Turku

Turku (Swedish: Åbo) is Finland's oldest city and the biggest one until the mid 1800s. Believed to have been founded in the early 13th century, it is the cradle of modern Finnish culture and has extensively influenced Finnish history. Turku's fantastic culinary scene has earned it the nickname "the Paris of Finland" and the city has been called "Finland's gateway to the West".

Bisecting Turku city centre, the River Aura is the heart and soul of the city: this is where Turku was born, and a large part of city life – museums, sights, restaurants and cafés – is still concentrated on the riverside. The river banks form a national urban park allowing for a pleasant stroll from the Turku Cathedral to the Turku Castle. Close to the river mouth is the island of Ruissalo, with oak forests and 19th-century villas. Turku is at its best in summertime, when it hosts many festivals, including rock festivals, chamber music festivals and a medieval fair. But do not forget the winter atmosphere, if you are lucky you may be able to have a thrilling walk on the ice cover of River Aura.

In addition to the cultural sights and museums, this city of 195,000 people (2021) attracts visitors due to the Archipelago Sea, which stretches all the way from Turku to Åland and on to Stockholm, forming the largest archipelago in the world by the number of islands and islets.

Understand


Greater Turku (as defined here) includes a few surrounding towns and some countryside. Of these Raisio in the nort-west is included here, while Kaarina and Naantali have their own articles, as has the Turku countryside in the north, including (west to east) Masku, Rusko, Paattinen (part of Turku) and Lieto.

Name
The origin of the word "Turku" the old Old East Slavic word търгъ (tŭrgŭ), which means "marketplace". The Swedish name of the city is Åbo, the origin of which is unclear.

History
Turku is Finland’s oldest city and one of the oldest in the entire Nordic region. The city came into existence at Koroinen on the banks of river Aura, a few kilometres north from the current market square. It was a centre for trade in the 1150s, and in 1229, the bishopric was transferred there as well. The Aura River Valley had already been a prosperous and relatively densely populated area since the Iron Age.

The year 1229 is, somewhat arbitrarily, regarded as the year in which the City of Turku was founded. The construction of Turku Castle began in the 1280s, the Dominican monastery of St. Olof was being built on Samppalinna Hill and Turku Cathedral was consecrated in the year 1300. From this point on, the city held an important position in the Swedish realm and it had staple town charter (the right to conduct foreign trade), assuring that trading was brisk. The German bourgeoisie of Turku held a major role in the early development of the city, and Turku had a community that was part of the Hanseatic League, which dominated trade along the coasts of Northern Europe. The tradition of declaring Christmas Peace has continued from the 14th century to these days (and is broadcast in several countries).

During Swedish rule, Turku was the largest and most important city in what now is Finland, as well as a major city of the Swedish Kingdom. Queen Christina of Sweden founded Sweden's third university in Turku in 1640, following the old Uppsala University and the Academia Gustaviana in Tartu, Estonia. Turku was long the provincial capital of much of the eastern half of Sweden, was capital of the Grand Duchy of Finland in 1809–1812, and remains the seat of the archdiocese of Finland. Russia, after overtaking Finland from Sweden 1809, moved the capital to Helsinki, which was closer to Saint Petersburg and farther from Stockholm. Turku remained Finland's largest city until the end of the 1840s, but its ambitions were dealt a death blow in 1827, when a raging fire destroyed most of the city. Turun palo (the "Great Fire of Turku") is still the largest urban fire in the history of the Nordic countries. The city was almost completely destroyed, and the rest of the major institutions with the exception of the archbishop's seat were moved to Helsinki. The burnt city needed an altogether new town plan, which was drawn up by German architect Carl Ludvig Engel the following year.

The current universities in Turku were inaugurated soon after independence, both to restore Turku's status and as part of the language strife: the bilingualism of Helsinki university was a red rag to the Fennomans, while the Swecomans saw the Swedish language threatened.

Turku is still a gateway to Sweden. The competition between cruise ferry companies led to ferries ever increasing in size and features, which let the Turku shipyard develop into a world leader of building large cruise ships, with customers such as Royal Caribbean, Carnival and TUI Cruises. Turku shipyard directly and indirectly employs some 8,000 people.

In 2011 Turku was the European Capital of Culture along with Tallinn, the capital of Estonia. Afterwards Turku has seen a huge boost in domestic and foreign visitors.

People


Turku remains a regional capital of Finland Proper and is the third most populous city-region in Finland and the eighth largest urban area in the Nordic countries, with around 330,000 inhabitants living in the Turku sub-region (200,000 in Turku proper).

Turku is a major academic town for Finland: there are two universities (TY with Finnish, ÅA with Swedish as its language) with business schools, law schools and a medical school, and four universities of applied sciences. Consequently, you will find that the city is bustling with young adults. The large number of students means that restaurants, live music clubs and nightlife are ample.

There is a cultural spirit in the city, and some of the proud residents are still irked that Helsinki took over as Finland's capital back in 1812. In other parts of Finland people from Turku are stereotypically thought of as being bit reserved and uppish in their views of their home town. The fierce competition with Tampere in the 1970s on being the country's second city probably influences this. However, if you have a coffee at the Market Square and chat with the locals, you will soon find out that this is not the case.

The Swedish community (ca 5%) has its own institutions and associations. Serving all Finland, ÅA's size is out of proportion to the local Swedish-speaking population, which shows in the demographics and the cultural life. Most of the Swedish-speaking are fluent in Finnish. Among the Finnish, the relation to Swedish is split: there are queues to the language-immersion daycare (and follow-up school) and many are bilingual with Swedish, while non-academic people born before 1965 and many born after the 1980s have a weak Swedish that they may refuse to use.

The Turku dialect of Finnish has many influences from Swedish and historically also from Estonian.

Read



 * Vares (book series) (Reijo Mäki, 1986–13). Finnish crime literature usually focuses more on police procedurals, or the psychological and sociological fallout from crime. One writer, Reijo Mäki, however, has written a series of books about a private investigator called Jussi Vares. He is your regular hardboiled PI: he drinks, makes love, hates everyone, and gets beaten up and mugged on a regular basis. All Vares books take place in Turku, which is also home to the books' writer. Mäki is a celebrity in Turku, where you can perhaps catch him in his favourite bar, Uusi Apteekki (New Pharmacy).
 * The Home of Dark Butterflies (Leena Lander, 1991). Writer Leena Lander tells the story of a fourteen-year-old boy named Juhani, who is haunted by his traumatic past. Juhani has been shuttled between foster homes and temporary families for the past six years, leaving any prospect of stability in his life a faded dream. When Juhani winds up in a remote shelter for troubled youth known as The Island, he has little idea of how ruthless superintendent Olavi Harjula can truly be. In addition to Harjula and the six other boys, The Island is also home to the superintendent's wife Irene, the couple's two young daughters, and Tynne, who tends to the local livestock in addition to catering all the meals. The island of the story has actually existed, though the boys' home was closed already in 1968. The story was also made into a film of the same name in 2008 and shooting took place on the actual island in the Turku archipelago. The film was also Finland's Oscar nominee for a foreign language film in 2008.

Watch

 * Restless (Aku Louhimies, 2000) is a story about Ari (Mikko Nousiainen), a 27-year-old ambulance doctor living in Turku, whose main pastime is one-night stands. He doesn't want to meet any of the girls again because he is certain that commitment equals pain. But one day Ari realizes that he cannot feel anything at all. Then he meets a woman named Tiina (Laura Malmivaara) on the beach. Without really intending to, they start dating each other, reaching the point where Tiina, falling in love, begins to look for commitment. Ari is introduced to Tiina's friends, including two other couples. Ari then ends up having sex with Tiina's two best friends (Ilona and Hanna-Riikka). Meanwhile Tiina continues to love Ari. During this Tiina manages to commit Ari to reluctantly become the father of her to be born child.
 * Vares movies (Aleksi Mäkelä, 2004-2012). Vares books proved so popular in Finland that in 2004 a film was released, starring Juha Veijonen as the detective, and directed by Aleksi Mäkelä, considered by many the number one action-director in Finland. A second film appeared a few years later, and the two films' success led to a series of all together eight films.
 * Man Exposed (Aku Louhimies, 2006) is a comedy-drama film about a rebel minister working in Turku's St Michael's Church, who is suddenly asked to run for bishop. At the same time he is running into problems in his marriage and life in general.
 * Tears of April (Aku Louhimies, 2008) is a war drama film based on the novel by Leena Lander, the film is set in the final stages of the Finnish Civil War. The film tells a story of a captured female Red Guard fighter, Miina, and the soldier Aaro who escorts her to her trial.
 * Love and Other Troubles (Samuli Valkama, 2012) is a Finnish romantic comedy film set in Turku. It stars Emilie de Ravin as Sara, an American line dance teacher, who meets Ville (Jussi Nikkilä), a 25-year-old former child star, and his father (Ville Virtanen), an ex-rock star, who both fall in love with her.
 * The Girl King (Mika Kaurismäki, 2015) is a biographical drama about Christina, Queen of Sweden, who reigned from 1632 until her abdication in 1654.

