Paimio

Paimio (Swedish: Pemar) is a town in Finland Proper.

Understand

The railway station – no trains stop here though

Paimio is on the Paimionjoki river and on the railway and highways between Turku and Helsinki, with Piikkiö to the west, Sauvo to the south, Halikko (of Salo) to the east and Tarvasjoki (of Lieto) and Marttila (of the Inland of Finland Proper) to the north.

Paimio is best known for the sanatorium by Alvar Aalto, where the architecture and environment were envisioned to help in the treatment. Since 2015 it is not a hospital any more, but quite a bit off as a side trip from Turku.

• Tourist info, ☏ +358 50-586-7733, touristinfo@paimio.fi. 

Get in

Paimio centre is 24 km east of Turku, a few kilometres north from highways 1 (E18) and 110 from Helsinki. The former is a motorway, the latter more quiet and better for viewing landscapes. There are two main crossroads on the highways south of the centre: the one of road 181 and the one by Lähteenmäki. Road 110 has a third one in between. Paimiontie forks off the highways at Tammisilta on the border to Piikkiö and leads eastward to the centre from there.

Road 181 runs between Tarvasjoki of Lieto and highway 10 in the north and Sauvo and Kimitoön in the south, passing close by the centre.

The train station is not in use by passenger trains. Regional trains from Turku have been discussed since the 1990s but are still in the blue, as of 2023.

By bus

Bus lines 703–709 and 720P drive from Turku to Paimio centre (Turku–Paimio 35–60 min). Lines 703, 705, 720, 721 and 722 drive into Paimio by Valtatie (road 110); 704, 706 and 720P by Paimiontie; 707 by Teerlakiantie; and 709 by the motorway (with no stops in Kaarina or Piikkiö). The 72x buses turn from Valtatie southward and never enter the centre.

• 703: via Naskarla to the centre
• 704: via Paimiontie to the centre
• 705: via Naskarla and the centre to the sanatorium
• 706: via Paimiontie and the centre to the sanatorium
• 707: via Hepojoki and Teerlakia to the centre
• 709: along the motorway (road 1, E18) to Lähteenmäki, then via Paimio centre to the sanatorium
• 720, 721, 722: along road 110, turning towards Sauvo and ending in Sauvo, Kimito and Dalsbruk, respectively
• 720P: via Paimiontie and the centre to Sauvo

Lines L6 and L11 of Lieto, to Tarvasjoki, pass along highway 10 (12 km north of Paimio centre), with their 1 Isohallintie stop just north of Paimio's border. L8 stops a bit earlier, but might be usable. From Turku you need a transfer in Lieto, and timetables are sparse. Line K6 of Kaarina (likewise: sparse) drives from Toivonlinna and Piikkiö to Hepojoki and Teerlakia (transfer from 7xx buses by Piikkiö church if coming from Turku or Kaarina).

Although especially the 72x lines may be served by coaches, all the above services are part of the Föli cooperation, see the Föli pages for timetables and routes. Paimio is part of the cooperation since July 2024, so tickets to Paimio cost €4/€2 or €3/€1.50 (adult/child) depending on payment method.

Check Matkahuolto for other buses and coaches. Normal express (pikavuoro) coaches stop at the motorway junction a few kilometres south of the centre (from Turku €7–9/€5, 25–30 min; from Helsinki €10–30/€10–15, 1¾–2¼ hr). In daytime there are services more than hourly.

Some special express (express) coaches between Turku and Helsinki do not stop in Paimio. They may show up in timetables, but then there is a transfer in Turku or Kaarina (or Salo).

By bike

The most convenient route for biking from Turku (if not taking the bikes on the bus; bike fare on Föli buses €3, folded bikes free, on coaches possibly €14) is the signposted regional biking route 11. It uses the cycleways along road 110 to Piikkiö, then by other roads a bit north of it. There may be a 3-km stretch without cycleway just before Paimio. Eurovelo route EV10 probably coincides. From Helsinki, the EV10 runs close to highway 51, turning north in Ekenäs and reaching Paimio via Teijo National Park and Salo.

By boat

The bay off the river mouth has a depth of about a metre and no official fairway, so you need a small boat. Check whether there are guest berths in the marina. For canoes and kayaks, which can be carried past the dams, the river offers nice landscapes.

