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What to do in Turku? This Finnish city, once Finland's largest, is a real gem with a riverside promenade, restaurants, museums and plenty of things to do. Here are all our top tips for things to see and do in Turku.

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Turku in Finland

Turku is the oldest city in Finland, founded in the 13th century. It was Finland's largest city for a long time, and the first university was founded here.

Today this is a pleasant and lovely city to visit as a tourist. We made a short visit to Turku and Åboland, that is, the archipelago area outside Turku, on a press trip several years ago. Now we had the chance to come back by motorhome to have a closer look around.

Turku is located on the south-west coast of Finland, about 17 miles north-west of the capital Helsinki.

What can you do in Turku?

So what can you do in Turku? This is a city that offers everything from historical sights to good food and great excursions. Here are our top tips.

1. Stroll along the river Aura

The River Aura runs through the whole of Turku, and this water can be said to be the heart and soul of Turku. If you think about it, Turku means "living by the river". Already in the 13th century, the city began to grow around the river and the river is still important, although its meaning has of course changed over the centuries.

Today, you can have a great walk along the river while watching the boats, boat restaurants and people at the restaurants, cafes, shops and stalls that line the river.

2. take the ferry

If you want to cross the Aura River, there are a number of bridges to choose from. There's also the orange-coloured little free ferry Föri, which crosses the river in about a minute and a half, returning as soon as the passengers are replaced.

3. Take the funicular railway to Kakola Hill.

Until 2007, Turku Prison was located on Kakola Hill, and most people were probably happy not to visit this place. Today it is completely different. You can take the charming little funicular to the top of the hill, and once up there, hotels, bakeries and restaurants await you.

4. Stay at the Kakola prison hotel

If you want to experience the vibes of the prison era, check into the Kakola prison hotel. The hotel has been stylishly renovated, and you can choose a "regular" modern room where only small details remind you of the prison of the past. Those who want a more spectacular experience can book a room that looks like a prison cell.

5. Trying beer at Kakola Brewing

Right next to the Kakola Prison Hotel is the small craft brewery Kakola Brewing. Here you can try many different types of beer, including fruity pink varieties, and pizza is also on the menu. The restaurant also has a small beverage shop, so you can take your favourite beers home with you.

6. Relax at Kakola spa

At Kakolabacken you will also find Kakola spa, which is a really lovely spa with several different pools and a whole bunch of different kinds of saunas. There is also a bar by the large pool, so you can order a drink while you are in the bath.

7. See the halls of Turku Castle

One thing you won't want to miss doing in Turku is visiting Turku Castle. The castle began to be built in the 1280s and soon developed into a powerful fortress. John III and his Catherine Jagellonica lived here, and Erik XIV was imprisoned here. Today, the renovated castle is a popular destination where you can see both historical rooms and modern exhibitions.

READ MORE: Visiting Turku Castle - Swedish and Finnish history

8. Check out Turku Cathedral

Turku Cathedral was opened in 1300 and is dedicated to the Virgin Mary and St Henry, Finland's first bishop. The church is considered to be Finland's most valuable work in terms of architectural history, and the cathedral museum in the south gallery contains sculptures of saints and altar pieces from the Catholic Middle Ages. In addition, Karin Månsdotter, who was married to Erik XIV and was Queen of Sweden from 4 July to 29 September 1568, is buried here.

Outside the church is a statue of Per Brahe the Younger, who was Governor General of Finland in the 17th century.

9. Travelling in time at Klosterbacken

One thing you won't want to miss in Turku, if you're a history buff, is a visit to Klosterbacken. This is the only major contiguous area of wooden houses that escaped the devastating city fire in Turku in 1827. To tell the story of what life was like in the past, the houses have been preserved in their original location, and decorated so that you can take a little trip back in time.

The houses and interiors tell the story of the lives of the different people in the city: the artisans, musicians, students and vagrants. In some of the houses there are guides who tell you more and answer questions. Very interesting!

10. Visit Aboa Vetus & Ars Nova

The Rettig Palace was built in 1928 as a private residence for the Rettig family, and now serves as a museum of archaeology and contemporary art. On the ground floor you can see excavations and learn a lot about medieval life in Turku. Interesting!

Higher up in the museum there are various exhibitions of contemporary art. Right now, when we were here, we could see works by Finnish artists Tiina Elina Nurminen, Kari Cavén and Rauha Mäkilä.

