Kotkan Kauppatiellä on harjoittelussa kv-opiskelija Erandi Xamkilta. Kesän aikana hän on tutustunut Kotkaan, kotkalaisiin yrityksiin, tapahtumiin sekä nähtävyyksiin. Tässä artikkelissa Erandi jatkaa tutustumistaan Kotkan moniin puistoihin.
Parks in Kotka That I Have Visited – Part 02
Hidden Parks in Kotka: Four Beautiful Green Spaces Worth Discovering
When people think about Kotka, they might first think about the sea, the harbour, the Kymi River, or the city’s maritime atmosphere. But there is another side of Kotka that deserves just as much attention: its parks.
Kotka is well known for its impressive collection of parks and green spaces. The city has around 1,400 hectares of green areas, including approximately 170 hectares of developed parks. Its parks offer everything from flowers and water features to peaceful walking paths, viewpoints, and places to simply slow down and enjoy nature.
In Part 01, I started exploring the parks of Kotka. In this second part, I want to take you to four parks that I have personally visited and filmed:
• Palotorninvuoren Puisto
• Peony Park (Pionipuisto)
• Fuksinpuisto
• Sapokka Water Garden (Sapokan Vesipuisto)
Each one has its own personality, and together they show why Kotka is often described as a city of parks.
Palotorninvuoren Puisto – A Park with a View
If you are looking for a park where nature meets history and beautiful city views, Palotorninvuoren Puisto is a wonderful place to start.
The park gets its name from a fire tower built on the highest point of the hill in 1895. The tower was used to monitor the densely built city and harbour area, but unfortunately it was destroyed by fire in August 1911. The tower was never rebuilt; instead, the area was developed into a viewpoint.
Today, the park’s observation platform provides views towards Kotka’s old main harbour, Hietanen harbour and the surrounding landscape. You can also see the silhouette of Sunila, the industrial area designed by renowned Finnish architect Alvar Aalto, across the bay.
The park also has connections to Kotka’s industrial and wartime history. The Ahtaajat sculpture, created by Oskari Jauhiainen, was erected in 1966 to honour harbour workers. There is also the Ritsa air-defence memorial, commemorating the site’s wartime significance.
Why I enjoyed it
For me, Palotorninvuoren Puisto is not just a green space. It is a place where you can take a short walk, stop at the viewpoint and experience several layers of Kotka at once: nature, harbour views, history and city life.
It is especially worth visiting if you enjoy photography and viewpoints.
Peony Park – A Colourful Floral Corner of Kotka
If flowers are your thing, Peony Park (Pionipuisto) should definitely be on your list in Kotka.
Located close to the city centre, this beautiful park was created through cooperation between the City of Kotka and the Finnish Peony Society. The cooperation began in 2020, with the city establishing the planting areas while the Finnish Peony Society and volunteers took responsibility for planting and caring for the peonies.
The park is now home to more than 800 peony varieties, creating an impressive display of colours, shapes and fragrances. The flowers are particularly spectacular during the main blooming period in June.
What I especially like about this place is its peaceful atmosphere. You don’t necessarily need a big plan when visiting. You can simply walk around, look at the different flowers, take photographs and enjoy a quiet moment surrounded by nature.
Why I enjoyed it
Peony Park is a great example of how a relatively small urban green space can become a special destination. It is also a reminder that sometimes you don’t have to travel far to find something beautiful. A short walk from the city centre can take you into a completely different atmosphere.
Tip: If you want to see the park at its most colourful, consider visiting during the peony blooming season in early summer.
Fuksinpuisto – A Garden Full of Ideas
Our next stop is Fuksinpuisto, another interesting green space along Puistotie.
Fuksinpuisto is slightly different from a traditional park. It is particularly interesting for anyone who loves gardening because it showcases plant species and varieties that can also be suitable for home gardens.
The park is especially known for its azalea plantings, which are at their most beautiful in early summer. The azalea collection originated from experimental plantings of varieties from the University of Helsinki in 1996.
As you walk through the park, you can discover plants suited to different growing conditions, from sunny locations to shade.
Why I enjoyed it
What makes Fuksinpuisto special is that it can inspire you to look at plants differently. It isn’t just somewhere to walk through. You can stop, observe the different plants and perhaps even get an idea for your own garden or balcony. For anyone interested in gardening, flowers or urban green spaces, this is definitely a park worth exploring.
Sapokka Water Garden – Where Water and Nature Meet
And finally, one of the most famous parks in Kotka: Sapokka Water Garden (Sapokan Vesipuisto). Although Sapokka is well known, I wanted to include it in this series because visiting it in person gives you a completely different appreciation of how much there is to see.
Located beside the sea, Sapokka combines water, rocks, flowers, walking paths and carefully designed landscapes into one beautiful urban park. Water is the central feature, flowing through streams and ponds before reaching an impressive waterfall of almost 20 metres on the southern slope of the park.
The park changes dramatically throughout the year. In spring, tens of thousands of bulb flowers bring colour to the landscape. In early summer, azaleas and rhododendrons become one of the main attractions, while the park remains interesting well into autumn.
And Sapokka is not only beautiful during the day. Its award-winning lighting creates a completely different atmosphere after dark. During winter, the waterfall can freeze, creating another unique version of the park.
Sapokka is also conveniently located next to the small-boat harbour, with cafés, restaurants and other attractions nearby. From here, you can also continue towards Katariina Seaside Park and explore more of Kotka’s parks.
Why I enjoyed it
Sapokka is the kind of place where I could easily spend much more time than expected. You can come here for a short walk, take photographs, sit beside the water, admire the flowers or simply enjoy the atmosphere. Every season offers something different.
Four Parks, Four Different Experiences
What I have discovered while exploring Kotka is that its parks are not all the same — and that’s what makes them interesting.
Palotorninvuoren Puisto combines nature, history and harbour views. Peony Park celebrates flowers, colour and gardening. Fuksinpuisto offers inspiration for plant lovers and home gardeners. Sapokka Water Garden brings together water, flowers, rocks and landscape design in one spectacular setting.
These four parks are just a small part of what Kotka has to offer. The city’s Kotkansaari park route connects several parks and attractions, making it possible to explore many of them on foot or by bicycle. The wider park tour includes places such as Sapokka Water Garden, Palotorninvuori, Fuksinpuisto, Peony Park, Sibelius Park and Isopuisto.
My Park-Hopping Recommendation
If you have a few hours to explore Kotka, why not make your own little park adventure? Start with Sapokka Water Garden, continue towards the city centre, visit Fuksinpuisto and Peony Park, and finish at Palotorninvuoren Puisto for the views. You don’t have to rush. That’s the beauty of exploring parks. Walk slowly; Stop for photographs; Notice the flowers; Listen to the water; Look around. Sometimes the best way to discover a city is simply to walk through it.
Have you visited these parks?
These are four parks I have personally visited and featured in my “Parks in Kotka” video series. Which one is your favourite — Palotorninvuoren Puisto, Peony Park, Fuksinpuisto or Sapokka Water Garden? And if you know another beautiful or lesser-known park in Kotka that I should visit next, let me know.
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
