Turku

Finland’s Oldest City, Riverside Charm

Turku is Finland’s oldest city, located along the southwestern coast where the Aura River meets the sea. Founded in the 13th century, it carries centuries of history visible in its medieval castle ruins and cobblestone streets. Today, Turku balances old charm with modern life. The city hosts lively markets, museums and cultural events throughout the year. Its proximity to nature means easy access to forests, islands and coastal walks. Visitors can explore historic sites or relax by the water while enjoying local food and traditions that reflect Finnish culture.

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City in Finland

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$	Cheap
$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

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Safety: 8.0

General Safety:	8
Health & medical:	8
Accessibility:	7
Tap water:	9

Read details

4/5

Most locals, especially younger people and those in hospitality, speak good English. Menus, signs, and tourist information are widely available in English, making it easy for international visitors to get around.

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Last update: 12 Oct 2026

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Turku Summary

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Great for riverside culture and history. Visit the medieval castle and cathedral, walk waterfront paths and enjoy summer festivals and cafés.

Place score

7.3

Best at:

Spotless

Walkable

Castles

Cosy towns

Rivers

Personal score

Suited for

👶 7

Families

🧓 7

Seniors

♻️ 8

Sustainability

🛡️ 7

Travel Beginners

Finland – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	230 V, 50 Hz Plug: Type C , Type F Type C: Type F: Read about power adapters
Currency:	Euro (EUR) £1 ≈ €1.19
Cashless info:	Rating 5/5 Cashless payments are very common, and even small transactions are typically cashless. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is not customary, but rounding up the bill or leaving a small amount is appreciated.
Public drinking:	Public drinking is regulated and often prohibited outside designated areas.
Public smoking:	Smoking is restricted in public spaces and near entrances.

Midsummer (June)	Public celebrations occur nationwide.
Independence Day (December)	Cultural events and commemorations happen.
Christmas (December)	Festive markets and closures.

Emergency contact:	Emergency Number: 112 (Police, Fire, Ambulance)
Taxi apps:	Uber, Bolt
Other:	Saunas are an essential part of Finnish culture. Winter can be extreme, so pack accordingly.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Turku, Finland

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Jan

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Feb

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Mar

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Apr

🌤️

May

🌤️

Jun

🌤️

Jul

🌤️

Aug

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Sep

☁️

Oct

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Nov

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Dec

High season:	June - Aug.
Shoulder season:	May, Sep., Dec.
Crowdedness:	7 (Many tourists)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

Archipelago islands, ferries and summer cafés operate mainly June to August, many close from September to May

Medieval Christmas Market and Declaration of Christmas Peace on 24 December draw visitors in December

Ruisrock festival takes place on Ruissalo island in early July

Don't miss

🏰 Explore medieval Turku Castle and grounds
🚶‍♂️ Stroll along the Aura River with charming cafes
⛪ Visit Turku Cathedral, a Gothic architectural marvel
🛠️ Discover history at Luostarinmäki Handicrafts Museum
🍲 Browse local flavors at Turku Market Hall
⚓ Explore maritime heritage at Forum Marinum museum

You've been here?

Why travel to Turku?

Turku is a dream for culture lovers and history buffs. Stroll along the Aura River, where the city’s life unfolds among museums, art galleries and centuries-old landmarks like Turku Castle and the Cathedral. The city’s culinary scene is famously creative, with cozy riverboat restaurants and lively markets. Summer is packed with festivals, while winter brings a magical, quieter charm – sometimes even allowing you to walk on the frozen river! Just a heads up: Turku can be expensive, especially dining out and the weather is famously unpredictable – be ready for rain or chilly winds even in summer. Still, the friendly vibe, walkability and access to the world’s largest archipelago make it a fantastic base for exploring southwest Finland.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Moomin World
2 Turku Cathedral
3 Old Great Square
4 Turku Castle
5 Turku Art Museum
6 Wäinö Aaltonen Museum of Art
7 Aboa Vetus Ars Nova

