Ten hours in Turku for a bon vivant

Guest writer: Jonathan Gharbi de Maré

You can certainly do a lot in a day. Maybe not a city like Paris but Turku you can experience in one day. If you go with Tallink Silja Line Stockholm - Turku, you actually have 10 hours before the boat returns. 

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Perfect for a cosy short trip to the pearl of Turku. Tallink's ferry Baltic Princess now departs 19.00 on Tuesdays from Stockholm and you arrive at about 10.00 in the morning the next day. The boat waits in the harbour so you can leave your things in the cabin. You then return from Turku at 20.00 and are back at a quarter past six the next day. So you get back in time for work and you only need one day of holiday for a two-day trip.  

Italian dinner and tango to live music at Baltic Princess

Many people associate travelling by boat with affordable buffets, and they are certainly a good dining option. But there are also some really nice restaurants on board. If you like Italian, the Tavolàta restaurant offers delicious food and a good selection of Italian wines.

The food was really good and married well with the recommended wines. The restaurant is cosy and perfect for those who want to take their time to enjoy good food, wine and company. 

There is also a sauna, a small pool, shopping and two stages. It was the first time I saw people dancing to Finnish tango and it was impressive. I didn't realise that tango was so big in Finland. Also karaoke is big and is quite nice to listen to as many sing really well. Here people know their songs, not like when you are frantically trying to read the lyrics while thinking about how it should sound. 

Suggested activities for 10 hours in Turku

We all have different interests, so here are my tips on places to visit, stop by or immerse yourself in. There is of course much more to see than what is mentioned here (read also: 30 things to see and do in Turku), but these are my suggestions for things to experience. 

Turku Castle and Museum of History and Modern Art

When you get off the boat, the first thing you see is Turku Castle, which may look small but is full of small corridors and rooms so you can spend a lot of time here.

Turku has a history dating back to the 13th century, making it one of the oldest cities in Finland. If you have an interest in history, you should also visit Aboa Vetus Ars Nova, a museum in Turku dedicated to both history and contemporary art. There are also posters with the famous quote "Why Paris - we have Turku", which was coined by the Swedish press in 1964. This is something that has been built on in recent years when the city has invested heavily in culinary experiences in Turku. 

Market hall, brewery pub and coffee shop

Then you simply take a bus to Turku, buy the ticket with a card and the journey takes 10 minutes. You get off at the Turku market hall, which is very cosy and full of culinary experiences.  

Lunch can be taken in the market hall at the historic Herkkunuotta, which is popular so there is often a small queue there. They work with local produce and focus on fish, such as pike, which they prepare in various flavoursome ways. You can also eat at Pizzeria 450°C, which has been recognised as one of the 30 best pizzerias in Europe. 

Right next to the large market hall in Turku, the Koulu brewery pub is located in an old building that housed the Swedish school for women when it was completed in 1889. The brewery pub is known locally as the school. It was inspired by the Italian Renaissance, and for those interested in interior design, there are plenty of rooms and furnishings to reflect on.

Classic German beers are brewed here along with some modern beers and ciders. If you are a larger group, it is perfect, there are plenty of rooms to sit in and plenty of space. The brewing takes place inside the premises and if you are lucky enough to be there when the wort is boiled, you can smell the hops.

When you are full and have enjoyed a good beer, walk to the main square of Turku, two minutes away, where the local vegetables are sold and known for their quality. 

Then, if you're struggling for something sweet to go with your coffee or a cocktail at one of the city's rooftop bars, you can share the company or flip a coin. Just off the square is the large Sokos Wiklund department store and above it is the Walo roof top bar. Inside the store you can buy local craft beer, lots of liquorice and other Finnish specialities. 

For those of you with a sweet tooth looking for a cosy place, Cafe Qwensel is a hit. Although it is located in the centre of town, it feels like you are on a rural farm. The old cottage in which the café is located dates from the 18th century and the decor is old-fashioned. There, or in the market hall, you should try a piispi, a local pastry with pink icing. 

Michelin-starred food, art and a brewery with 16 beers on tap

If you are interested in local produce and how it can be refined and presented, plan a visit to Smör. The restaurant Smör aspires to get a michelin star and the day they get it, you can say goodbye to the good prices they have today. If you want to experience a cosy evening, book a table before your trip. Their signature menu of about ten small dishes costs 98 euros. An absolutely incredible price for the food served there.

There is also a small area with galleries for art lovers. The House of Art is located near the Aboa Vetus Ars Nova History and Art Museum. There you will find both classical art styles but also real free thinkers who exhibit art with expressions and philosophical reasoning.

Once you're done in town, it's time to move towards the harbour but you should make a small stop on the way if you're interested in craft beer or maybe a drink in a trendy place. You can also ride a 200 metre funicular (free of charge) from the bus stop up to the area where Kakola brewing company is located. It's a modern brewery with 16 beers on tap but they also have drinks and food. 

The brewery is located in a newly built area and there are some other places that may be interesting to look at. But if you are interested in beer, the 16 taps will keep you busy until you get to the boat. If the weather is nice, they have a nice outdoor terrace you can sit on. 

Turku is cosy and it is a perfect city to visit during a day for a bon vivant. The boat journeys are smooth and quite fast as there is plenty to do on board.

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Jonathan Gharbi De Maré

Jonathan runs the start-up abudhabibeer.com about beer both in the UAE with offshoots in neighbouring regions. Jonathan opened the first craft brewery in Burkina Faso and wrote the book Beer guide to Vietnam. He is a regular writer for the beer magazine Maltesen. In addition to beer, he has a keen interest in nature and more unusual travel destinations. He has written articles for a variety of newspapers and magazines.

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