Kotka Hire Car Tips, Experiences & Comparison

Discover Kotka by Hire Car

Kotka is an idyllic small town in southern Finland, founded by Tsar Alexander II in 1878.

Originally planned as a fortress for the Crimean War, the town right on the Gulf of Finland is now home to about 54,000 people.

Extremely scenic, the largest river in southern Finland, the Kymijoki, splits into five here before flowing into the Baltic Sea.

Sights in Kotka

Much of Kotka was destroyed during the Second World War, although a Greek Orthodox church dating from 1795 was among the buildings that survived. With its columned entrance, it is one of the oldest and most impressive buildings in Kotka. Equally worth seeing, however, is Tsar Alexander III’s fishing lodge in Langinowski Park, which was given to him by the Finnish Senate in 1889.

However, if you want to get an overview of Kotka first, the Haukkavouri lookout tower is the place to go. From here, you’ll get a gorgeous panorama of Kotka and the Gulf of Finland.

Another unique highlight is the icebreaker Tarmo, which is moored in the harbour. It is the oldest of its kind and during its active period provided escort to 350 to 450 ships each year.

Leisure in in Kotka

Once a year Kotka is transformed into a sea of flowers when more than 10,000 lilies bloom in all imaginable colours in the Sapokka Lake Park, which is famous beyond the city limits. A true spectacle of nature that you should not miss at this time.

Due to Kotka’s vastness, a hire car is highly recommended for your stay.