There is something rather special about discovering an island just a short ferry ride from the city. It feels like you have escaped somewhere much further away, even though you have barely travelled any distance at all. That was exactly how we felt when we decided to spend the day visiting Iso Vasikkasaari, just off the coast of Matinkylä in Espoo, a short distance from central Helsinki.
Getting to Iso Vasikkasaari
Getting to the island was easy and undoubtedly part of the enjoyment of the day. Ferries run to Iso Vasikkasaari from both Haukilahti and Nokkala between May and September, making the island very accessible from the Espoo coastline. The return ferry ticket costs just €7 (£6) per person with the journey taking only around 15 minutes.
It was just long enough to feel as though we were leaving the mainland behind and heading off on a little adventure, without having to spend much of the day travelling. We opted to board the ferry in Haukilahti which is the starting point, so not only did we get a slightly longer boat ride for the same price, we were guaranteed a seat on board before it picked up more passengers at Nokkala.
Exploring Iso Vasikkasaari
Once we arrived, we paused to take a look at the island map, working out where we were and deciding which direction to take. The island is a lovely place to explore on foot, with forest paths winding through the trees and plenty of opportunities to stop and take in the surroundings.
One of the first highlights of our walk was the bird tower. Naturally, we couldn’t resist climbing up to the top to see the island and surrounding coastline from a different perspective. The views from above were beautiful. Looking out across the trees towards the sea we enjoyed the scenery and took a few photographs.
Back on the forest paths, we continued our walk through the island. One of the things that really caught our attention was the abundance of lingonberries and blueberries. They seemed to be everywhere so we couldn’t resist stopping to pick a few.
A Finnish Barbecue in the Forest
As we continued walking, we came across one of the island’s barbecue areas. It was already being enjoyed by several families, and the smell of food cooking over the barbecue immediately made us think about how perfect the setting was for a Finnish outdoor picnic. Families were gathered together, cooking sausages and enjoying food in the middle of the forest. It was one of those scenes that perfectly captures the relaxed Finnish love of spending time outdoors.
Gula Villan Restaurant, Espoo
After working up an appetite during our walk, it was time for the part of the day we had been particularly looking forward to: lunch at Restaurant Gula Villan. We had booked a table in advance, which was definitely a good plan as it’s a very popular summer restaurant. The name Gula Villan means “Yellow Villa”, and the restaurant certainly lives up to its name. The beautiful old Manor House and its setting on the island made it feel like an inviting place to stop for a meal.
There are tables both indoors and out on the terrace, giving diners the choice of sitting inside or enjoying the surroundings outside when the weather is favourable.
Enjoying lunch at Gula Villan
The restaurant comprises several small rooms and we were shown to a corner table that could accommodate six people although we were only a party of three. The menu features locally sourced, seasonal produce with something for everyone.
For starters we all opted for toast Skagen, the Swedish favourite which consists of a slice of dark rye bread topped with prawns and smoked salmon. This was delicious and enjoyed by us all. Moving onto mains, my son and I enthused about the entrecôte steak served medium rare just as we prefer it, topped with béarnaise sauce and accompanied by bowls of tasty French fries.
Across the table our Finnish friend raved about her asparagus risotto which she declared creamy and flavoursome. There were plenty of chips to go round, so she tucked into some of these as well. Moving onto desserts we were all tempted with the pannacotta served with marinated blueberries, sorbet and oat flakes which proved to be a delicious sweet treat to round off our lunch. Service was unhurried yet professional and we enjoyed our relaxing lunch very much.
Afterwards, we spent a little while strolling around the front of the restaurant. The location is absolutely beautiful, with lovely views across the water. There are also moorings for visitors arriving by their own boat, which gives another option for reaching the restaurant.
We wandered around for a while, enjoying the views and letting our lunch settle before making our way back towards the ferry.
Time to return
Eventually, it was time to say goodbye to Iso Vasikkasaari. We walked back towards the ferry, retracing some of the paths we’d explored earlier in the day. By then, we felt as though we’d made the most of our little island escape. What we particularly enjoyed about the day was the variety. We had travelled by boat, explored a Finnish forest, climbed the bird tower, picked blueberries and lingonberries, watched families enjoying a barbecue, had a delicious three-course lunch and taken in beautiful sea views.
The short ferry journey back to the mainland gave us a final chance to look back towards the island and reflect on what a lovely day we’d had. It was hard to believe that such a peaceful little escape was only a short boat trip from the Espoo coastline.
Our Verdict
If you’re looking for a peaceful day trip from Helsinki or Espoo, Iso Vasikkasaari is definitely worth considering. Take the ferry, bring your walking shoes, keep an eye out for berries, climb the bird tower and, if you fancy making the day extra special, book a table at Gula Villan. For us, it was a lovely little island escape — and one we would happily do again.
We were guests of Gula Villan and as always, all views and opinions are entirely my own.
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