Climate


Turku, like the rest of Finland, has four distinct seasons. Situated by the Baltic Sea and sheltered by the islands of the Archipelago Sea, Turku has a humid continental climate. Like much of southern Finland, the city experiences warm summers, with temperatures ranging up to 30°C (85°F), and winters with frequent snowfall and temperatures down to about −25°C (−15°F), though mostly between and. The best time to visit is definitely the warm period from late May to early September, when day temperatures typically are. If visiting in wintertime and meeting slush, ride somewhat more inland (a local bus can get you far enough) and you will probably find the real snow. Once in a while you can find it in Turku city centre too. In good winters people walk, ski and skate on the ice of the river and there are skiing tracks all around the suburbs. In lesser winters there will still be a shorter skiing track at Impivaara and skating opportunities at Parkin kenttä (by the bus station), in the Kupittaa park and in most suburbs, at least part of the season.

Current weather forecasts can be checked at the Finnish Meteorological Institute website.

Visitor information
Turku's official tourist agency is Turku Touring. It serves also the larger region.

Get in
Turku is well connected to the rest of the country by rail and road, and has flights from Helsinki and Mariehamn. From the west (Åland and Sweden), ferries are the main option, although there are flights for those in a hurry. The ferries take cars. There are a few flights also from across the Baltic Sea and from some more distant places. Turku is a good yachting destinations, for those on the Baltic Sea or ready to make the longer voyage.

Turku Airport (TKU)




Usually there are flights from Helsinki (sometimes replaced by coaches), Mariehamn, and Stockholm, and from a couple of locations further away, such as Gdańsk or Riga. These latter tend to change as budget airlines come and go.

As of January 2023, Wizz Air flies to Turku from Gdańsk and Rome, SAS from Stockholm, and Finnair from Mariehamn, with additional charter holiday flights operated by TUI and Tjäreborg, among others.

Bus line 1 departs from the airport every 20 minutes and goes via the centre to the Port of Turku. Several hotels happen to be along the route. Tickets are available on board for / by contactless card, or / by cash. Children under 7 years old travel for free when accompanied by an adult, and after 23:00 the trips cost more. Free transfers for two hours included, see Get around for details. The line operates from 05:20 to 00:45. The day's last bus waits as long as 15 minutes if necessary, to allow passengers to catch it. The last buses operate only to Kauppatori, not to the harbour.

Helsinki-Vantaa Airport (HEL)
If coming by air, a common option is to fly to the internationally well connected Helsinki Airport. Turku is 166 km away from Helsinki and easily reached by train (transfer in Helsinki centre) or coach. With car the voyage by the Finnish national road 1 (E18) takes around 1hr40min.

There is an almost hourly coach connection from Helsinki Airport to Turku bus station operated by Vainion Liikenne, departing from platform 13. Usually the voyage starts with AirBus, with an easy transfer to the Vainio coach at Turvesolmu. The service operates round the clock, although there may be a gap of two hours between services in the small hours of the night. The trip takes between 2 hr 15 min and 2 hr 55 min, depending on whether the service calls in towns on the way. See Matkahuolto. Finnair also has their own coach service to Turku.

Onnibus.com is typically a bit cheaper, but they leave from the central bus station of Helsinki and not directly from the airport. The Onnibus buses are red double-deckers with free Wi-Fi but little legroom. They also have special restrictions on children, pets and luggage. Book tickets online in advance for a cheaper price; bargains are available if booking early enough.

By train


VR, the state-owned railway company, operates the trains. Turku has three railway stations: the ("Turku") on the northern edge of Turku's central business district,  ("Kupittaa (Turku)") in the eastern part of the city and  ("Turku satama") in Turku harbour on the western edge of Turku centre. The two first have ticket vending machines, waiting room, toilets, and service for the disabled on advance request; Port of Turku has no service. There are no manned service points in Turku.

The platforms at the central station will be moved on 5 August, accessed by the pedestrian bridge. Services such as lounge, toilets, café and restaurant will be at Logomo, across that bridge as seen from the centre. Traffic from Helsinki will reach the central statation from 15 December 2024. A new railway station will be taken into use in 2026.

Trains arriving from the direction of Helsinki stop at Kupittaa (make sure you ask for that station instead of "Turku", which may give you a double-length journey via Toijala), while trains from Tampere arrive at the central station. Some of the latter continue onward to the harbour, while those from Helsinki offer a connecting bus – handy if you are connecting to a passenger ferry towards Stockholm or Mariehamn.

Also trains from Helsinki will continue to the centre from 5 August 2024, as the new railway bridge gets completed. Until then, there is a VR bus (operated by some bus company) from the Kupittaa station to the harbour, for those with a train ticket to there. Other passengers are served by the normal city buses, paying the normal fares (optionally included in the train ticket). Lines 32 and 42 have their stop 200 m away across the street and either passes each 10 min in daytime, continuing through the centre and by the central station; use either the ascent by the train or the one closest ahead to get to the stop, the latter is more direct but lands you close to traffic, watch out for your children. There are also a few other lines passing by (there or at another stop). The centre is at walking distance (2 km) and a route is signposted. In 2022–2024 the parking by the station exit is chaotic (check directions and have a bit extra time), as passenger volumes are much larger than normally.

The trains from or via Tampere are not affected by the special arrangements, other than concerning transfers towards Helsinki (which mostly must be done by the ordinary buses). However, platforms and services will be moved a few hundred metres.

Links between Turku and the rest of the country (except Satakunta) are frequent and excellent, although not hourly any more. There are connections from Helsinki and Tampere, travel time approximately 2 hours, Jyväskylä (3.5 hr), Kuopio (5.5 hr) and Oulu (7 hr). There is also an overnight car and sleeper train connection from Rovaniemi in Lapland (10–15 hr, often with a transfer to a day train in Tampere – if a sleeper cabin is suggested also for the remaining journey, check how much you pay for that add-on). Some of the services have a "restaurant" car (café/pub with sandwiches etc., mostly no real dining, although there may also be simple meals available), most others a cart with drinks and snacks. The IC2 services have a family car, with space for prams, a playing corner upstairs and the accessible toilet doubling as family room.

From western Europe, you can travel by train to Stockholm and take a ferry cruise from there. This can be a scenic option, and most of the European railway companies offer discounts for the ferry connection.

A few buses (including lines 32 and 42) pass the Kupittaa and Turku stations on their way to the centre, just cross the street and wait for one, if you don't want to walk (2 and 1 km to Kauppatori, respectively; the route to the centre is signposted from Kupittaa) or take a bike ride. There are bike sharing stations by the railway stations in the summer season (April–October); see By bicycle below.

By bus


Long-distance services usually terminate at, as do some regional services. The station is at the northern edge of the city centre within walking distance from the central railway station (1 km) and Kauppatori (the market square, 800 m). Matkahuolto abandoned the station building; facilities are open again (R kiosk, timetable displays, café, hamburgers and snacks), but Matkahuolto (with ticket sale and freight) still uses the freight terminal across Läntinen pitkäkatu. The bus station has good local bus connections, although it is not the hub for them. There are stops for local and regional lines at a few different places on or around the station, note where your bus stops. Some coach lines arriving at the station continue to the Port of Turku, if needed. If going there, tell that when buying your ticket and when boarding. By the station are Hotel Helmi, the café of which offers breakfast, lunch, light meals and take away, and three hamburger restaurants (Hesburger, Mac Donald's and an independent).



Normal coach connections from Kamppi in Helsinki leave for Turku more or less every half an hour during the day and every hour or two during the night. Coming via Tallinn, there may be a coach directly from the port, mostly via Kamppi. Direct connections and connections with transfer are available from Helsinki-Vantaa airport. All these connections are either express or special express (there may also be a few hard-to-find "regular" connections). Tickets cost around €30 (round trip around €55) for adults, around €20 for children aged 12–16, €15 for children aged 4–11 and Finnish students (ISIC not accepted). Children under the age of four travel for free. Cheaper tickets can often be had in advance on the net (check also the individual companies' websites).

