The 8 Best Things to Do in Turku, Finland

Finland’s oldest city Turku is a rather laidback spot in southwestern Finland, straddling the Aura River it’s the gateway to Finland’s Archipelago, which comprises around 20,000 islands and islets.  This is the third most populated urban area in Finland, after Helsinki and Tampere, but it has a pleasant feel to it.  Turku is a port city and is also known as Finland’s foodie city.  We were one of the three million visitors who arrived in Turku on a passenger ferry, a great way to get here, refreshed after a great night’s sleep ready for exploring the top things to do in Turku.

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We’d arrived on the Stockholm to Turku ferry, which is way more like a cruise ship than “just a ferry” (read about our experiences and fabulous view from the cabin here), and were traveling during the early summer, so it’s light pretty much all the time at this time of year.  And it’s a glorious time to visit Finland.  And while we arrived refreshed, before we hit the highlights of Turku we had a trip to do – we headed out on the Archipelago Trail – before coming back to Turku.

The Best 8 Things to Do in Turku, Finland

Turku is pretty laidback and I liked it.  It doesn’t have a city feel, but it has all the facilities of a city, and some fabulous dining options too.   This isn’t a city where you have to race around and see everything, it’s a place to chill out, relax, and enjoy the outdoors – so I recommend visiting Turku in the summer months when it’s really rather glorious here.

1.     Take a Sea Kayaking Tour

I’m going to say that I think the best thing to do in Turku is to get out of the city, but that’s because the Turku Archipelago is made up of 20,000 islets and islands, and here in the city, you’re so darned close to it all, that not to experience it would be simply criminal.  It’s just 20 minutes from downtown Turku to the island of Ruissalo, where sea kayaking tours start.  And you’ll feel like you’re in a different world.  

You can easily get here on public transport (bus numbers 14 or 15 from Turku center are best), or if you’re driving, then there’s free parking at the Ekvalla Sandy Beach, Kakskerrantie 618.   And taking a kayaking tour of the archipelago needn’t eat into your daytime exploration time either.  At this time of year (summer), take an evening tour and the light is just glorious.  This is, after all, the land of the Midnight Sun!

2.     Visit Turku Cathedral

More officially called the Mother Church of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland, Turku Cathedral is the only medieval basilica in Finland and dates back to the late 13^th century.  Although the original wooden building from then is long gone.

It suffered badly from the Great Fire of Turku in 1827 (which destroyed much of the city) and what you see today dates from the 19^th century.   Only 27 people died in the Great Fire, but 75% of the city was destroyed.  You’ll find Turku’s Cathedral in the old town, close to the banks of the Aura River.

• Turku Cathedral Address: Mother Church of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland, Tuomiokirkonkatu 1, 20500 Turku, Finland
• Turku Cathedral Opening Times: 09:00 until 18:00
• Turku Cathedral Entrance Price: Free.

3.     Explore Turku Castle

While Turku’s cathedral is in the old town, Turku Castle is in the new town area of Turku, across the river. This part of the city is known as “tois pual jokke” – the other side of the river.  Turku’s Castle has been here since 1280, although most of it was destroyed in a fire in 1614, then it was damaged again in World War II. 

Restorations mean that you’ll get to see Finland’s largest medieval building.  It is often used for special events throughout the year, but there are permanent exhibitions in the building detailing what life was like in the castle.

• Turku Castle Address: Linnankatu 80, 20100 Turku, Finland
• Turku Castle Opening Times: 10:00 until 18:00 (Closed Mondays)
• Turku Castle Entrance Price: 14€ (prices rise to 16€ from June 3 until September 1)

4.     Spend Time in Turku’s Old Market Square

Turku’s Kauppatori, or Old Market Square, is the center of city life here in Turku, no matter what time of year you visit.  There are heaps of different events that go on here during the year, from flea markets to pop-up art. There are vendors in the market pavilions, ice cream in the converted tram carriage, and Turku’s cathedral standing supreme at one end.

5.     Walk along the Aura River in Turku

Walk, ride, or float along the Aura River, which divides Turku into two – the older part of the city and the newer part. The river is 70 kilometers (43 miles) long, running from Oripää to Turku, where it empties into the Baltic Sea, right in the city.   Whether you choose to walk along the river – and watch life going by, or rent a bike (rent from 10 bikes) it’s a pleasant way to see a little more of the city. 

You can also take the free city ferry from one side of the river to the other, or rent an electric boat in the summer months – rates start at 63 euros for an hour and the boats take up to 8 people.

6.     Explore the Port Arthur District of Turku aka the VIII District

It won’t take you long to wander around here, but it’s worth a quick stop. This area is renowned as being one of the most beautiful urban areas in Finland. There are wooden houses here, the narrow streets and alleys are cobblestoned and when it was built in the 1900s it was designed for the workers, it’s now one of the most expensive places to live in Turku.

