Porvoo & Fiskars: idyllic and creative towns near Helsinki

Arriving at Fiskars is like stepping into another world, one where art, design and craft blossom from historic riverside buildings surrounded by grand ancient trees. The village, first developed as an ironworks in the mid-1600s, now has today a thriving community of craftspeople, entrepreneurs and artists who live in harmony with nature.

The Fiskars river can act as a tour guide by following its flow through the middle of the village. Along this trail you’ll pass Onoma, a showroom of the local talents. Woodwork, pottery, handbags, candles, jewellery – there’s a lot of handwork going on in the village. Be sure to check out KWUM, a ceramics museum and gallery, located in an architecturally outstanding and intimate building that combines wood, timber, and ceramics. If the history of the village and ironworks interests you, visit The Fiskars Museum.

Design lovers shouldn’t miss the iconic Fiskars Shop, where the brand’s famous Finnish design products from Iittala to Arabia are sold alongside high-quality local crafts. For furniture enthusiasts, Nikari – renowned for its minimalist, sustainable wood designs – showcases pieces that embody the village’s spirit of craftsmanship.

For more info on all the shops and workshops in Fiskars, visit Fiskarsvillage.fi.

Porvoo is Finland’s second oldest city, and its beauty lies in the details: cobbled lanes that wind between pastel-painted wooden houses, red-ochre shore warehouses reflected in the river, and façades shaped by centuries of craftsmanship. Architecture here is a storybook of Finnish history, from the medieval Porvoo Cathedral to the 18th-century Holm House and the Old Town Hall, the oldest still standing town hall in Finland. 

Creativity still flourishes in Porvoo today. The Art Factory (Taidetehdas) is a cultural centre hosting exhibitions, concerts and studios, while the Walter Runeberg Sculpture Collection highlights works by one of Finland’s most significant 19th-century sculptors. Stroll through the National Urban Park for sweeping views from Castle Hill (Iso Linnamäki) and to see how architecture, landscape and nature are woven together.

Shopping in Porvoo is an artisan’s delight. The small Taidehalli Shop inside the Art Factory offers ceramics, jewellery and textiles by local makers. Sisustus Ometta mixes vintage finds with Nordic home décor, while Taiga Colors adds a playful Finnish touch with bright trays and birch-veneer designs. Fashion enthusiasts can stop at Studio Sieluisa, where locally made clothing reflects a slower, more sustainable approach. Even a visit to Skafferi, a speciality grocer of teas, oils and small-batch ingredients, feels like stepping into a craft shop for the senses.

Porvoo’s magic lies in how history and creativity meet: the town is at once a living museum of wooden architecture and a contemporary hub of design, art and artisanal culture.