There are normally more or less hourly connections from Tampere and Pori in daytime, and each two hours from Vaasa, some all the way from Oulu.

For timetables, for the above mentioned or other connections, see Matkahuolto.

Also Onnibus has connections to Turku. Tickets to these buses vary in price, cheapest well in advance on the net, for same day usually about €10 when bought online, €15–20 from Helsinki if bought when boarding (with busy services often sold out).

Direct bus services from Saint Petersburg are provided by Ensi-Bus and Transgold (check whether the sanctions have affected them).

By ferry


The most scenic way to get to Turku is by taking a cruise ferry across the Baltic Sea from Sweden, from Stockholm or Kapellskär (Norrtälje) via Mariehamn or Långnäs, Åland. The is next to Turku Castle and is easily accessible on bus line 1, which travels between the port and the airport via the centre. The port also has its own railway and bus station (by the Viking terminal) and some trains and coaches depart at the port (see By train and By bus above).

To get from the port to the centre, buses 1 and 1B run frequently at the ferry arrivals and stop by the terminals. The buses still get crowded at these times and the boarding is a bit chaotic, as people are searching for their money, card or phones; try to minimise the hassle you are causing. Some drivers don't speak English or Swedish, but there is certainly some polyglot around. If you are getting off before Kauppatori, try to get a seat or stand close to the middle (or back) door. Regardless, the ride is reasonably smooth and people tend to be helpful. Taxis are also available, of course.

With light luggage strolling along the river to the centre can be a nice option (3 km to Kauppatori, buses within reach all the time). A new ferry terminal is planned to be ready for use in 2025; there will be changes in arrangements during the construction works.

The main cruise ferry option is Finnish Viking Line with daily departures from central Stockholm: one in the morning (via Mariehamn), arriving in the evening, and one in the evening (via Långnäs), arriving in the morning. For a scenic view, and less expensive prices, a morning departure is advisable. Going in the night, you avoid one night at a hotel, but the effective sleeping time is short, as you are probably waked up for cleaning of the cabin well before arrival (generous, although not cheap, breakfast is available). Evening departures provide adequate night club activities on board if you want to cut loose before arriving; there is entertainment also on the day cruises.

Estonian Tallink (formerly Finnish Silja, sometimes still using that brand) also operates cruise ferries from Sweden, in summer two daily arrivals from Stockholm, in winter one daily departure from Kapellskär via Långnäs, arriving in Turku 16:30 and returning in the night.

There are also more quiet ropax ferries from Kapellskär via Långnäs to Naantali 20 km from Turku, by Finnlines. By bus, take line N14 from the harbour and transfer to line 6 or 7 in Naantali centre (local bus fee, transfer included). Two new ferries were taken into use in the winter 2023–2024, intended to attract more leisure travellers, still more quiet than the alternatives. When comparing prices, note costs of meals, included on some ferries. Pedestrians are welcome from Kapellskär (check whether this is true also in summer), but not from Långnäs in the night. Bikers should wear reflective vests in the harbour areas.

Nearly all ferries make a brief stop in Åland, in either Mariehamn or Långnäs. Due to this stop, plus a Finnish-demanded exception to European Union rules, passengers can make duty-free purchases on the ferries. The tax-free prices tend to be slightly cheaper than prices on the shore, but are seldom bargains; know the on-shore price levels if you want one.

Looking for special offers may save a lot of money on the ferry passage. Prices vary from day to day according to demand, with a one-way overnight cruise typically from €30–100/cabin (Friday or Saturday evening departures tend to be more expensive). A "fuel fee" may be added (since 2022, due to extraordinary fuel prices), for cruise offers also a voucher (guaranteeing minimum spending aboard). In summer, book early if you have a car, especially if it exceeds standard dimensions. Youth travelling by themselves should check age restrictions.

It is also possible to take smaller ferries from Åland, connecting islands of Åland and the Archipelago Sea with each other and with the mainland. Using the small ferries is more complicated and possibly more expensive, but can be rewarding. See Åland, Korpo, Brändö and Houtskär.

By yacht


Many people also from other regions, including Helsinki, spend their summer vacation yachting around the Archipelago Sea surrounding Turku. The Sea of Åland and the Gulf of Finland, coming from Sweden and Estonia respectively, can easily be crossed in a day, while a voyage directly from Gotland requires overnight sailing. There is an abundance of minor guest harbours on the remaining distance through the archipelago.

Turku Guest Harbour is on the Aura river halfway between the port and Kauppatori, while the TPS guest harbour, Ruissalo Marina and Ruissalon Telakka are on the scenic island of Ruissalo, with buses (line 8) to the city centre once an hour or half an hour in daytime. Except Telakka, they have fuel stations and septic tank emptying. There is also a free mooring site above the Aura bridge, but only for short visits without high mast, perhaps a nice tour if you have a suitable dinghy (bridge height 3.6 m; max 3 hr 08:00–22:00).

From the cathedral upstream the river is shallow; there are shallows especially in the middle of the river and perhaps at the bridges, some rocks elsewhere. There is a portage at the Halinen rapids and dam north of the centre; upstream from there it is a popular canoeing route.



By car


Turku is well connected by roads to other parts of Finland. Main routes are national road 1 (E18 until Piikkiö) from Saint Petersburg and Helsinki, 8 (E8) from Tromsø, Vaasa and Pori along the west coast, 9 (E63) from Kuopio, Jyväskylä and Tampere, and 10 from Hämeenlinna. E18 is a high-speed controlled-access highway all the way from Russia, but deviates towards Naantali along the Turku bypass (road 40), stay on highway 1. Highways 8 and 9 are motorways for some distance outside the city. Turku can be reached from Helsinki in around 1 hr 40 min in summer and 2 hrs 40 in winter. The former main road from Helsinki, now regional road 110, is somewhat slower but allows your seeing more of the landscape.

From Sweden or Åland, use the above mentioned ferries. Those to Turku and Naantali, and on the routes from Åland via Korpo or via Brändö and Kustavi, all take cars.

There are a few scenic roads around Turku as well:
 * The Archipelago Trail (Skärgårdens ringväg, Saariston Rengastie) allows travellers to access the archipelago without a boat of their own. Part of the "trail" can be used when coming from Sweden via Åland: drive to Långnäs and take the ferry to Korpo, or use the ferries via Brändö and Kustavi.
 * Hämeen Härkätie leads to Turku from Hämeenlinna and is the most important road of early Finnish history. The route was once used by merchants, pilgrims, and kings. Along the route, with small detours, you will find a splendid array of interesting sites, such as museums, churches and shopping spots. If you want to really experience a journey in time, you can stay at an old manor house or inn along the way.
 * The partly medieval King's Road (Kuninkaantie, Kungsvägen) leads to Turku along the south coast all the way from the eastern border of Finland, passing Helsinki. It is part of the old post roads, dating back to the 14th century, that lead from Stockholm to Christiania (Oslo) and Bergen on the Atlantic coast (of Norway), and, crossing the Archipelago Sea, via Turku to Viborg (now Vyborg in Russia). The modern tourist route is extended all the way to Saint Petersburg. You can see lots of medieval churches, museums and old villages along the road.

By bike
Bikes can be taken on the ferry from Sweden or Åland for €5–12. The fee on trains and coaches is similar. Onnibus does not take bikes.

For getting in from Åland, the Archipelago Trail can be used, taking a ferry to Korpo, Houtskär, Iniö or Kustavi and continuing along the trail from there.

The Eurovelo 10 route around the Baltic Sea goes through Turku. From the east (Vaalimaa–Helsinki–Ekenäs–Salo) it is developed and signposted (not the Russian leg though). From the north it is developed from Vaasa to Turku, with signposting incomplete as of 2024.

Get around
The market square, Kauppatori (Swedish: Salutorget) is often considered the midpoint of the city, and most sights and restaurants, and most businesses in the centre, are within a kilometre from there. Nearly all buses pass by or have their terminus at Kauppatori, and reach every corner of the city, mostly with reasonable frequency. A bike is still the quickest way to get around and cycleways are generally good, but in the central business district you may have to cycle among cars or lead your bike.

By foot
The vast majority of the city's sights are within a kilometre or two from Kauppatori. The river Aura passes through the centre, and its banks are very popular, allowing for a pleasant stroll from, say, the national shrine of Finland, the Turku Cathedral, to the Turku Castle, which used to house Swedish Kings – or upstream to experience some countryside.

