Kirkkonummi

It is home to about 41,000 people (31 December 2023) Most of the municipality is traditionally Swedish-speaking, with Finnish spoken in the remote northern parts. However, with urbanisation and commuting to Helsinki, the majority has turned Finnish (75% as of 2024).

The old parish of Kirkkonummi was founded in the 14th century, and one of the most important historical roads in the country, the so-called "King's Road" between Turku and Vyborg, was laid through Kirkkonummi in the same times.

The southern half of the municipality was leased to the Soviet Union between 1945 and 1956 for use as a naval base as part of the peace settlement that ended the hostilities between the Soviet Union and Finland during World War II. Signs of this "Porkkala Parenthesis" include concrete bunkers, other fortifications and the remains of an airbase.

Tourist information:

Visit Kirkkonummi, ☏ +358 50-470-9381 (Luckan), visit@kirkkonummi.fi. The tourist info is in two parts: the municipal info, handled in the city hall at Ervastintie 2, and Luckan in Kirsikka (Saloviuksentie 3). Luckan is an independent organisation primarily catering to the Swedish speaking and those interested in them. It seems the municipality has offloaded in-person tourism advice to the latter.

Kirkkonummi is 30 km west of Helsinki, part of the HSL regional public transport cooperation (see Helsinki#Get around; Kirkkonummi is zone D). For coaches, see Matkahuolto. The centre is half a kilometre north of highway 51 (Länsiväylä, Västerleden) between Helsinki and Raseborg. Time-wise, Kirkkonummi is 30–45 min away from Helsinki by car, bus or regional train.

By train:

There are HSL trains from Helsinki and Espoo: U-trains with a few stops in Kirkkonummi (Masala, Jorvas, Tolsa and the centre) mostly twice an hours and trains with fewer stops continuing westward (Y, H) mostly once an hour. The main railway station is in the south part of the centre.

A few of the trains between Turku and Helsinki stop at 1 Kirkkonummi railway station. Usually you have to transfer to a regional train in Leppävaara, Espoo, sometimes the transfer is in Karis. In both cases, the transfer should be included on the ticket.

By bus:

Buses run regularly from Helsinki and Matinkylä, Espoo. Coaches along road 51, mostly between Helsinki and Karis but often continuing farther, stop at "Kirkkonummenportti" (Kyrkslättporten), i.e. the crossroads to the centre, and other exit ramps. The buses from Matinkylä (with metro access from Helsinki) usually stop at the "travel centre" by the Kirkkonummi rail station – don't confuse it with the bus stops at the station, used e.g. by VR coaches. Most of them make detours to other villages.

By car:

Kirkkonummi is a 20–30-minute drive from central Helsinki along highway 51, depending on the traffic. Highways 1 (E18) and 110 pass through Veikkola in the northernmost part of the municipality.

By bicycle:

The Eurovelo route EV 10 around the Baltic Sea passes through Kirkkonummi centre on its way from the Russian border via Helsinki to Turku; along this stretch it is developed and signposted. There is a 1 bike repair shop in Munkinkuja just south of the railway station.