Main road 3 (also E12) from [wiki=8449280a23f8c4fcfb13469f6dc19592]Helsinki[/wiki] through [wiki=471fe554e1c62d1b01cc8e4e5076c61a]Tampere[/wiki] to Vaasa (419 km). The coastal main road 8 (E8) goes from [wiki=527fcbf9d80a049cd345b36ab98ee010]Turku[/wiki] through [wiki=20bb4c9a9f81f73fdbd01d67765026fd]Rauma[/wiki] and [wiki=1d5d43fec932ef0054b52798d52644ae]Pori[/wiki] to Vaasa (332 km) and from Vaasa through [wiki=a685e9d8e445a5a36aa45284f8ed0070]Kokkola[/wiki] to [wiki=97182b40f63df5a8bbff0ab0e1708197]Oulu[/wiki] (318 km).
All trains from Helsinki to Oulu and Rovaniemi via Tampere stop at Seinäjoki. From there you can take connection trains, which head to Vaasa. There are also trains that go straight to Vaasa via Seinäjoki. Three of these trains also go from Vaasa to Jyväskylä via Seinäjoki. Check timetables at the state railway company (VR) [http://www.vr.fi].
There are west coast bus connections from [wiki=97182b40f63df5a8bbff0ab0e1708197]Oulu[/wiki] to [wiki=527fcbf9d80a049cd345b36ab98ee010]Turku[/wiki], which go through Vaasa. Buses associate Vaasa also to [wiki=471fe554e1c62d1b01cc8e4e5076c61a]Tampere[/wiki], [wiki=1d5d43fec932ef0054b52798d52644ae]Pori[/wiki] and [wiki=a685e9d8e445a5a36aa45284f8ed0070]Kokkola[/wiki]. Check Matkahuolto for timetables and such [http://www.matkahuolto.fi/en/]].
A ferry line called Wasaline [url=http://www.wasaline.com/]]traffics daily between Vaasa and [[Holmsund[/url]], [wiki=c8f4261f9f46e6465709e17ebea7a92b]Sweden[/wiki] (near [wiki=632595dcfd234ec2ce1e5d49929c4777]Umeå[/wiki]).
People arriving with their own motor- or sailboat can make use of Wasa Segelförening (one of Finlands oldest sailing societys, [mailto:mail@wasasegelforening.com mail@wasasegelforening.com]) [http://www.wasasegelforening.com/] on the island of Vaskiluoto. They run the official guest harbour of Vaasa and offer good services for the occasional boat captain. There's a good view over town from the harbour and it's a two kilometer walk into the center.
There are daily regular flights from Vaasa airport to Helsinki (Finnair [url=http://www.finnair.fi],]Blue1 [url=http://www.blue1.fi/[/url]]and Golden Air/Finncomm Airlines [url=http://www.fc.fi/[/url]),]Stockholm, Sweden (Blue1) and 4 times a week to Umeå, Sweden (airBaltic [http://www.airbaltic.com[/url]).
* Airport Bus to and from Central Square
** At weekdays (Mon-Fri) hourly from early morning to late evening, local bus lines 4, 10 and 40 - see more information from Vaasan paikallisliikenne [http://www.vaasanpaikallisliikenne.fi]
** Ticket price 2,50 €
* Airport Taxi
** Price from 16 to 25 €
** Order at earliest 2 hour before arrival or departure time of airplane, but if morning airplane, last evening before 22:00
** Order calls for airport taxi, +358 6 100 411 or from Finnish mobile phone 0600 30011
** Airport Taxi web site [http://www.taksivaasa.fi/airport.php]
If you want to experience live music on a regular basis in Vaasa then there are two venues to keep in mind.
*Doo-Bop Club, Kauppapuistikko 12 [url=http://www.doobop.fi].]A jazz club under McDonald's in the northern end of the Market Square. Here you mainly hear jazz, soul and funk. The main principle is that the music is live.
*Ritz (Skafferiet r.f.), Kirkkopuistikko 22 [http://www.kulturskafferiet.com/[/url]. Housed in a cinema from the 1950's - it is a place that tries to combine all forms of local and international culture. Small and cosy shows on the newly built café-stage (spring 2013) and larger concerts in the saloon with seating for over 320. Ritz has featured over a hundered shows in just under two years. The performers vary from artists that have traveled all over the world to those who are taking their first tumbling steps.