11. Check out the Pharmacy Museum and the Qwensel farm.

By sheer coincidence we discovered the Qwensel farm and the Pharmacy Museum. The Qwensel farm is the oldest wooden house in Turku, and was once the home of a wealthy Turku family. The house is now displayed as a museum, with rooms decorated in Rococo and Gustavian styles. It also houses the Pharmacy Museum, with wonderful antique pharmacy furnishings.

The Qwensel farm also has a super cosy little café, with patios in the charming courtyard.

12. Learn about shipping at Forum Marinum

Forum Marinum is a large maritime museum, located at the lower end of the Aura river. Here you can see everything from historic wooden boats to military ships, and learn about shipping as well as life in the archipelago. The large museum has various temporary exhibitions and activities for children. You can choose to buy a ticket for the museum only, or you can buy a combined ticket for the museum and the museum ships.

13. Admire museum ships

Forum Marinum has a large fleet of impressive museum ships: two large sailing ships, four warships and several smaller boats. The museum ships are open during the summer months, and can be viewed either separately or with a combined ticket together with the museum's exhibitions.

We thought it was cool to see the large sailing ship Suomen Joutsen, and it was also interesting to look around the warships.

14. Shopping in the Turku market hall

The Turku Market Hall dates from 1896 and was designed by architect Gustaf Nyström. Here you will find meat, fish, cheese, bread and various kinds of delicacies and pastries. There are also restaurants and cafés. Yes, this is a heaven for anyone who loves good food! Don't miss the piisbis doughnuts at Peace of Cake and the delicious pike mousse at the seafood shop. Herkkunuotta.

READ MORE: Turku market hall - delicacies and pastries

15. Hang out at the Market Square in Turku

The Market Square in Turku is a centre of commerce and a popular meeting place. Here you can buy fruit and vegetables, take a break for an ice cream or browse the shops and cafés around the square. Various events, such as markets and concerts, are also sometimes organised here.

16. Have a drink at the rooftop bar Börs Katto

The Scandic Hamburger Börs is located at the Market Square in Turku. At the top, on the terrace on the ninth floor of the hotel, is the rooftop bar Börs Katto. This is a really cool and cosy rooftop bar, with plenty of indoor and outdoor seating and a great view of the city.

17. Eat at the Kaskis restaurant

Kaskis is one of Finland's most renowned restaurants. Here, restaurateur Erik Mansikka offers interesting down-to-earth flavours, and it's important to book a table in time. We were here on a press trip a few years ago, and we still remember this restaurant visit as fantastic.

READ MORE: Eating well in Finland - 4 restaurants around Turku

Restaurang Kaskis — Starter including smoked salmon, pickled onions and avocado cream

18. Discover more restaurants in the food capital of Turku

Turku is known as the food capital of Finland and there are quite a few good restaurants in addition to Kaski's. We can recommend these restaurants Tintå, which offers gourmet pizzas and more than a hundred wines, and Nooa which has both fantastic food and a lovely location by the river Aura.

19. Drink beer at the brewery restaurant Koulu

At the brewery restaurant Koulu, which means "School" in Swedish, you can have a filling buffet lunch or order something from the à la carte menu. Of course, there are many beers and ciders to choose from! We were also here during our visit a few years ago, and we remember not only the good beer, but also all the rooms that remind us that the premises once housed the "Swedish Women's School".

READ MORE: Beer tasting at the 'School' in Turku

20. Bring your children to Kuppis Park

Kuppis Park is the largest and oldest city park in Finland and is a beautiful green oasis in the centre of the city. Here you can walk, cycle and play various sports. Above all, this is a perfect place for families with children. There is an outdoor swimming pool in Kupittaa, miniature golf, an adventure park and a fantastic "traffic park" where children can drive a pedal car in a constructed small town.

21. Enjoying the green spaces of Ruissalo

Just outside the centre of Turku is the island of Runsala, or Ruissalo as it is called in Finnish. This island is wonderfully green and beautiful, with lush oak groves, 19th century villas, beaches, spa hotels, camping and a botanical garden.

22. Go on a cruise

River Aura is home to the UkkoPekka steamship. In summer, you can join the boat on day cruises to Naantali or evening cruises, with dinner, to the Loistokari archipelago. There is also the M/S Rudolfina, which also operates cruises.

23. Take a guided tour of the Paimio Sanatorium

Paimio Sanatorium (Pemar Sanatorium) is located half an hour outside Turku by car and is known as the design masterpiece of Alvar and Aino Aalto. The building was completed in 1932 and is considered one of Aalto's most significant early works. Today, guided tours of the sanatorium are organised throughout the year to learn more about the architecture and its time as a sanatorium for tuberculosis patients.