Turku Touring, the official tourist agency of the city, offers different walking tours for visitors. There are also leaflets with self guided walking tours, such as Sculpture walk, ArchitecTour, Romantic Turku and Stepping it up. You can get a map from the main library (Linnankatu 2) or the tourist information (Aurakatu 2). If you have a smartphone you can download a Citynomadi app and get a map there.

By bicycle
The fastest and most flexible way of seeing Turku is on a bike. There are good bike paths mostly as needed, although at the very heart of the city you have to know the routes or sometimes join car traffic, or get off the bike unless sufficiently experienced; not all the best routes are obvious. Some routes in the centre are brushed and salted in winter: along the river, around the campuses and through the central business district. Elsewhere cycleways and roads are not always maintained sufficiently in the winter for easy (in the centre: safe) biking, but local hardcore cyclists are biking throughout the year.

Main biking routes are well signposted. In the centre there are often temporary disruption of these routes (markets, roadworks etc.), and bicycle arrangements are then often neglected. This is more seldom a problem elsewhere. The map at kartta.turku.fi can show biking routes: open the layers menu in the upper left corner, choose Traffic, then Bicycle paths, and use the check boxes. Regional biking route 1 goes to the tip of the recreation island Ruissalo, route 2 to Naantali, route 4 to Naantali via Raisio centre, route 9 to Lieto along Hämeentie, route 10 to Piikkiö via Nummi, Varissuo and Littoinen, route 11 along Uudenmaantie via Kaarina and Piikkiö to Paimio, route 12 via Hirvensalo and Satava to Kakskerta,

For getting farther out of the city, bikes can be loaded on the local buses (including regional buses in the Föli cooperation) for €5 at the driver's discretion, i.e. probably when there are not too many passengers. Cost on coaches varies by company, often about the price of a children's ticket for longer voyages, sometimes a flat €6.

The city tourist office can suggest cycling routes. They also rent bikes (€23/day).

Bike theft is common and vandalism happens. A lock gives some protection. If leaving the bike close to the river it should be locked to something.

Bike sharing
Fölläri bike sharing is since 2022 in cooperation with Donkey Republic, with 700 three-geared bikes (as of 2023 not equipped for winter use).

You will need an app; using the bikes requires a smartphone (Apple/Android; Sailfish Android emulation does not suffice) with Bluetooth and GPS enabled. There are 200 stations, many of which virtual (just leave the bike in the designated area found by the app and register the end of journey as usual). The hire can also be ended outside stations, for an additional fee.

Usage for one hour at the time costs €2 per time, €9 per month or €35 for all season (April to October or December, weather permitting). Additional time costs €2 for 1 hr, €5 for 4 hr, €12 for a day. Thus, for a one-off one-day rental, the cost is €14. The monthly or seasonal payments count as Donkey Republic membership in other towns; it seems you can use such a membership also in Turku. Usage (except the fee for additional time and usage in other towns) is included in the 30 day Föli bus tickets.



Other options include:

Bicycle service
There are several bike shops offering service for bikers. Here some of them:



By bus


Tickets are harmonized with some of the surrounding municipalities – Raisio, Naantali, Kaarina, Rusko, Lieto and Paimio – as the "Föli" cooperation. Tickets are handled as if all buses serving the area were local, except for lines 117, 118, 119 and 802. Coaches without line numbers are not covered (nor Onnibus, which has its own numbering system).

The Föli pages have several map views (e.g. one showing the current locations of buses) and tailored timetable views (such as for a specific stop) and a route planner. The planner works well in most situations, but some sanity checks are needed: the planner can guess at destinations with "similar" spelling, it thinks "Bus station, Turku" means the one in the port, and it may behave oddly when no suitable bus is found for whatever reason. You can also use the Nysse mobile app for journey planning.

Most buses go through the centre, passing Kauppatori. However, city bus stops are spread out along a few blocks of Eerikinkatu and Aurakatu and regional buses mostly depart from Puutori/Trätorget (one block diagonally towards the bus station) or from the bus station. To avoid walking a few hundred metres, you can often transfer at some other stops, shared or closer one to the other. The routes in the centre were changed in 2022, so don't trust older information.

Lines 4xx and 6xx north- or north-eastward to or via some part of Lieto, lines 7xx eastward to or via Piikkiö (except 702 and 72x), line 20 and line 206 leave from Puutori; lines 702 and 72x via Piikkiö towards Kimitoön and lines 8xx and 9xx to or via Pargas from the bus station. The rest of the 2xx and 3xx lines have their stops near Kauppatori.

There are few 'circle lines', so usually if you need to transfer, you will need to take one bus to the centre, then transfer there to the bus taking you to your final destination. Often the most convenient transfer point is the stop before or after the stop by Kauppatori. The Föli route planner does a good job at finding optimal transfer spots for specific times, optimising for speed or optionally minimising walking. As buses generally go in two directions from the centre, make sure that you are taking the correct numbered bus in the correct direction as well.

Destinations are mentioned on some stops and alternating between languages on most buses, but you should still note the numbers of the lines you intend to use. If going towards Kauppatori it is mostly enough to know on what side of the street to stand. Many buses announce the next stop by voice and display.

Buses passing the municipality border mostly have 3-digit numbers (notable exceptions: lines 6 and 7). Buses not reaching Turku (often minibuses with sparse schedules) have their number prefixed with a letter, such as L for Lieto – but "P" means Turku lines meant primary for seniors. There are some quirks, e.g. some regional buses use stops for city buses, others those for coaches (notably 702, 90x). To add to the confusion, a few coach stops have had their signs changed to bus stop signs (there have been similar changes elsewhere in the region). The main stop affected is the one at the cathedral, where all services along Uudenmaankatu stop by either of the signs.

Regional buses with destinations outside the Föli area are usually part of the cooperation inside it, but for trips out of the area you cannot use Föli tickets even to the border (notably 7xx, 8xx and 9xx via Kaarina, and some 4xx buses through Lieto). A few such buses (117–119 and 802) don't take Föli tickets at all. Electronic displays and timetables at bus stops ignore some regional buses.

Single tickets are valid for unlimited transfers within two hours of the ticket's purchase. They can be bought with debit/credit cards (Visa, Mastercard or Eurocard) that have contactless (EMV-NFC) payment enabled, with the Föli app or in advance for €3, children 7–14: €1.50. Bought by cash from the driver they cost €4/2. If you want tickets for other than a single adult, tell the driver and show your card to the device only when the correct option has been registered. In the night (23:00–04:00) tickets cost €1 more. Notes of more than €20 are usually not accepted. Persons in wheelchair and the person assisting travel for free, as does a person with an infant or toddler in a baby carriage (use the middle door, the driver will help with the wheelchair ramp; there is usually sufficient space). Children under 7 years old need a ticket only when travelling alone.

If you intend to take the bus more than twice a day (read: in more than two 2-hr periods), it becomes economical to ask the bus driver for a 24-hour ticket. The electronic payments should do this automatically and subtract already paid single tickets from the price, given that you use the same card or smartphone all the time. They also keep count of the 2 hr transfer period.

The office at Kauppatori, R kiosks and other service points sell cards for one day and more, costing €8 for the first day, €3 for each additional day up to a week, €25 for ten days, with €1.50 for additional days. The equivalent can also be bought in the app. If you are going to travel much also outside the Föli area, check the Seutu plus tickets (single, 10-trip and 30-days tickets available for a rang of regions).

Those staying more than a few days or travelling as a group may want to check other options also, e.g. "value cards", with which trips (including transfers) cost €2.50/1.20, plus €1 in the night. For groups, ask for a group card (ordinary children's cards are personal, adults' cards valid for three persons). Show the card to the machine once for each person the first time, once for all the group at "transfers". Value (and days) can be added on the Internet, in the Föli bureau and at some other locations.

Once upon the time modifier letters (as in 12A and 12B) got removed and numbers changed (in this case to 32 and 42). The lines are ordered according to these associations: 1, 2, 2A, 3, 30, 4, ... Often the associated lines behave the same most of the route, but have different destinations in one end. In a few cases the destination varies without any change in line number, usually with a sign in the front window of the bus. The corresponding notes in the timetable are often incomprehensible without some understanding of the individual lines, but usually you know when you need to understand them and can ignore them otherwise. The worst trap is some extra rush hour buses on long lines stopping prematurely: check that you get the one going all the way to your stop.

