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Major city · Finland

SjälöSeili

Go as a summer day trip from Turku or Nagu: 3–5 hours on the island, last boat back by late afternoon. Skip outside June–August unless you have your own boat.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
EUR
Best months
Jun–Aug
avoid Nov–Mar (boats limited, most services closed)
Airport
TKU
Nights
1
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 7Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
  • Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
  • Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
  • Nordic countries ↗Decide light or dark before anything else: summer trips (June–August) and aurora trips (September–March in the Arctic) need different countries, clothes and bases.
  • Nordic countries ↗Sweden, Norway, Finland, Iceland and the Faroes sell stronger alcohol only in state shops with short hours; buy before evening and before Sundays and holidays.
  • Finland ↗Finland is in the EU and the Schengen area. Check the entry rules for your passport on official sources; the EU's Entry/Exit System registers non-EU visitors at the first Schengen border.
  • Finland ↗The land border with Russia is closed to travellers; do not plan a route across it.
  • Finland ↗Everyman's rights let you walk, camp for a night and pick berries on most land, but not near homes, and not to make fires without permission.

Själö (Finnish: Seili) is a small Archipelago Sea island about 30 km southwest of Turku, reached only by boat. It held a leper colony from 1619 and later a mental hospital that closed in 1962; the 1733 wooden church and the 1851 hospital buildings survive, and the University of Turku now runs a research station in them. Organised tourism, with a restaurant and rooms, began in 2017. Most people come for a few hours on a summer day; a night on the island buys you empty evening light and the sauna.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Själö, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • Museum or sight ticketChurch entry€3.50 (≈ US$5) adult, €2 (≈ US$3) child, €8.50 (≈ US$10) family
  • Budget bedApartment with kitchen, a night, per room€120 (≈ US$140)
  • Mid-range bedRoom in the old hospital building, a night, per room€105 (≈ US$130)
  • High-end bedRoom in the old hospital building, a night, per room€120 (≈ US$140)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget €45 (≈ US$55) · Mid €90 (≈ US$110) · High €160 (≈ US$190)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Former leprosy colony and mental hospital1733 wooden church with a separate leper naveArchipelago Sea nature and birdlifeUniversity of Turku research station
Airports
TKU Turku Airport (About 30 km from Turku's boat departures; bus 1 to the city centre, then walk or taxi to the river harbour.)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Själö: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

−1°C

−6°C

11 rd

Feb

−1°C

−7°C

9 rd

Mar

2°C

−5°C

8 rd

Apr

7°C

−1°C

7 rd

May

13°C

4°C

7 rd

Jun

18°C

9°C

7 rd

Jul

21°C

12°C

8 rd

Aug

20°C

12°C

10 rd

Sep

15°C

8°C

11 rd

Oct

9°C

4°C

12 rd

Nov

4°C

0°C

12 rd

Dec

1°C

−3°C

12 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

On foot or by bike. Gravel roads are in good condition and everything sits within about 1 km of the jetties. Cars cannot be landed on the island even though one ferry carries them.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time
Turkugo

Door to door: About 2 h each way

m/s Norrskär return cruise from Turku, about 1 h 45 min each way

The simplest way to visit: one boat out and back, no other connections to arrange.

Nagu (Kyrkbacken)go

Door to door: About 30–45 min

Ferry from Kyrkbacken, about 30 min

Combine with the Archipelago Trail; coaches run from Turku to Kyrkbacken.

Pargascaution

Door to door: About 1 h from Turku

Coach or car from Turku to Pargas, then onward ferry connections

Själö is part of Pargas; check which jetty your boat uses before booking.

Houtskärovernight

Door to door: Half a day or more

Archipelago Trail ferries via Nagu and Korpo

A different Själö sits on the Houtskär–Iniö border; do not confuse the two.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Hospital building rooms

Rooms and apartments for 1–5 people in the old hospital and later buildings; €90–120, breakfast €9 per person (2026 estimate). Book ahead from October to April.

