A charming yellow wooden building with white trim, featuring multiple windows and a central door, set on a quiet street. A waterfront café with a yellow building, outdoor seating, and a clock tower in the background, surrounded by greenery and a calm river.
Finland

Naantali: Sunshine Optional

Café Amandis
 Naantali, Finland, July 2023

Naantali lies on Finland’s southwest coast, not far from Turku, and is known as one of the sunniest places in the country. Whether that’s true, you can probably only tell if you stay for a while. On the day I visited, the sun barely showed itself.

Even in bad weather, though, the old town is charming: small wooden houses painted in cheerful colors, narrow lanes, cobblestones. Boats rock gently in the water, and people sit on terraces, unfazed by the gray skies. In the background, you can always see the old convent church, which has been there since the Middle Ages.

Naantali is also famous for Moomin World, a theme park on a nearby island. The Moomins are hippo-like trolls from the books of author Tove Jansson. In Finland, they’re everywhere—almost as unavoidable as the clouds over the Baltic Sea. I skipped the park, though. It’s probably only truly magical if you’re six. Or Finnish. Instead, I wandered the streets, circled the harbor, and came to a simple conclusion: Even without sunshine or Moomins, Naantali is a pleasant place to spend the day.

Map of Naantali
A narrow street featuring colorful wooden buildings with large windows, lush greenery in the background, and a cloudy sky.
A yellow wooden house exterior featuring a dark door, steps, and a purple flower pot hanging beside the entrance.
A quaint wooden building with yellow siding, featuring two windows and a blue garage door numbered 24. Cobblestone path visible.
A charming yellow wooden building with white trim, featuring multiple windows and a central door, set on a quiet street.
A charming street scene featuring a red wooden house surrounded by a white fence and green structures, with a tree in the foreground.
A round convex mirror reflecting a yellow wooden house and the street sign in Naantali, creating a unique perspective.
Two charming green wooden houses with white trim and a decorative gate in between, set against a cloudy sky.
A charming pathway between pastel-colored wooden houses, lined with greenery and a vintage lamp post.
A charming red wooden building with large windows, surrounded by greenery and flowers, offering an inviting outdoor dining area.
A charming red wooden building with a decorative door and flower pots at the entrance. Features include vintage lanterns and a quaint sign.
A charming pink wooden house with a grey door, featuring white metal furniture and a small table on the porch.
A charming red wooden house featuring a blue front door, white window frames, and steps adorned with potted flowers.
A charming yellow wooden house with white trim and decorative windows, featuring a double door entrance and an awning.
A charming wooden building with a yellow facade and intricate architectural details, featuring black awnings.
A wooden pier extends over calm water, lined with small boats and surrounded by colorful waterfront buildings under a cloudy sky.
A waterfront café with a yellow building, outdoor seating, and a clock tower in the background, surrounded by greenery and a calm river.
A wooden pier extending into a marina filled with various boats under a cloudy sky. Green ropes line the walkway.
A serene marina with sailboats docked, a wooden pier extending into the water, and pebbled shoreline amidst lush greenery.
This 250-meter-long pontoon bridge connects the old town of Naantali with Kailo Island, where Moomin World is located.
A wooden pier extending over calm waters, lined with sailboats and visitors, surrounded by lush greenery under an overcast sky.