7.     Take a Sauna in Turku

Saunas in Finland date back to 7,000 B.C. They remain an integral part of Finnish life.  There’s a sauna at Parliament House in Helsinki.  There’s one down a mine at 1,400 meters (4,600 feet).  There’s also a sauna in a Ferris wheel in Helsinki. (I wrote about it in my Helsinki itinerary)  Visit Finland estimates that there are at least 3 million saunas in Finland.  And Turku has its fair share of them.   Here in Turku, the sauna that you might want to try is called Forum Sauna.  It was founded in 1927 and includes traditional treatments like cupping therapy and peat masks

8.     See Posankka in Turku

Posankka is a combination of two Finnish words – possu (pig) and ankka (duck).  And that’s allegedly what this piece of artwork in Turku is – a cartoon duck-pig sculpture.   The sculpture was first erected in 1999 and was originally floated down the river, since 2001 it’s been at its current location near the University of Turku.  It’s the unofficial mascot of Turku.  The sculptor says that its commentary and criticism on modern gene technology.  It’s bizarre, I’ll give it that.  You can see where to find Posankka and all these other things to see in Turku on our map.

A Brief History of Turku, Finland

It’s not actually known when Turku became a city, but the first mention of it being a city is in 1229, when Pope Gregory IX mentioned it, so that’s the date that’s used as the city’s founding date. The complicated history of the Nordic countries means that Turku was the most important city in the Kingdom of Sweden, but it became a Grand Duchy of Russia after the Finnish War of 1808-1809 when it became the capital of the Grand Duchy. (We’ll come within 20 kilometers of the border with Russia later in our trip, as we go bear-watching in Finland!).

The capital moved to Helsinki in 1812, so although it was a capital, it wasn’t for long!

The name of the city, Turku,  is a Finnish name, but it originates from both Russia and Sweden, with words in both languages meaning “marketplace, or trading, perhaps sometimes haggling”. 

Map of Things to See and Do in Turku

You can see the full map of Turku’s things to do here.

Practical Considerations for Visiting Turku

Regardless of how long you plan to spend in Turku, there are several considerations that you’ll need to make for your visit, so this section discusses the best places to stay in Turku, how to actually get to Turku, and how to get around the city and its surroundings.

Where to Stay in Turku

There’s no beating about the bush on this, accommodation can be expensive in Finland (and all the Nordic countries), so you are absolutely 100% best to book your accommodation early.  If you have a car while you’re visiting Finland, then ensure that you get somewhere with (free) parking, so that you’re not having to deal with paying for parking and finding somewhere to leave the car.

There are also a seriously limited numbers of hotels in Turku, but the Hotel Kakalo is your best bet. The building that is now the Hotel was once Finland’s largest and most notorious prison!  It didn’t close until 2007 (inmates were transferred elsewhere).  Today, you can actually stay in one of the cells that’s been converted to rooms (there are more normal-type rooms as well).  However, the hotel is stylish, comfortable, in a good location, and has parking too.  You can check rates here.

Although the number of hotels is limited, it doesn’t mean that there’s nowhere to stay, Finland is great for self-catering apartments, even for one or two-night stays. I’d opt for one with a balcony, as sitting out at nearly midnight with a glass of wine marveling that its still light is just glorious.  I don’t think you can beat this Turku apartment for its facilities and views!

How to Get to Turku

More than 3 million people a year arrive in the port city of Turku by passenger ferry.  We did.  And it’s a fabulous way to arrive, you’ll sail through glorious islands, and getting a great cabin with a window is the perfect way to see stunning views before you even get here.

There are ferries from Stockholm to Turku, or from Tallinn to Turku.

If you’re flying in then there’s an international airport at Turku, and you can rent a car from there too, or take the number 1 bus into the center of Turku, it takes about 15 minutes and costs 1€.

You can also fly into Helsinki and then either drive or take the train.  The train from Helsinki to Turku takes just under two hours (you can book train tickets here).  Driving from Helsinki Airport to Turku is 170 kilometers (106 miles) and takes about 1 hour and 45 minutes.

How to Get Around Turku

We had a car for our visit to Turku – we rented a car in Sweden for our Nordic road trip (read about Swedish car rental here), and for part of our visit to Turku we walked, and for other parts, we drove.  If you’re using public transport, then there are lots of routes, run by Föli – the English language site with timetables, tickets, and fares is here.  During the summer months, there are also boat routes on the Aura River, another treat worth sticking around for.  Taxis are plentiful in Turku, and you’ll also be able to rent e-bikes from 10bikes.

Parking in Turku

Parking is pretty strict in Turku (and Finland as a whole), but signage is generally good.  You’ll want to plan out where you’re going to park, and how far it is from your destinations.  This guide to  parking in Turku details all the locations, payment methods, and rules about parking in Turku.

Travel Tips for Finland

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Final Words on the Best 8 Things to Do in Turku

You know that sometimes you don’t need a huge list of things to do in a place.  And Turku is like that.  This is a lovely city for just wandering around, definitely in the summer of course.  The light nights in midsummer mean it’s a glorious time to visit, and the city has a relaxed feel about it, and for us, it was a great introduction to Finland.

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