the pottery. Workshops will take place from 11am to 3pm.
Fairytale-Like Old Town Hamina
The town of Hamina dates back to the 17th century. However, it was destroyed in the Great Northern War and rebuilt in the circular town plan in the 1720s.
The old, historic buildings of the town’s inner circle are a sight for the The old, historic buildings of the town’s inner circle are a sight for sore eyes, especially in December when they are lit for the festivities of the season.
Feel the Hamina Christmas Magic
The Hamina Fortress Christmas event complex brings together Hamina’s Christmas events. Shop for gifts and walk around the old town looking for Christmas calendar windows. A new calendar window opens every day, Dec 1-24, at 6 pm, and there is often a song, a poem, or a snack on offer for the ceremony. Take advantage of this adorable tradition, and mark these dates in you calendar.
⭐️ Anna’s Market on November 29th.
⭐️ Christmas Windows from December 1st to 24th.
⭐️ Christmas Exhibition at the Merchant House Museum from November 29th to December 28th. (Closed 6th and 23th-24th December)
⭐️ Old Vault’s Christmas on December 13th and 14th.
⭐️ Meyer´s Christmas Street 30th November to 31st December.
⭐️ St. Thomas’ Market on December 21st.
Experience Kotka – Harbor City on an Island
Kotka is the perfect place to stay while exploring the East Coast. It is the largest town in the region and has a variety of restaurants and accommodations to offer.
Enjoy Maritime Museum and Aquarium
In the heart of this island city you will find Original Sokos Hotel Seurahuone, an excellent hotel that has just received a World Luxury Hotels Award. Within walking distance, you will find a shopping center, a theater, a concert hall, Finland’s most extensive sculpture promenade, a maritime museum, an aquarium, and a marketplace dressed for Christmas.
Christmas festivities in Kotka start on November 29th with event at Karhula and Kotkansaari squares. Enjoy also numerous festive concerts, including those at the new Event Centre Satama and Kotka Concert Hall.
Spend a day or two shopping and savoring cultural and culinary delights at Maritime Centre Vellamo, Maretarium, Kymi Sinfonietta concerts, Kotka City Theatre, exhibitions, and live performances.
For your Christmas shopping, we recommend places like Pasaati Shopping Center, Havi Outlet, and Jumalniemi Shopping Center, where you can find everything from clothing to home decor and appliances.
End your day by soaking in the festive atmosphere of Kotkansaari square and indulging in the local restaurants.
You are warmly welcome to enjoy the Christmas spirit on the East Coast! What a joy of discovery!
Did you find what you were looking for?