The bay is accessible from the south via Gullkrona fjärd, Peimari and Paimionselkä between Pargas and Sauvo. From the west, the main sounds to Peimari and Paimionselkä are south of Stortervolandet and Lemlax, Rävsundet (with a high bridge) between Pargas and Kaarina, and Kuusistonsalmi (with a low bridge) in Kaarina. From 2023 until April 2025 Rävsundet is closed because of bridge works.

Get around

Paimio has two systems of local traffic: the Kymppilinjat, primarily for the elderly, and the lines PA1–PA4, primarily for school transport. Anybody can use these, tickets as on Föli buses.

See

The sanatorium on a stamp

Saint Jacob's Church

• 1 Electricity museum (Paimion sähkömuseo), Vistantie 24a, ☏ +358 2 474-5440, +358 50-586-7733, touristinfo@paimio.fi. In summer; for groups by agreement. Private museum on the history of electricity in Finland, started in the 1990s by a company in the trade. The building is from the late 19th century and has also served as cinema. Museum shop and café. €5/4/3.  
• 2 Paimionjoki river valley (Paimionjoenlaakso). A significant cultural landscape and a Natura 2000 area, for a 7 km stretch of river upstream from the centre. Grazing was significant for the landscape, but ended in the 1950s. Conservation efforts include remedying this. The landscape around the Askalankoski hydroelectric plant from 1936 is especially valuable.  
• 3 Riverside park (Jokipuisto), Sahurintie 5. Park at the riverside, by the centre, including a barbecue site, a pétanque court, a sled slope, an outdoor gym, a flight of stairs, and a commercial padel court. The park is at the site of a sawmill laid down 1984. The company was founded in 1899 and became the dominating one from several ones using the river for timber rafting, as it had access to the railway. The gym is named after the testamentor Ville Rahila, who was the last to work for the mill. 
• 4 Paimio sanatorium (Paimion parantola), Alvar Aallon tie 275 (Alvar Aallon tie goes to the north-east from the centre (2.5 km); bus stop "Paimion sairaala"), ☏ +358 2 3610-0302, +358 41-318-4431 (info desk during opening hours), info@paimiosanatorium.com. Summer: Tu–Su 10:00–18:00 Sep–Oct Tu–Sa 10:00–18:00. Tuberculosis sanatorium by the famous functionalist architect Alvar Aalto, built 1929–1933. Also the furniture was by Aalto. Located in a sparse pine forest, the architecture was planned to be a device in the treatment. Also homes for the personnel and water treatment plants were built. Nationally significant built environment. As tuberculosis got uncommon, it was used for other respiratory illnesses and as general hospital. The use as hospital ended in 2015. A selection of guided tours in Finnish and English, 30–90 min. Café with lunch. Lodging in former patients' rooms (single/twin/dorm) and in former nurses' flats. Artists (broadly defined) can apply for a summer residency through an international programme. (updated Jul 2024)
• 5 Saint Michaels's Church (Pyhän Mikaelin kirkko), Vistantie 20 (in the centre), ☏ +358 50-439-0430. Open as road church in summer; in autumn Th 16:00–18:00. Grey stone church built 1681–1689, originally for the village Vista. Bell tower from the same period.  
• 6 Saint Jacob's Church (Pyhän Jaakobin kirkko), Jaakobintie 38 (Hevonpää, across the river, near road 110). Red brick church by Lars Sonck, inaugurated 1929, built to replace the wooden church from 1734, which had burnt down. There was a market place and a holy spring already in heathen times, and a church was built early on. As the village Vista grew, the church lost in importance. It is now mostly used for marriages etc., and for a Christmas prayer.  

Do

Wintry countryside

• 1 Paimionlahti. The bay at the mouth of the river, with wet meadows, reed beds and small woods. Bird area and nature reserve. It is an internationally significant rest spot for migrating birds and has a rich nesting bird population. The bay is important also for spring lek of fish. Bird watching towers on the east and north shore. The surrounding hills and fields are important, but not part of the reserve.  
• 2 Swimming hall (Uimahalli Solina), Vistantie 31–35 (in the centre), ☏ +358 2 474-5403, solina@paimio.fi. €6/3.50/3. 
• 3 Ankkalampi, Jägerhornintie 4 (3 km north from the centre along Sähköyhtiöntie). 24 hr daily. Beach at a pond. Kiosk. Closed in 2023 because of invasive species. Free. 
• 4 Beach (Hiekkahelmi), Valtatie 589 (south of road 110), ☏ +358 2 474-5293. 24 hr daily. Beach at a pond. Free. 
• 5 Vähäjokipolku (just north of the centre). 24 hr daily. Trail along the Vähäjoki river, 1.4 km. Lights, benches, posters about nature and history (Finnish only). Free. 
• 6 Rivonmäki, Vistantie 63 (start by the sports ground south of the church). Lights dusk–22:00 and 06:00–dawn. Cross-country skiing tracks, 6.3-km, on the Rivonmäki hill. Rest shelter at the hill. Free. 
• 7 Nature trail (Luontopolku) (6 km east from the centre: Kevolantie–Iso-Heikoistentie–Luontopoluntie). 

