The Archipelago National Park covers most of the archipelago south of the main islands of Pargas, Nagu and Korpo with its "interest area". State owned land in the area mostly belongs to the park proper, but there is cooperation with the inhabitants, so the distinction is of little importance for visitors. Much of the description of remote islands and outer archipelago is about this area. The park is part of the PAN Parks network and forms the core area of the Unesco Biosphere Reserve.

On some of the islands (partly or in whole) belonging to the park there is limited service, such as nature trails, tent sites, campfire places and toilets.

There are limitations to the right to access in parts of the national park, even entry totally forbidden in one remote area and to several bird islands in the season. Care should be taken also in many non-protected areas, not to disturb nesting and out of consideration for locals.

• Nature trails on many island (some reachable by ferry, most only by boat; many businesses offer boat taxi service)
• Underwater nature trail at Stora Hästö, 60° 04,4' N 21° 32,4' E, 5 km south-west from Korpoström: two routes, one that can be followed snorkeling or just by swimming goggles, the other one for divers, with the deepest information board at 10 m. There is also a campsite, campfire site and traditional nature trail on the island.

Many islands are worth visiting, but some of the most famous are described below. There are guest harbours on all of these, but on Bengtskär. Some have full service, some only provide a jetty. With the ferries you may not be able to return the same day. Listings roughly from north to south:

• 60.2421.9613 Själö (Finnish: Seili) is a lush island near Nagu Kyrkbacken, with a former lepra hospital, later mental hospital, now a biological research station. Famous for its history. A wooden church remains. Ferries between Nagu Kyrkbacken and Hanka in Rymättylä call at the island in season, as part of the "little archipelago ring road" (see Archipelago Trail), as do the ferry of the "Nagu northern route" from Kyrkbacken off season. In season there may also be a direct ferry from Turku.
• 60.13921.07714 Jungfruskär is a lush island in the outer archipelago of Houtskär, quite near the fairways from Mariehamn, with an abundance of species. At its heyday the island group had even their own school, but the last permanent inhabitant left in 1983 and the island served as navy fortress until 1999. The meadows are managed to keep their traditional, quite peculiar character (twigs were used as winter fodder and the trees mended for easier harvest).
• 60.08722.08515 Gullkrona is a small island with a pilot museum. The guest harbour was very popular until it was closed after 2008 and has now been reopened with a new owner, who tries to be true to that time, but also develop it in a child friendly fashion, and use paid staff.
• 60.05521.79716 Berghamn of Nagu (there's another one in Houtskär) was once an important fishermen and maritime pilot community, nowadays home to just a few people. There is an Archipelago National Park information hut and a camping site with dry toilet and fireplace. The ferry from Pärnäs (in Nagu) to Utö calls at the island a few times a week.
• 59.95421.75717 Nötö was traditionally the central village in the archipelago south of the Nagu and Korpo main islands. There is a wooden chapel from the 18th century, a café and a shop on the island. The ferry from Pärnäs to Utö calls at the island. A taxi boat from or to Pärnäs is also an option.
• 59.95121.61118 Aspö is a small community of Korpo, a few kilometres west from Nötö. Chapel built in 1950, after the previous one was devastated by storm(!). Summer café selling fresh smoked fish. Culture and nature trails. Accommodation available at Klevars, reservations by e-mail only: marika.johansson@luukku.com. The ferry from Pärnäs to Utö calls at the island on its way between Nötö and Jurmo.
• 59.87722.48319 Hitis and Rosala are two islands south of the main Kimitoön island, formerly a municipality of their own. The quite large village of Hitis has retained much of the traditional character. It has a wooden chapel from late 17th century (an earlier church was built in the 13th century). Rosala has a Viking centre. Ferry from Dalsbruk or Kasnäs to Rosala, bridge between the islands.
• 59.81222.32320 Örö is a large island with valuable nature south of Hitis. The island used to be closed for outsiders as a military base (first fort by the Russians 1915), which has protected many otherwise threatened features. It has been part of the national park since 2015, and is being developed for tourism. There are meadows with rare butterflies, old forests and nice cliffs and beaches. Also the military history is interesting; coast artillery batteries, trenches and barracks left to be seen. Marina, camping site, apartments and rooms available. Connections from Kasnäs.
• 59.8321.621 Jurmo is a remote barren island with very special nature, regarded as a "must" for those boating in the outer archipelago between Nagu and Utö. The island has a chapel due to the remoteness, although traditionally inhabited by only four families (down to one person living there alone in the 1980s). The ferry from Pärnäs to Utö calls at the island. Accommodation in cottages or at an Archipelago National Park camping site.
• 59.78621.37722 Utö is the outermost inhabited island, by the main channel from the Baltic Sea to the ports in the area. It has been a sea pilot base for centuries, was a coast artillery base and has a big lighthouse. Due to this activity there is infrastructure, such as a small school, which in turn make it ideal for people wishing to live in a remote place. The garrison has been turned into a hotel. There is a 4-hour ferry connection from Pärnäs and in summertime possibly a tour boat connection from Turku. The island lacks wood or farmland, the village ducking into the little shelter given by the rocks.
• 59.72322.49923 Bengtskär is a skerry in the outer archipelago by the mouth of Gulf of Finland, with the tallest lighthouse in the Nordic countries. Tours from Kasnäs via Rosala (the Viking centre) and from Hangö, with optional dinner, sauna, accommodation etcetera at the lighthouse. Service is provided also for those arriving with own boat, but the island is difficult to reach, due to location and lack of shelter.

