As well as figuring out what are the best things to do in Turku, you should gain some insight into the city’s surroundings. One of Finland’s most tranquil locations is Turku, an appealing port city that spans the country’s southwest coast. Turku, the oldest city in Finland and the historic capital, was once the most significant city in the nation. It is well renowned for its lively waterfront, magnificent Gothic cathedral, medieval castle, and considerable student population. It also has a long history of shipping.
The easiest way to explore Turku is on foot, because the city is small and quite simple to get around. Almost all of Turku’s must-see sights are close to one another and are located along the Aura River, the city’s principal river.
You can also navigate Turku via the effective public transport system to reach the city’s outlying attractions. Bus tickets can be purchased on the bus with money or a credit card for a single travel that is valid for two hours.
Whether your interests are architecture, museum visits, dining, shopping, or spending time in the park, there are opportunities for all of these in Turku. We’ve listed the best things to do in Turku below.
01) Turku Castle
Among the things to do in Turku, Turku Castle is an unmissable key location. The Turku Castle (Turun linna) is close to the Ora River and the harbor and was constructed in 1280. Turku Castle, the biggest medieval castle in Finland, has performed a variety of roles over the years, including fortification, opulent residential palace, jail, administrative hub, and granary.
It now houses a historical museum. The Castle Church, two superb paneled dining halls, medieval wooden religious statues, and a variety of antiquities, ceramics, linens, silverwork, glass, and toys are among the attractions. You can travel back in time by taking a stroll around Turku Palace’s meandering labyrinthine halls.
02) Turku Cathedral
On the banks of the Ora River, in the heart of the old town, is where you’ll find Turku Cathedral (Turun tuomiokirkko). Its enormous west tower, which soars to a height of 102 meters, is clearly visible from every part of the city. Saint Henrik, the first bishop of Finland, and the Virgin Mary are the patron saints of this brick cathedral.
Turku Cathedral’s interior is very sparse, in keeping with Lutheran churches, yet it boasts lovely stained glass windows. A number of sacred artifacts and relics from the Middle Ages are present.
Daily hours of operation for Turku Cathedral are 9:00–18:00. The modest museum detailing the cathedral’s history is subject to a 2 euro admission price, however the cathedral itself is free to enter. Add this wonderful Cathedral especially among the things to do in Turku.
03) Market Square & Turku Market Hall
The city’s open-air market square (Kauppatori) is the hub of daily activities for the city’s residents. The center of the daily activities of the townspeople is the open-air market plaza (Kauppatori). All buses pass through and there are many shops, cafes and restaurants. Turku Market Square features a number of stalls offering local fresh vegetables, berries, Finnish handicrafts, clothing, books, trinkets and other items.
At the northern end of the area, you can look at Turku’s Orthodox Cathedral while enjoying delicious ice cream from “Attika”.
Exotic items that make great souvenirs include salamiacki, tinned mousse, reindeer jerky and herring. Additionally, there are several food stands where you can grab lunch and a small cafe created from a decommissioned train car.
Monday to Friday from 8:00 to 18:00. and Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
04) The Aura River
One could say that the Aura River (Aurajoki) that flows through Turku is the lifeblood of the city. The 4 km stretch from Turku Cathedral to Turku Castle is lined with notable structures such as cafes, bars, benches, museums, luxury condominiums and the City Hall on both sides of the river.
One of the most enjoyable things to do in Turku is to take a leisurely stroll along the boardwalk overlooking the Ora River. The river often freezes over in winter, and you can walk, slide or even slide on it. Take one of the many bridges connecting the two sides for the greatest views of the Aura River.
The tower cranes of the old Turkish docks, which have become recognizable features of the cityscape, can be seen as you walk towards the Turku Palace and the harbour.
05) Turku Art Museum
Turku’s top art museum, Turku Art Museum (Turun taidemuseo), is housed in a stunning Art Nouveau stone structure that evokes a medieval fortress. Here, there are almost 7,000 works of art. The museum’s collection of modern art and paintings from the Finnish Golden Age is excellent, and the exhibitions are generally well-curated.
The Turku Art Museum is open from Tuesday through Friday from 11:00 to 19:00 and from Saturday from 11:00 to 17:00. It costs 12 euros to enter.
06) Aboa Vetus & Ars Nova
At the Aboa Vetus & Ars Nova museums, contemporary art and archaeology coexist under one roof. Rettig Palace, the former private residence of the proprietor of a tobacco industry, now houses both museums.
The Middle Ages and the 20th century are represented in this area of Turku’s history by the ancient ruins that were unintentionally found here while renovations were being done. The old town’s streets can be traversed and its buildings and cellars can be peered into while excavations are still being done.
07) River Boats
Relaxing aboard one of the city’s riverboats docked on the Ora River is one of the nicest things to do in Turku if you’re there in the summer. Some float up and down the once great river, while others are permanently anchored.
There is nothing better than having a drink on the top deck in the sun while taking in the sights as the river bobs by. Many of them have been turned into bars. Do like the locals do if the bars’ prices (you may anticipate paying roughly 7 EUR for a drink) are too much for you. Grab a few cold cans from the neighborhood grocery store and sprawl out on the grass to enjoy the sun while it lasts!
08) The relaxing sauna
Finland is the sauna capital of the world, and there are many of them there. A sauna visit is a must-do on every visit to Turku if you want to truly experience Finnish culture.
In Finland, there are thought to be around 3.3 million saunas. In the past, the sauna was a place where people meditated, buried their dead, gave birth to children, and smoked fish and meat. Finns utilized saunas as places to meditate, and for some people, visiting a sauna still has a spiritual significance.
