Vaasa is a coastal city that hosts one of Finland's most famous festivals, Korsholm. There are many interesting museums here, and in summer tourists come to enjoy the beaches on the Gulf of Bothnia.
The city has medieval roots, but not much of the old buildings have been preserved here. All this because of the destruction during the Finnish-Swedish war at the beginning of the 19th century and the great fire in the middle of this century. The new city was rebuilt on the seashore, a few kilometers from the old city center.
The most interesting monument is the church of Vaasa. Within the center and by the sea, the former port and industrial buildings from the 19th century have also been preserved. Today, many of them house museums, which are the greatest attraction of Vaas. There is, among others Maritime Museum, Kunsti Museum of Modern Art and Tikanoja Art Museum. The Vaasa market hall also dates from the 19th century and still serves its original purpose.
Among the Vaasa museums, the Ostrobothnian Museum is the most important for Finnish culture and development, with a very rich art collection, as well as historical and economic development.
The coastal location and fame of the sunniest city in Finland attracts crowds of tourists to Vaasa every year. In summer, you can take advantage of the sandy beaches of Hietasaari, Mansikkasaari and Strömsö, cruise around the surrounding islets and practice water sports. There is also a large spa center, Tropiclandia, offering the possibility of using saunas and wellness rooms.