Timetable booklets (fetch one from the Föli service point) give starting times at the ends of the route and at Kauppatori, and an estimated duration of the trip to or from Kauppatori. Some lines are (only or additionally) listed in groups, with information for common (possibly intermediate) destinations. Sometimes a line being in the booklet twice is not evident, check carefully if relevant. The timetables at major stops instead give the estimated passing time of the bus (and line number, as lines are grouped together). A timetable booklet can be bought from the Monitori office at Kauppatori (€1). A map is for sale separately (€2; not including the neighbouring towns, nor the extreme points of Turku). School buses, night lines, rush hour lines and lines serving the elderly, and the quirks of these, are partly handled in their own maps, chapters and booklets, although tickets are valid as usual.

Some interesting or useful lines include:


 * 1 Seaport – centre – bus station – airport The line to use to and from the seaport and airport. 1B skips the airport leg. Departs from the airport and seaport every 20 minutes on weekdays and Saturdays, twice an hour on Sundays, more often to and from the harbour at ferry arrival and departure times. Much cheaper than taking a cab. The route happens to pass by several hotels.
 * 8 Centre – Railway station – Ruissalo The bus route through the large Ruissalo island, a popular summer destination with beaches, villas, a botanic garden and a nature reserve.
 * 14, 15 Saramäki – Oriketo – centre – Erikvalla / Kakskerta Bus lines which go to islands of Satava (14) and Kakskerta (15), which have beautiful countryside and archipelago nature to enjoy. 40-min ride from Kauppatori (one way).
 * 21, 23 Centre – Paattinen – Tortinmäki Long countryside route which you can ride at no more cost than the ordinary city bus ticket. Tortinmäki is a 6-km walk (or bike ride) from Kurjenrahka National Park, in season some of the services extend to the park.
 * 32, 42 Varissuo – Pansio/Perno via railway stations Between a major suburb and a major employer (the shipyard), so frequent. The routes go via the Kupitta railway station, Kauppatori and the central railway station. Line 32 also passes near the exhibition centre.
 * 99 Ilpoinen / Uittamo – Skanssi – Länsikeskus – Perno / Pansio A long "suburb sightseeing" line bypassing the centre; a one-way ride takes over an hour.
 * 180 water bus Martinsilta – Pikisaari and Ruissalo A water bus using Föli tickets, bikes free; late May through August, some September weekends). See By ferry below.

By taxi


Taxis are abundant and easily available throughout the city. There are three crunch times when getting a taxi might be problematic: the morning and evening ferry departure times (particularly in summer), around 08:00 and 21:00, and the bar closing times (particularly on weekends) around 04:00.

Quick 1–3 km trips cost in the €8–18 vicinity (the 10-km 15-min example ride mostly costs around €35) – prices have gone up with the deregulation as Helsinki-based companies have harmonised prices across the country. Taxis generally accept major international credit cards.

At the railway station and similar places there may also be a "Kimppataxi" offering rides together with strangers (cf minivans in some countries), which in some cases is considerably cheaper. Don't be afraid of "wild" drivers found at the railway station or other busy taxi stands (and available by a call), just check that their prices aren't rip-offs – which could be a problem in the night. Any taxi should have the yellow taxi sign and a meter.

Most taxis use the Taxidata call centre. There are several other companies, including Taksi Länsi-Suomi (serving most of Finland Proper), the Helsinki based companies (at least Menevä) and some small ones, but their cars are mainly found at certain taxi ranks. If using their call centres it might be wise to check that there is a taxi available nearby before committing. Pre-booking is free for some of these competitors. Like elsewhere in Finland, the taxis belong to smaller companies with just an agreement with the call centre.


 * Smartphone apps: Valopilkku, 02 Taksi, Uber, Taksinappi, Bolt
 * Smartphone apps: Valopilkku, 02 Taksi, Uber, Taksinappi, Bolt
 * Smartphone apps: Valopilkku, 02 Taksi, Uber, Taksinappi, Bolt
 * Smartphone apps: Valopilkku, 02 Taksi, Uber, Taksinappi, Bolt
 * Smartphone apps: Valopilkku, 02 Taksi, Uber, Taksinappi, Bolt
 * Smartphone apps: Valopilkku, 02 Taksi, Uber, Taksinappi, Bolt

By electric kick scooter
Swedish Voi, German Tier and Norwegian Ryde have electric kick scooters for rent, to use in the centre. Dott seems to be coming. See Finland &sect; By motorised scooter. Don't drive in Kauppatori, but park in the vicinity.

By ferry




Archipelago cruises


There are a number of cruises in and tour boat connections to the archipelago, e.g. to the island Vepsä, a recreational area of the city (1–2 hours), to Nagu parish village or Själö (2 hr across Airisto, back in the evening), to Utö in the very outskirts of the Archipelago Sea (5 hr; twice a week, overnight stay at the island necessary due to the distance) or to Naantali with the Moomin world, Kultaranta (the summer residence of the President of Finland) and a nice wooden old town. Most ferries taking passengers to the archipelago can be found between Martinsilta bridge and Föri. Some of the tours are available only in summertime, others continue as long as ice conditions permit.

On your way out from the city you can see the old ships by Forum Marinum, Turku castle, the harbour and Pikisaari and Ruissalo with their old charming villas, before you reach the open Airisto.



By car
Parking lots by the street are sparse in some hours, but otherwise you should be able to park your car for a while quite near the place where you are going. Short time parking is often free, as is public parking in nights and Sundays, and free parking lots can be found in the outskirts of the city. In weekdays (M–F 09:00–20:00, Sa 09:00–17:00), public paid parking costs €3.60/1.80/0.60 per hour depending on area; app or credit/debit card needed. Private paid parking usually has no free hours, but can be cheaper for long stays. When parking in the street, especially in winter and spring, note times reserved for maintenance.

Parking halls, such as the underground (stairs/lift to Kauppatori and the pedestrian street) usually have plenty of free space. Q-Park operates several parking halls in central Turku. Most of the largest hotels have their own parking halls.

See
The vast majority of the city's sights are within a kilometre or two from Kauppatori. Two sights in the city are considered above others (by Finnish visitors): the medieval castle, which is the symbol of Turku, and Turku cathedral, the national shrine of Finland, but there are several more modest pearls to find. Aboa Vetus & Ars Nova invites visitors to explore the medieval history and culture of Turku and to reflect upon thought-provoking contemporary art. Luostarinmäki is the only larger part of the city that survived the great fire of Turku in 1827. Nowadays it houses an open air living handicrafts museum, with local artisans working in traditional ways. The biological museum has dioramas showing Finnish fauna of different biotops. The museum of art has a collection from the time of national awakening in the 19th century, besides more modern works. The Museokortti card gives free entrance to most museums.

History and museums



 * Brinkhallin kartano.jpg
 * Ett Hem 03.JPG
 * Kuralan kylämäki.jpg
 * [[File:Women with baskets at the Luostarinmäki (Cloister Hill) Handicrafts Museum in Turku.jpeg|thumb|Women with baskets at the Luostarinmäki outdoor museum.]]
 * Turun apteekkimuseo.jpg
 * Kuralan kylämäki.jpg
 * [[File:Women with baskets at the Luostarinmäki (Cloister Hill) Handicrafts Museum in Turku.jpeg|thumb|Women with baskets at the Luostarinmäki outdoor museum.]]
 * Turun apteekkimuseo.jpg
 * Turun apteekkimuseo.jpg
 * Turun apteekkimuseo.jpg

Art



 * Wäinö Aaltosen museo.jpg
 * Art galleries. Turku is home to a number of smaller art galleries scattered around the city. The Turku Artists’ Association maintains a list of the galleries.
 * Art galleries. Turku is home to a number of smaller art galleries scattered around the city. The Turku Artists’ Association maintains a list of the galleries.
 * Art galleries. Turku is home to a number of smaller art galleries scattered around the city. The Turku Artists’ Association maintains a list of the galleries.

