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Looking to finish off my trip to Finland with a destination outside of Helsinki, I choose to visit Turku. As Finland’s oldest city and former capital, I was hoping that the city would offer a mix of activities and sights. My reasoning was spot on. Turku was a pleasant and worthwhile destination.
In this post, I’ll summarise the Turku tourist attractions that I saw plus provide essential travel information at the end.
Just to note, Turku is known as Åbo in Swedish.
WHERE IS TURKU?
Turku is located on the coast of Southwest Finland, approximately 2 hours by train from Helsinki.
TURKU TOURIST ATTRACTIONS
Turku Castle (Turun Linna)
Turku Castle dates back to the 13th century and has been used as a residence and a prison during its lifetime. It now houses a historical museum.
Unfortunately, I was unable to gain access to much of the castle as my visit coincided with a music festival on the grounds. Saying that, it looked like a well-preserved site so would be of interest to those keen on seeing the medieval construct.
River Aura walk/cycle
The River Aura flows through the city and is the perfect backdrop for leisurely strolls by foot, by bike or by scooter. The riverbanks are lined with cafes, restaurants, and historic ships that have been turned into floating museums, restaurants, and a floating hostel in the case of the SS Bore. I really enjoyed this area and would consider it the number one spot in Turku city to visit.
Turku Cathedral (Turun Tuomiokirkko)
Nestled among a tree-lined riverbank, Turku Cathedral is Finland’s main Lutheran cathedral. Consecrated in 1300, it is not only a place of worship but also a museum showcasing the history of Christianity in Finland. Climbing the cathedral tower provides a panoramic view of Turku. During my visit, it held an exhibition outside the building.
Statues
Like Helsinki, Turku has its share of interesting statues. Ones that impressed me were the statues named Ice Sea and Meeting in Turku 1812. The former is dedicated to seafarer and winter shipping pioneer, August Uppman. The latter statue commemorates the meeting in Turku of Crown Prince Karl Johan of Sweden and Tsar Alexander I of Imperial Russia to form an alliance against Napoleon.
There are also some interesting urban play spaces in the Kauppatori (Market Square) worth checking out.
Turku Archipelago Boat Trip
My boat trip of the Turku Archipelago was simply amazing and consider it a must-do activity when in Turku. If you want to spend a carefree day with a salty breeze through your hair, then this is the Turku tourist attraction for you. The archipelago comprises over 20,000 islands with some of the larger islands inhabited.
Our boat headed in a southwest direction, meandering through the smaller islands until we reached our first stop at Seili (Swedish = Själö), an island where a leper colony and hospital was built in 1619. It later housed a mental asylum up to 1962.
The second stop was the island of Nagu (Swedish = Nauvo), known locally as the St Tropez of Finland. As the island has hiking and cycling paths, and sheltered areas for swimming, kayaking and other water sports, it comes recommended for active travellers. I visited in the first week of June and found the sea water of the archipelago surprisingly warm. I regretted not bringing my swimming costume.
The Archipelago Trail explores all the main islands of the region. Hop from island to island on ferries and bridges by car, motorbike, bicycle or by foot. For further information, see the archipelago’s website.
TURKU TRAVEL ESSENTIALS
How long to spend in Turku
I spent two days in Turku. One entire day was devoted to the archipelago boat trip. All other sites were visited in one day.
Where to stay in Turku
Turku is a long, narrow city but I consider the Kauppatori as the central point of the city. For general sightseeing such as the above sites, I recommend staying within 500 metres of the Kauppatori.
Getting to Turku
Turku is well served by direct buses and trains from Helsinki.
Getting around Turku
Turku is a walkable city. However, the walking distance to Turku Castle from Kauppatori was quite long, so I rented one of the many pay-as-you-go scooters scattered along the riverbank.
Arrivals Hall 