The archipelago has been rising from the sea since the last ice age. People have settled in the bigger islands and made journeys to outer islets for fish, seal and water fowl. The present villages are often from the middle ages.

As the expected standards of living have risen dramatically since the World War, many have left for the towns. Islands that had two hundred inhabitants may now have only one or a few families living there permanently. But those who left often return for vacations (perhaps also when retiring, at least to islands with services), together with large crowds of tourists, yacht cruisers and "summer guests" (people spending the summer at their vacation house).

In the last decades there have also been young families moving out, even to remote islands. Some find a local income, other work on distance or on ships with week on/week off schemes, still others just take a year off.

The conditions in the archipelago differ significantly from those in the mainland. People have a strong local identity. Services are often far away and people are quite self sufficient. Farmland areas are small even in the main islands and people have always got their living in small pieces, such as from fishing, agriculture, sea fowl and seal hunting – and seafaring. Today tourism is an important side income for many. Fishing and navigating the archipelago is in the blood.

There is a huge difference, though, between conditions in the main islands, with road connection to services, and the remote islands, with only daily connections – weather and ice conditions (and whatever) permitting. The remote islands are often inhabited by just one or a few families.

Most businesses are small. Advance bookings are appreciated, and often necessary to get some of the service. On the other hand there is much flexibility; things can usually be arranged, if asked for in time.

The archipelago has a very large number of islands. The exact number depends on the definition of the term "island", as the size of the patches of dry land in the area varies from small rocks peeking out of the water to large islands with several villages or even small towns. If Åland is included, the number of larger islands of over 1 km² (0.4 sq mi) within the Archipelago Sea is 257, whilst the number of smaller isles of over 0.5 ha is about 17,700 (Indonesia has 17,500 islands, the Philippines 7,100). The islands are made of mainly granite and gneiss, two very hard types of rock, made smooth by several ice ages. The sea area is shallow, with a mean depth of 23 m (75 ft), and the islands correspondingly quite low. Most of the channels are not navigable for large ships.

This makes for a labyrinth of varying landscapes. There is clear difference between the "inner", "middle" and "outer" archipelago, where the first is sheltered, often with large islands, while the last is dominated by treeless rocks and skerries washed by the sea in storms. Also quite far out there are island groups with sheltered inner parts.

The bigger islands resemble the coastal regions of continental Finland whereas skerries have a radically different environment. Smaller islands are devoid of trees, but still harbour a rich plantlife. The environment is sunny, has a relatively long growing season and is fertilised by guano. The very low salinity of the Baltic Sea makes splashes of seawater more benign for plant life. On the other hand, nearly constant wind and thin or non-existent soil limit plant growth. While most of the islands are rocky, some are actually extensions of the Salpausselkä ridge system, and thus composed of terminal moraine. Such islands include Örö and Jurmo. The flora and fauna in these islands are more diverse than in their rocky neighbours.