Eat

Lunch is available at the fuel stations, in lunch café Ansku and in Café Asta (see Drink below). Outside lunch hours, unless you have dinner at your lodging, check the pub, or resort to the ABC, Hesburger or Kotipizza. – or get something from a supermarket.

• 1 Lounaskahvila Ansku, Vistantie 18 (in the municipal office), ☏ +358 45-888-1112, lounaskahvila.ansku@gmail.com. M–F 11:00–12:30. Lunch and catering. €9.20, soup €7.20; children under 10 half price. 
• 2 Neste K Paimio, Ajurintie 1 (Lähteenmäki, just across the E18 crossroads), ☏ +358 2 470-5020. M–F 06:00–22:00 Sa–Su 08:00–22:00; lunch M–F 10.30–15:00, Sa–Su 11:00–16:00. Fuel station with lunch restaurant, grocery store etc. Lunch €7–11. 
• 3 Teboil, Sauvontie 9 (Hevonpää; just across the crossroads of roads 110 and 181), ☏ +358 2 475 3200. M–F 06:00–20:00, Sa–Su 08:00–20:00; lunch M–F 10:00–15:00. Fuel station with lunch restaurant, grocery store etc. Also Kotipizza. Teboil has problems as of 2022, check up-to-date info. 

Drink

• 1 Café Asta, Asematie 2, ☏ +358 2 473-2602. M–F 08:00–17:00, Sa 09:00–14:00; lunch M–F 11:00–13:00.. Café, bakery and patisserie. 
• 2 Café Atsalea, Rukkijoentie 7 (5 km north from the centre, near Askala), ☏ +358 41-437-2445, +358 45-132-4626, ihanjeesoy@gmail.com. Closed in winter. Take your time to enjoy the large garden. 
• 3 Poimari, Pussitie 4 (in the centre), ☏ +358 50-475-1517, poimari@wippies.fi. W–Th 15:00–23:00, F–Su 14:00–23:00. Pub. Biljards and other games. TV for sports events. Karaoke most Fridays. Dogs welcome. 
• 4 Tanniset, Paimiontie 452 (4.5 km west from the centre, near the ABC), ☏ +358 2 477-6500, kotileipomo@tanniset.com. M–F 07:00–17:00, Sa 09:00–15:00. Café by their bakery and patisserie. 

Sleep

There is only one hotel-like lodging. There are some B&Bs or agritourism places in the countryside. There may be flats or rooms for one-night rental in town. There are a few lean-to shelters or similar, primarily meant as rest spots, but usable for overnighting with the right equipment, for enjoying a night with stars and sounds of the wood.

• 1 Kuninkaantien kestikartano, Vistantie 37 (in the centre), ☏ +358 50-913-4656, kestikartano@vsko.fi. Community collage. Impressive main building from 1906. Rooms with ensuite facilities. TV in common living room. Shared kitchen at least in the cheaper rooms, which are available Jun-Aug. Breakfast not included, available for groups on request. No smoking. Main building: single €55, double €75 (linen included); in the adjacent house: single €30, double €50, extra bed €20, linen €10/person. 
• 2 Alanteen matkailutila, Kauppilantie 47 (11 km upstream), ☏ +358 50-478-0383. Farm. Also programme services. 
• 3 Ylhäisten tila, Sauvontie 108-2 (south of road 110), elina@ylhaistentila.fi. Agritourism B&B. Programme services. €80, children under 6 free; lodging, full board + one activity €120/adult, €90/child 6–12, €60/child 2–6. 

Go next

• Sauvo and Kimitoön, for the sea.

Routes through Paimio

Turku ← Piikkiö ←	W  E	→ Salo → Helsinki
Turku ← Piikkiö ←	W  E	→ Salo → Helsinki