Örö

While most services in Finnish national parks are handled by Metsähallitus, in Örö they are left to private partners. Seeing the sights and walking around are still free also on Örö, and camping with a tent is cheap.

History:

The island used to be a commons pasture for the villages of Hitis-Rosala. There were huts used as a base for fishing expeditions and other overnight stays. The sheltered waters were also used as temporary anchorages for naval vessels.

This changed when the Russians built a fort on the island 1910–1915, as part of the "Peter the Great" chain of fortifications defending the Gulf of Finland and thereby Saint Petersburg (similar forts where built at Russarö and Utö, and in Estonia). When Finland became independent in 1917 it became part of the Finnish defence and construction works continued.

The fort was modernized in the 1930s. In the Continuation War 1941–1944 the Soviet marine base in Hanko (leased as part of the Winter War peace treaty of 1940) was within range for the heavy batteries. Örö also provided supporting fire in the battle of Bengtskär.

The coastal forts, and their artillery, long had an important role in Finnish coastal defence, but finally they were decommissioned. The island still remained a military area, used for training and supervision, until 2015, when it became part of the national park and opened for tourism. A few houses have been rented for year-round living, attracting mainly artists and authors. Some military installations are still in use and off limits for visitors.

Being off limits for the public and used for military purposes has protected many otherwise threatened natural features. As a former training area for conscripts, it also has nostalgic value.

Landscape:

The large island (200 ha, 1.5 km·3 km), surrounded by smooth cliffs, is a mostly forested sandy reef with low bedrock hills. The most precious habitats on Örö are the scorched heathlands and the sandy beaches.

Flora and fauna:

The only way in is by boat, unless you are permitted to use the former military helicopter field – or use a seaplane.

Scheduled ferries are available from Kasnäs in the south-west end of Kimitoön. As of 2025, there is a daily ferry by Wilson Charter, leaving about 10:30 in the morning, and returning around 16:00. Check the exact schedule for the day on their website. Finferries also operates a service from Kasnäs; once-weekly in the summer season when the Wilson service runs, three weekly sailings out of season when this is the only scheduled connection. The latter has space for cars, but visitors aren't allowed to bring their car (it's for the company running the services on Örö). Thus, if you're driving to Kasnäs, park the car in the parking lot in the harbour. All ferries have to be booked ahead.

Sailing your own craft would give you more options for schedules and destinations. Taxi boats are also available, and there might be tours with a chartered boat with their own schedule.

There are few buses to Kasnäs, and they do not necessarily combine with the Örö ferries. Connections to Dalsbruk are better, with a few services a day, e.g. from Turku (1¾ hours, €18.70), Salo (1½ hours, €15) or Helsinki (3 hours, €36). Take a taxi (or your bike) from Dalsbruk, 20 km (€34–50).

With private vessels the guest harbour, where also the ferry quay is situated, is the only allowed entry point, unless the harbour master assigns other moorings (as sometimes in peak season). If you arrive by canoe or kayak, there is also a landing spot on the south shore, near the camping site. Anchoring is forbidden (there are lots of unmarked cables).