ESPOO Rantaraitti – Espoo Waterfront Walkway

Explore Espoo coast on land and sea by bike during summer. Take a cycling trip along the circular route of which one half is travelled on board an archipelago boat and the other on your bike along the fabulous Espoo’s Waterfront Walkway. The harbours where you can start or end a cruise are Otaniemi, Nokkala or Kivenlahti. There are approximately 20 bike places on board the archipelago boats, and cyclists take priority. The distance covered by bike is at its longest around 30 kilometres when you cycle along Espoo’s Waterfront Walkway between Otaniemi and Kivenlahti harbours. If you choose Nokkala harbour as your other destination, the distance cycled is about half of that. That gives you two expeditions, which you could do on two different days as well. CYCLE SECTIONS: Otaniemi – Nokkala 13.5 km (via Otsonlahti 2.6 km) Kivenlahti – Nokkala 17 km (via Suomenoja bird basins 1.8 km) Otaniemi – Kivenlahti 30.5 km (via Suomenoja bird basins and Otsonlahti) You can shorten your route by by-passing the sections in brackets. ARCHIPELAGO BOAT SECTIONS: The archipelago boat journey between Otaniemi and Nokkala takes approximately 35 minutes. The boat travels close to the coast. The archipelago boat journey between Nokkala and Kivenlahti takes approximately 1 hour and travels around the maritime district of Suvisaaristo. We recommend that you cycle at a moderate speed because the Waterfront Walkway is very popular among locals and tourists. You should avoid cycling two abreast when travelling in a group – the route is narrow in places. Please exercise caution particularly when you are close to the harbor basins and in tight turnings where visibility is poor. Along the route, you will find lovely summer cafés, ice cream stands and restaurants – and you can even book a sauna. And if you decide that you want to stay longer, there are several hotels to choose from. So, make sure you have plenty of time to enjoy the route! Be charmed by all the enchanting nature attractions – rocks, half-hidden sandy beaches, reeds and marine archipelago landscapes. Espoo’s Waterfront Walkway is surrounded by splendid villas and their gardens whilst the beautiful modern districts thrill with their fantastic architectural solutions highlighting the water elements all around. White sailing boats rocking in the wind and the calls of seagulls allow your mind to rest in the leisurely atmosphere of the seaside. Cafés fill with happy, chatty people enjoying the summer and the sea breeze. Ice cream stands serve treats to the passers-by. Check the timetable & boat prices: www.visitespoo.fi Photos and cycling by: Kristiina Vaano

For me, this is one of the most beautiful routes around Helsinki, as you're always by the water. Last year, I rode it in the opposite direction. The impressions were completely different. The return journeys by metro are always very relaxing (back home in Berlin, taking the train and cycling always means stress for me). Furthermore, Finnish metro stations are often very impressive. Koivusaari, for example, is a station of superlatives: the only one in the world located under the sea and also boasting Finland's second-longest escalator. Let's see where I end up tomorrow...