The conditions can vary radically even within one small island. There may be small patches of fresh-water bogs, ponds of fresh water, ponds of brackish water, bushes, meadows, barren rocks, wind-beaten shores and sheltered coves on an island only a few dozen metres in diameter. Many plants have altered phenotypes due to the environment. For example, junipers on small islands grow only to a height less than 0.5 m (1.6 ft), but can cover several square meters.

In contrast to the terrestrial and coastal ecosystems of the islands, the sea itself has a relatively low biodiversity. The reason for this is the brackish nature of the water, with a salinity of just 0.6%: too much for most fresh water species, too little for most salt water ones. The salinity has also varied greatly during the past, making it difficult for species to adapt. However, the great number of individuals indicates a favourable environment. Typical fish species are the Baltic herring, pike, white-fish, perch and flounder.

The islands are a haven for seabirds. The species include mute swan, black guillemot, great crested grebe, common eider, numerous species of sea gulls and three species of terns. Great cormorants live in several colonies. The white-tailed eagle has a significant breeding population.

Day temperatures in the summer are typically 15–25°C. The sea has a moderating effect on the weather, especially when not frozen, giving warm autumns. There is more sunshine and less rain in the archipelago than in the mainland. Winds are varying with westerlies dominating. Storms are unusual, at least in spring and summer.

The main season for visiting the Archipelago Sea is summer, with the peak from Midsummer to middle August, when schools start. Most infrastructure is available from middle May to early September. Earlier spring and later autumn are also very good times to visit, if you like solitude and are prepared to check where to get services and to dress adequately if the weather happens to be cold. Late autumn and winter have their own charm, and there are tourist businesses running year round, but be prepared for darkness and cold.

In the winter ice covers the Archipelago Sea (often all of the northern Baltic Sea), but there is not always enough snow for skiing (other than on the ice, conditions permitting). Shipping continues, sporadically also by some minor lanes, so check locally if you intend to venture out on the ice.

Right to access is in practice somewhat restricted in parts of the archipelago. The right comes with the duty not to disturb or cause harm, and where islands are small and rocky, the areas where the right can be exercised may be limited. The nature is often fragile.

Where berries are sparse, they may be better left to locals. There are even locations where wild berries are being taken care of and the land thus also legally regarded as farmland.

When nesting birds or birds with chicks are disturbed, eggs and chicks often get into the beaks of crows and gulls, which are waiting for such opportunities. Thus landing on islets with nesting birds or driving near swimming bird families – or letting even a friendly dog loose – may cause significant damage. Land on islets too unsheltered even for birds, or bigger wooded islands, instead.

• Turku touring, Aurakatu 4, 20100 Turku, ☏ +358 2 262-7444, tourist.info@turku.fi. Tourist information on Turku and Finland Proper. 
• Pargas tourist information, Strandvägen 28, ☏ +358 400-117-123, info@pargas.fi. Also timetable information for the ferries. 
• Kimitoön tourist information (offices in Kimito and Dalsbruk), ☏ +358 2 426-0170, tourism@visitkimitoon.fi. 

The nearest airports are in Turku and Mariehamn. The region is also easily reachable from Helsinki (by coach or train) and from Stockholm (by cruise ferry).

Turku has good connections from the rest of Finland. If coming from the east (Helsinki), book a ticket to Kupittaa in the east end of the centre (otherwise you get a journey via Toijala near Tampere, as of September 2022).

Turku has good coach connections.

Kimitoön can be reached by coach from Turku or Helsinki. If coming from the east, also check services from Salo and Raseborg.

Pargas, Nagu, Korpo and Houtskär are reachable by coach from Turku and, mostly with transfer, from Helsinki. In season, they are also reachable by coach, bus and ferry via the northern archipelago, via Kustavi and Iniö to Houtskär or via Rymättylä to Nagu.

The northern archipelago is reachable by coach via Turku. Transfer earlier is possible from some coaches from Uusikaupunki.

Turku has good road connections. You can also reach the archipelago directly.

From Sweden you take the ferry to Turku, Eckerö, Mariehamn, Långnäs or Naantali. See below.

There are ferry connections from Åland to Korpo, Kustavi and Iniö. See below. The connections to Houtskär are by minor boats, which may not take vehicles and may not drive in winter.