VPS (Vaasan Palloseura), go watch a football game with a team that plays in the top league in Finland. The standard isn't as high as in England, Germany or even Sweden, but still. The games are played at Hietalahti Stadium, which holds 4,600 people.
*VIFK (Vasa Idrottföreningen Kamraterna), this is another local football team that used to play in the Finnish major league back in the 1940s and -50s. In 2011 the team finished in fifth place in division 2.
*Vaasan Sport, check out a hockey game during the winter with a team that until firther notice plays in the second-highest ice hockey league in Finland -the Mestis league. The games are played in Vaasa Arena in Kuparisaari.
There are numerous cheap hamburger, kebab and pizza joints.
*Hesburger, Kauppapuistikko 11.
*McDonald's, Hovioikeudenpuistikko 15 (center of town) & Toukolantie 1 (in connection with Prisma supermarket)
*Kotipizza, Rewell Center + six other places around town. This nationwide pizza franchise was founded in Vaasa which is one of the reasons for there being so many of these here.
*Best Burger Café, Kauppapuistikko 27.
*Rolls, Rewell Center & Kauppapuistikko 18 & Kuninkaantie 72-74.
*Subway, Vaasanpuistikko 22 & in HS Center (next to the Market Square).
*Thai House, Vaasanpuistikko 17 (second floor in the small shopping mall). Lunch buffet (weekdays 11-15) €7,50.
*Shanghai, Vaasanpuistikko 17.
*Tian Long Restaurant, Vaasanpuistikko 18
*Bistro A W Stenfors, in the Vaasa Market Hall. Excellent food and service. Open during lunch.
*Illyrians Restaurant & Coffeebar, Fredsgatan (Rauhankatu) 16. One block from the square. Arguably one of the best pizza/kebab places. They also offer salads and different coffees.
Rosso, Vaasanpuistikko 18 C.
*Amarillo, Rewell Center 101 (second floor).
*Reastaurant Chili Lime, Kauppapuistikko 16. Vietnamese food.
*Pizzeria Marco Polo, Hovioikeudenpuistikko 11. ( The oldest independent pizzeria in town. )
*Dallas Pizza Palazzo, Västervikintie 1. Find this place if you have a car.
*Pizzeria Rax Vaasa, Kauppapuistikko 13. Pizza buffet.
*Hupsis Kantarellis, Kauppapuistkko 15 [url=http://www.web-jussi.com/waild/kantarellis/].]A place with decent food that tries to be "crazy".
*Janne's Saloon, Kuusisaari [url=http://www.jannensaluuna.com/[/url].]Located on a island in the Vaasa Archipelago. Accessible only by cruise boat from the Inner Harbour of Vaasa during summer. During winter it is possible to walk here over the ice (provided you have someone local with you to guide you).
*Strampen, Rantakatu 6. Situated near the Inner Harbour of Vaasa. Strampen is short for "Strandpaviljongen" which is Swedish for "waterfront pavillion". Has a popular beer terrace. Only open during summers.
*Faros, Kalaranta [http://www.faros.fi[/url]. Faros is the name of a boat in Kalaranta (Fish harbour). On deck and partly on land there is a terrace for beer and drinks and on board under deck there is a good restaurant. Only open during summers.
*Seglis, Niemeläntie 14. Out on the island of Vaskiluoto in the club house of the Wasa Segelförening sailing society. Has a terrace with a great view into town over the bay. Only open during summers.
*Martin Baari, Hovioikeudenpuistikko 20. Small bistro to have lunch in with great service. Get a beer while you're here.
*Kaffehuset August, Hovioikeudenpuistikko 13. popular eatery close to the main square, offers a specialist wine menu. occasionally hosts live music from local musicians in the evenings.
Restaurant Gustav Wasa, Raastuvankatu 24.
*Restaurant Bacchus, Rantakatu 4.
*Restaurant Fondis, Hovioikeudenpuistikko 15.
*Restaurant Fransmanni, Hovioikeudenpuistikko 18.
*Bistro Ernst Café, Hietasaarenkatu 7. A small place in connection with Wasa Teater, a Swedish-speaking theater.
Most restaurants have bars or pubs in connection to them and especially the summer restaurants have popular terraces to start the evening on.
