From Wikitravel

Kotka [1] is a city in Southern Finland.

[edit] Understand

Kotka, Finnish for "eagle", is located in the province of Southern Finland and is part of the Kymenlaakso region. The municipality has a population of 54,860 (2005) and covers an area of 750 km² of which 478 km² is water. The population density is 204 inhabitants per km². Kotka is the largest town in Kymenlaakso region. The city centre of Kotka is located at Kotka's Island (Kotkansaari).

[edit] Get in

[edit] By train

Unfortunately there are no fast InterCity or Pendolino trains to Kotka, but slower yet acceptably quick trains connect Kotka to Kouvola where you can change trains to get into Helsinki and numerous other destinations.

[edit] By car

Route E18 connects Kotka to Helsinki, Hamina and Saint Petersburg. Also highway 15 connects Kotka to Kouvola.

[edit] By bus

Bus companies operate frequently to Helsinki and other cities, even Saint Petersburg in Russia.

[edit] Get around

Centre of the city, Kotkansaari (Island of Kotka) is small enough to get around by feet. However if you need to go to other parts of the city you should use bus, take a taxi or rent a car. Check bus schedules from www.kotka.fi/aikataulut. You can call a taxi from number 10041.

[edit][add listing] See

• Maretarium Aquarium. Almost all Finnish fish species.
• Sapokka Park. Ponds, trees, flowers, a waterfall, a rock exhibition.
• Langinkoski Imperial Fishing Lodge and Nature Reserve. This old fishing lodge was made of timber in 1889 for Russian Emperor & Grand Duke Alexander the Third. It is situated in beautiful surroundings with rapids, trees and small rivers. The area of the nature reserve consists 28 hectares (60 acres). There is also a small Orthodox Chapel on the area. The entrance to the nature reserve is free and the entrance to the Fishing Lodge about 4 euros (children 2 euros). Langinkoski is situated about 7 kilometers from the city centre.
• Maritime Centre Vellamo is an architectural masterpiece in the old port of Kotka. In addition to the exhibition, work, teaching and seminar facilities of the Maritime Museum of Finland and Museum of Kymenlaakso, the building will house a 200-seat auditorium, museum shop, restaurant and an extensive library with emphasis on maritime topics.
• Orthodox Church of St Nicholas. The present Church of St Nicholas was built between 1799 and 1801 in accordance with drawings by Jakov Perrin, architect of the St Petersburg Admiralty. The columns at the three entrances together with the belfry and dome of this church representing Neoclassicism form an impressive facade. The icons and several objects inside the church are very beautiful. One of the most extraordinary icons depicts St Nicholas in Kotkansaari, with a view of the area of the Ruotsinsalmi naval battle behind him. Outside the church, there is a statue of Maria Purpur, who is reputed to have prevented the destruction of the church during the Crimean War. The church is the oldest building in today’s Kotka.  edit

[edit][add listing] Do

• Cruises to Kaunissaari Island. Kaunissaari (literally Beautiful Island) Island is a traditional, small but still lively fisherman village. Boats from Sapokka Harbour (in front of Maretarium Aquarium) about 2-3 times a day in the summer. Tickets are sold on boats. On the island you find a very small museum, a restaurant (good fish dishes) and accommodation. Remember to taste extremely delicious salmon pastries which are sold at a kiosk near the museum.

• Cruises to the islands of Tammio (only one permanent inhabitant!), Ulkotammio and Haapasaari (10 inhabitants, 25 kilometers from Kotka).

[edit] Learn

• Kymenlaakso University of Applied Sciences. [2] is a multi-disciplinary institute right next to to the capital region: in Kotka, Kouvola and Kuusankoski.

[edit] Work

[edit][add listing] Buy

• Pasaati shopping centre, Keskuskatu 10, 48100 Kotka, [3]. Pasaati is a large shopping centre right in the centre of Kotka. It has shops for every taste and is particularly full of Russian shopping tourists.  edit
• Jumalniemi, Jumalniementie 7-10. Jumalniemi shopping area can be found from the E18 road. It's full of different automarkets.  edit

[edit][add listing] Eat

[edit] Budget

Cheap places to eat include:

• Erkan Kebab, Keskuskatu 35. Standard-issue Finnish-style kebab.

• Hot dog stand, at the corner of Keskuskatu and Kaivokatu. As traditional Finnish night food as it gets. Start with Lihapiirakka Kahdella Nakilla (small meat pie with two frankfurters) and take it from there.

• Efes Pizzeria, Keskuskatu 29. Kotka staple pizzeria/kebab house. Budget, no frills. Go for Kebab Ranskalaisilla for gyros meat and fries.

[edit] Mid-range

[edit] Splurge

[edit][add listing] Drink

• Ilon talo, http://www.ilontalo.fi/kotka/ (Kirkkokatu 8, 48100 Kotka), ☎ 0207759480. A classy nightclub with plenty of music, drinks and good company.  edit

[edit][add listing] Sleep

[edit] Budget

[edit] Mid-range

[edit] Splurge

[edit] Contact

[edit] Stay safe

You can go more or less anywhere in Kotka any time of the day. Although Kotka has its share of violence and drug use, violent crime happens mostly between addicts and criminals themselves. Robbings are very uncommon.

You might want to avoid jumping a line anywhere during the night, particularly at Finnish hot dog stands ("nakkikioski"). Drunken fights are not unheard of.

[edit] Cope

[edit] Get out

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