Espoo's and Kirkkonummi's archipelago offers great outdoor camping opportunities. There are seven (7) local islands and three (3) outdoor recreational areas along the seaside, where camping is allowed.
Remember to follow the outdoor etiquette and fire alarm warnings and plan your overnight camping stays well ahead. Take enough drinking water and food when staying in remote recreational areas or islands
If you need camping equipment, you can rent tents, sleeping bags and pads, outdoor cooking equipment, child carries, and hiking backpacks from the Finnish Nature Centre Haltia.
Camping Sites on local islands
There are seven (7) islands where overnight camping is allowed. Three (3) of those islands (Gåsgrund, Stora Herrö, and Rövaren) are accessible by scheduled public boats during the summer season (June-August). The scheduled route line from Otaniemi and the Scheduled route line from Kivenlahti can take you to the mentioned islands. For more details, check Scheduled Public Boats to local islands. Besides that, all camping islands can be accessed by own or rented boats if the visitor harbour is available.
When planning to spend a night at a local island, remember to plan ahead and take enough drinking water and food with you. All islands where camping is allowed are mostly pure wilderness, and there are no services to purchase.
Bylandet Island
- The island is located in the municipality of Kirkkonummi, in front of the Porkkala Recreational Area.
- Camping is allowed on the island.
- There are two cooking shelters, firewood, outhouses/dry toilets, and a pier for boaters.
- The maintainer of the area is the city of Espoo.
- Dogs are also welcome on the island but must be kept on a leash.
Gåsgrund Island
- The island is easily accessible by scheduled public boats during the summer season (June-August). The easiest way to reach the island by public boat is to hop on the scheduled route line from Otaniemi or the scheduled route line from Kivenlahti. Check more detailed schedules over here. The island is also accessible by own or rented boat.
- Camping on the island is allowed.
- The terrain of the island is variable, from cliffs to lush meadows.
- There are beaches suitable for swimming on the north shore of the island.
- The island has campfire areas, firewood, outhouses/dry toilets, and a pier for boaters. The island also has surveillance.
- The maintainer of the area is the city of Espoo.
- Dogs and other pets are welcome but must be kept on a leash.
Knapperskär Island
- The island is accessible by own or rented boat.
- The island is shallow and smooth. It has a campfire area, firewood, and an outhouse/dry toilet.
- You are allowed to build a fire in the cooking shelters intended for the purpose. Remember to check the fire warning beforehand.
- Camping on the island is allowed.
- The maintainer of the area is the city of Espoo.
- Dogs and other pets are welcome but must be kept on a leash.
Rövargrundet Island
- The island is an islet with few trees and space, only a few tents.
- The island is accessible by own or rented boat.
- Camping on the island is allowed.
- The island has a campfire area and an outhouse/dry toilet.
- The maintainer of the area is the city of Espoo.
- Dogs and other pets are welcome but must be kept on a leash.
Rövaren Island
- The island is mainly rocky and a popular camping island.
- The island is easily accessible by scheduled public boats during the summer season (June-August). The easiest way to reach the island by public boat is to hop on the scheduled route line from Otaniemi or the scheduled route line from Kivenlahti. Check more detailed schedules over here.
- Camping on the island is allowed.
- The island's forests are pine forests with blueberries and lingonberries.
- There are camping areas, firewood, outhouses, and a pier for boaters.
- You are allowed to build a fire in the cooking shelters intended for the purpose. Remember to check the fire warning beforehand.
- The maintainer of the area is the city of Espoo.
- Dogs and other pets are welcome but must be kept on a leash.
Stora Herrö Island
- The island is easily accessible by scheduled public boats during the summer season (June-August). The easiest way to reach the island by public boat is to hop on the scheduled route line from Otaniemi or the scheduled route line from Kivenlahti. Check more detailed schedules over here. The island is also accessible by own or rented boat.
- The island's beaches are rocky, but there are also sandy bays with meadows on the eastern shore. The island's forests are mostly pine forests.
- Note: Stora Herrö has private areas, but most of the island's north and eastern shores are open public areas.
- Camping on the island is allowed in the tent site area.
- The island has a rental sauna & venue by Hiiohoi, campfire areas with firewood, outhouses/dry toilets, an observation tower, and a pier for boaters. The island also has surveillance.
- You are allowed to build a fire in the cooking shelters intended for the purpose. Remember to check the fire warning beforehand.
- The maintainer of the area is the city of Espoo.
- Dogs and other pets are welcome but must be kept on a leash.
Torra Lövö Island
- The coastline of the island is rocky and smooth, with meadows.
- The island is accessible by own or rented boat.
- Camping on the island is allowed.
- Note: The island has a private property.
- The island has a pier, a cooking area, and an outhouse/dry toilet.
- You are allowed to build a fire in the cooking shelters intended for the purpose. Remember to check the fire warning beforehand.
- The maintainer of the area is the city of Espoo.
- Dogs and other pets are welcome but must be kept on a leash.
Camping in Recreational Areas along the coastline
Three (3) recreational areas suitable for camping are situated along the coastline of the mainland. All three areas (Pokkalaniemi, Recreational Area, Meiko Nature Reserve, and Väränsby Recreational Area) are located in Espoo's neighborhood municipality of Kirkkonummi and offer camping opportunities in diverse nature. Remember to follow the outdoor etiquette and camp only within the areas, where camping is allowed (read more under each recreational area).
Porkkalanniemi Recreational Area
- The recreational area is located in the municipality of Kirkkonummi.
- It is a popular picnic destination and an ideal place for trail running and short hiking. The area is known for its diverse nature, bird watching, and fishing and lucky visitors may even spot a moose or white-tailed deer.
- Camping is allowed only near the Lähteelä Recreational Area for a fee (for both tent and camper van) that is paid in the local Café. Find more info and pricing over here.
- There are several campfire sites, cooking shelters, dry toilets, parking areas, information boards, and marked hiking trails.
- You are allowed to build a fire in the cooking shelters intended for the purpose. Remember to check the fire warning beforehand.
- Dogs and other pets are welcome but must be kept on a leash.
Meiko Nature Reserve
- The area is located in the municipality of Kirkkonummi.
- The nature reserve offers great hiking opportunities in remote areas and untouched nature.
- There are 3 marked trails: Kuikankierros trail (3,2 km), Kotokierros trail (4,4 km) and Meikonkierros trail (8,3 km)
- The camping is allowed only in the area around the Korsolampi campfire site.
- You are allowed to build a fire in the cooking shelters intended for the purpose. Remember to check the fire warning beforehand.
- They maintainer of the area is the municipality of Kirkkonummi.
- Dogs and other pets are welcome but must be kept on a leash.
Väränsby Recreational Area
- The recreational area is located in the municipality of Kirkkonummi.
- There is an Espoo Camping Site for tent campers and an area for camper van visitors.
- Open for visitors between May and October.
- The area is a 3 km long seaside with plenty of swimming beaches and campfire areas.
Hero Image: Sami Takarautio
