Straddling the Aura River, Turku is the former capital of Finland and the country’s oldest city. It is known amongst Finns as the “Christmas City” due to its illuminations and window displays and has been declared the country’s “Food Capital” due to its abundance of high-quality restaurants.
Things to do in Turku
Overlooking the mouth of the Aura River is the 13th-century Turku Castle, which is the largest medieval building in Finland. It was originally built to defend the Swedish province of Österland and served as a palace, a seat of government and a prison during the following centuries. Open to the public as a museum, its rooms are decorated with period furnishings and knights’ armour.
One of the most important religious buildings in Finland is the Turku Cathedral, which overlooks a medieval market square. It was originally constructed from wood in the late 13th century before being expanded with stone in the 14th and 15th centuries. Take note of the elaborately decorated altar and the hanging votive ship before seeing the tomb of Karin Månsdotter, the 16th-century Queen of Sweden.
You can take a step back in time at Kuralan Kylämäki, an open-air village museum on the eastern outskirts of Turku. It has been recreated as it would have appeared in the 1950s, complete with an experimental workshop, residential houses and a working farm. You can try your hand at churning butter or join a hunting bailiff on a walk through the surrounding wilderness.
Getting around Turku
Turku Airport is a 10-minute drive from the city centre and has flights to destinations across Europe. Daily trains connect from Helsinki to the Turku railway station, while ferries travel from Stockholm to Turku’s port. Buses travel throughout Turku, although most of the city’s attractions can be accessed on foot.