From Sweden

Cruise ferries from Stockholm (Viking Line and Silja Line) pass through the archipelago each early morning and evening on their way to Turku. They call at either Långnäs (not much but a pier) or Mariehamn before reaching the Archipelago Sea. You may opt to get off there and continue from Åland by smaller ferries, or head for Turku. There are also ferries from Grisslehamn to Eckerö in western Åland.

If you have a vehicle (e.g. a car or bike) you can also use the more quiet ropax ferries twice or thrice daily from Kapellskär to Naantali (Finnlines). Some of the ferries call at Långnäs. Lunch and dinner is included at least in some tickets, which makes price comparisons with the cruise ferries a bit convoluted.

From Åland

There are a few ferry connections from Åland directly to the archipelago, either from Långnäs to Korpo, or from Vårdö through much of the Åland archipelago (via Brändö) to Kustavi, Iniö and possibly Houtskär. The fares on the ferries of Åland depend on whether you are staying a night on one of the islands en route. If you have the time it is probably worthwhile to do so (you might need a receipt from the hotel or campsite to get the reduction). Ålandstrafiken (phone +358 18 525-100, e-mail info@alandstrafiken.ax) administers ferries and coaches in Åland.

You can also board a ferry from Sweden at Mariehamn or Långnäs.

From Turku

In summertime there are a couple of minor ships going from Turku: to Nagu (m/s Norrskär; Själö and Kyrkbacken most days) or to other islands in the Archipelago Sea. Some of these routes are suitable for a one day return trip. As a way to get out to Nagu they are clearly more expensive than the bus, but the joy of the cruise is included. They depart from Aura river, downstream from Martinsilta bridge. These vessels do not take cars.

See also: Cruising on small craft, Boating on the Baltic Sea, Boating in Finland

The Sea of Åland is narrow enough for a passage with nearly any vessel on a day with good weather. Over the Gulf of Finland the passage is a bit and directly from Gotland much longer, but no problem for most yachts (with a competent skipper). Regardless where you are coming from, you do want to use official channels to enter the archipelago, unless arriving in daytime and nice weather. You may also need to follow these until you have cleared with immigration and customs; usually calling a customs station by VHF or phone is enough, unless arriving from Russia or from outside the Baltic Sea.

The custom routes lead to Mariehamn in Åland and Utö. Eckerö is one option when coming from Sweden. The fairway from Hanko to Kimitoön is the normal choice from the east. From north, either enter via the Isokari/Enskär lighthouse or by a fairway through the outer parts of the archipelago off Uusikaupunki (see also Bothnian Sea National Park). Coming via Åland, there are several options for the remaining distance.

Coach connections are usually adequate to reach the intended destination, with some planning, but not very good for getting around.

TLO of Turku operates the main services from Turku to Pargas and farther along Skärgårdsvägen (the latter with "Skärgårdsbuss" coaches). Vainion Liikenne operates many of the coach connections in the area, either directly or through e.g. Skärgårdsvägen Ab. Timetables are also available through Matkahuolto. See also Föli, especially for Turku, Kaarina and Naantali and for regional services from there, and opas.matka.fi. Not all services are necessarily found and you should do a sanity check on those shown, but in most cases all three route planners work well. Actual timetables are also available at least for some lines as of 2023: Vainio PDF booklet, Skärgårdsbuss timetables, Föli timetable index (links to PDF booklet and to PDFs on individual groups of lines).

From Turku, there are connections at least to

• Pargas centre (€6/€3) every hour or half an hour, except some hours in the night (TLO)
• Pargas centre, Nagu, Korpo and Houtskär (often with a transfer at Galtby in Korpo), a few times a day (Skärgårdsbuss)
• Kimito and Dalsbruk about once an hour in daytime, with a few connections e.g. to Kasnäs and Västanfjärd (often transfer at Dalsbruk)
• Taivassalo and Kustavi about once an hour in daytime on weekdays, a few times at weekends.
  • The ferry pier at Heponiemi (Laupunen), with a ferry to Iniö (Kannvik) two or three times a day.
  • The ferry pier at Vuosnainen (Swedish: Osnäs), with ferry to Brändö (Ramsvik, Åva) in Åland, once a day; off season special arrangements to get past Kustavi
• Naantali, with connections to Rymättylä and Merimasku, the former about once an hour, with some gaps and the last bus in the afternoon, the latter a few times a day.

