Björkö – Swimming Paradise In The Outer Archipelago
Björkö is one of the most popular islands among the sailors and boaters. In the peak of the summer dozens of boats are moored in its southern bay called Byviken. Many have come here because Björkö is a swimming paradise.
This sheltered natural harbour has been known by seafarers for centuries. You can visit this archipelago gem even if you are not a boat owner, as the commuting ferry stops here. It is a good place for outer archipelago camping.
The first written records of the settlement of Björkö date back to the 16th century, but the island is assumed to have been permanently inhabited since the Middle Ages. The sheltered Byviken was potentially important as early as the 13th century for merchant shipping.
Today boaters as well as other nature enthusiasts are attracted to Björkö not only because of the sheltered harbour, but also because of one of nature’s wonders in the archipelago – namely a lake! Yes, in the middle of the sea, you can find a lake!
The lake is in the front, the sea in the back. On the right side, you can see masts of sailing boats in the natural harbour called Byviken.
The Lake “Insjön”
Surrounded by high cliffs, the lake surprises not only with its purity but also with its size. It is over ten hectares in size and up to 17 meters in depth in places. It is separated from the sea only by a narrow stretch of land.
In the summer, it is a popular place for swimming, especially among families with children. There are many places around the lake to go for a swim, the most popular one being close to the natural harbour. That’s where crowds of swimmers jump from high rock walls into the fresh water.
Although I strongly suggest trying the freshwater swim in the lake, remember that the lake is very fragile. Metsähallitus has calculated that the water in the lake changes only once every 15 years, while the average change in all inland waters in Finland is two years. That’s why no washing liquid, sunscreen, or mosquito repellents must enter the lake!
To do
Nature trail
Björkö has other things to offer than just the lake. You can get to know the island’s nature on the nature trail that leads you around the lake. The trail is 2,2 km long. It is marked with the sign for the local farm Södergrannas.
The trail first ascends to a high cliff with a spectacular view of the lake and surroundings. If you pay close attention, you can see some beautiful plants such as health-spotted orchid (Dactylorhiza maculata) or lesser butterfly-orchid (Platanthera bifolia).
Troll trail
Artist Ann-Christine Welander, who has a cabin on the island, has developed a troll trail, where the history of Björkö and the archipelago is illuminated with stories and pictures painted on stones that are also pleasing to children.
Summer café
In the summertime, Björkö has a popular cafe on the Eastern side of the island. The couple, who own the cafe and the farm, have restored the old buildings. They also have a small museum in connection to the cafe and there are ponies in the yard. And their cakes are lovely!
Paths are going through the island from the ferry port to the lake and the café, it is quite easy to follow the signs. The nature in Björkö is versatile, in addition to cliffs and rocks, there are also little forests and a grassy field in the middle of the island. Be aware there are cows in a pasture!
Read about my camping trip to Björkö: Salt and freshwater baths – camping trip to Björkö
How To Get To Björkö
Ferry Port: Kirjainen
Ferry route: Nauvo Southern route
Ferry: m/s Falkö
Booking: Needed
Travel time Kirjainen-Björkö: about 4 hours
Turku-Kirjainen by car: 1h 15min – 1h 30min
Bus connection: No. There is a bus connection to Nauvo
Parking: Yes
Timetables:
Nauvo Southern route ferry
Parainen-Nauvo ferry
From Turku to Kirjais
When you drive to Kirjais by car, take into account that there’s one ferry connection before Kirjais, namely between Parainen and Nauvo. Add some extra time for the journey, I would say minimum 1,5 hours is needed. In the peak summer season there’s queues to the ferry, so you have to wait maybe 30 minutes in the worst case.
You don’t need to book for the first ferry, and they operate every 15 minutes (there are some 30-minute breaks during the day). There’s a parking area in Kirjais, where you have to leave the car.
There is no bus connection directly to Kirjainen, but the bus does go next to the junction, which is still 6 kilometers from Kirjainen.
Ferry
There’s a regular year-round ferry service. You have to book the ferry in advance. Read more information here and here you can find the booking system. You have to register when you use it for the first time. You can’t take a car with you.
A one-way trip to Björkö can take anything from a couple of hours to five hours, depending on how many islands the ship has been ordered to stop.
The Nauvo Southern route is considered by many to be the most beautiful of the commuting ferry routes in the Finnish archipelago, so sit back and enjoy the views. There are no café services on board.
There is no way to get to Björkö for a short one-day excursion when using the ferry. Due to the ferry’s schedule, a visit to the island always requires a stay of at least one night. For a one-day excursion, you can get a charter boat from the neighboring island Aspö (or from Korppoo).
Nauvo Southern route is marked green on the map.
Accommodation
Björkö doesn’t offer a lot of choices for accommodation. Owners of the cafe rent a little room, you can check the situation here (the site is only in Finnish).
Part of the island belong to the Archipelago National Park and there is a camping area close to Byviken, with a toilet and a fire pit.
You have to use a bit of imagination to find your tent spot and I recommend taking a good sleeping pad with you. Anyway, it is worth it because of the island’s beauty. You get a real outer archipelago island experience in Björkö.
The ferry port is on the northern side of the island. There’s a path leading to the camping area, which is marked with brown symbols on the map.
The café is on the eastern side of the island. The paths are clearly marked.
Other places to go camping in the archipelago: Camping in the Archipelago – 5 islands you can reach by ferry
Remember also
- If you want to avoid big crowds, don’t make your trip in July. June is very quiet and so is August, and of course other times of the year too.
- Remember to take fresh water with you (for drinking/cooking)!
- From late June to late August there are mosquitos. Take mosquito repellent with you. Read More: How to survive with mosquitos? 5 facts about mosquitos in the archipelago
