With a view of the breathtaking nature, the singing of seabirds in your ears and the scent of the rough sea in your nostrils, you are welcomed at the Tankar Inn. The accommodation was formerly a pilot station. However, when the ships got faster, the pilots were moved to the mainland in 2015. The building was then gently renovated and now serves as accommodation for overnight guests on the lighthouse island. The rocky archipelago off Kokkola Harbor has made Tankar a major seafaring landmark since the 16th century.
The hostel has eight double rooms with shared showers and toilets. The well-equipped, modern kitchen and the large living area can be converted into a cozy meeting room and the tower room can also be rented for overnight stays or as a meeting room. The furnishings in the lighthouse are timeless, wood-heavy and provided with Finnish elements. Thanks to the large windows, the rooms are also very bright and you have a great view.
During the day you can explore lively fishing villages and interesting nature trails in the area or sit on the cliffs of the outer archipelago and listen to the silence. The best way to end the day is with a sauna session and a refreshing cold drink while waiting for the lighthouse to come on in the bright Nordic summer night.
Rooms + Rates
| Single room | from75 € |
| Double room | from95 € |
Sustainable
ArchitectureThe pilot station was originally furnished with timeless Finnish Artek wooden furniture, which decades later still serves as a place to stay.
FoodOn the island there is a small cafe in an old fisherman's hut. Tankar Café is run by a family where the wife spent her entire childhood on the island while her father was one of the island's pilots. The specialty is their homemade salmon soup. While choices are limited due to the small facilities on the island, all special diets can be accommodated if communicated in advance.
Around ten young people from the region are hired every summer. You'll get unique work experiences by working on either the M/S Jenny cruise ship or the Tankar Inn. The Inn is an active part of the Tankar Island Council. The council was founded in 1726 by the Swedish king. All decisions affecting the island are made in agreement with the Council. The meetings are open to all interested parties.
EnvironmentResources on the archipelago are limited as almost everything has to be transported from the mainland. Everything except the water that is purified from the sea. It actively works with the Keep the Archipelago Tidy Association and takes care of recycling and waste disposal on the island. Tankar Inn is part of the Ekokompassi nature program with approaches to reducing consumption, recycling and information sharing related to environmental issues, both for locals and visitors.
Well-BeingThere is a sauna where you can really relax.
Characteristics
- Extraordinary overnight experience in the former pilot station on the lighthouse island of Tankar
- Located on a desert island with sea buckthorn bushes, a row of small cottages and jetties and the lighthouse, in the Gulf of Bothnia
- Tower room at the Tankar Inn with its own viewing platform and 360° view
- Breakfast buffet and the famous salmon soup on reservation at Café Tankar
- Awarded the Ekokompass and Sustainable Travel Finland certificate
- Guided tours of the island can be booked
- The Tankar Inn can also be booked as a whole (also suitable for seminars or conferences, full-service package bookable)
Features
- Hostel with 8 double rooms
- Shared showers and toilets
- Well equipped communal kitchen
- Large living area that can also be used as a meeting room
- Breakfast available at Café Tankar next door for an additional charge
- Sauna
Rooms + Rates
| Single room | from75 € |
| Double room | from95 € |
Location + Directions
By car
It takes about 6 hours to drive from Helsinki to Kokkola (481 km). From Turku it takes about 5.5 hours (436 km) and from Vaasa it takes about 1.5 hours (121 km). The exact address can be found on the website.
With public transport
There is a regular ferry service with M/S Jenny from Kokkola Meripuisto to Tankar Lighthouse Island. The ferry operates from June 7th to September 24th. Kokkola is easily accessible by train from both Helsinki and Rovaniemi.
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