*Oliver's Inn, Kauppapuistikko 8. Describes themselves as a "party pub", which is quite true during weekends.
*O'Malley's, Hovioikeudenpuistikko 21. Newly opened dancefloor. Live music.
*El Gringo Music Saloon, Hovioikeudenpuistikko 15 (entrance through the alley).
*Amarillo Bar & Restaurant, Rewell Center 101.
*Public Corner, Hallinkuja (around the corner fom the old market hall).
*Office - The Sports Bar, Raastuvankatu 15. This bar used to be a legendary pub called Koti.
*D.O.M Munkhaus, Hietasaarenkatu 14, cellar. Entrence from the alley side.
*Kalarannan Laituri Bar & Terrace, Kalaranta. Only during summers.
*Faros, Kalaranta. Drink beer on a ship.
*Strampen, Sisäsatama. Very popular terrace on nice summer evenings.
*Happy Barrel, Kauppapuistikko 15. A pub that serves greasy food when in need.
Fontana, Hovioikeudenpuistikko 15 [url=http://www.fontanaclub.com].]Probably the most popular nightclub in town, and certantly the largest. On the second floor of the Hartman House in the northern end of the Market Square. There is a lounge available for private parties.
*Leipätehdas - Brödfabriken, Hietasaarenkatu 14 [url=http://www.circus.fi[/url].]Built into a former bread factory. Offers many club nights and concert nights with local bands.
*Nightclub Sky, Rewell Center 101 [url=http://www.sky.fi[/url].]This place has the best view in town as far as the nightclubs are concerned as it is on the ninth floor of a building on the west side of the Market Square. The Sokos Hotel Vaakuna is in the same building. Find your way to the nightclub through the Amarillo Bar on the ground floor.
*Hullu Pullo, Kauppapuistikko 15 [url=http://www.web-jussi.com/hullupullo[/url].]A big rock oriented bar more than a nightclub, but there is still a dancefloor. There are quite many concerts held here during the winter season.
*Waild, Kauppapuistikko 15 [http://www.waild.com[/url]. A nightclub for a more mature public compared with Hullu Pullo which is next door.
*Rocktails, Teräksenkuja 3. cocktail lounge + nightclub.
Hostel Vaasa, Niemeläntie 1, tel. +358 6 324 1555 (fax: +358 6 324 1501, e-mail: info@hostelvaasa.com), [url=http://www.hostelvaasa.com/eng/].]Located outside the city center on the island of Vaskiluoto in connection with Hotel Fenno. There is no regular bus connection to this location so unless you are driving or you really want to walk you need to take a taxi. Prices range from €17,50 (bed in a shared room with three beds) to €65 (private four bed room).
*Kenraali Wasa Hostel, Korsholmanpuistikko 6-8, tel. +358 400 668 521 (fax. +358 6 3121 394, e-mail: post@kenraaliwasahostel.com), [url=http://www.kenraaliwasahostel.com/kenraaliwasahostel_eng.htm[/url].]Located in a former military compund made up of charming wooden barracks with roots in the 19th century. Within walking distance from the city center. Prices range from €40 (private room with one bed) to €60 (private room with four beds).
*Omena Hotel Vaasa, Hovioikeudenpuistikko 23, [url=http://www.omena.com/hotelpresentation?hid=585404[/url].]All hotel bookings and payments are done through the internet at www.omena.com through which you get a code for your room. The hotel is situated right next to the train station and a short walk from the city center. In this hotel you pay for the room and not the amount of people staying in the room. Prices start at €36 (room with four beds, €9 per person), and depend on the conditions of the booking and the stay. All rooms can house four people.
*EFÖ, Rantakatu 21-22, tel. +358 50 557 4723 (only during summer, e-mail: logi@efo.fi, during winter available rooms can be booked through the school +358 6 317 4913), [url=http://www.efo.fi/engelska/hotel_eng.htm[/url].]EFÖ is short for "Evangeliska Folkhögskolan i Österbotten", which is Swedish for The Evangelical Folk High School in Ostrobothnia. During summertime when the school is closed it becomes a summer hotel. Smoking and drinking alcoholic beverages are banned. A single room costs €47/night and a double room €52/night.