🎡Places for activities

1 Samppalinna Swimming Stadium
2 Turku Science Park
3 AB Dance Company
4 Ruissalo Spa
5 Turku Main Library

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 The Botanical Garden of the University of Turku
2 Ruissalo
3 Kupittaa Park
4 Kurjenrahka National Park
5 Archipelago Sea
6 The Archipelago Trail
7 Hirvensalo
8 Vartiovuori
9 Aura
10 Koroinen
11 Kakskerta
12 Halistenkoski

🛍️Shopping

1 Market hall
2 Market Square
3 Sokos Wiklund
4 Stockmann

🎈Events

Medieval Market (June/July)
Ruisrock Festival (July)
Turku Music Festival (August)
DBTL (Down By The Laituri) Music Festival
Christmas Peace Declaration (December 24)
Turku Day (September)
Archipelago Sea Jazz
Turku Food and Wine Festival
Turku Book Fair
New Baltic Sea Film Festival
Turku Medieval Market
Turku Music Festival
Christmas City Turku
Turku Food & Wine Fair
Paavo Nurmi Marathon
Europeade Festival
Turku Day
Down By The Laituri Festival
Ruissalo Festival
New Year’s Celebration at Cathedral

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Knowledge before you go

Walk the Aura River; it links most key sights.
Use Turku as a base for archipelago day trips; ferries and cruises depart nearby regularly.
See Turku Castle and Turku Cathedral early; they anchor the city’s oldest history and atmosphere.
In summer, linger on the riverside restaurant boats at sunset – locals treat the Aura banks as Turku’s living room.

How to travel to Turku

Turku is accessible via Turku Airport (with flights from Helsinki and Stockholm), a major ferry terminal (with daily ferries from Stockholm and Åland) and excellent train and bus connections from Helsinki and Tampere. The main train and bus stations are centrally located.

Access summary

From Turku Airport (TKU): Local bus or taxi to centre, about 15–25 minutes.
From Helsinki: Direct train or long-distance bus, roughly 2–2.5 hours.
From Stockholm: Overnight or daytime ferries to Turku harbour, then short bus ride.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Turku

You’ll find everything from boutique hotels and cozy guesthouses to international chains and riverside hostels. For a unique experience, try a riverboat hotel or stay on Ruissalo Island for nature and spa access. Book early during summer festivals.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

Radisson Blu Marina Palace Hotel, Turku

8.7

Naantali Spa Hotel

8.3

Scandic Hamburger Bors

Explore more accommodations

How to get around Turku

Turku is compact and walkable, especially along the Aura River. Buses cover the city and suburbs efficiently and cycling is popular in warmer months. Ferries connect to nearby islands like Ruissalo. The city center is easy to explore on foot, but for the archipelago, consider renting a bike or car.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

+15 %

Daily expenses in Turku are around 15% higher than the average across United States. That means you'll spend more on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-3 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to EUR) is 3% better than in recent years. That means travelling now costs around the same compared to the past.

Travel costs

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£60	£134	£395
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£19	£45	£113
🍝 Food per day	£30	£77	£245
🚕 Transportation per day	£11	£12	£37

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£32
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£10.50
🍟 Fast food combo	£9
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£10
☕ Cappuccino	£3.60
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£6.50

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£2.70
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£21
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£1.50

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£14
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£55
🤧 Cold medication	£8
💇 Basic haircut	£21

Safety information overview

General safety

Turku is very safe, with low crime rates. Standard precautions are enough; watch out for icy sidewalks in winter and keep an eye on your belongings in crowded markets or festivals.

Health & Medical

Excellent healthcare is available, with pharmacies and clinics throughout the city. Emergency care is reliable. Tap water is safe, but bring any personal medications as pharmacy hours may be limited on weekends.

Accessibility

Most public areas, transport and attractions are accessible, but some historic sites have stairs or cobblestones. Buses are wheelchair-friendly. In winter, snow and ice can make walking tricky for those with mobility issues.

Tap water

Tap water is high quality and safe to drink everywhere. Public fountains are available in parks and at the riverfront. Carry a reusable bottle to stay hydrated.