On schooldays you may be able to use buses intended for school children, often not mentioned in the timetables and sometimes by another company. Ask locally.

On the main islands you can get to most places by car. There are some ferry passages that may have considerable queues or where car capacity is severely limited.

The ferry connections along the Arhipelago road are very busy when people are heading for their summer cottages in the archipelago, or returning, i.e. Friday evenings outbound and Sunday afternoons inbound in late spring and summer. The worst passage, "Prostvik" between Pargas and Nagu, can have queues of several hours.

On non-road ferries car capacity is often very limited. You should consider leaving your car on shore if you intend to return. There is often not much road to drive on the minor islands anyhow, or even parking. Large vehicles, such as caravans, can be a special problem. You might want to call the ferry in advance to ask for advice.

Taxis are available, often minivans for 1+8 persons in the countryside. You might want to check phone numbers of local taxi drivers, calling them directly is sometimes more effective than going via the central system.

Don't depend on taxis being available in the night, pre-book with a specific taxi company (not the call centre) or have a plan B. The duty to be on call – and indeed the possibility of distributing watches across companies – was abandoned with the deregulation of taxis.

The roads generally have quite little traffic and are thus good for biking, but they are rather narrow. The main problem is the practice of speeding from one ferry to the next along the Archipelago road. There are bikeways near towns and major villages, e.g. from Turku to Pargas centre and somewhat farther (watch out for tight turns where the bikeway changes sides, often just after a good downhill stretch).

Distances are not too great and the landscape is mostly flat. There may be a long way between services, so e.g. accommodation and dinners should be planned in advance.

You can usually get the bike on a bus, but at the discretion of the driver. Price for a bike is about half of a normal ticket or a flat €6. Bikes are free on most ferries.

There are several types of ferries, tour boats and similar. In winter some of the services are suspended because of sea ice, usually with connections with hovercraft or hydrocopter instead, with severe limitations on capacity. The ferries along Skärgårdsvägen keep going year round, but in severe winters there may occasionally be delays.

Road ferries (Swedish: landsvägsfärja, Finnish: lautta or lossi) connect the main islands and some near-by islands and are considered part of the road system (no fees, except possibly on a few on private roads). They usually drive by timetable except when there are queues, with a stop for some hours in the night. The size varies from cable ferries capable of a lorry, connecting islands over a sound of a few hundred metres, to the 66-metre Stella of the half-an-hour Korpo–Houtskär passage, taking tandem trailers, lots of cars and 250 passengers, and with a café serving meals.

The coaches are allowed on board past any queues, as are other vehicles of locals with a special permit. The queue may be long and may start without warning behind a tight turn, so drive carefully, and mind oncoming traffic when there is a queue on the other side. Where queues are expected there is often a kiosk near the quay, where you can take a coffee or ice cream while waiting (but the coach will drive directly on board).

When aboard, wait for the ferry to leave, step out of the car or coach, feel the fresh air and enjoy the landscape, at least on the longer passages. There are passenger lounges on some ferries (sometimes well hidden), where you might be able to have a coffee. Make sure you return to your vehicle in time. Car drivers should remember to shut off the lights while waiting for the ferry, to leave as little room as possible to the car in front (unless there is abundant space), to use the hand brake and to shut off the motor.

Shiplike ferries^{[dead link]} (Swedish: förbindelsefartyg, Finnish: yhteysalus) connect the remote inhabited islands with the major ones, typically once or twice a day. The starting points are mostly reachable by coach. They take passengers, bikes, freight and usually a few cars. Take your car aboard only if you are going to need it (check procedure). The ferries often call at the islands only when needed (make sure you are noticed!), at some islands only on special request beforehand ("y" in the timetable: often the preceding day, "x": being visible at the quay may be enough). The trips are free or heavily subsidised on most routes, a 2016 proposal to reintroduce fees was turned down.