*Hotel Tekla, Palosaarentie 58, tel. +358 6 327 6411 (fax. +358 6 321 3989, e-mail: info@hoteltekla.net) [url=http://www.hoteltekla.net[/url].]Located among student housing in the neighbourhood of Palosaari north of the city center. Take bus line 1 from the market square to get to the location. A single room costs €49 and a room with three beds costs €89. Evening sauna (not on Sundays) and free passage to the gym is included in the price. Some rooms are used as student housing during winter.
*Westbay Inn, Västervikintie 271, tel. +358 40 750 5777 (e-mail: info@westbay.fi) [http://www.westbay.fi/[/url]. A guesthouse some seven kilometers north of the city center in Västervik. €40/1 person/day, €60/2 persons/day.
Hotel Fenno, Niemeläntie 1, tel. +358 6 324 1500 (fax. +358 6 324 1501, e-mail: info@hotelfenno.com) [url=http://www.hotelfenno.com/eng/].]A hotel on the island of Vaskiluoto just outside the city center. There are no bus connections to the address, so the hotel is best suited for travellers with cars. There is a hostel in connection with the hotel which a lot cheaper. Neither the hotel or the hostel is especially charming, but does the trick when looking for a bed to sleep in for the night. Prices range from €74 (room with one bed) to €115 (room with 3+1 bed).
*Rantasipi Tropiclandia Spa Hotel, Lemmenpolku 3 [url=http://www.rantasipi.fi/hotelli.cfm?id=Rstropic[/url].]A hotel in connection with the tropical spa next door out on the island of Tropiclandia. Prices start at €124 for a 1 bed room during summer. More value for the family with kids than the lone traveller.
*Best Western Hotel Silveria, Ruutikellarintie 4 [http://www.hotelsilveria.com/Default.aspx?id=341163[/url]. A popular conference hotel with a good sauna & pool facility. Prices vary depending on the day. A standard single room costs €62 during weekends, but €94 from Monday to Thursday. 1,5 kilometers from the center of town. Best reached by car, but accessible by the local bus also.
Hotel Astor, Asemakatu 4 [url=http://www.astorvaasa.fi/main.php?l=e&pid=1].]A small but elegant hotel close to the trainstation and a short walk from the town center. Most of the rooms have their own Finnish style sauna. The price depends on which day you are staying. Weekends are cheaper as are some summer months. A room without sauna during a weekend costs €90/night, with sauna €111/night. Weekdays a room costs €120/night, with sauna €140/night. Single and double rooms have the same price.
*Radisson SAS Royal Hotel, Hovioikeudenpuistikko 18 [url=http://www.radissonsas.com/[/url].]Big hotel complex streching to both sides of the street. Good sauna and pool facilities, one on the top floor and another one underground. A standard room is €100/night. Free broadband in the rooms, and you can rent a tandem bike for €10 /2 hours. There is a nightclub, a restaurant and a pub in the hotel complex.
*Sokos Hotel Vaakuna, Rewell Center 101 [http://www.sokoshotels.fi/SokotelWeb/Sokotel.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=Sokotel_hotellit_hotelliesittely&hotelId=502918253[/url]. A hotel smack in the heart of town, right beside the Market Square. Free broadband and sauna for customers. A standard single room costs €101, and a double room is €120. Ask about cheap offers though.
Betel Bed & Breakfast, Pohjoismäki 54, tel. +358 50 585 0866 / +358 50 520 7292. Located in the rural area of Sundom, a ten minute drive from the city center.
Top Camping Vaasa, Niemeläntie 1 [url=http://www.topcamping.fi/template_ypage.asp?lang=3&s=134&sua=2].]The camping area is situated on the island of Vaskiluoto just outside the city center. Besides places for tents and caravans, Top Camping also offers cabins (a four bed cabin €60/day).
*Västerstrand Holiday Cabins, Utterö, Sundom [url=http://www.vasterstrand.com/enindex.html[/url].]A long way from the city center in the Sundom archipelago. You need a car to get to this place. Cabins from €45/day. Bring your own bed linen. Camping is also possible.
*Aijas Semesterstugor, Utterö, Sundom [http://www.citypocket.com/aijas_stugor/[/url]. This place offers very well equipped vacation cottages that can also be used during winter. During high season (17.6-5.8) the cottages can only be rented for a week at a time. During low season prices start at €90/day.
*Kerstins Stugor, Utterö, Sundom, tel: +358 6 3644 114. This place offers cabins a long way out of town.