Kotkan Kauppatiellä on harjoittelussa kv-opiskelija Erandi Xamkilta. Kesän aikana hän on tutustunut Kotkaan, kotkalaisiin yrityksiin, tapahtumiin sekä nähtävyyksiin. Tässä artikkelissa Erandi tutustuu Kotkan moniin puistoihin.

Hidden Parks in Kotka: Discovering the City’s Green Spaces Through Foreign Eyes

Part 01 – Two Parks, Two Different Experiences

When I first started spending more time in Kotka, I thought I already knew what the city had to offer. I knew about the sea; I knew about the harbour; I knew about Meripäivät; I knew that Kotka is a city surrounded by beautiful Finnish nature.

But then I started looking more closely. I discovered that some of the most beautiful places in Kotka aren’t necessarily the places you hear about first. They are the parks.

As someone originally from Sri Lanka and now living and studying in Finland, I have always been interested in how people in different countries experience nature. Sri Lanka is a tropical country where greenery, flowers and trees are part of everyday life. Finland, on the other hand, has a completely different landscape and four very distinct seasons.

Recently, I visited two parks in Kotka that gave me two very different experiences: Isopuisto and Sibeliuksenpuisto. These were not simply two places I visited. They became another way for me to discover Kotka.

Isopuisto – A Peaceful Green Escape

My first stop was Isopuisto. The moment I entered the park, I felt a sense of calm. There was plenty of greenery, open space and beautiful walking paths. Instead of feeling like I was in the middle of a city, I felt as though I had stepped into a small natural escape. One of the things that caught my attention was the combination of nature and carefully maintained park areas.

The trees, flowers, paths and open spaces created a peaceful atmosphere that made me want to slow down and simply look around. Coming from Sri Lanka, I am used to seeing greenery everywhere. But Finnish greenery has its own character.

In Sri Lanka, nature often feels tropical, colourful and full of strong scents and sounds. In Isopuisto, I experienced something much quieter. The greenery felt fresh and calm. The surroundings encouraged me to walk slowly rather than rush from one place to another.

A Place to Simply Walk

One of the things I enjoyed most about Isopuisto was that I didn’t need a particular reason to be there. I could simply walk. I could stop and look at the flowers. I could sit down for a while. I could take photographs. Or I could just enjoy the surroundings.

Sometimes, I think we underestimate places like this. A park doesn’t always need a major attraction. Sometimes its greatest attraction is the opportunity to escape from a busy day for a little while.

Sibeliuksenpuisto – Nature with a Different Character

My second stop was Sibeliuksenpuisto. Although it is also a green space in Kotka, the feeling was different from Isopuisto. Walking through the park, I noticed the combination of greenery, paths and carefully designed surroundings. It felt more like an urban park where nature and the city exist side by side.

This contrast made the visit interesting. Isopuisto gave me the feeling of escaping into nature. Sibeliuksenpuisto gave me the feeling of enjoying nature while still being connected to the city. And that made me think about something I really appreciate about Kotka. You don’t necessarily have to leave the city to find nature. Sometimes, nature is already waiting for you just around the corner.

Finding Beauty in the Details

When I visit a park, I have started to notice small things that I might previously have walked past. The shape of a tree. The way sunlight falls through the branches. Flowers growing along a path. People sitting quietly. Someone taking a photograph. A family enjoying time together.

These details might not seem important individually, but together they create the feeling of a place. While filming these parks, I found myself paying much more attention to those details. Instead of simply asking, ”What is there to see?”, I started asking: ”How does this place make me feel?”

What Feels Different as a Sri Lankan?

Growing up in Sri Lanka, I was surrounded by a very different kind of nature. Sri Lanka has tropical greenery, palm trees, colourful flowers and a warm climate. Nature can feel energetic and abundant. Finland has given me a different relationship with nature.

Here, I have learned to appreciate the quietness. The changing seasons. The different shades of green. The sound of leaves moving in the wind. The peaceful walking paths. And the way people can enjoy nature without needing to turn it into a big event.

This difference is something I find beautiful. It reminds me that nature doesn’t have to look the same everywhere to make us feel connected to it.

Isopuisto and Sibeliuksenpuisto: Two Different Experiences

After visiting both parks, I realised that they each have their own personality. Isopuisto felt like a peaceful green escape, a place where I could slow down and feel surrounded by nature. Sibeliuksenpuisto felt more connected to the city, a beautiful green space where urban life and nature meet.

If I had to describe them in just two sentences: Isopuisto is where I would go when I want to escape the city for a moment. Sibeliuksenpuisto is where I would go when I want to enjoy nature without leaving the city behind. Both gave me something different. And both reminded me that Kotka is much greener than I had initially realised.

Parks Are Part of the City’s Identity

Before exploring these parks, I mostly thought about Kotka in terms of its maritime identity. The sea is such an important part of the city.

But after visiting Isopuisto and Sibeliuksenpuisto, I began to see another side of Kotka. The city’s identity isn’t only about the sea. It is also about its relationship with nature. There are places where people can walk, relax, exercise, spend time with their families, take photographs, or simply sit quietly. These green spaces make the city feel more welcoming and give people opportunities to take a break from everyday life.

A Familiar Feeling in an Unfamiliar Place

Something is interesting about discovering a new city as a foreigner. You notice things that local people may not think twice about. For me, visiting these parks made me think about parks and public spaces in Sri Lanka. The surroundings are completely different. The weather is different. The plants are different. The atmosphere is different.

But the purpose is surprisingly similar. People want somewhere to relax. Families want somewhere to spend time together. Friends want somewhere to meet. And sometimes, people simply want somewhere peaceful to sit and enjoy the day. That is something that doesn’t need a translation.

My Hidden Parks Journey Has Just Begun

Isopuisto and Sibeliuksenpuisto were only the beginning of my journey to explore Kotka’s parks. What surprised me most was how much character these places have. You don’t always need to travel far or spend money to discover something beautiful.

Sometimes, you just need to take a different route through the city. For me, these parks have become more than filming locations. They are places where I can slow down, observe my surroundings and discover another side of the city where I work.

As a Sri Lankan living in Finland, I am still learning about Finnish nature and Finnish ways of enjoying it. And every new park gives me another little piece of that story. Kotka has many stories to tell, and sometimes, those stories are hidden among the trees.

This is only Part 01. There are still many more parks waiting for me to discover them. So, which Kotka park should I explore next?

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