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Top things to do in Turku

Attractions, tours, and activities in Turku

About Turku

Including tips for the best time to visit Turku

Founded in 1229, the city of Turku on Finland's southwest coast served as the nation's capital until Helsinki took the reins in 1812 – and signs of the 13th century still define the city. Although Turku's influence has waned over the years, it's still a major port town with plenty of attractions to keep visitors busy.

Get a glimpse of Turku's former glory at Turku Castle and Turku Cathedral – two of Finland's most important medieval monuments. Dating back to 1280, Turku Castle is the country's largest fortress. Inside, you'll find banquet halls, dungeons, sculptures and tapestries. The 14th-century, Gothic-style Turku Cathedral is considered the 'mother church' of the nation's Lutheran faith. Although the church has been rebuilt many times due to fire damage, you can still get a sense of its beauty through its stained-glass windows and religious art and artefacts housed inside the small on-site museum. Afterwards, take a stroll down the Luostarinmäki district's cobbled streets to see centuries-old wooden houses and a handicrafts museum where artisans craft shoes, pottery and more.

Modern Turku offers a wealth of distractions for sightseers beyond its historic quarters. The city's energy reaches a peak during the summer, when art and music festivals become the talk of the town and outdoorsy types take to the Aura River to escape city life for the Turku Archipelago. The university crowd also keeps the atmosphere young and lively, whether you're relaxing at a café during the day or bellied up to a bar at night.

Tonight

From $148 per night

This weekend

From per night

Next weekend

From $250 per night

Most popular time to visit October-December
Cheapest time to visit January-March
Local currency € 1 = $1.10
Language Finnish
Average weekend price $166 per night
Average weekday price $162 per night
Average stay 1 night

Points of interest in Turku

Stay near the top sightseeing spots in Turku

Turku reviews

What other travelers say about Turku

8.0

We didn't get to see much of Turku, unfortunately.

August 6, 2023

We didn't get to see much of Turku, unfortunately. We stayed there as it was convenient for Naantali. However, there were a number of museums and galleries etc that I would have liked to have seen.

Craig
Craig United Kingdom
8.0

It is a good experience from spring until autumn.

May 23, 2023

It is a good experience from spring until autumn. In between everything is gloomer with less opportunities. At any time of year, you should not expect that most people will meet your eyes nor smile. Nature is nice and during the summer there are possibilities visiting archipelago. If you are in the downtown, don't forget to visit over 100 year old Turku market hall, where you can have a great lunch and feel the local vibe. There are also plenty of unique nature walks around the sea or forests close b

Kari
Kari Belgium
8.0

Nice places to visit: Turku Castle, Cathedral.

March 1, 2023

Nice places to visit: Turku Castle, Cathedral. The city is beautiful and very clean. Ate a couple of times at Timbuktu. Very nice African restaurant. Public transport is cheap, on-time and convenient. It is 3 euros for two hours on any bus line. The city doesn't sleep in summer time. Firsthand experience!

Opeyemi
Opeyemi United Kingdom
8.0

Just a lovely city with plenty of attractions to visit,...

September 22, 2022

Just a lovely city with plenty of attractions to visit, naval history, medieval castle, lovely parks, plenty of choice regarding eating out (recommend Panimoravintola Koulu; Lone Star (burgers, fries)), easy to get around by walking, bike and/or scooter. Great base for exploring the islands of the Turku Archipelago. Must see attractions include Luostarimaki open air history quarter, walking or running along the Aura river, Turku medieval castle at Linnanpuisto park, Ispoinen beach and Sauna; various historical sailing ships along the Aura.

Brendan
Brendan
8.0

I went to Turku for Knotfest, so I didn't have enough...

August 17, 2022

I went to Turku for Knotfest, so I didn't have enough time to see all the views. But, since I've been to Turku many times, I can tell you that it is an excellent place to visit with many sights to see, and not overly touristy. I recommend seeing Turun Linna (Turku castle), the River Aura, the old wooden neighborhoods, and the Turku cathedral. If you are traveling on a budget, the public transport system works well, unless you use it after midnight when music festivals have just finished, such as Knotfest. In that case, be prepared to get ditched by bus drivers. For cheap food, you can download the ResQ app to buy cheap lunches from restaurants and help reduce food waste in the process. Here's the link, if you would like to check it out: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=club.resq.android&hl=en

Henrik
Henrik Finland
10

Historic city, many things to see.

August 6, 2022

Historic city, many things to see. A mixture of influences and styles gives the village its character. Turku has a charming, homly athmosphere, carefree and safe, where time seems to move more slowly We stayed at roost humalistunkatu, perfectly clean, spacious, well located apartment, and reliable booking (avoid cozy apartment near cathedral at Hämeenkatu 16 if you dont like your written reservation to get cancelled 10 min before arriving late at night without prior notice, just because somebody paid more).

Santiago
Santiago France

Popular places to stay in Turku

Stay in some of the best accommodations Turku has to offer