Jakobstad
Jakobstad (Finnish: Pietarsaari) is a nice small port town in Ostrobothnia.
Understand
The majority of the inhabitants speak Swedish as their native language. It was founded in 1625 in what is now the neighbouring municipality Pedersöre, but postglacial rebound made that harbour too shallow and the town moved towards the new shoreline. The town grew in the 18th century with privileges for international trade. A replica of a ship of that time, Jacobstads Wapen, was built 1988–1994. In 1900 a tobacco factory was the biggest employer. Nowadays the biggest employer is a cellulose and paper factory. There are several smaller businesses, among them Nautor, making world class Swan sailing yachts.
Get in
By car
Jakobstad is situated along national road 8 (E8), the main road along the Finnish west coast.
By train
Some trains between southern Finland and Oulu or Rovaniemi stop at the Jakobstad-Pedersöre railway station in Bennäs, Pedersöre, some 15 km to the south. From there, take the bus to Jakobstad.
By bus
Buses between Vaasa and Kokkola stop in Jakobstad. Onnibus route between Turku and Oulu uses highway stop named Edsevö Hotel Polaris which is 11 km away from the center.
By plane
Nordic Regional Airlines flies from Helsinki to Kokkola–Pietarsaari airport (KOK IATA), 30 km from Jakobstad.
Taxitjänst Sundqvist offers airport shuttles for €20–25 from the Kokkola-Jakobstad airport to the centre. Book before 18:00 for the morning flight, before 10:00/17:00 for the day and evening flights.
By boat
Larsmosjön to the northeast is since long a fresh water basin, separated from the sea by locks. The main marina is on the sea side of the locks.
- 1 Smultrongrundet marina, ☏ +358 44-723-7940, stefan_kald@hotmail.com. 15 June–9 August. Marina of the sailing club 1.5 km from the centre. 1.8–2.8m. Water, electricity, waste collection, septic tank emptying, fuel, toilet, showers, sauna, laundry, Wi-Fi, playground, beach, restaurant. €15/24h.
Get around
Vippari offers demand based local transport.
By taxi
- Taxitjänst Sundqvist (Citytaxi Jeppis), ☏ +358 50-550-9866, city.taxi10@gmail.com. €6.50/9 + €1.70–2.36/km.
- Valopilkku app (Taksi Helsinki)
See
- 1 Jakobstad's town hall and the Town hall square.
- 2 Strengberg tobacco factory. The yellow industrial building and it's clock sphere on the roof is still one of Jakobstad's symbols, even as the factory has closed down.
- 3 Skata. The wooden old town.
- 4 Skolparken. The School Park is not just a park but a botanical garden with almost a thousand different plants and flowers.
- 5 Jakobstad Church.
- 6 Jacobstads Wapen, The old port, ☏ +358 6 723 1796. A replica of a 18th century ship, built according to blueprints by af Chapman, anchored in the old port of Jakobstad. 1,60€.
- 7 Nanoq, Pörkenäsvägen 60, ☏ +358 6 729 3679, fax: +358 6 729 3679, pentti.kronqvist@nanoq.fi. "Finland's first Arctic museum" is a museum dedicated to the explorers of the North Pole, Greenland and Svalbard. adults 6€, children 3,50€.
- Pedersore Church.
Do
Buy
Eat
- Korv-Göran, Kanalesplanaden 17, ☏ +358 6 724-4088. M–Tu 10:30–21:00, W–Th 10:30–22:00, F 10:30–24:00, Sa 11:00–24:00, Su 12:00–22:00. The one place to eat warm sausage, hamburgers etc. when visiting Jakobstad. The menu has changed since the founding in 1973, and you can now find Korv-Görans in a few other towns, but check out the original. Hot dog €2, kebab and burger meals €10–13.
Drink
- O'Learys Jakobstad, Alholmsvägen 1, 68600, ☏ +358 6 7888399.
Sleep
- 1 Stadshotellet, Kanalesplanaden 13, ☏ +358 6 788 8111, fax: +358 6 788 8222, stadshotellet@multi.fi. A typical small-town hotel, clean and modern. Double room €130.
Connect
Go next
If you are continuing towards Kokkola by car, you can take the more scenic route through the archipelago over seven bridges.
| Routes through Jakobstad |
| Pori ← Vaasa ← | SW  NE |
→ Kokkola → Oulu |