Maisaari with children – a boat trip and a pizza stop in the archipelago

Maisaari, or Iso Maisaari, is a recreational island owned by the City of Turku in Rymättylä, Naantali. The island was once the centre of Rymättylä's traditional peasant sailing, and today it is a popular destination for day trips, school camps and meetings.

On Maisaari, the day can be built around play, time outdoors and a pizza break together. The island has a children's playground as well as a hobby horse stable and an obstacle course. There is also time for a short walk and stops to enjoy the sea views.

The island has a sandy beach, a football and volleyball field, a disc golf course, lawn games and plenty of barbecue shelters. It is worth bringing fishing gear too, as the waters around Maisaari are good for fishing.

Do your own little nature spotting: how many different birds, plants or stones can you find on your walk?

Bring a familiar game or a deck of cards and play a round at your break spot.

Walk the nature trail: the two-kilometre trail starts from the yard of Isotalo and has ten information boards about nature along the way. The trail is marked with yellow paint marks and posts with a pine cone symbol. Allow about an hour and a half.

An easier option is the 2.2-kilometre Varvi farm route, which follows the roads to the old Varvi farm. The route is marked with red paint marks, and there is an information board about the farm's history. The loop takes about an hour, and there are barbecue spots along the way.

Rent a rowing boat and go for a short row along the shore. Two rowing boats are at Peikkoranta near the beach and one at Haarla.

Maisaari has three guest jetties where boats moor to buoys: Peikkoranta has 20 buoys, Haarla 15 and Huhta 5. The depth is about 1.2–2.5 metres at Peikkoranta and Haarla and about 3.1–4.3 metres at Huhta. Moor your boat according to the harbour's instructions. Availability of jetty spaces varies, and a berth cannot be guaranteed in advance.

The island has a kiosk at the office, barbecue shelters, a sandy beach, a football and volleyball field and a disc golf course. There are also toilets, and you can take a shower for a fee in the laundry building. Opening hours and availability of services vary by season.

The island is open from April to October. Check the island's current arrival and mooring instructions if needed. Use an up-to-date nautical chart on the water.

A pizza break gives the island day a nice fixed point. First the boat trip and time outdoors, then everyone gathers around the table. Leave plenty of time for the meal and check the pizzeria's opening hours before you set off.

A boat trip, the steam of a wood-heated sauna and pizza also make Maisaari a great day trip for a group of adults. You can book the wood-heated Maisa or Villa sauna on the island and head for pizza after the sauna. Maisa is a classic old-style shore sauna for about seven people, and the newer Villa sauna has showers, a spacious changing room and a large terrace. From both you can go straight into the sea for a swim, and the saunas' fireplace rooms can be rented as well. Alternatively, bring your own food and have a barbecue on the island.

Here is an idea for a Sunday trip, for example: arrive on the island, enjoy a sauna slot booked in advance and leave time for a meal together before the return trip. Arrange the sauna slot directly with the operator on Maisaari and check the length and times of the sauna slots, current prices, opening hours and barbecue options at the same time.

The pizzeria is open during the island's season, from spring until October. In spring, the pizzeria only opens once the island's water supply has been connected, so call to check the opening hours in April. If you arrive late, phone your order in good time. Check any special dietary requirements directly with the pizzeria. For groups, the island also has a restaurant for pre-booked meals, where the barbecue food is cooked over charcoal.

On Maisaari you can stay in the renovated Antola house, in converted storehouses or in archipelago cottages, with accommodation for more than 50 people, so the island also suits an overnight trip for a family or a larger group.

When you rent the Buster Magnum from us for several days or even a week, you can stay the night and continue your trip the next day. Book accommodation directly with the provider.