Churches
Most of the churches are quite frequently used for concerts.
 * St Michael's Church, Turku.jpg
 * Ecumenical Art Chapel of St. Henry in.jpg
 * Ecumenical Art Chapel of St. Henry in.jpg
 * Ecumenical Art Chapel of St. Henry in.jpg
 * Ecumenical Art Chapel of St. Henry in.jpg
 * Ecumenical Art Chapel of St. Henry in.jpg
 * Ecumenical Art Chapel of St. Henry in.jpg

Nature

 * upstream from Tuomiokirkkosilta bridge (right bank) or Åbo Akademi (left bank) make for a very nice stroll or biking trip. Between Tuomiokirkkosilta and the railway bridge there is a walking path close to the water on the right, north-western bank (not for bikes), elsewhere the route is above the river in park-like milieu, upstream (from Vähäjoki and Koroinen, and near Halinen) also in agricultural landscapes. A café in Koroinen on Sundays, sometimes with handicraft exhibitions or workshops, the Myllärintupa café with canoe rental by the Halinen rapids in summer (Tu–Su 10:00–18:00; also small scale exhibitions). Bikers could continue upstream to Vanhalinna in Lieto, a hillfort with splendid views (mansion by the hill in use by Turku university; café, summer theatre and exhibitions in or by the mansion if you time right).Autumn Ruissalo.jpg
 * , and  are three large islands in line right off the coastline of Turku. The parts facing the city are suburbs, with winding roads lined with often nice villas, while much of the islands are countryside with fields and natural forest. The bus lines 50–56 reach different parts of Hirvensalo, while 14 and 15 continue to Satava and Kakskerta, which once were an independent municipality. Pikisaari on Hirvensalo faces the shipping lane. Today, Hirvensalo is a haven for single-family homes and good, clean living. Some famous names from Hirvensalo are sculptor and academic, Wäinö Aaltonen and artist Jan-Erik Andersson, whose unique leaf-shaped house is near the Hirvensalo bridge. Hirvensalo also has a sports centre, where visitors can ski downhill in the winter and ride downhill cars in the summer. On the last island of the three, Kakskerta (bus 15) you can enjoy lovely archipelago nature, the golf course at Harjattula or the site of the TV series Hovimäki at Brinkhall Manor. There is also a stone church from the 1760s.
 * , and  are three large islands in line right off the coastline of Turku. The parts facing the city are suburbs, with winding roads lined with often nice villas, while much of the islands are countryside with fields and natural forest. The bus lines 50–56 reach different parts of Hirvensalo, while 14 and 15 continue to Satava and Kakskerta, which once were an independent municipality. Pikisaari on Hirvensalo faces the shipping lane. Today, Hirvensalo is a haven for single-family homes and good, clean living. Some famous names from Hirvensalo are sculptor and academic, Wäinö Aaltonen and artist Jan-Erik Andersson, whose unique leaf-shaped house is near the Hirvensalo bridge. Hirvensalo also has a sports centre, where visitors can ski downhill in the winter and ride downhill cars in the summer. On the last island of the three, Kakskerta (bus 15) you can enjoy lovely archipelago nature, the golf course at Harjattula or the site of the TV series Hovimäki at Brinkhall Manor. There is also a stone church from the 1760s.

Itineraries

 * Turku riverside walk

Do
Turku is especially lively during the summer season, from the latter part of May to early September, as well as around the Advent and Christmas period in December. The banks of the river Aura are regarded Turku's summertime living room. The shores are the setting for many urban events and are also popular for picnic and relaxing.

Theater, performing arts and cinema


For chamber music, check also the weekly concerts at the Wäinö Aaltonen and Sibelius museums. One-off performances can be harder to find, as information channels vary.



Sport arenas




Winter sports




Climbing
Be aware of the inherent dangers of climbing. Safety cannot be guaranteed even if the businesses take security seriously. Make sure you have understood the instructions. Children usually need permission from their custodians, must respect instructions, and might need to be accompanied.



Boating and canoeing
For skippered yacht cruises or yacht chartering, see Archipelago Sea. Here are options for smaller vessels and quick trips:

Swimming


Due to its location at the shores of the Archipelago Sea, Turku has a number of great beaches easily reachable from the city centre. There are also two outdoor pools (0.75 km and 1.7 km from Kauppatori), a water park, indoor swimming pools and arenas. Most indoor facilities – and some outdoor ones – are open round the year.

Turku has a number of free beaches around the city. Lifeguards are supervising swimming on all of the beaches mentioned above during the school summer holiday periods from the beginning of June to the end of August.
 * is within easy reach from Turku Centre by bus number 9 or 13. Swimmers can even access the beach during the winter since there is a sauna and option for ice swimming, when the water is frozen over.
 * are the favourites of many locals. They are at Saaronniemi at the very end of the Ruissalo Island (bus line 8) and on a beautiful summer day you can really feel the archipelago here. A few separate beaches of different character.
 * is on the Satava island (bus lines 14 and 15). When the Finnish summer gets hot, this sandy beach is a good choice for families and sun seekers as well as disabled. Whatever your physical impairment you can have a dip as Ekvalla beach has specially designed walkways and a wheelchair ramp into the water.
 * Other smaller beaches include
 * and
 * and
 * and

Winter swimming:
 * arrange winter swimming at Tammirannantie 39 (and swimming in summer, too).

Outdoor pools, arenas and water parks:

Swimming halls and indoor water parks:

Social dancing


Foxtrot, waltz, jive, cha cha, what have you … The dance pavilions are an essential part of the Finnish summer for many, although not any more for a majority, and some keep dancing all year. Pavilions in Turku and Raisio and popular ones in the surroundings include:



The main library has free dances in its yard, Tuesdays 17:00–18:15, from late June to late August (with weather reservation). Mostly old couples (the generation which never attended dance courses), mostly Finnish tango, waltz and humppa, and you might be unlikely to be asked to dance – but asking somebody to should be possible regardless of whether you are a man or woman.

In the winter season, part of the dancing crowd is found at Pyrkivä and Aura:

Events



 * Medieval band at Turku Medieval market 2015.jpg
 * Medieval band at Turku Medieval market 2015.jpg
 * Medieval band at Turku Medieval market 2015.jpg
 * Medieval band at Turku Medieval market 2015.jpg

Easter
Easter is celebrated in the churches, with many services. Specifically, you might want to experience the Orthodox Easter Vigil, even if not Orthodox yourself. There are several concerts with Christian music, particularly, passions may be performed. There may be a reenactment of the Way of the Cross.



Advent and Christmas


The Christmas season starts more or less with the turning on of Christmas lights in the pedestrian part of Yliopistonkatu a week before Advent. The market at the Old Great Square opens, department stores and many shops have nice Christmas displays in their windows, Christmas music is played, Charity bazaars in many schools, parish halls, etc. Usually the first snow has come and melt away, and there will probably again be snow several times during Advent. With good luck the snow will stay. White Christmases are quite common, but there is no guarantee.

The lights on the Christmas tree of the cathedral are turned on the Saturday a week before Advent begins (programme usually begins at 17:00). The big spruce arrives and is risen the preceding Wednesday at about 13:00–14:00, perhaps worth watching if you are around. A "light path" in the form of light installations for a few days (2023: 6–9 Dec) get many people out on a walk along the river in a happy mood.

Most every choir gives some kind of Christmas concert in or immediately before Advent. Among the most ambitious are the ones by the student choirs of Åbo Akademi (BD and Flora) and Akademiska Orkestern, in the cathedral on Friday and Saturday leading to Advent (classical music from the 16th century to world premières, including some beloved Christmas songs); most seats are sold out days before, but a few are often left to be got at the door an hour before the concerts. The Church arranges sing-alongs with collect to their development aid.

Many museums, also some that otherwise are closed in winter, have displays or events related to the season; table settings and food of Christmas in different times and social classes are shown at the castle, the Qwensel house and the handicraft museum. Handicraft workshops (such as of making candles) are arranged at Seikkailupuisto and Kurala. There are also events at other institutions, such as candlelight swimming at Impivaara and Petrelius.

Independence Day, December 6th, is celebrated by the philharmonic orchestra by two free day concerts (tickets are distributed a few weeks in advance). The latter, starting 15:00, can be seen on screens at the Old Great Square. There are services in the churches (mostly at 10:00). Charity bazaars. The students have a torch parade to the war graves (start 18:00). People light candles in their windows (originally a silent protest against Russian oppression), which makes for a nice evening stroll. A few associations arrange balls, the one of Turku folk dancers (Rytky) is open for the public, with a dance course in the preceding weeks.

On December 13th, Lucia is crowned in the morning, blessed in the cathedral in the evening (be early if you want a seat), and then performing in the Hansa shopping centre. Programme for the rest of the season is changed yearly but generally Lucia and her company will be seen on many occasions, mostly in retirement homes and the like, but also e.g. at the Christmas market.

The ecumenical plea for peace is made in the cathedral in Advent (2023: 14 Dec), to be broadcast on television before noon on 24 December. The audience should arrive at latest 17:40, the event starts at 18:00.

