Korpo

Korpo (Finnish: Korppoo) is one of the former municipalities in the Archipelago Sea in Finland Proper. It includes a lot of small islands, among them important destinations such as Jurmo and Utö. This guide is about the main island and a few adjacent ones.

Understand

Korpo used to be an independent municipality, including many minor islands (about 2,000 in all). This article focuses on the main island, "Korpo Kyrklandet", where the parish village Kyrkby is located. The island is big enough to host several villages, forest and agricultural landscapes, being some 10 km across.

Like in the rest of Åboland, Swedish is the main language. You will survive on English or Finnish.

Get in

Most visitors come via Turku, which is well connected. If coming from the east you can turn to Skärgårdsvägen from national road 1 (E18) or regional road 110 already in Kaarina. There are connections also from Åland.

The "Archipelago Road", Skärgårdsvägen (Finnish: Saaristotie, regional road 180) leads from Kaarina outside Turku to Korpo, via Pargas and Nagu, with two road ferry passages and several bridges. The last short ferry passage is from Pärnäs in Nagu to Retais in Korpo. There is a gap in ferry services in the night. See also the Archipelago Trail, an itinerary along this route.

From Långnäs on Åland, there is a ferry connection to Galtby. There are more complicated connections via Brändö and Houtskär.

You can come also from the north. During the summer season there are several connections a day from Kustavi in the north to Iniö, with the route continuing through Houtskär to Galtby in Korpo. The road ferry from Iniö to Houtskär has a fee. Off season the connection is complicated, with minor ferries visiting many islands.

By car

The ferry from Åland to Galtby is quite expensive. The road ferries are free, except the one between Iniö and Mossala, Houtskär. The other ferries from Iniö and Brändö to Houtskär do not take cars (as of 2022).

By bus

There are coaches from Turku to Korpo six to eight times a day, operated as the brand Skärgårdsbuss by TLO of Turku, and a few direct connections weekly from Helsinki by Skärgårdsvägen Ab, part of Vainion Liikenne Oy. The voyage from Turku takes about two hours. Transfers in Kaarina or Turku, if needed, as explained in Pargas. Most of the coaches visit Galtby harbour to leave or pick ferry passengers before continuing to the main village.

Almost all of the Skärgårdsbusses from Turku drive all the way to Korpoström by request. Tell the driver if you need to get there, otherwise the terminus is next to the Korpo church.

By bike

The Archipelago Trail runs through Korpo, arriving at the Retais ferry quay and continuing from Galtby to Houtskär and beyond. There are no separate cycleways on this part of the trail. There is a separate cycleway between the Korpo school and the main village.

By boat

There are daily ferries from Långnäs on Åland to Galtby in Korpo (timetables 2022). The trip takes about five hours. During high season (mid-June to mid-Aug) you must change ferries in Kökar. This connection (as all the ferries operated by Ålandstrafiken) is free of charge for passengers but there are fees for vehicles. The price depends not only on the type of the vehicle, but also whether you are staying overnight off the Åland mainland (cheap fee) or are just passing through (quite expensive!).

Road ferries connect Galtby with Houtskär in the west and Norrskata in the north (Galtby–Houtskär, Galtby–Norrskata). These are free of charge.

It is possible to come by the ferries serving minor islands in the north, via Norrskata ("Nagu norra rutt") or Houtskär ("Houtskärsrutten", "Iniö tilläggsrutt"). These connections are somewhat complicated, with timetables shifting by season and day of week and often requiring advance request. They are generally free, but should not be used by car unless necessary (regard your car as bulky cargo).

By a yacht, Korpo is at the main fairways from Sweden or the Baltic Sea (via southern Åland or Finnish Utö to Turku and Naantali). There are lots of other fairways crisscrossing between the islands. Guest marinas include the one in Korpoström in the south and the one in Verkan near the parish village.

Get around

Except school buses and the like, there are no local buses on Korpo. The Skärgårdsbuss coaches can be used when their schedules happen to fit. If you want to get around, you probably need a car or a bike. There are taxis.

  • 🌍 Kyrkoby (Korpo). Parish village. (updated Jan 2018)
  • 🌍 Galtby ferry harbour. Ferries to Norrskata, Houtskär and Åland leave here. (updated Jan 2018)
  • 🌍 Korpoström. Guest marina. Skärgårdscentret. (updated Jan 2018)
  • 🌍 Wattkast. An island connected to the main island with a bridge. Many farms with farm-gate sales. Notable for the number of oak trees. (updated Sep 2019)
  • 🌍 Norrskata. Until 2008 the second largest village in Korpo. Nowadays there are hundreds of summer residents. (updated Jan 2018)

To get to the minor islands you take a ship-like ferry from Galtby or from 🌍 Pärnäs in Nagu (just across the sound), with departures once or twice a day. From Galtby you get to Norrskata and the northern archipelago, from Pärnäs to the southern archipelago, including Jurmo and Utö.

