Short boat trips – there in under an hour
When you only have an afternoon, or you want to spend most of the day at the destination, choose a destination you can reach in under an hour. Here we have gathered the destinations with a travel time of no more than an hour from at least one of our routes' departure points.
Details checked against sources in October 2026.
Travel times are estimates
The travel times are our one-way estimates for the routes, and they take the slower sections into account. The actual time depends on the boat, the conditions and the traffic.
A short journey leaves more time at the destination, and it is easy to head back earlier if the weather changes.
Destinations under an hour away
The destinations are grouped by area and listed from nearest to farthest. The travel time is shown from the departure points from which you can get there in an hour or less.
Archipelago Sea (4)
- Maisaari
From Särkänsalmi approx. 40 min · From Hovirinta approx. 50 min
A family day on the island, time outdoors together and a pizza break.
- Seili
From Särkänsalmi approx. 45 min · From Hovirinta approx. 55 min
The history of a leprosy and mental hospital, protected archipelago nature and day visits free of harbour fees.
- Nauvo
From Särkänsalmi approx. 50 min
A harbour day in an archipelago village: free day berths, lunch by the water, a medieval church and a maritime museum.
- Iso-Kuusinen
From Särkänsalmi approx. 55 min
A beach day on the sand: swimming, picnics and sunshine on both sides of a pine-covered isthmus.
West Uusimaa (3)
- Rödjan (Älgö)
From Ekenäs approx. 40 min
An old fishing homestead in the national park, a nature hut and a nature trail to an observation tower on the island of Älgö.
- Jussarö
From Ekenäs approx. 45 min
An abandoned mining island on the edge of the national park: a guest harbour, a restaurant and a sauna, and nature trails past mine shafts.
- Hanko
From Ekenäs approx. 1 h
The Eastern Harbour guest harbour next to the town centre, restaurants on the waterfront and the spa town's villas within walking distance.
Helsinki region (6)
- Vallisaari
From Tervasaari approx. 15 min
A former military island: a sheltered guest harbour, the Aleksanterinpatteri battery and marked loops through diverse nature.
- Vasikkasaari
From Tervasaari approx. 15 min
A short trip to a small island: the echo of an old oil tank, a history trail and the smoke saunas on Saunasaari.
- Suomenlinna
From Tervasaari approx. 20 min
A sea fortress and World Heritage Site: a guest harbour next to the dry dock, museums, ramparts and cafés a short ride away.
- Pihlajasaari
From Tervasaari approx. 25 min
A beach day off Helsinki: sandy beaches, a nature trail, saunas for hire and free day visits.
- Pentala
From Tervasaari approx. 40 min
An archipelago museum on an old fishing homestead, a nature trail to Diksand beach and lunch at an archipelago restaurant.
- Kaunissaari (Sipoo)
From Tervasaari approx. 45 min
Helsinki's outdoor recreation island in Sipoo: free day visits, a restaurant, saunas, a nature trail and sandy beaches.
Porvoo–Loviisa (1)
- Pirttisaari
From Tervasaari approx. 1 h
A fortress island in the outer Porvoo archipelago: a sheltered jetty, coastal guns, a fire control tower and a cooking shelter.
Kotka–Hamina (8)
- Varissaari
From Sapokka approx. 10 min
The Fort Elisabeth fortress island just off Kotka: a summer restaurant, a memorial to the naval battles and a short journey.
- Lehmäsaari
From Sapokka approx. 20 min
Long sandy beaches a short trip from Sapokka: jetties in Lehmän monttu, shelters and walking trails.
- Rankki
From Sapokka approx. 25 min
A former fortress island: a guest harbour, Restaurant Sotku in the old soldiers' canteen, coastal guns and accommodation in the barracks.
- Kirkonmaa
From Sapokka approx. 25 min
A former coastal artillery fortress island: guest harbour, summer café and holiday homes in the former staff terraced houses.
- Kaunissaari (Pyhtää)
From Sapokka approx. 30 min
A fishing village in the outer archipelago of Pyhtää: a sheltered guest harbour, a shop, a café, a restaurant, an archipelago museum and sandy beaches.
- Hamina
From Sapokka approx. 35 min
A star-shaped fortress and circular town centre: guest harbour within walking distance of the town hall, the museum and cafés.
- Haapasaari
From Sapokka approx. 50 min
An old pilot village in the outer archipelago: a wooden church from the 1850s, a co-operative shop running since 1907 and a guest jetty in front of the church.
- Ulko-Tammio
From Sapokka approx. 55 min
A national park fortress island in the outer archipelago: jetty, nature trail, birdwatching tower, guns and a tunnel cut into the rock.
Before you set off
- The wind forecast and the time of sunset
- The destination's services and opening hours from the trip guide
- Food and something to drink
A boat for your trip
For destinations in the Archipelago Sea, we rent out our own Buster Magnum from Kaarina and Naantali. We do not have a boat of our own on the Gulf of Finland, so see the area's rental boats on Friilo.