Christmas peace is declared at noon of Christmas Eve in the Old Great Square, with thousands of spectators (programme starts 11:30; if you are early you can get glögg, gingerbread and words for the national anthem; have some coins for the servings). The Swedish service in the cathedral afterwards welcomes also the international audience. Most people are going to spend the evening and the Christmas Day with their family; the city will mostly close. Bus traffic in town continues to 20:00 and is then suspended for Christmas Day. The main library is open 11:00–18:00 on Christmas Eve, with also some programme. Lights on the graves. Services in the churches. Some restaurants are open also in Christmas, but booking a table may be necessary. The cruise ferries may have cruises instead of route traffic.





Music festivals


There is some music festival in Turku nearly every weekend in summer (all back after the pandemic). Here some, in more or less chronological order:



Expos
There's a great number of expos and fairs held in Turku annually. Most of the fairs take place outside the summer season in autumn and spring. Large part of these fairs take place in the, which is a diverse setting for fairs, meetings, congresses and grand public events.



Sport events



 * Watch football at FC Inter Turku. They play soccer in Veikkausliiga, the top tier in Finland. Their home ground is Veritas Stadium, capacity 9400, in Kupitaa district east of town centre. They share it with Turun Palloseura or TPS, who yo-yo between the top and second tiers.

Learn


Turku has a long academic history: Queen Christina of Sweden founded the first university of Finland in Turku in 1640. At that point it was only Sweden's third university following Uppsala University and the Academia Gustaviana in Tartu. Nowadays Turku is still a major academic town in Finland and because of this the city is bustling with students. Almost 20 per cent of Turku residents are students and many of them are exchange students or otherwise from abroad. The universities have many courses in English and some study programs targeted at exchange students, often in cooperation between the universities. Both universities are legal deposit repositories, which means they have everything of value printed in Finland since the 1920s, usually available at least for reading in both or either, if requested a day or a few in advance.

Students can either rent on the private market or apply for a room or flat for students through the Student Village Foundation or, students at ÅAU, from its student union. Rents for the student rooms and flats are mostly in the range of €225–1,000/month, including heating, water, internet etc., and access to some communal facilities. Exchange student can borrow a set of basic utensils from the student unions.



Buy


There are plenty of opportunities to part with your cash in Turku. The city centre is full of major retail and independent shops. Shopping in Turku is generally more affordable than in Helsinki, but, as with the rest of Finland, it is by no means cheap by international standards. The numerous second-hand and antique stores represent a unique shopping alternative.

If arriving in the night, there are grocery stores that are open 24 hr daily (except perhaps some holidays), including Citymarket Kupittaa and some K-market and Sale stores (in or near the centre). Some more grocery stores are open to 23:00 or 24:00, most close 21:00 or 22:00, often earlier in the weekend.

Money
Getting cash is rarely a problem, as ATM's ("Otto") are common around the centre and they can be operated with international credit and debit cards (Visa, Visa Electron, MasterCard, Maestro). Currencies other than the euro are generally not accepted, but at least the Swedish krona is accepted on the ferries from Sweden, and the Stockmann department store accepts the krona, dollars and pounds. Credit and debit cards are widely accepted, but know your PIN and be prepared to show your passport or ID card. Some stalls at Kauppatori accept only cash, and you may be out of luck with cards also at some small-business stalls at temporary markets.

Most bank offices do not handle money exchange.



As a rule, tipping is never necessary, although appreciated by some service personnel (see Finland). Cloakrooms (narikka) in nightclubs, theatres and better restaurants often have non-negotiable fees (usually clearly signposted, €2 is standard), and – in the few hotels that employ them – hotel porters will expect around the same per bag.

Traditional shopping




Shopping centres




Department stores




Design


National brands, such as Finlayson, Iittala and Marimekko, are found in most department stores, although they also have their own shops. Marimekko has shops in the shopping centres of Hansa, Mylly and Skanssi.



Eat
"Varför Paris, vi har ju Åbo! "Why Paris, we have Turku!""

- Quote from a Swedish journalist

Turku and other parts of Finland Proper are home to the more western influenced Finnish cuisine, which has features, especially from Sweden, Denmark and Germany. The long traditions of farming and fishing in the area have contributed to the local food culture. Fish, especially herring – the regional fish of Finland Proper – has been at the heart of the region's culinary traditions for centuries. It is eaten all year round salted, fried, grilled and smoked. In addition, perch, whitefish and pike are often used. You must also remember to try the famous raisin sausage, a regional speciality which you can buy for example from the Market Hall. Another regional speciality is the sweet malt bread from the archipelago: skärgårdslimpa. As a dessert enjoy a good cup of coffee together with pulla (cinnamon roll) or Piispanmunkki ("Bishops Doughnut"), as people here call the traditional North German pastry Berliner.

Lunch offers, meals at kebab-pizzerias and fast food meals (including drinks and chips) usually cost €8.50–12.50. Simpler proper restaurant meals of some simple pasta, a soup or a salad, with water or a soft drink, are usually around €10–20. For meals with a high-grade steak and good wine, expect to pay at least €30–60. Proper restaurants are often open until 22:00, with the kitchen closing at 21:00. Some restaurants keep the bar open until later in the night. Fast food chains and some kebab-pizzerias, grills and other such places are open later at night, some as late as 03:00–05:00.

Lunch and brunch


Most restaurants have offers of €8.50–12.50 at lunch time, mostly at least weekdays 11:00–14:00. There are also lunch restaurants or cafés serving meals only at lunch time, including student cafés and lunch restaurants for big workplaces, often having a very affordable price also for outsiders. For the student cafés some timing may be needed to avoid long queues (don't try them 11:30–12:30). A few student restaurants serve cheap lunch also later or in the weekend. The department stores Wiklund and Stockman have family friendly cafés that can come handy.



Budget


For lunch, see above.

Pizzerias are frequently cheap kebab-pizzerias, offering kebab, falafel and pizza. There are a lot of these in the centre, and eateries in the suburbs are often this kind. Prices are comparable to the lunch offers of other restaurants; their own lunch offers are usually limited to including coffee or offering more options at their lower prices. Unfortunately, the restaurants offering the finest kebabs are in the suburbs. Kotipizza is a slightly more expensive non-immigrant chain, primarily for take-away. There are also pizza restaurants in the mid-range or splurge categories, offering quite another experience.

Hesburger is the dominant hamburger chain in Finland, leaving McDonald's and Burger King as marginal players, and it is especially popular in Turku, where it was founded and still is based. It is almost hard not to pass one when walking around the city centre; you'll find four Hesburgers just around the Kauppatori area. The company is still run by the family that started it in the 1960s. And ask any of the locals: Hesburger burgers really do taste better! If you are in a hurry you can order the food through their mobile app.

There are still some grill kiosks, for a smaller quick meal, primarily sausage, hot dog, makkaraperunat, lihapiirakka, or hamburger.



Mid-range




Splurge


The biggest concentration of top restaurants is along the river, at the right bank downstream from the cathedral bridge. Others are scattered around, such as Kaskis, which got a Michelin star in 2022.



Gastropub




Drink
The minimum age required to enter bars, pubs and nightclubs differs; for legal reasons, one must be at least 18 to enter places that serve alcohol, but many clubs and bars have higher age limits (mostly 20–24 yrs).

Restaurants and bars have varying closing hours, but generally, the popular nightclubs and discos are open until 04:00. Last call always occurs half an hour before closing time, and is indicated by the bar staff turning the lights off for a few seconds, then turning them back on. They may repeat this a few times in quick succession to make sure the patrons get it. It's generally smart to leave about ten minutes before the last call, to avoid being caught in the rush of everybody trying to leave at once, especially if you are planning to get back to your night spot by a taxi. The times are changing somewhat, as the legislation now allow them to keep open after 04:00, which will probably be the new time of last call.

Night clubs tend to have guarded cloakrooms where you can leave any of your outer garments in exchange for a ticket. Using the coat service is generally considered mandatory even if this is not explicitly pointed out. The cloakroom fee is usually €2 or €2.50. Do not lose the ticket; the bar staff will often not want to hash out ticket confusions during closing time when things are at their most chaotic. If you lose the ticket, you may be told to come back the following day to get your things, expect to be able to prove the jacket is yours by telling the staff the make of the jacket, colour of lining or contents of pockets.

For dancing other than disco, there are a few dance restaurants and cruises, but the main venues for social dancing are the dance pavilions and, off season, a few other locations, where you will find sober and skilful dancers. see Social dancing above. Each of these venues usually have a dance once or twice a week.