A ship-like ferry M/S Baldur (ex Eivor) servs the route Pärnäs–(Berghamn)–Nötö–Aspö–Jurmo–Utö daily during the summer season (June 7th – August 31st). Day trips to Nötö, Aspö and Jurmo are then possible in Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, but in Wednesdays there is no coach connection any more when the ferry arrives back to Pärnäs. The rest of the days you need to stay overnight on some of those islands. If you want to leave the vessel in Utö you always need to stay overnight, but you may take a day trip to Utö and back if you don't leave the vessel. M/S Baldur is free of charge, but it does not carry private cars. The vessel has a café.

There is another ferry serving minor islands of Houtskär and Korpo, on the Korpo route (Archipelago Lines). On Korpo Kyrklandet it calls at Verkan, near the parish village (M/S Fiskö takes two cars, but you might leave those slots for locals). Like on most of these ferries, call ahead to reserve the voyage.

See
  • 🌍 Archipelago Centre Korpoström, Korpoströmvägen 832 (8 km south from the main village), ☏ +358 40-139-1218, . Restaurant. Exhibitions and workshops. In the summer children are invited to make marine biological research, studying what they find in the water under the microscope, and are guided on the 18th-century wartime and civil life in Korpo (check the language issues: can trilingual instruction be provided?). 
  • 🌍 Korpo kyrka (Korppoon kirkko), Korpovägen 1 (in the main village), ☏ +358 40-312-4442. June 1st–August 31st daily 10:00–17:00. The medieval church built in the early 15th century has interesting architectonic details telling about not so peaceful history. Truly medieval looking murals and a number of medieval wooden statues. The apsidal balcony is the only one left in the Nordic countries. free. 
  • 🌍 Korpo Hembygdsmuseum (Local History Museum), Strömmavägen 39 (800 m from the main village's market square), ☏ +358 40-741-0545. June 26th–Aug 11th: W–Su 12:00–16:00; Aug 17th–Sept 29th: Sa Su 12:00–16:00. Historical collections from the surrounding archipelago from handicrafts to fishing gear. €4, children under 12 years free. 
  • 🌍 Skäri museet Verkan, Kabeluddsvägen 1 (at Verkan guest marina), ☏ +358 40-741-0545. June 26th–Aug 11th: W–Su 12:00–16:00; Aug 17th–Sep 29th: Sa Su 12:00–16:00. A small museum with an exhibition concentrated on bootlegging! Also some fishing and bird-hunting equipments and boat engines. €4, children under 12 years free. (updated Jul 2019)
  • 🌍 Rumar hill. An observation tower, a weather radar display, and a nature and culture path 
  • 🌍 Norrskata church, Änkistentie 540. June July: Sa Su 12:00–18:00. A wooden church built 1932–1934. free. 
  • 🌍 Aspö (Aspö). A small and beautiful archipelago island 24 km south from Korpo main village having just 11 year-round residents. The current chapel next to the harbour is the fourth one on the island and built in 1950 after the previous one got destroyed by an autumn storm. Summer café. Nature trail. Accessible by the ferry M/S Baldur from Pärnäs. During the season a day trip is possible in Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays (no coach connection from Pärnäs at Wednesdays). (updated Jul 2019)

Do
  • 🌍 Åvensor quarry (Ahvensaaren louhos), Åvensor. An old limestone quarry filled with crystal clear water is a popular destination for scuba divers. The calcareous soil makes some rare plant species to grow on the island. Åvensor has daily ferry connection by M/S Falkö but there are no services for visitors on the island. Free. 

Events
  • Korpo Sea Jazz (different venues around Korpo, also on Aspö, and in Houtskär, Nagu and Pargas). Late July. "Bold, modern and at times experimental jazz festival", organized since 1989. Several concerts free, other concerts mostly €22–27, Aspö concert including transport €65. (updated Jul 2022)

Buy

There is a very small grocery store in Verkan as well. The market square is in the middle of main village, in front of the church and Korpo handel.

Many agricultural producers in Wattkast village have direct sale to consumers including meat, vegetables, flowers etc.

Eat and drink

There are restaurants in a few of the villages.

Sleep

Guesthouses or, mainly for longer stays, cottages. There is no official camping area on Korpo main islands but plenty of woods for wild camping. For staying overnight on the islands Jurmo or Utö, please see the corresponding articles.

In Norrskata
  • 🌍 Verandan, Norrskatavägen 285 (in Norrskata), ☏ +358 40-550-6677, . Cottages in Norrskata. Meals available only for those who stay overnight. The cottages do not have cooking facilities. June 20th-August 28th: €55-190, May 1st-June 19th and August 25th-September 30th: €50-170 (incl. linen, breakfast & sauna). (updated Jul 2019)

Connect

Postal code: 21710 Korpo

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