Kotkan Kauppatiellä on harjoittelussa kv-opiskelija Erandi Xamkilta. Kesän aikana hän on tutustunut Kotkaan, kotkalaisiin yrityksiin, tapahtumiin sekä nähtävyyksiin. Tässä artikkelissa Erandi kertoo seikkailustaan Luotsi-Kuusisen näköalapaikan ympäristössä.
Hidden Gems in Kotka: Places That Surprised You
Luotsi-Kuusinen Scenic Spot & Kuusinen Pilots Memorial
When I first started exploring Kotka, I thought I knew what the city was about.
The sea.
The harbour.
The islands.
Meripäivät.
But the more I explore Kotka, the more I realise that some of the city’s most interesting places are not necessarily the ones you notice first. Sometimes, you have to take a small path, walk a little further, and look beyond the obvious. That is exactly what happened when I discovered Luotsi-Kuusinen Scenic Spot and the Kuusinen Pilots Memorial.
As someone originally from Sri Lanka and now living and studying in Finland, I naturally look at places from a slightly different perspective. I am always curious to discover parts of Finland that feel different from the places I knew growing up. These two places gave me exactly that feeling.
Luotsi-Kuusinen Scenic Spot – Where the Forest Meets the Sea
My first discovery was the Luotsi-Kuusinen Scenic Spot. The journey itself was part of the experience. Instead of arriving at a large tourist attraction with signs and crowds, I found myself walking along a small, peaceful path surrounded by trees and greenery.
The path felt almost hidden. And then, gradually, the landscape began to open up. Suddenly, I could see the sea. That moment was probably my favourite part of the visit. After walking through the forest, reaching the shoreline felt like discovering a secret view waiting at the end of the path.
The combination of forest, rocks, grass and the Baltic Sea created a beautiful Finnish landscape. There was something very peaceful about simply standing there and looking out across the water – no busy streets. No crowds. Just nature and the sea.
A Different Kind of Finnish Beauty
Coming from Sri Lanka, I am very familiar with beautiful natural landscapes. But the Finnish coastline looks completely different from what I grew up with. Sri Lanka has tropical beaches, palm trees, warm water and bright colours. The landscape around Kuusinen has a much calmer character.
There are rocky shores, forests, islands and cool blue water. The beauty is quieter. It doesn’t necessarily demand your attention. Instead, you have to stop for a moment and notice it. And I think that is one of the things I am learning to appreciate most about Finland. Not all beautiful places are dramatic. Some are simply serene.
The Joy of Finding a Place Yourself
One thing I particularly enjoyed about this visit was the feeling of discovery. When you visit a famous tourist attraction, you already know what you are going to see. But when you discover a less obvious place, there is an element of surprise. You don’t know exactly what will be around the next corner. You follow the path. You keep walking. And then suddenly, there is the sea. That small moment of discovery can make a place much more memorable.
Kuusinen Pilots Memorial – A Story by the Sea
My second stop was the Kuusinen Pilots Memorial. This place immediately caught my attention because of its location. The memorial stands among the rocks beside the sea, creating a powerful connection between the monument and the maritime environment around it.
The statue against the blue sky and the open sea creates an impressive view. But the memorial is more than something interesting to photograph. It also reminds visitors of Kotka’s strong connection with the sea and the people whose lives and work have been connected to maritime navigation. For me, this made the visit more meaningful. I wasn’t simply looking at a sculpture. I was looking at a small piece of Kotka’s maritime story.
Where History Meets the Landscape
One thing I loved about the Kuusinen Pilots Memorial was the setting. The sea is right there. The rocks are right there. The islands are visible in the distance. And the memorial stands within this landscape. It made me think about how closely Kotka’s history is connected with the Baltic Sea. The sea isn’t simply a beautiful background for the city. It has shaped the city’s identity, work, history and everyday life. Standing there, I could understand that connection a little better.
What Surprised Me Most
The biggest surprise for me was that these two places didn’t feel like typical tourist attractions. They felt more personal. At Luotsi-Kuusinen Scenic Spot, I enjoyed the peaceful walk through the trees before reaching the sea.
At the Kuusinen Pilots Memorial, I enjoyed the combination of history, rocks and the open maritime landscape. Neither place needed huge signs, large buildings or crowds to make an impression. The landscape itself was enough. And perhaps that is what makes them feel like hidden gems.
Kotka Through Foreign Eyes
As someone from Sri Lanka, I often find myself comparing the places I discover in Finland with places from my home country.
In Sri Lanka, a beautiful coastal location might immediately make me think of a sandy tropical beach. In Kotka, the coastline can mean something completely different.
It can mean:
Rocks.
Forest.
Small paths.
Boats.
Islands.
Quiet water.
And endless views across the sea.
At first, these differences felt unfamiliar. Now, I find them fascinating. They remind me that there are many different ways for nature to be beautiful.
You Don’t Always Have to Go Far
One of the biggest things I have learned from exploring Kotka is that discovering something new doesn’t always require a long trip. Sometimes, the hidden gems are already within the city. You just have to be willing to explore. Take a different walking route. Follow a small path. Look beyond the main attractions. Stop somewhere you haven’t visited before. That is how I found these two places.
Two Places, One Maritime Story
Although Luotsi-Kuusinen Scenic Spot and Kuusinen Pilots Memorial offer different experiences, they share something important. The sea. At Luotsi-Kuusinen, I experienced the sea through nature. At the Pilots Memorial, I experienced it through history. Together, they gave me another perspective on Kotka. The city isn’t just a place beside the sea. The sea is part of Kotka’s identity. It is part of its landscape, history and character.
My Hidden-Gem Journey Continues
When I started this series, my goal was simply to find interesting places in Kotka that people might not immediately think of visiting. But after visiting Luotsi-Kuusinen Scenic Spot and Kuusinen Pilots Memorial, I realised that discovering hidden places is about more than finding somewhere beautiful.
It is about finding stories. A small path can lead to a beautiful view. A memorial can tell you something about a city’s history. And a quiet place beside the sea can make you stop and appreciate where you are.
As a Sri Lankan living and studying in Finland, I am still discovering this country one place at a time. And Kotka continues to surprise me. Sometimes, the best places aren’t the ones everyone tells you to visit. Sometimes, they are the places you discover for yourself.
Author: Erandi Caldera
Read Erandi’s other articles:
Finland Through Foreign Eyes: 10 Cultural Insights
Finland Through Foreign Eyes: Dark River Festival 2026
Finland Through Foreign Eyes: How Kotka differs from Helsinki
Finland Through Foreign Eyes: My First Meripäivät, part 1
Finland Through Foreign Eyes: My First Meripäivät, part 2
Finland Through Foreign Eyes: Kotka Market vs. Sri Lankan Market
Finland Through Foreign Eyes: Hidden Parks in Kotka, part 1
Finland Through Foreign Eyes: Hidden Parks in Kotka, part 2
