Hamina

Hamina's history dates back to the Swedish rule, when Gustav Vasa gave Hamina Castle and the surrounding land to the merchant town of Hamina in 1653.

Hamina was an important trading town located on the border between Russia and Sweden. Its inhabitants traded with both countries. Hamina also had an important harbour. In the 19th century, Hamina became even more important as the postal route from Saint Petersburg to Helsinki passed through the town.

After the war of 1808–1809, the peace treaty between Russia and Sweden was signed in Hamina Castle (the Treaty of Fredrikshamn), confirming the annexation of Finland to the Russian Empire. Today Hamina is known for its unique circular town plan, star-shaped fortress, and one of Google's European data centres.

By Bus

Hamina has direct buses from Helsinki and Lappeenranta. Local bus line 1 connects Hamina with Kotka.

By Car / Road

Highway 7 (E18) between Helsinki and the Russian border passes through Hamina, as does the historic King's Road.

By bus

Kotkanaikataulut.fi has information about local bus routes and timetables.

By bike

There is a bike sharing system using bluetooth and the Donkey Republic app, about €1.50/1 hr, €4/5 hr, €12/24 hr. Several towns in south-east Finland use the same system.

By taxi

Smartphone apps: Valopilkku, 02 Taksi, Taksini

The circular town plan. The town plan of Hamina is quite unique, with the town hall as the middle point and the streets either encircling it or leading towards it.

Hamina fortress, Raatihuoneentori. (updated Jun 2022)

Town hall (Raatihuone). The beautiful yellow building at the centre of the circular city plan, still houses the city government. (updated May 2023)

Lippupuisto. The "flag park" features the tallest flagpole in Europe (100 m tall) with a huge Finnish flag, surrounded by EU country flags. (updated May 2023)

Gulf of Finland National Park. Hundreds of islands and islets in the Baltic Sea outer archipelago in front of Kotka and Hamina. See also Boating in Finland#Gulf of Finland National Park.

There are several fast food places in central Hamina, serving hamburgers, hotdogs, pizza or kebab.

Lounaskahvila Portinpieli, Satamantie 4, +358 40 481 9520, [email protected]. Basic lunch place in the port. (updated Jun 2022)

Ravintola Kiina / Panda Sushi, Fredrikinkatu 5B. Buffet restaurant with Chinese food and sushi. (updated May 2023)

Konditoria Huovila, Fredrikinkatu 1. Cosy old-fashioned café and bakery in the basement of an old wooden building. Cakes, pastries and coffee, and homemade iced tea in summer. Also a bakery shop. (updated May 2023)

Spa Hotel Hamina, Sibeliuskatu 32, +358 5 353 5555, [email protected]. Hotel adjacent to the public indoor swimming pool, with a restaurant and conference area. (updated May 2023)

Hamina Camping Pitkäthiekat, Pitkäthiekat 32 (Vilniemi village, 5 km SE of the old town), +358 40 151 3446, [email protected]. Camping area next to a sand beach with cottages and places for tents, RVs and trailers. (updated May 2023)

In central Hamina you can find a couple of supermarkets and a few dozen smaller businesses from clothing stores to opticians.

Market square (Kauppatori). Food products, flowers, second-hand goods. Small stage with occasional music in summer. (updated May 2023)

Disas, Puuropytyntie. A fish shop with a large range of other food products, established to cater to Russian customers. (updated May 2023)

• Kotka — Hamina's bigger brother, 26 km to the west
• Lappeenranta — major shopping destination on Lake Saimaa, 88 km north
• Russia — border crossing at Vaalimaa about 30 km east (valid visa required)
• Helsinki — capital city, about 145 km west on E18