Guest harbour (post and station jetties)

For your own boat: €28 per night including basic services and evening sauna; pre-booking +€7. Day visits free.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Day tripper
€40–70 (≈ US$50–85) excl. travel to the harbour (boat, church, lunch)
Overnight, mid
€120–170 (≈ US$140–200) (room, breakfast, lunch, sauna)

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Room in the old hospital building1 × 1 night × €105€105
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × €90€180
Return boat from Turku2 × €39 · check€77
Return boat from Nagu (Kyrkbacken)2 × €15 · check€30
Church entry2 × €4€7
Lunch at Restaurant Seili2 × €16€32
Bike on the ferry2 × €6€12
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge€44
Trip total≈ €244 per person per day, bed included€487≈ US$600

1–5 person rooms and apartments; breakfast €9 per person extra

2026 estimate in euro; travel to the harbour excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Return boat from Turkucheck€38.50 (≈ US$45) adult, €23 (≈ US$30) child
Return boat from Nagu (Kyrkbacken)check€15 (≈ US$18) adult, €7.50 (≈ US$9) child
Church entry€3.50 (≈ US$5) adult, €2 (≈ US$3) child, €8.50 (≈ US$10) family
Buffet lunch at Restaurant Seili€16 (≈ US$19); soup lunch €12.50 (≈ US$15); children €8 (≈ US$10)
Room, per night€90–120 (≈ US$110–140), breakfast €9 (≈ US$11) per person
Guest harbour, per night€28 (≈ US$35), pre-booking +€7 (≈ US$9)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Very safe. The real risks are ticks, sun and missing the last boat: note the return time when you buy your ticket.
  • Ticks in the long grass: check yourself after walking.
  • Strong sun on open shore paths; there is little shade.
  • Do not pick flowers or disturb grazing animals: most of the island is a nature reserve.
  • The hospital is a working research station; keep to the public ground floor and marked paths.
  • Boats are few and seasonal: confirm the return time when you buy your ticket.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
112
Medical helpline (24 h)
116 117
Visit Seili (summer, daytime)
+358 40 156 0064

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

SjälöSeili

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

Själöhön, kiitosTo Själö, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance112
  • Medical helpline116 117
  • Visit Seili+358 40 156 0064

Embassy

No embassies on the island; most are in Helsinki. The nearest consulates are in Turku (check).

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Turku → Själö, m/s Norrskär: €25 (≈ US$30) single, €38.50 (≈ US$45) return, about 1 h 45 min (check)
  • Kyrkbacken → Själö: €9 (≈ US$11) single, €15 (≈ US$18) return, about 30 min (check)
  • Guest harbour, per night: €28 (≈ US$35) including sauna

Say or show

  • Kiitos — Thank you (KEE-tos)
  • Hei — Hello (hay)
  • Yksi menopaluulippu, kiitos — One return ticket, please (OOK-si MEH-no-pah-loo-lip-pu KEE-tos)
  • Milloin viimeinen vene lähtee? — When does the last boat leave? (MIL-loin VEE-mei-nen VEH-neh LAH-teh)
  • Voinko maksaa kortilla? — Can I pay by card? (VOIN-ko MAK-sah KOR-til-la)
  • Missä on vessa? — Where is the toilet? (MIS-sa on VES-sa)

Boats are seasonal and some run on request only: call the operator the day before in May, September and winter.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Själö. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Jun–Aug · avoid Nov–Mar (boats limited, most services closed) · month by month →
  2. 1 airport and 2 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 2 bands
  5. 4 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Boat timetables for all three operators, with last-return cutoffs, field-checked for 2026.
  2. Church and hospital opening hours with ticket prices, plus the guided-tour booking route in English.
  3. Restaurant and kiosk hours with last orders, and the picnic alternative when both are shut.
  4. Winter access note: the northern Nagu ferry calls on request, so a winter visit needs a phone call the day before.

Meanwhile

Back to Finland

Sources