Nowadays, saunas are the ideal setting for sipping cool beverages and discussing business with your spouse.
09) Luostarinmäki Handicrafts Museum
The ancient structures from the 18th and early 19th centuries have been replaced with a collection of workshops arranged along narrow alleyways and green courtyards to form the open-air handicrafts museum.
Numerous workshops, including a silversmith, a watchmaker, a bakery, a ceramics studio, a wig, glove, and comb maker, as well as exhibitions of various Finnish arts and crafts, are present.
The best thing about Luostarinmäki is how the museum staff members, who are dressed in traditional attire, demonstrate workmanship and inform visitors about life in Turku hundreds of years ago. The Luostarinmäki Handicrafts Museum is the most fascinating location for both adults and children, thus a visit is definitely advised.
General Information
| Address | Vartiovuorenkatu 2, 20101 Turku, Finland |
| Contact | +358 2 2620350 |
10) Turku’s Green Spaces
Cities in Finland often have a lot more green space than cities in other parts of Europe. Green space makes up about a third of the city’s surface.
A few of the lovely parks in the city :
Kupittaanpuisto park – The largest and oldest urban park in Finland.
Tuomiokirkonpuisto – Cathedral Park is one of the oldest parks in Turku.
Brahenpuisto – Brahe Park – The first public urban park
Samppalinnanpuisto park – Located on one of Turku’s seven hills.
There are numerous opportunities to unwind and take in the outdoors on their lovely green lawns.
11) Forum Marinum in Turku
A collection of museum ships, including two tall sailing ships, four cruisers, and a number of lesser vessels, are moored on the Aura River as part of the Forum Marinum, a semi-maritime display complex. Model ships, architectural blueprints, pictures, and multimedia presentations of Finland’s seafaring, shipbuilding, and provides a detailed overview of fishing and naval feats are all available here.
The ability to board the sailing ships, which are only available during the summer, is the highlight of a trip to the Forum Marinum. You may get a good sense of life on board by exploring the crew and officers quarters and the decks, as well as the galley. The entire ship Suomen Joutsen and the steam-powered MS Bore are the most spectacular.
General Information
| Address | Linnankatu 72, 20100 Turku, Finland |
| Contact | +358 2 2679511 |
12) Traditional Finnish food
Traditional Finnish food is said to be a fusion of Russian, Scandinavian and European flavors. Despite being very simple compared to other, more famous cuisines, there are still some famous Finnish dishes that you should enjoy.
Finns frequently consume meat, game, fish, milk, potatoes, rye and porridge. The most popular soups among Finns are salmon soup and mushy pea soup (hernekeitto) (lohikeitto). The most popular fish dishes in Finland are small fried vendace, pickled herring and fresh or smoked salmon (lohi) (muikku).
Many Finnish restaurants have game meat on their menus. A delicious dish is roasted reindeer (poronkäristys) with mashed potatoes, cranberry or lingonberry sauce. The two most popular sweets in Finland are lingonberry and blueberry pie. Donuts (munkki), cinnamon buns (korvapuusti) and star-shaped plum tarts (joulutorttu) are among additional popular treats.
13) Pharmacy Museum & Qwensel House
The Quenzel House, Turku’s oldest wooden structure, is located by the Ora River. The affluent home’s Gustavian and Rococo interiors, which have been meticulously restored, were constructed around 1700.
The modest but vibrant Pharmacy Museum is housed in the building. Traditional herbal remedies and a variety of other medications used by pharmacists in their line of work are kept in the fascinating museum of medical history. You get a different experience from the glass beakers, scales, measuring tools, and spiral-necked flutes in the museum.
General Information
| Address | Läntinen Rantakatu 13, 20100 Turku, Finland |
| Contact | +358 2 2620280 |
14) Ruissalo Island
A great area to BBQ, play mini golf, swim, unwind, and go for a stroll is Ruissalo. The charming Island may be explored on foot for an entire day, passing gorgeous villas from the 19th century and dense oak woodlands. These factors combine to make Ruisalo the ideal location for a picnic.
In Ruissalo, popular picnic areas include Saaronniemi and Kansanpuisto. At Ruissalo Camping in Saaronniemi, camping is also an option. Jackie and I frequented Ruisalo while we were living in Turku to take advantage of everything it had to offer.
15) Turku Archipelago
A great area to BBQ, play mini golf, swim, unwind, and go for a stroll is Ruissalo. The charming island may be explored on foot for an entire day, passing gorgeous villas from the 19th century and dense oak woodlands. These factors combine to make Ruisalo the ideal location for a picnic.
In Ruissalo, popular picnic areas include Saaronniemi and Kansanpuisto. At Ruissalo Camping in Saaronniemi, camping is also an option. Jackie and I frequented Ruisalo while we were living in Turku to take advantage of everything it had to offer.
16) Kurjenrahka National Park
39 distinct national parks safeguard a sizable portion of Finland’s natural ecosystem. One of these is the Kurzenraka National Park, which is situated around 40 kilometers north of Turku.
The 29 km2 Kurjenrahka National Park was established in 1998. Swamps make up the vast majority of the terrain in the region. This kind of wetland exists. There are also some remote locations with old forests, some of which haven’t seen human activity in more than 150 years.
Gray wolves, brown bears, and Eurasian lynx reside in the park. The Eurasian rhineke, chiffchaff, and osprey are just a few of the many bird species that call Kurjenraka home. Kurjenraka is beloved by many bird watchers.
General Information
| Address | 94 (Ratatie 11), FI-01301 Vantaa |
| Contact | +358 206 39 4000 |