Naantali is a coastal town whose modern attractions can obscure an unusual beginning. Its first lasting centre formed beside a Bridgettine convent, not around a castle or a Roman road. Today the old town gathers around the medieval church and harbour, while the municipality stretches out through islands, ferry crossings and rural settlements. Naantali counted 20,391 residents on 31 December 2025. The wider municipality includes about a thousand islands and roughly a thousand kilometres of coastline; its archipelago communities are part of the place, not an optional excursion after the “real” town.
A town built to serve a convent and its pilgrims
The city’s own history places its beginning in the fifteenth century. King Christopher’s confirmation letter of 23 August 1443 approved a Bridgettine convent at Ailostenniemi and the market privileges of the town established beside it. The convent became a pilgrimage destination, bringing nobles, merchants and rural visitors. The stone church that remains is the most visible witness to that religious landscape. The monastery’s activity faded after the Reformation, and the last nun died at the end of the sixteenth century; the old town did not grow continuously into a large medieval centre. In 1628, fire damaged both church and town.
There is a human-scale way to read these layers. Begin at the church, then follow the lanes toward the old harbour, where boats and low wooden buildings make the shoreline feel close to the street. The city records a later craft economy in which nuns’ knitting tradition survived as commercial sock-making; at its peak, local makers produced tens of thousands of pairs each year for markets as far away as Stockholm and St Petersburg. In the 1750s, a customs-house gate carried a wooden sun. That image became the “Naantali Sun”, now an emblem of the town. The tradition of spa visits gave the small port a new season of visitors from 1863 onward.
Summer culture, beyond a single attraction
Naantali is now known to many families through Moominworld, opened on Kailo Island in 1993 and based on Tove Jansson’s stories. The island is reached by a pedestrian bridge from the centre; about a third of Kailo remains freely accessible, and there is also a beach. The park operates seasonally, so a visit should be planned around the published opening dates rather than assumed to be available year-round. The marina and old town sit close by, making it possible to combine a family day with a walk through the historic streets instead of treating the theme park as the whole destination.
The church, the Naantali Museum’s historic buildings, the harbour, the old market area and the wooded shoreline make a useful second thread. The city also has a long spa history and a contemporary spa hotel on the Luonnonmaa side. Kultaranta, the presidential summer residence on Luonnonmaa, is a significant local landmark, though access is controlled and visits depend on official arrangements. Nearby islands, outdoor areas and small harbours reward visitors who travel slowly and check which services are open.
A working port and a thousand-island municipality
The town’s identity has never been only recreational. Deep sea channels, the port and later industrial investment created a substantial economic base. The city describes its strengths through industry, port operations and tourism; the port handles important road-freight traffic between Finland and Sweden, while the Luolala and Luonnonmaa business areas host production, logistics and services. Earlier milestones included sugar, sawmilling and energy, followed by the arrival of Neste in 1948 and the growth of ferry traffic in the 1960s. The contrast is visible on the ground: the pilgrim church, the harbour promenade and industrial transport all belong to present-day Naantali.
Turku lies about 16 kilometres away. Föli buses 6 and 6A connect Turku and Naantali; if arriving by train, take a bus or walk from Turku station toward the city centre or bus station to make the transfer, since there is no direct bus from the railway platform. Naantali also has ferry links from Kapellskär in Sweden and Långnäs in Åland. In the archipelago, local buses, free ferries and connecting boats serve Rymättylä and Velkua, and the island roads form part of the Archipelago Trail. The services are not equally frequent in every season. Check Föli and the national route planner for date-specific buses and ferries, as well as Moominworld, museum, church and spa opening information. A balanced visit pairs the old town with one island or coastal route and leaves enough time for the transport connections.
Sources: municipal population, 31 December 2025; city history from the convent to the modern port; archipelago settlements, ferries and services; Moominworld and visitor access; city outdoor islands; Turku buses and international ferry links; local Föli service; municipal economic and port planning; port and business background.