Holiday in Kalajoki, what can you do there? – Read tips from a local.
Are you planning a vacation? What if your next holiday was in Kalajoki? Here you will find a summer destination with plenty of sandy beaches and sun. Or at least lots of sand… I’m from the area and I would like to give some tips on what to do in Kalajoki.
My name is Emmi and I am from Himanka. Himanka belongs to the city of Kalajoki and the distance to the Hiekkasärkät beach is about 20 km. I have lived in Himanka all my life and worked in Kalajoki since I got my moped driving license.
Living near Hiekkasärkät resort is like being on a long holiday trip, except I don’t get hotel breakfast every morning. There are so many activities to do and places you can visit.
When to go on vacation?
If you are planning a holiday trip to Kalajoki and you don’t care about the crowds, you should not come in July. I recommend coming in late June or early August. Then there are not so many tourists.
For adults I would recommend arriving in the second week of August when schools start and families with children leave. Anyway, if you are not interested in coming when there are a lot of people, you should check out Visit Kalajoki’s calendar of the events. There are always a lot of people at the time of the event.
Events
During the summer there are events almost every weekend. There are several different events and everyone is sure to find something to their liking. Here are some of the biggest events:
- KalaDogi Show, the International dog show
- Midsummer festival
- Venetsialaiset
- Irish Hooley
- Beach Volley – tournament
- Beachfutis Finnish Open
- Bimmerparty
And here are just the biggest events, many companies and clubs are also hosting their own smaller events.
Midsummer is definitely my favorite event. Everyone is happy and during Midsummer it is usually also possible to try activities that cannot always be done here. For example bungee jumping and helicopter flying.
And because cars are really important to people in Kalajoki, the Bimmerparty gathering has been held here for years. Kalajoki Airport offers great opportunities for this event. There have also been other gatherings among car people.
The summer of Kalajoki is crowned by a Venetsialaiset festival. It is the closing ceremony for the boating season and the cottage season. The Venetsialaiset festival is a celebration of water, light and fire. The city is decorated with magnificent outdoor fires and the celebration includes a firework show every year. The Venetsialaiset is celebrated only in the coastal area and that is why I think it is a special celebration. This celebration has been one of my favorites since I was young.
Various activities
Outdoor activities at the Hiekkasärkät area are good. The beach has duckboards that allow unobstructed access. There are also many walking trails and fire pits in the forest. My favorite walking trail can be found in Pleuna at Siiponjoki. Another favorite place is Vihaspauha.
You can actually go swimming from anywhere at Hiekkasärkät beach. The beach is 3.5 km long. If swimming in the ocean is not your thing you can head to the Spa SaniFani. In SaniFani it is possible to try swimming with a mermaid tail. Next to the spa there is also a water park Jukupark and an outdoor pool can be found in Hiekkasärkät too. Personally, I enjoy swimming in the ocean.
For golf lovers there is a golf course in Kalajoki. Minigolf can be played in several places but SeikkailuGolf is certainly the finest outdoor minigolf course in Finland. And don’t forget the players of frisbeegolf. We have many courses for them in Kalajoki.
You can go to sea by boat, jet ski or sup board. On land you can cycle, walk, or ride an ATV. You can even go horseback riding on the beach. Seikkailupuisto Pakka offers adventure trails in trees and other super nice activities such as outdoor climbing and zipline experiences. Safaritalo has a traffic park for children and a go-kart track. They also rent equipments for tourists. SurfCenter offers experiences on the sea.
Although there are many things to do outside, there is also a lot of stuff that can be done indoors. We have cinema, Superpark, bowling hall and even a pole dance studio Tankotalli. Seikkailupuisto Pakka organizes indoor activities such as bubble football or Archery Tag racing. Personally I recommend bowling because the owner is a really nice guy.
In winter, when the sea freezes, you can explore Rahja archipelago on skis or even on a snowmobile. And the unlocked cottages offer accommodation for several day trips. I recommend exploring the Rahja archipelago in the summer as well. Kalla island is also a place worth visiting.
If history fascinates you, head to the center of Kalajoki to Plassi. Plassi is the old town of Kalajoki and there you can get to know the past of the area. In summer, you can take a guided walking tour of Plassi or explore Havula manor.
Restaurants and cafes
The basic Hesburger, Subway and Kotipizza have found their place in Kalajoki but there are also slightly more special restaurants. Because you are in Kalajoki, you need to eat some fish. (Kala = fish). You can get fishfood from Siikarysä or Lohilaakso. In Lohilaakso you can fish your own lunch before eating. If you would like to have some steak I recommend the restaurant Pihvitupa.
During the summer I have two favorite restaurants. They are Surffari and Irish-style Sandy Kelt. If you’re not that hungry you can get wings from Henry’s Saloon. Here are a few good places but there are lots of other good restaurants too. You can find all the restaurants here.
My favorite café at Hiekkasärkät is Beach Rose Café. If you have a car then I recommend visiting Kievarila Kissankello (in Himanka) and Wanha Aapiskukko (in Tynkä). Both of these cafe’s operate in an old-fashioned milieu and both allow you to get to know domestic animals for free.
Destinations in nearby
Last but not least I wanted to list a few places for you to visit if you stay longer and have a car with you.
- Vattaja and Ohtakari fishing village, Lohtaja
- Tankar or the haunting lighthouse of Harrbåda, Kokkola
- Korpelan Voimalaitos, Kannus
- Toivonen Zoo and Peasant Museum, Kälviä
- Eihveli, Rautio
- Crazyland, Nivala
Hopefully this will give you good tips for your holiday or inspiration to plan a holiday in Kalajoki! And if you’re more interested in the topic please check out another post about Hiekkasärkät on our blog as well.
It would be great to have other travel tips and experiences in the comments as well!