Overview
Explore the world-class small town of Hamina, which is hard to find elsewhere in the world. Its fascinating history takes you on an adventure featuring well-known leaders of great powers and ordinary citizens from the pages of history. Hamina and its surrounding areas are strongly connected to military history, fortification, and territorial demands between great powers. These aspects are still relevant, making history come alive by repeating itself. During the summer 2025, you can explore the fascinating exhibition “Törni / Thorne – The 60th Anniversary of War Hero Lauri Törni’s Disappearance” at the Wanha Veteraani Museum.
Hamina still functions as a garrison town. You can immerse yourself in the whirlwind of time through various museums and restored sites. There are also enjoyable experiences available through role-playing tours, fine dining, beer tastings, and spa services.
In addition to rich historical content, there are also opportunities for relaxation, experiences, and sensual pleasures. The package is especially suitable for those interested in military history, as well as adventure and culinary tourism.
The history of the city of Hamina in its current layout dates back to the 1720s, which is also unique on a global scale. Hamina was built as a fortress town, and it still serves as one, with the Finnish Defense Forces being a central actor in everyday urban life.
Suitable for
Associations
Groups
Friend circles
History enthusiasts
Military history enthusiasts
Food experience enthusiasts
Includes
Guided tours in the city of Hamina and its museum
Lunch at Restaurant Kerho
RUK (Reserve Officer School) and Wanha Veteraani Museums
Salpa Line and Bunker Museum
Beer tasting at Takatalo & Tompuri and dinner at Navetta Bistro Restaurant
1-night accommodation at Spahotel Hamina
Group size
10-25 persons
Itinerary
Day 1
The journey starts at the Non-Commissioned Officers’ Club, where lunch is served with an introduction to the history of the building and the paintings on the walls (including works by Einar Schadewitz). After lunch, the group proceeds to a guided tour of the City Museum and then to the Old Veteran Activity Center. At the activity center, visitors explore the rotating exhibition and learn about the history of Finnish peacekeeping and crisis management. The “Törni / Thorne – The 60th Anniversary of War Hero Lauri Törni’s Disappearance” changing exhibition and the “Peacekeeping Basic Exhibition from 1956 to the Present Day” offer interesting exhibits during the summer of 2025.
Following the museum visit, participants move to Messi Hall, where they can enjoy coffee while listening to stories about the daily lives of Finnish peacekeepers.
Next, there’s a guided tour of the Reserve Officer School Museum (RUK), delving into the school’s history since independence and showcasing its equipment in the Pahkajärvi Hall.
After the museum tour in Hamina, the journey continues by bus to the Salpa Line Museum in Miehikkälä. At the Salpa Line Museum, there will be a guided tour and an opportunity to enjoy a coffee break. From there, the group will proceed to the Bunker Museum in Virolahti, where a role-playing guide will guide visitors into the history of the Salpa Line, built in the 1940s. The museum’s main exhibition includes an indoor display, a 15-minute short film about the history of the Salpa Line, and an open-air museum area featuring fortifications and an artillery park.
After the fascinating tour, the bus will take the hungry travelers to enjoy a three-course dinner and beer tasting at Navetta, a rustic countryside bistro located nearby, operating alongside Takatalo & Tompuri Brewery.
After dinner, the group will head to Spahotel Hamina for overnight accommodation.
Day 2
After breakfast, the group will explore the fortifications of Hamina according to their preferences – partly by bus and, if desired, also on foot. The guided tour “Architecture in Hamina” offers an excellent overview of the city’s history and built environment.
At the end of the tour, a delicious lunch will be served at Restaurant Meyer, located in the heart of Hamina.
Services included in the package
Spahotel Hamina
Body and mind are pampered with delightful spa services at Spa Hotel and Haminan swimming hall. In addition to saunas, guests have access to a hot tub, cold-water pool, swimming pool, and outdoor pools when weather permits. There is also a gym available for guests to use. The hotel offers cozy rooms and a hearty breakfast as well.
Restaurant Kerho
The Restaurant Kerho offers historical surroundings for buffet lunch as well as catering services for various events and meetings. The restaurant operates within the historical setting of the Hamina Garrison Club, housed in a building completed in 1863. The building has served as the residence of the cadet school’s director, the headquarters of a Russian regiment, and an officers’ club in the early 20th century, and from the 1920s to the 2000s as the Haminan Officers’ Club. In the 2000s, it was transformed into the Haminan Garrison Club.
The food is prepared with skill and passion using pure and high-quality ingredients. Breads and pastries are sourced from local bakeries or made in-house.
Hamina City Museum
Explore the life of the fortress and the city in the brick building completed in 1760. In this “Palace of Catherine,” Russian Empress Catherine the Great and Swedish King Gustav III held negotiations for three days in the summer of 1783. The City Museum moved into the building in 1957. On display is a permanent exhibition showcasing the colorful history of the fortress town, as well as temporary exhibitions.
RUK-Museum
The RUK Museum is located in Hamina and is dedicated to the history and traditions of the Finnish National Defence University. RUK, which stands for Reserve Officer School, is a respected educational institution that has been training reserve officers for the Finnish Defence Forces for decades.
Takatalo & Tompuri Brewery
Takatalo & Tompuri Brewery is a craft brewery located in the village of Ravijärvi in Virolahti, Kymenlaakso. The brewery uses malted barley and oats from its own fields, water from its own well, and smoky malts for its smoked beers, which are smoked on-site. The name “Kaski” originates from the Takatalo farm, where fields were cleared for cultivation by felling and burning forests in ancient times. This method, known as “kaski,” enriched the soil for farming. Brewed from high-quality ingredients, the beer offers a taste journey to the roots of ancestors who once cleared forests for fields.
Navetta is a rustic countryside bistro built as an extension of the Panimopuoti shop, offering seating for 25 guests. The restaurant serves a delicious surprise menu made from the finest seasonal and local ingredients.
Virolahti Bunker Museum and Salpa Line
The museum tells the story of the construction of the Salpa Line defense line in the 1940s. Established in 1980, the military-historical museum showcases the fortification of the eastern border in 1940-41 and 1944. It is part of the wartime defense system. The nearly 1200 km long Salpa Line begins from the coast of the Gulf of Finland in Virolahti and extends all the way to the Arctic Ocean. The museum’s permanent exhibition includes indoor displays, a short film (15 min) illuminating the history of the Salpa Line, and outdoor exhibits featuring fortification sites and artillery parks. Additionally, a multimedia presentation called “Finland’s Salpa – The Last Barrier” is showcased in a wartime-style exhibition barrack, offering visitors insights into the wartime atmosphere and the background of the Salpa Line construction through original film footage.
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