Cafés


There are many cafés in Turku. The ones listed here are not representative, but mostly more odd ones. See also Lunch and brunch above.



Pubs




Riverboats
Riverboats are a unique feature in the Turku cityscape. In the summertime, it is very popular to spend the early evening until midnight or so on one of them, and when it gets a little chilly, move indoors to a restaurant or night club. They are at the riverside of river Aura. Some of them also house fine restaurants while some are mostly just pubs.



Camping
See also Naantali.



Budget




Splurge




Spa hotels




Stay safe
Turku is generally a safe city.

Turku faces some problems with street violence and organised crime, but common street sense should be enough in most cases. There are no no-go areas.

On weekend nights drunken people may cause annoyance, especially after last call. Swimming in the river is forbidden for good reason: the river banks provide very little access to the shore; what was intended as a quick refreshing dip will result in an expensive rescue operation or worse.

In emergencies, always call 112, which is the general emergency number for police affairs, fire, medical care and social services. If in doubt, it is always better to call and ask.

For non-emergency medical care, the City of Turku provides medical advice over the phone at. Lines are open weekdays 08:00–15:00. The hearing-impaired have their own service for the evaluation of medical care, counselling and making an appointment at a health centre. This can be contacted during office hours by sending an SMS message to.

Turku University Hospital's T-Hospital is the region’s accident and emergency hospital, as well as healthcare centre off hours and for non-locals. It provides specialized medical care and treatment around the clock to those who have fallen suddenly ill or sustained injury.


 * Emergency social services can be contacted through 112; in business hours (weekdays 08:30–15:30) call . Also life management.
 * Emergency social services can be contacted through 112; in business hours (weekdays 08:30–15:30) call . Also life management.

In daytime there are several pharmacies to choose from, some with quite long hours. If you get a prescription, you could ask about the handiest one.

Respect

 * Avoid walking in the cycle lanes. Dedicated cycleways are clearly marked, but sometimes run directly next to the pavement (sidewalk). On the other hand, when biking close to people, especially on cycleways shared with pedestrians, be careful when passing children, dogs or people who might lose their balance if scared.
 * When waiting in lines, be patient and polite. Finns never jump queues – but make sure you actually stand in the line. If unsure, ask. In many places you are expected to get a queue number from a machine.
 * Do not feed seagulls or pigeons especially in the city centre. Seagulls taking people's ice creams or sandwiches is a real problem in some areas, and feeding them is encouraging that behaviour. Feeding birds is officially prohibited in many areas. In other places it might be allowed and encouraged, but check official advice.

Connect
Students and personnel from participating institutions get free Wi-Fi through the Eduroam network.

The city main library (see above) offers Wi-Fi (pick a note with the password or ask) and public computers with Internet access (without booking, mostly there are some free ones). The "15 min" computers can be used without logging in.

Press
An assortment of foreign newspapers is available for reading in the main library (see above) and for sale at some locations (e.g. R-kioski at the main railway station or at Kauppatori). Expect to find some well-known ones at least in Swedish, English, German, French and Spanish (although increasingly only their weekly journals are available). At the main library there are also some more odd ones, e.g. from Russian Karelia. The local papers are Finnish Turun Sanomat, Swedish Åbo Underrättelser and the free Turkulainen; many locals also subscribe to Helsingin Sanomat or Hufvudstadsbladet of Helsinki.

Children
Most any park has a playground with swings, sandbox, some climbing frames, and perhaps a simple playhouse and some more unusual features. For picnics, the Kupittaa and Vartiovuori parks are popular. The swimming pools of Kupittaa and Samppalinna also have picnic areas. There is a playing corner for small children in the city library (and nice scenes in small exhibits hidden in the shelves and in the floor). The Hansa shopping centre in the centre has a room for children, with family toilet and facilities for warming food. Also several other businesses and shopping centres have some facilities or entertainment for children.

Kupittaa Adventure Park is a large playground area where also older children can enjoy themselves for quite a while.

Kuralan kylämäki is a quiet living history museum consisting of a few farms with life of the 1950s. In the main building personnel are doing their domestic chores, while ready to talk to any visitor. Children will find a play corner with period toys, another in the barn, with bigger equipment, and many opportunities to invent their own plays and games. Sheep flock at the pasture fence to be caressed.

Aboa Vetus allows you to walk in authentic streets in the ruins of medieval Turku. There are computer screens to lead children through the displays in the footsteps of children of the times exhibited, perhaps a sandbox for trying at being an archaeologist, and similar activities.

Turku Castle has Knights' and Ladies' Days, where a group of children is led through the castle, ending with dubbing the participants. Check the language issue.

If you are into biology, the Biological Museum is a pearl. It features stuffed animals in natural landscapes: see wolves and elks, spot the small birds in the tree, an ermine in the snow, and acquaint yourselves to the different biotopes of Finland. Everything beyond glass screens though.

Other museums may or may not suit your children, depending on their interests.

For a longer trip, the Moomin World in Naantali and Zoolandia in Lieto may be worth considering.

You might also want to take a walk in some wood, to eat wild berries fresh from the shrubs – especially if that's something you cannot do at home. Make sure you recognise at least bilberries, which you'll find in most any suburban wood in July–August. Have a map and find any wood reasonably close to a bus stop. For the best experience, prepare a picnic, take the bus and take a walk of a few kilometres. Let the children take their time watching ants and other natural wonders. Don't confine yourself to the broad gravel paths, but immerse in the wood and climb the rocks (in nature reserves you may be confined to the trails, so prefer unprotected woods). You won't get lost: although there are places where you feel like being alone with nature, inside the Turku bypass the nearest house is never more than 500 m away.

Laundry
Unless you have laundry facilities at your lodging, you might want to use a laundrette service:

Dogs
Popular walks include the river banks east of the railway bridge (i.e. by Raunistula and the Student Village). There are compost containers for litter at some locations, but you can also use normal trash bins.

There are havens in several locations, where dogs can run and play without being on a leash. They have a part for small dogs and another for big ones, use common sense for choosing. Don't go there if your dog is ill, aggressive or could otherwise be disruptive for other dogs.

Places of worship
See Churches above for Lutheran and Orthodox churches, the synagogue and a Buddhist temple. The cathedral has services also for a few expat churches and the Orthodox church has services in a few languages. There is another Orthodox church, belonging to the Moscow Patriarchate, by the handicraft museum (by the Russian consulate). There is a Catholic church by the Bridgettine Convent. There are also places of worship of JW, LDS, Pentecostals, Adventists, the Salvation Army and a few more Christian denominations, and humble mosques.

Go next



 * Archipelago Sea – Stretching all the way from Turku to Åland and on to Stockholm, Archipelago Sea forms the largest archipelago in the world by number of islands and includes a national park. Best way to visit is definitely by bike and camping gear – unless you know how to handle a yacht or kayak or can afford a one-week charter of a manned yacht.
 * The Archipelago Trail is a tourist route of 125 or 250 km, using the roads and inter-island ferries to provide access to the archipelago without a boat of your own – and without backtracking. The route can be taken clockwise or counter clockwise, starting from Turku, and continuing through rural archipelago villages and astonishing Baltic Sea sceneries.
 * Kurjenrahka National Park – Kurjenrahka is the largest and most diverse protected mire area in the region, the park includes also lakes and old growth forest. One of the best-known sights in the park is the old boundary mark of eight municipalities. Usually a day trip destination, hikes can be extended to last a couple of days. Beginning 2018 you can reach Kurjenrahka by local bus in summer.
 * The other chartered towns of medieval Finland were:
 * Porvoo (Borgå) – in Eastern Uusimaa, reachable by E18 or the King's Road.
 * Rauma (Raumo) – with a UNESCO World Heritage listed old town, Rauma can be reached by coach from Turku in 1½ hr.
 * Ulvila (Ulvsby) – by Pori in the north of the historic Turku and Pori province
 * Naantali (Nådendal, Vallis Gratiæ) – with the summer residence of the President of Finland Kultaranta, the theme park Moomin World and a beautiful wooden old town, 20-min away by local bus.
 * Vyborg (Viipuri, Viborg) – in its heyday the most metropolitan of Finnish cities; past Porvoo, now in Russia.
 * Åland islands – If you have a day or two to spare there are overnight and day ferries to Sweden and the Åland Islands. Stockholm is 10 hours away, Mariehamn on the Åland islands about 5 hours. While the big ferries take you directly from Turku to the Åland mainland, you can also do some island hopping by taking a smaller ferry operated by Ålandstrafiken from Korpo or Kustavi in the Archipelago Sea.