Merikarvia (Swedish: Sastmola) is a municipality of 3,000 people (2021) by the coast in northern Satakunta, Finland.

Understand

Merikarvianjoki at Kiila

Merikarvia has an intricate coastline with many bays and capes. Along and farther off the coast there are many islands. Some islands and the sea outside the archipelagos belong to Bothnian Sea National Park. There are tours to the Oura archipelago far out. The river Merikarvianjoki offers nice fishing.

• Tourist information, ☏ +358 44-724-6310 (Galleria Vanha Savu; in season), +358 44-724-6333 (municipality office; off season). 

Get in

E8 along the western coast passes through the eastern part of Merikarvia. Road 270 from Siikainen leads from E8 to the centre (8.5 km).

Road 2680 leads along the coast from Ahlainen north of Pori to the centre of Merikarvia and continues northward to Sideby of Kristinestad as road 6600.

By bus

There are buses from Pori (ca 50 km, 1 hr, €12.60 as of 2022) several times daily in schooldays, some along E8, some via Ahlainen, some via Noormarkku. They are operated by Aaro E. Mäkelä (as of 2022). There are also a few services from Isojoki. In weekends you probably have to resort to express buses along E8 and get off at the crossroads (Tuorila).

By boat

The official fairways come from the open sea. There is a half-official boating route (1.0 m) through the archipelagos from Pori along all the Merikarvia coast; it is narrow, going amidst very stony waters.

• 1 Krookan plassi, Varvintie 5 (Krookanlahti, 1.5 km from the church), ☏ +358 10-319-8700, info@krookanplassi.fi. May–Sep. Marina. Fairway depth 2.2 m. Basic services including fuel, sewer emptying, water, electricity, showers and laundry. (updated Jan 2022)

Get around

Villages along E8 are easily reached by the coaches, at least in school days. A few coaches drive along the coast, via Pohjansaha and Peippu, a few via Kuvaskangas and Koittankoski. Mostly you'd like to have a bike or car, though, or take a taxi.

By boat

Boat to Ouraluoto (and probably elsewhere) on request:

• Tapio Ristimäki ☏ +358 500-862-190
• Raimo Stenroos ☏ +358 400-830-789

By taxi

See also: Satakunta#By taxi

See

Store display in the local history museum

• 1 Lankoski (Långfors) (by road E8, 6.5 km south from Tuorila). A nationally important cultural milieu, witnessing late 19th-century small-scale industrialisation. There is also a nature reserve and a nature path by the rapids. The old stone bridge, replacing a wooden one, was built 1886–1887 and used for the thoroughfare until 1960. Free.  
• 2 Church of Merikarvia, Paltteentie 10 (in the centre), ☏ +358 2 436-9654 (M 15:00–17:00 W 09:00–12:00), merimaskun.seurakunta@evl.f. In connection with services, mostly Su 10:00–11:00. Wooden church from 1899, seating some 2,500 persons. Free.  

Do

• 1 Oura Archipelago (7 km off the coast, 5–6 M by boat), ☏ +358 44-724-6310. Island group in the outer archipelago, a Natura 2000 area, some islands belong to the national park. The nature is fragile, so keep to the duckboards and existing paths were possible. Avoid landing on islands with nesting birds April–July. The islands are exposed to the wind, with little shelter, so dress accordingly. Free; visits to the lookout room included in tour prices.  
  • 2 Hamskeri (1.2-m boating route to the moorings). Partly a nature reserve. Natural harbour. Shelters, campfire sites, outhouse toilet, nature path. 
  • 3 Ouraluoto (1.8-m boating route to the jetty; tours from Krookka). Municipal outdoor destination with former pilot station. Jetty, lodgings and tent sites (see Lodging below). Beach (suddenly deep). Barbecue hut and campfire sites at visitors' disposal. Well (water not potable). Outhouse toilets.  
• Fishing in Merikarvianjoki, ☏ +358 44-724-6440, marianne.hakala@merikarvia.fi. Get needed permits and check the rules. Permits and available on the net in Finnish, for personal service, contact Köffi, the SEO in Tuorila, or Rautanet (hardware store) or K-Market in the centre. Most lodging businesses with cottages along the river should also be happy to help. €16–35 for a day, €10 for 12–17 years old + the national fee for those 18–64 years old. 

Eat

• 1 Köffi and Kahvimylly (Lankoski, at E8 6.7 km south from Tuorila). Large café with meals, geared towards charter coaches and lorry drivers, with long hours year-round (Köffi); and a smaller nice café (Kahvimylly). 
• 2 The Merry Monk, Varvintie 5 (Krookka), ☏ +358 44 981 7401, info@merrymonk.fi. Gastropub. €17–25. (updated Jan 2022)
• Sinihelmi (in the centre). Lunch restaurant. 

Drink

• 1 Herkkupuoti, Kauppatie 45 C (in the centre), ☏ +358 44-209-0433. Café-patisserie. (updated Jan 2022)

Sleep

Former pilot station on Ouraluoto

• 1 Merrycamping, Palosaarentie 67 (across the bay Krookanlahti, 6 km from the centre by road), ☏ +358 400-719-589. Camping site by the sea. For caravans. Also cottages, a few for year-round use. Beach, playground, etc., available also for non-customers. 
• 2 Rauhanlaakso, Kivirannantie 2 (1 km south from the centre, by Antintie), ☏ +358 40-031-8398, info@rauhanlaakso.fi. Cottages by the river. A 2.7-km nature trail in the forest starts in the vicinity. Wood fired sauna. From €100. 
• 3 Niittyniemen lomamökit, Niittyniementie 17 (4.5 km east of the centre, along Friikoskentie), ☏ +358 50-468-7557, info@niittyniemi.fi. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00 (if the next night booked). Cottages (two) and camping. By the river. Well equipped, with beds for 2×2+2. Wood-fired sauna. Mar–Nov weekend nights €120, weekdays €100; Dec–Feb €100/80; linen €15/person; camping €10, electricity +€5; sauna for campers €5/person. 
• 4 Ouraluoto (1.8-m boating route, 5 nautical miles from Krookka; by tour boat or own vessel), ☏ +358 44-724-6310. Accommodation in rooms of the pilot station or the adjacent lodging quarters. Camping with tent possible (on wooden platform). Washing in the old sauna. Kitchen in the pilot station, wood stoves in the adjacent building. Outhouse toilets. Sun-powered 230 V electricity in the pilot station. Bring eating utensils, linen and potable water. Remember not to use salt water on the sauna stove. €30–60, €100–150 for 4–8 persons; mooring one night free; sauna €100/4 hr (the new sauna). 
• 5 Koivuniemen herra, Harjuntie 28 (Tuorila), ☏ +358 40-533-8057, info@koivuniemenherra.fi. Accommodation in a farmhouse from the 1920s, in nice rooms furnished in old style. Hostel-like accommodation in the barn (self-catering, shared kitchen and facilities). Linen included. Guests are invited to join in the farm's morning duties ca 09:30–10:30. Campfire site, etc. Peace for the animals demanded in the night. Theme packages for a day or a few available. Also café with lunch. The food is by own receipts. From €120 (breakfast included), additional beds €40. Hostel from €75, additional beds €25, breakfast €13. Lunch (weekends and peak season?) €8.50–10.50, children €8.50/6.50/3.50/–..