The Best Sea View in Turku: Head to Kuuva on Ruissalo

Ruissalo in Turku is an island connected to the mainland by a bridge, offering nature lovers plenty to explore. We visited Ruissalo for an afternoon outing with the intention of experiencing two very different worlds: the University of Turku Botanical Garden and, just a few kilometres away, the coastal area of Kuuva. The wildly shifting weather formed a striking contrast to the warm, humid climate of the various tropical zones.

• Kuuva parking area and trailhead on the map (Kuuvantie road, Turku)
• Botanical Garden on the map (Ruissalon puistotie 215, Turku)
• Ruissalo’s bus No. 28 takes you to the Hietalantie stop, from which it’s a little over a 30-minute walk to Kuuva (you can follow forest trails for part of the way, if you want to). Foli.fi

I entered the Kuuva parking area into Google Maps, and it guided us straight to our destination. Maps probably would have directed us farther along Kuuvantie than one is actually meant to drive, but the parking area on Kuuvantie is clearly marked both on the map and on site. We left the car there, and a scattering of small clouds had gathered in the otherwise blue sky.

With a bit of searching, we also found an information board at the junction by the parking area, showing a map of the surroundings and signposts leading to the nature trail. The area can be explored as a partial loop: first following the nature trail toward the tip of the peninsula, then returning to the parking area along the small road (or vice versa). The full circuit comes to roughly two kilometres.

The nature trail leads through an beautiful forest. Even with a light layer of snow, the path was easy to spot and clearly marked. At no point did I find myself hesitating about the direction.

At some point, the trail meets a small road used by local cottage owners and residents. From there, the route continues along the road toward the tip of the peninsula, and just before reaching the shoreline it turns back into a forest path. The final steps before the seaside viewpoint lead through a magnificent, rugged pine forest. There are plenty of beautifully plated pines!

As we reached the shore, it was clear that the weather was changing. The beautiful coastal cliffs were enchanting — I’ve been missing smooth, glacially polished rock faces in my life — but our attention was also drawn to the horizon, where a band of snowfall was approaching in dramatic fashion.

For a moment we were able to enjoy the brightness on the rocky shores of Kuuvannokka.

The sea was frozen, which I had not expected. At some point, the drifting ice floes must have rejoined and formed a solid sheet again.

There didn’t seem to be any kind of designated rest spot, so if you plan to bring snacks here, you’ll need to manage without an open fire. I can easily imagine summer days when people arrive with picnic baskets in hand to sit on the seaside rocks, enjoy the warmth and savour good food. During our visit we encountered just one dog walker — no one else.

Well, except for a mute swan. It arrived from the direction of nearby Kolkannokka at the same moment we reached the shore and began preening its feathers right in front of us with great dedication. Its brilliant white presence added a striking element to an otherwise dark and dramatic landscape.

As we walked back from the tip of the peninsula toward the car, the wind picked up, and by the time we reached the parking area, a thick snowfall had filled the air. Handkerchief-sized flakes covered the landscape and us. Before getting into the car, we had to stomp off the snow vigorously to avoid bringing the whole storm inside with us.

As a counterbalance, the warmth of the rainforest

Driving from Kuuva toward central Turku, we passed the University of Turku Botanical Garden. We also drove by magnificent noble trees just awakening from their winter slumber, as well as snowy fields where eager skiers were gliding along as if it were the last day of winter.

The snowstorm moved on, and soon the sky began to turn blue again. We turned into the parking area of the Ruissalo Botanical Garden, and the first thing we did was sit down for coffee and doughnuts at the garden café. After the break, we paid the entrance fee and stepped into the fascinating, lush embrace of the greenhouses. Each house had its own climate and forest type, and among them grew astonishingly large golden pothos vines. The intoxicating scents of flowers and rainforest brought back vivid memories of distant childhood and youth travels. Koi carp swam in the waterlily pond, separated from the smaller fish, and parrots filled the canopy with rainforest-like chatter.

Our visit to the Ruissalo garden added a wonderful element to a day otherwise filled with fresh air and sea breeze. I highly recommend stopping by the garden when exploring the nature of Ruissalo. The garden also provides a broader map of the area, including Kuuva, making it easy to plan everything you want to fit into your day.

This time we did not explore the outdoor areas of the garden, but in summer I definitely want to return to experience those as well!

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