READ MORE: Weekend in Turku - spa, culture and good food

24. Take a trip to Naantali.

Whether you're cruising or driving, don't miss a visit to Naantali, which is a quarter of an hour outside the centre of Turku by car. This small town, which once served as a health resort, is a fantastic summer town with beautiful wooden houses and plenty of restaurants. It is also home to the popular Moominworld theme park.

READ MORE: Things to do in Naantali - 15 tips for a Finnish archipelago gem

25. Meet Moomintroll in Moominworld

Moominworld, in Naantali, is a theme park where you can meet Moomintroll, Little My, Snufkin and all the others. You can step into the Moomin family's house, see a theatre (in Finnish with Swedish subtitles) and walk various adventure trails. There are also plenty of restaurants and shops.

READ MORE: Visiting Moominworld in Naantali - tips and info

26. Run the Archipelago Ring Road around Åboland.

The Archipelago Ring Road is an approximately 25 mile long road that takes you around the islands of Åboland, which is a coastal and archipelago area southwest of Turku. Along the route you will find several archipelago villages, twelve bridges and nine ferries. You can drive the route by car or, if you have plenty of time and want to stay overnight along the way, it is also possible to cycle.

27. Experience Pargas in Åboland

In Pargas, in Åboland, Solliden camping is a pleasant campsite with a fine view of the sea. There is also the exciting Art Banks art museum and the cosy Stentorp sheep farm, where you can buy wool and fur products.

READ MORE: Turku archipelago in winter splendour - ice fishing and sauna bathing

Får — Finnish landrace sheep on the Stentorp sheep farm, on a previous visit.

28. Discover Nagu in Åboland.

Nagu is located between Pargas and Korpo, in Åboland, and here you will find a nice guest harbour, which is popular in the summer. In Nagu you will also find Köpmans, which is a Bed & Breakfast with a restaurant and café. Here we ate during a previous trip, among other things, a super good pike burger and pancakes with rhubarb and white chocolate.

Middag på Köpmans i Nagu — Dinner at Köpmans in Nagu

29. Get out to Korpo in Åboland.

In Korpo you can enjoy beautiful nature, cosy hotels and nice restaurants. On a previous winter trip, we visited the cosy hotel Nestor, which also has a restaurant called Back Pocket, with a tasting menu that we had been recommended. There is also Hjalmar's restaurant, where you can eat everything from soup and fish to hamburgers and pizza.

Hotellet Nestor i Korpo — The cosy Nestor hotel in Korpo, during a previous winter trip

30. Continue by ferry to Kökar

From Galtby in Åboland it is possible to take a ferry to Kökar in Åland. Kökar offers beautiful nature, camping, restaurants, historical sights and the possibility to join a boat trip to Källskär. You can also continue by ferry to discover the rest of Åland.

READ MORE: Things to do in Kökar on Åland - our 12 best tips

More things to do in Turku for culture and history lovers

There is of course even more to see and do in Turku than our suggestions. Here are some more tips for culture and history lovers.

Biological Museum is a natural history museum with exhibitions on Finnish flora and fauna (Jungfrustigen 1).
Sibelius Museum is a music museum with an insight into the life and work of the genius composer Jean Sibelius (Biskopsgatan 17).
St Michael's Church is a church in the centre of Turku, built in the German neo-Gothic style between 1899 and 1905 (Allekatu 16).
Wäinö Aaltonen's museum (WAM) displays both local and international art. (Itäinen Rantakatu 38)
Turku Art Museum showcases art collections and exhibitions (Puolala Park).
Turku Swedish Theatre is a Finnish-Swedish theatre in a theatre building from 1839 (Auragatan 10).

More to do in Turku with children

Here are some more tips on things to do in Turku for families with children or teenagers.

Flowpark is an ecological adventure amusement park with swings, cable cars, zip lines and the like (Skansgatan 10).
JukuPark is a large outdoor water park about 3 kilometres outside central Turku. (Kurrastigen 1)
Kayaking in the Turku archipelago can be done in many different places.
Superpark Turku is an indoor activity park with trampolines, climbing and much more. (Congress Alley 1)
Zoolandia is an animal and adventure park for the whole family. (Eläintarhantie 51, Lieto)

Where can you stay or park your motorhome?

In Turku there are many hotels and other accommodations to choose from. We have been here several times and therefore tried several different accommodations. We have also checked out the hostel in the museum ship. S/S Bore, which looks a bit cosy.