These ferries can be used for island hopping or for a one day tour in the outer archipelago. There is usually some kind of Spartan café and nice views, but few other attractions on board. With some luck there are locals willing to chat. If island hopping, make sure you can get back or have accommodation for the night – there may be no spot to put a tent without permission and you probably want to ask for hospitality before there is a fait accompli.

Some of the important lines:

• from Kasnäs on Kimitoön to Rosala (connected to Hitis, a few kilometres of road)
• from Kasnäs westward to Vänö
• "Nagu södra rutt": the Archipelago Sea south of Nagu, long journey to mostly small islands
• "The transversal route": islands south of Nagu, close to the main islands
• "The Utö route": from Pärnäs to Nötö, Jurmo and Utö (some services also Aspö or Nagu Berghamn)
• "Nagu norra rutt": islands north of Nagu and Korpo, from Kyrkbacken to Norrskata
• "Houtskärs ruttområde": between Houtskär and Iniö, including Brändö in Åland
• "Iniö tilläggsrutt": islands in the Iniö archipelago, mostly west of the main islands

Tour boats and similar private vessels service some popular destinations. They are more probable to have guiding, restaurants and other additional services.

• from Turku to Naantali (steamship)
• from Turku to Vepsä
• from Turku via Själö to Nagu Kyrkbacken
• from Nagu via Själö to Rymättylä
• from Kasnäs to Örö
• from Kasnäs to Bengtskär

There are taxi boats or crewed charter boats available for most areas, and other vessels can sometimes be used in a similar fashion. You may want to ask locally. Most places with accommodation have contacts or boats of their own.

If you pay per mile or per hour you should ask for an estimate beforehand, as the service probably is quite expensive.

Some taxi boats:

• Aspö Gästservice at Aspö between Utö and Nagu, phone +358 400-669-865, +358 500-829-862.
• Nauvon charterveneet^{[dead link]}, Nagu, Stefan Asplund, phone +358 400-740-484, e-mail stefan@nauvoncharterveneet.com
• Kasnäs Taxibåt at Kasnäs, phone +358 400-824-806, e-mail: info@venetaxi.fi
• Mickelsson Anders & Co, phone +358 40-534-6114
• Pensar-Charter, phone +358 2 465-8130
• Ralf Danielsson at Lökholm, phone +358 400-431-383
• Östen Mattsson at Jurmo, phone +358 2 464-7137

See also: Boating in Finland#Archipelago Sea

The archipelago is a wonderful place for small craft cruising. Mostly the waters are open enough for relaxed sailing, but the landscape is constantly changing. There are myriads of islands to land on when you feel like, and guest harbours not too far away.

You might come by yacht (one or a few days from Estonia or the Stockholm region, a week from Germany or Poland), have friends with a yacht here – or charter a yacht or other boat.

Most waters are sheltered, so with some care and checking weather forecasts you might get along with any vessel. Small boats are ideal to get around near the place where you are staying (a cottage, pension or the like). For longer journeys a yacht with cooking and sleeping facilities is probably what you want (but an oversize yacht will make mooring in nature harbours difficult).

Crewed chartering is considered expensive. Usually full service charter is offered for a day trip, while bare boat chartering is the norm for longer journeys. You might get a skipper for your one-week charter by asking, but unless you ask for (and pay!) full service, you should not assume he or she will wash your dishes.

Some companies:

• S/y Belmont, phone +358 45-871-8444, e-mail: asiakaspalvelu@sy-belmont.com. Price for a day (Swan 51, 2–3 crew, max 18 passengers, meals and service included) €3200.
• Midnight Sun Sailing, phone +358 2 428-100 or +46 8 717-0345, e-mail: info@midnightsunsailing.fi, skippered or bareboat – or skippered until you are confident. Price for a week €3100–6000 (boat, skipper for one day, up to 10 customers).
• Finlandia Sailing, phone +358 400-421-050, e-mail info@finlandiasailing.fi, crewed or bareboat.
• Archipelago Searide, phone +358 40-516-0916, e-mail info@searide.fi. Fast motor yachts.
• Buster Rent, phone +358 20-769-1270, e-mail info@buster-rent.fi. Open or semi-open motor boats. Turku, Raisio, Dalsbruk or trailered to where you need it. From €150–440/day, €400–800/weekend, €700–1700/week.

