Hanko.

Hanko sits at the southern tip of Finland, on a narrow peninsula where pine forest runs down to open water on one side and a calmer, sheltered coast on the other. The town grew in the late 19th century as a seaside spa, and that era left its mark in rows of wooden villas, many still standing along the streets near the harbour.

The long sandy beach at Tulliniemi runs along the peninsula's tip, backed by dunes and low pine woods that form part of a nature reserve known for migratory birds in spring and autumn. A lighthouse marks the harbour entrance and still works as a navigational aid.

Sailing is part of Hanko's identity: the harbour fills with yachts each summer, and the marina stays busy with boats heading out into the surrounding archipelago. Fish markets and seafood restaurants line the waterfront, serving catches from the Baltic. Away from the shore, quiet lanes between the old villas and pine groves keep the town's small-harbour character intact.