On one occasion we have stayed at a nice Scandic Hamburger Börs, which is very well located at the Market Square.

On another occasion we have stayed at Sokos Hotel Seurahuone, which also has a very good and central location.

When we travelled by motorhome, we stayed at Runsala Camping (Ruissalo Camping), located on the island of Runsala just outside the centre of Turku. This is a quiet and rather nice campsite, with a beach, bathing jetty, sauna and nice nature trails. It is about a mile into the city centre and there is a cycle path.

If you want to discover Åboland, you can stop in at Solliden Camping in Pargas. This is a quiet and scenic campsite that is beautifully located by the water.

More things to see and do around Turku

From Turku, the capital is not too far away. Helsinki, which offers architecture, design, art, historical sights and great boat trips. If you're travelling north instead, don't miss the fine wooden town of Rauma, whose Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Find even more tips for Finland below.

Even more tips for things to do in Turku?

Have you visited Turku? Do you have any other tips on what to see and do in Turku? Let us know!

READ MORE: Winter weekend in Turku - Christmas markets and Christmas spirit

Facts about Turku

Country: Finland
Landscape: Southwest Finland
Population: More than 195 000 (2021)
The name: Turku in Swedish (meaning: living by the river) and Turku in Finnish (from the Old Russian word 'tǔrgǔ' meaning square).
Language: Finnish 83.5 % and Swedish 5.4 %. Note! In Åboland, the proportion of Swedish speakers is about 64 %.
Currency: Euro
Read more: You can find more information at Visit Turku.

Travelling to Turku

Flight: You can fly to Turku from Stockholm or Gothenburg, with a stopover in Helsinki, or fly to Helsinki and continue from there by other means of transport.
Ferry: Both Viking Line and Tallink Silja operate from Stockholm to Turku. Finnlines runs Kapellskär - Långnäs - Naantali.

Getting around in Turku

Go for a walk: Turku is a walkable city, and as long as you don't go too far, walking is fine.
Cycling: You can get around with your own bike or rent a bike.
Car/caravan: Driving in the city centre is the hardest thing to do, but if you're going to visit places on the outskirts of the city, taking the car can of course be convenient.
Public transport: You can get around Turku by city buses. For more information see www.foli.fi/sv. You can also take the Archipelago Line, more info at https://vitharun.fi/en/.

History of Turku

Pre-Christian times: A trading centre probably existed.
1229: The history of Turku is believed to begin with a letter from Pope Gregory IX ordering the transfer of the bishop's seat from Nousis to Korois on the River Aura.
1280s: Construction of Turku Cathedral and Turku Castle began. The city was an important administrative and economic centre for the Finnish part of Sweden.
1318: The city was burned by the Russians.

16th century

1509: The city was attacked by the Dane Otto Rud, who plundered the city.
1523: Turku fell into Gustav Vasa's hands during Gustav Vasa's war of liberation.
1562-1563: Duke John and Catherine Jagellonica held court at Turku Castle.
End of the 16th century: Turku one of the sites of the battle between King Sigismund and Duke Charles.

17th to 18th century

17th century: The city's population increased sharply, to around 6,000 people.
1623: The Turku Court of Appeal was founded.
1640: The University of Turku was founded.
1700-1721: During the 'Great Disaster', Turku was damaged by arson, occupation and the departure of its inhabitants to Sweden.
1741-1743: The city was again hit by war.
Late 18th century: The population increased to over 11,000 people.

19th to 20th century

1809-1812: Turku was the capital of the Grand Duchy of Finland.
1812-1819: The capital was moved closer to Russia, to Helsinki.
1827: Three quarters of Turku was destroyed in the Turku fire.
1828: The university was moved to Helsinki.
1840s: At this time, Turku ceased to be Finland's largest city.
1917: Turku suffered social unrest, followed by the Finnish Civil War.
1922: The University of Turku was opened.
The Second World War: The city was hit by bombings.

2 Comments

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BP says:

Turku has also grown! Have been in both Turku and Naantali a number of times in the 1980s and 1990s, which is a while ago. Always nice to see if you recognise yourself. I did not. Almost so I put Turku on the to do list ...

12 July 2023 - 18:47

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Turku is a very nice city! But interesting that you don't recognise yourself? I think that at least the river and some buildings should be the same. But maybe a lot has changed as well?
  
  13 July 2023 - 8:10

What to do in Turku - 30 sights and experiences