Prices for bare boat yacht charter can be expected to be in the €1000–5000 range for a week, depending on boat, season et cetera.

Navigating the archipelago is not like navigating the open sea. It is a maze. Take a good look at the (large scale) chart before deciding whether you are up to it. GPS is a valuable tool, but you should not trust the navigation to it. If you have local friends they might come (or find somebody willing) to act as skipper or pilot. For charts and harbour books, see Boating in Finland.

Beware of traffic in the main shipping lanes. Cruise ferries will approach in more than 20 knots (40 km/h) and will often not be able to stop or turn. Listening to VTS, VHF channel 71, you can get early warnings (after first noting the names of relevant locations, and getting a feel for the communication).

There are some areas protected for military reasons, where anchoring is restricted and deviating from official channels prohibited, especially when there are foreigners aboard. In these areas also chart markings are partly lacking, with depth figures more sparse (and perhaps more unreliable) than usual. There are also military shooting areas (any actual shooting will be broadcast and ignorant vessels will be chased away, but some care is due).

The permanently inhabited islands, at least the remote ones, tend to have some kind of guest harbour and service for tourists. For electricity, waste bins and showers you should head for the bigger ones, but sauna, freshly smoked fish, handicraft or a nature trail may be available anywhere.

Weather reports are available on VHF (check Turku Radio working channels for your location beforehand), Navtex, FM radio, TV and Internet (desktop/mobile), by SMS and at bigger marinas. Use the forecasts for mariners, as weather on land may be quite different. Wind in the outer archipelago is usually much stronger than in sheltered waters.

For emergencies at sea (or anything that might develop into one) the maritime rescue centre (MRCC Turku), VHF 70/16 or phone +358 294-1001, are the ones to contact. The general emergency number 112 often has a pretty obscure picture of the conditions in the archipelago (you tell coordinates and name of island and they ask for a street address; try to stay calm), but can also be contacted, especially if you have no marine VHF and mobile phone signal is bad (for 112, the phone can use any operator), they will send the coast guard or lifeboat association to help you if needed.

The perhaps best way to explore the Archipelago Sea is by sea kayak. Renting one (and getting it trailered to a place of your choosing) should be easy. If you do not have much experience, you should try to get on an organised tour. Kayaks and tours e.g.:

• Aavameri, ☏ +358 50-569-7088, info@seakayaking.fi. High quality equipment and full service guided trips and supported solo expeditions with transportation from/to Turku. Also help with route planning and maps. Equipped sea kayak €40 first day, €35 consecutive days, delivery or pick up Turku/Pargas/Nagu/Kimito €40; hiking mattresses and sleeping bags for two, tent and camping stove €56/night. Evening tour with guide (2,5–3 hours) from Ruissalo, Turku, €55. Day tour with guide (ca 7 hours, 4–8 persons, lunch included) from Ruissalo/Airisto strand/Pargas port/Kasnäs/Rosala/Rymättylä €95/adult, €50/child. Four days' tour with guide and tent accommodation (own food, 4–8 persons) €440/person, with accommodation indoors €560/person. 
• MyKayak, ☏ +385 45-322-4555. Single €30/day, €40/24hr, €20/additional day, €140/week, tandem €45/65/30/200, delivery/pick up from €30. Overnight tour with guide, 2×lunch, sauna, tent accommodation (sleeping bags not included) e.g. €223/person. 

Some of the advice for yachters is equally adequate for canoers, but some is not. You should look out not only for the big ships, but also for powerboats. Staying near the shore and traversing channels quickly is the standard advice. Many think topographical maps are more useful than sea charts when canoeing (you'll mostly be on the shallow non-chartered waters), but copy the relevant info from charts or harbour books.

• Hanko-Uusikaupunki by boat
• The Archipelago Trail or Archipelago ring road (Skärgårdens ringväg, Saariston Rengastie) is a ring road in the archipelago with small ferries connecting most of the major islands in the central and northern part of the Archipelago Sea. It is very popular among motoring and bicycling holiday makers.
  • Kaarina–Pargas–Nagu–Korpo–Houtskär–Iniö–Kustavi–Naantali–Turku (250 km)
  • Kaarina–Pargas–Nagu–Rymättylä-Naantali–Turku (Little Ring Road, 125 km)