In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · Finland
Nagu
Nauvo
Stay 1–2 nights in Kyrkbacken in Jun–Aug; the road ferries are free and the coach from Turku takes about 1 h 15 min. Winter: most services shut.
Nagu (Nauvo in Finnish) is a former municipality in the middle of the Archipelago Sea, now part of Pargas. It is two main islands plus around three thousand small ones, with a Swedish-speaking majority and a working village, Kyrkbacken, that has a medieval church, a marina and a handful of museums. Most travellers come by coach or car along the Archipelago Road, or by yacht; the outer islands need the ship-like ferries. One full day covers the village and Själö; two nights let you add a ferry island or a bike loop.
- Country
- Finland
- Local name
- Nauvo
- Best months
- Jun–Aug
- Avoid
- Nov–Mar (many services closed, ice and dark)
- Stay
- 1–2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- EUR
- Money
- Currency is the euro (EUR, €). Cards and phone payments are accepted almost everywhere.
- Daily spend
- Budget €60–90 excl. bed · Mid €90–150 excl. bed · High €150+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- EU roaming applies.
- Emergency
- Emergency 112
- Plugs
- Types C, F · 230 V · 50 Hz · European two-pin; UK and US plugs need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: Not expected; round up for great service.; Café and bar: Nothing.; Taxi: Nothing expected.; Guides: Optional.
- Water
- Tap water is excellent.
- Toilets
- Free in libraries, malls and many stations; some charge €1 by card.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee and pulla in a café | €4–7 |
| Lunch plate or soup | €12–18 |
| Dinner main course | €18–30 |
| Beer in a bar / from a shop | €7–9 / €2–3 |
| Maritime House entry | €3, under 12 free |
| Coach Turku–Nagu | about €12 |
| m/s Norrskär Turku–Nagu | €25 one way, €38.50 return |
| Marina berth with sauna | check at the harbour office |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- TKU · Turku Airport
- Nearest airport; bus or taxi to Turku bus station, then coach along the Archipelago Road. Total about 2–2.5 h.
- HEL · Helsinki-Vantaa
- Fly here for most international routes; train or bus to Turku first, then coach. About 4–5 h door to door.
Typical fares
- Coach Turku → Nagu (Kyrkbacken)
- about €12, children 4–11 half price
- m/s Norrskär Turku → Kyrkbacken
- €25 one way, €38.50 return; bike €6
- Road ferries Prostvik–Pärnäs and Retais–Pärnäs
- free, mostly twice an hour, with a night stop
- m/s Östern Kyrkbacken → Själö
- €8, children 4–11 €4
Get around
Coaches run along the Archipelago Road (Skärgårdsvägen) and stop near most places on the main islands; Kirjais is the main exception. Bikes are the practical way to cover the last kilometres — many guest houses rent them. Road ferries between the main islands are free and take cars and bikes. For outer islands use the ship-like ferries from Kyrkbacken, Pärnäs or Kirjais Österby; some must be ordered by phone the day before.
See and do
Known for
- Archipelago Sea scenery and boating
- Nagu church (15th century)
- Kyrkbacken marina and guest harbour
- Själö island and its history
- Free road ferries on the Archipelago Road
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Själö (Seili) | m/s Östern or m/s Norrskär from Kyrkbacken, or m/s Falkö | About 30–45 min by boat |
| Nötö | m/s Baldur from Pärnäs | About 1–1.5 h plus 14 km to PärnäsAbout 1–1.5 h plus 8.7 mi to Pärnäs |
| Berghamn | m/s Baldur or m/s Cheri from Pärnäs | About 1 h plus 14 km to PärnäsAbout 1 h plus 8.7 mi to Pärnäs |
| Gullkrona | m/s Cheri from Pärnäs | About 1 h plus 14 km to PärnäsAbout 1 h plus 8.7 mi to Pärnäs |
| Turku | Coach along the Archipelago Road | About 1 h 15 min |
| Korpo | Coach along the Archipelago Road, or road ferry from Pärnäs to Retais | About 1 h |
Sleep
- Kyrkbacken
- The main village: marina, church, shops, guest houses and the coach stop. Best base without a car.
- Pärnäs
- Western shore of Storlandet, 14 km from Kyrkbacken; ferry terminal for the southern and Utö routes. Quiet, car useful.Western shore of Storlandet, 8.7 mi from Kyrkbacken; ferry terminal for the southern and Utö routes. Quiet, car useful.
- Kirjais
- South-east, reached by bike, car or a pre-ordered subsidised taxi; ferry pier for the southern routes. Few services.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Hejhey |
| Thank you | Tacktack |
| Do you speak English? | Talar du engelska?TAH-lar doo ENG-el-ska |
| How much is it? | Hur mycket kostar det?hoor MIK-keh KOS-tar deh |
| Can I pay by card? | Kan jag betala med kort?kan yag beh-TAH-la med kort |
| Where is the ferry pier? | Var är färjfästet?var air FAIR-yeh-fes-teh |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Firm handshake, eye contact, short and direct; avoid: Hugs and long small talk with strangers
- Silence: Let pauses be pauses; avoid: Filling every quiet moment
- Sauna: Shower first, ask before throwing water on the stones; avoid: Swimsuits in nude-only saunas, or nudity in mixed ones marked otherwise
- Home visit: Shoes off; bring flowers or pastries; avoid: Keeping shoes on indoors
- Personal space: Keep a metre's distance in queues; avoid: Sitting next to a stranger when other seats are free
- Promises: Mean what you say; Finns will; avoid: Polite 'let's meet sometime' you do not intend
Scams and watch-outs
- Ferry queues on Friday and Sunday afternoons in summer can run to hours; travel mid-week or early.
- Some ship-like ferries must be ordered in advance (often before 14:00 or 16:00 the previous day) to call at your pier.
- Do not land at private jetties or close to summer cottages.
- Ticks are common on the islands; check yourself after walking.
- Winter: many cafés, museums and ferries stop; check timetables before booking.
Very safe. The real risks are ferry queues, ticks in the grass, cold water and thin ice in winter, and getting stranded on an outer island when the last ferry has gone.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Nagu yet. Suggested stay: 1–2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Archipelago Sea scenery and boating
- Nagu church (15th century)
- Kyrkbacken marina and guest harbour
- Själö island and its history
- Free road ferries on the Archipelago Road
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Visit Pargas — Nagu: www.pargas.fi/en/
- Finferries — Parainen–Nauvo timetables: www.finferries.fi/en/ferry-traffic/ferries-and-schedules/parainen-nauvo.html
- Nationalparks.fi — Archipelago National Park, Berghamn: www.nationalparks.fi/archipelagonp/services/berghamn
- Wikivoyage: Nagu, revision 5293980 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5293980
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
NaguNauvo
Till den här adressen, tack
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Emergency112
No embassies in Nagu; most are in Helsinki. The US embassy is in Helsinki (check the address).
Swedish is the majority language here; Finnish and English are widely understood.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/nagu). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.