Turku walking tour & city guide
Finland's oldest city on the Aura River.
Video by Earth Walking Tours on YouTube. All rights belong to the creator. Like or comment on YouTube â
Turku, on Finland's southwest coast, is the country's oldest city and its former capital. The Aura River, lined with cafés and boats, flows through its center to the archipelago.
The river and history
Turku Cathedral is Finland's national shrine. Turku Castle, near the harbor, dates back to the 13th century. The riverside is the place to be on summer evenings.
The archipelago
The Archipelago Trail connects thousands of islands by bridges and ferries. The Moomin World theme park is in nearby Naantali.
A day in Turku
Turku is Finland's oldest city and former capital. Walk along the Aura River, lined with cafés and restaurant boats, to Turku Cathedral, the national shrine of the Lutheran church. Visit Turku Castle, a medieval fortress near the harbor, and the LuostarinmÀki handicrafts museum, a district of wooden houses that survived the great fire of 1827.
In the afternoon, explore the Market Hall, then take a boat into the archipelago.
Good to know
The Turku archipelago has about 20,000 islands; the Archipelago Trail is a famous route by bike and ferry.
Ferries to Stockholm and Ă land leave from Turku. Moomin World, a theme park in Naantali, is nearby.
Top sights in Turku
- 1
Turku Castle
A medieval castle.
- 2
Turku Cathedral
Finland's national shrine.
- 3
Aura River
A riverside with boats and cafés.
- 4
LuostarinmÀki
A handicrafts museum of old houses.
- 5
Archipelago Trail
Island hopping by bridge and ferry.
Food markets & where to eat in Turku
Turku Market Hall
A historic market hall.
River boats
Restaurants on boats along the Aura.
Market Square
Local produce and snacks.
Food to try in Turku
Archipelago bread
A dark, sweet malt bread.
Smoked fish
From the archipelago.
Mustard
Turku's famous sweet mustard.
Opening hours and prices change often. Please check with each place before you visit.
Plan your trip to Turku
Enjoyed the walk? Here is everything you need to see it for real.
- Hotels in TurkuCompare places to stay and prices.
- Tours & ticketsWalking tours, museums and day trips in Turku.
- eSIM for FinlandStay online from the moment you land.
Some links may be affiliate links: if you book through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
More cities in Finland
â¶ 4 videosHelsinki
A design capital by the Baltic Sea.
â¶ 4 videosTampere
A red-brick city between two lakes.
â¶ 4 videosRovaniemi
Santa's hometown on the Arctic Circle.
â¶ 4 videosPorvoo
Red riverside warehouses and wooden houses.
â¶ 5 videosOulu
The tech capital of northern Finland.
ⶠ5 videosJyvÀskylÀ
Alvar Aalto's lakeside university city.
â¶ 5 videosLahti
Ski jumps, a harbor and a concert hall of wood.
â¶ 5 videosKuopio
Lakes in every direction.
â¶ 5 videosSavonlinna
A medieval castle in the middle of a lake.