Kokkola

Kokkola (Swedish: Karleby) is a town in Central Ostrobothnia, Finland, with a population of 48,000 (2021). It's the largest town in the region, with industry based on chemicals and metals. The old wooden town (Neristan) has been well-preserved, and is the main reason to visit.

Understand


Kokkola was founded in 1620 under Swedish rule, and much of the current built-up area was underwater at that time; the area is still rebounding from glaciation, at almost 9 mm a year. Kokkola was an important exporter of tar in the 18th and 19th century, an essential commodity when ships were built of wood. But it was always losing a race with the receding sea, as its offshore archipelago became a narrow peninsula, then a broad headland, and the harbour dwindled to a narrow creek. The modern dockland and industry are now 5 km to the west.

By train
There are six direct trains daily from Helsinki via Tampere, taking just under 4 hours, and continuing to Oulu (Uleaborg) and other far-north towns. A couple of sleeper trains to the far north also call at Kokkola in the small hours. is central, but cold and shuttered at those hours. The waiting room is open Su–F 07:00–18:00, Sa 07:00-15:30 with a couple of ticket machines and a Sixt car rental office. See Finland#Get around: By train for advice on fares and ticket purchase.

By bus
Kokkola has direct buses from Helsinki (8-9 hr), Turku (7 hr), Jyväskylä (4 hr), Vaasa (2 hr 30 min), Jakobstad (1 hr), Oulu (3 hr) and Tampere (5 hr 35 min). Bus is the quickest way from Vaasa, Jakobstad and Jyväskylä as the railway route is indirect. The town bus station is just across the road from the railway station.

By car
The main highways into town are E8 Turku–Vaasa–Kokkola–Oulu–Kemi–Tromsø, and E12 Helsinki–Tampere–Kokkola.

By boat
There are ferries from Umeå to Vaasa, taking 5 hours.

The passage from the High Coast of Sweden via the Kvarken Archipelago, or along the coast from the Bothnian Sea can be a nice voyage by yacht. From Sweden, the open-sea leg can be made short, with lighthouses in view all the time (if visibility is good).

Get around
The town is fairly small, so the easiest way to see the sights is walking.

By bus
A small number of city bus lines circle Kokkola. The Matkahuolto route planner covers local transport. The only two lines a visitor is likely to use are numbers 4 and 5, which run hourly from the centre via the market square to Halkokari (east of the river outlet) and west to the dockland.

By bike
Pyöräliike Lybäck Oy on Isokatu 21 does bike repairs and rentals. They're open M–F 09:00-17:00 and Sa 10:00–14:00.

By electric kick scooter
German Tier rents electric kick scooters for use in the centre.

By taxi

 * Smartphone apps: Valopilkku, 02 Taksi
 * Smartphone apps: Valopilkku, 02 Taksi
 * Smartphone apps: Valopilkku, 02 Taksi
 * Smartphone apps: Valopilkku, 02 Taksi

See



 * Neristan is Swedish for "lower town", the artisan and sailors' quarter (Finnish Vanhakaupunki). This is a fine old district of wooden houses, one of the best preserved in Finland, laid out on a grid pattern. Oppistan or "upper town" was the more prosperous merchant quarter, but less of this has survived. The station area is bland and modern, go north a couple of blocks back to come into the attractive part, bounded to the east by the river and park and to the north by Chydeniuksenkatu. The tourist map suggests a walking route but you can just quarter the streets at random.
 * : 19th-century Finland was part of the Russian Empire, and in 1854 during the Crimea War a force of British Royal Marines raided the town. They were beaten off, nine were killed, and one boat was captured. It's by the creek along Isokatu, in a boathouse which is locked but has a shop-window front. The British ask for the boat's return, but the Finns decline. It's being looked after nicely (the boathouse is being re-painted in mid-2019) and is safe enough where it is.
 * : this area was outside town until the 19th century when it was laid out as a public park. At its north-west corner, the Katarina Cemetery is a walled graveyard set up in 1770 on the site of the earlier plague pits. It's surrounded by charnel houses, where those who died in winter were stored until the ground thawed in spring and they could be buried. One block north, note the Orthodox Chapel and the 1930s-style filling station.
 * : 19th-century Finland was part of the Russian Empire, and in 1854 during the Crimea War a force of British Royal Marines raided the town. They were beaten off, nine were killed, and one boat was captured. It's by the creek along Isokatu, in a boathouse which is locked but has a shop-window front. The British ask for the boat's return, but the Finns decline. It's being looked after nicely (the boathouse is being re-painted in mid-2019) and is safe enough where it is.
 * : this area was outside town until the 19th century when it was laid out as a public park. At its north-west corner, the Katarina Cemetery is a walled graveyard set up in 1770 on the site of the earlier plague pits. It's surrounded by charnel houses, where those who died in winter were stored until the ground thawed in spring and they could be buried. One block north, note the Orthodox Chapel and the 1930s-style filling station.

Do

 * Walk or cycle north along the creek to the sea shore, 2.5 km. There are tarmac paths both sides, but the west bank is more pleasant, a bosky parkland of native birch and fir. At the ring road Pohjoisväylä / Norraleden you need to switch briefly onto the east bank. Then take the footbridge by the supermarket to return to the west bank path, for the campsite and ferry to Tankar Island.
 * Kokkola Cup is an annual football (soccer) tournament for under-18s held in and around town in July. The next event is 18-21 July 2019.
 * The Venetian Festival (Venetsialaiset) at the end of August is when people close up their summer cabins and cottages and have a party, before the September nights and cold winds set in. There's a lot of bonfires, lights and fireworks - hence the name, as fireworks were introduced to Finland from Italy and became known as "Venetian lights".
 * Live music is often on at local bars and pubs, e.g. at Bar West Coast on Rantakatu 16.
 * Classical music: the Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra often play at Snellman Hall, Kokkola.
 * Anniversary: The city's anniversary is celebrated on 7 Sep.
 * Anniversary: The city's anniversary is celebrated on 7 Sep.

Buy
There are many larger stores and smaller shops as it is regional centre.



Eat


There are at least three fast-food franchises, over ten pizzerias and many small cafés and food stalls, plus Italian, Chinese and (sort-of) Mexican. The main concentration is in and around Chydenia mall near the railway and bus stations.



Drink

 * Reino Nightclub (formerly Socis) is in Hotel Seurohuone (listed below), F Sa 23:00–03:30.
 * Reino Nightclub (formerly Socis) is in Hotel Seurohuone (listed below), F Sa 23:00–03:30.
 * Reino Nightclub (formerly Socis) is in Hotel Seurohuone (listed below), F Sa 23:00–03:30.
 * Reino Nightclub (formerly Socis) is in Hotel Seurohuone (listed below), F Sa 23:00–03:30.
 * Reino Nightclub (formerly Socis) is in Hotel Seurohuone (listed below), F Sa 23:00–03:30.

Go next

 * Kalajoki 70 km north has sandy beaches where you can swim in the Gulf of Bothnia in the summer.
 * Raahe 125 km north is an industrial town.
 * Oulu 200 km north is the largest city in Northern Finland and the provincial centre of the region North Ostrobothnia, with many sights and activities, e.g. an excellent science museum.
 * Jakobstad (Pietarsaari), 35 km south, still has a Swedish-speaking majority, has an extensive wooden town, the ship replica Jacobstads Wapen and a nice botanical garden.
 * Vaasa (Vasa) 120 km south is the provincial centre of the Ostrobothnia region, with plenty of history and with a ferry across the sea to Umeå in Sweden.