Turku Travel and Tourism Guide

Turku (Åbo in Swedish) is one of Finland’s largest cities with approximately 175,000 residents. It is located in the Southwest corner of Finland. Formerly Finland's capital, Turku just celebrated its 778th birthday in 2007, making it the oldest city in Finland.

It is home to Turku Cathedral (Tuomiokirkko), the mother church of Lutheran Finland. The Aura River runs through the city as it flows toward the Baltic Sea. Turku also has a charming castle that sits along the coast in a picturesque setting. The marketplace (kauppatori) serves as the hub for the local bus system as well as the center to buy fresh fish, produce and Finnish mementos. On the Aurakatu side of the marketplace, you can find Hansa, a shopping center that boasts 150 charming shops all under one roof. Turku has an active music scene in the summer with major events that include Ruisrock (one of Europe’s oldest rock festivals, occurring in July), and Down by the Laituri (occurring in the end of June). There are also various places in the city in which to view famous Finnish artwork such as the Wäinö Aaltonen Museum, the Aboa Vetus & Ars Nova (Old Turku/New Art) or the Turku Art Museum.

Turku is easily accessible from Helsinki by bus or train (2 hours by either mode of transportation) and is a short ride away from Stockholm via the Viking Line or Silja Line cruise ships. While in Turku, you can find more information at the tourist office in downtown Turku on Aurakatu 4.