Like a Local
We have gathered some tips about interesting local things worth exploring during your stay in Rauma. Enjoy local delicacies, familiarize yourself with bobbin lace making, learn the local Rauma dialect, and stay overnight in unique environments. Enjoy local things during your stay in Rauma!
Rauma Lace
Rauma is a unique lace city, so during your stay in Rauma it is worth seeing the beautiful bobbin laces. It is possible to see lace in lace exhibitions, you can follow bobbin lace making, and buy lace and lace making equipment for souvenirs or for yourself.
You can find lace from the following places:
- At the Rauma Museum’s Marela (Kauppakatu 24), you can explore the exhibition The Story of Rauma Lace. The museum also features a small museum shop, Kistupuad, offering a variety of lace products.
- In Lace makers association’s lace shop Pits-Priia (Kauppakatu 29), there are beautiful lace products on display. Usually there is also a bobbin lace maker who can tell more about bobbin lace making. From the shop you can buy different lace products, models needed in bobbin lace making, threads, etc.
- Rauma Lace Week is held in July. During that week, you can familiarize yourself with several different lace exhibitions
Rauma Dialect – “Rauman giäl”
There is no precise information about the origins of Rauma dialect, but thanks to the seamen who brought influences to the port, the dialect has a lot of vocabulary from many different languages. One of the characteristics of the dialect is to cut the words at the end.
“Rauman giäl” still lives in many big and small details. You can see Rauma dialect, for example, in the signs in the city area, or you might hear the elderly locals talking it at the market place when having their morning coffee.
Knyplämine on enkla asi: men äärest viäre ja viärest ääre ja muist pannt tarppeks kiarui spindelin gondeihi.”
Local Rauma Delicacies
Lapskoussi – lobscouse casserole
Lapskoussi is a traditional food in Rauma, and it has arrived here with seafarers. The dish is also known in other European ports. The secret of lobscouse is slowly cooked tender meat, vegetables, and seasoning. Also children like lapskoussi!
You can have lapskoussi in the following restaurants in Rauma:
Theatre restaurant Ankkuri (Alfredinkatu 2), on weekdays during lunchtime at 10.45–14.00.
Restaurant Villa-Tallbo (Petäjäksentie 178), on Wednesdays during lunchtime at 11.00–14.00.
Restaurant Hook Rauma (Valtakatu 5), open daily
Rauma gingerbread
Rauman pipari – Rauma gingerbread is a small sweet delicacy which tastes good with coffee. You can find Rauma gingerbreads in the following cafes:
Kontio Café in Old Rauma (Kuninkaankatu 9) and Kontio bakery cafe (Karjalankatu 3). It is also possible to buy the gingerbreads in a gift box as a souvenir.
Café Prassen (Kuninkaankatu 16)
Rauma donuts
In Rauma, you can find various mouth-watering donuts.
Kontion café’s world-famous vanilla donuts are the perfect treat for a summer day. Kaffebar’s soft donuts are suitable for every moment. From Café Prassen’s diverse selection of donuts, even the most demanding gourmet will find their favorite.
Wanhan Rauman Kaffebar, Kuninkaankatu 27
Kontion Old Rauma café, Kuninkaankatu 9
Café Prassen, Kuninkaankatu 16
Pystökaffe
Rauma has its own coffee drinking etiquette, because coffee is drunk standing up! In the mornings, the Market Parliament gathers to discuss the hot topics of the day at the Market Square for Pystökaffe.
Olu Bryki Raum
Olu Bryki Raum makes an ancient beer, namely saht! It is made using traditional methods and traditional ingredients.
Old Rauma Through Gossip Mirrors
From some of the houses in Old Rauma, you can spot these oddly-shaped mirrors. These are gossip mirrors, which allow the residents of the houses to observe the street traffic and the life of Old Rauma.
There are more than a dozen gossip mirrors scattered around Old Rauma. Can you find them all?
The Telling Gaze of Porcelain Dogs
In the past, sailors brought Staffordshire porcelain dogs back as souvenirs from their travels. The porcelain dogs displayed on windows told whether the man was at sea or at home. When the dogs were facing outward, it meant the man was away; when they faced inward, it signified that he had returned home.
You can still find porcelain dogs in the windows of over thirty houses in Old Rauma.
