Turku

Turku is Finland’s oldest city and its former capital, yet its historic importance sits comfortably beside an energetic contemporary life. The Aura River provides the city’s natural spine, linking the medieval cathedral and cultural quarter with market halls, museums, restaurant boats and the harbour. Walking or cycling along its banks is the simplest way to understand how Turku fits together.

At the western end of the river, Turku Castle traces more than seven centuries of Finnish and Swedish history through stone halls, chapels and exhibitions. Upstream, Turku Cathedral anchors the old city and remains one of Finland’s most important medieval buildings. Aboa Vetus Ars Nova combines excavated streets from medieval Turku with contemporary art, revealing how much of the earlier city still exists beneath the modern one.

Turku is also a gateway to Finland’s southwest archipelago. Ferries and seasonal cruises extend the journey into a landscape of rocky islands and sheltered waterways, while the city itself has developed one of Finland’s strongest dining scenes. Summer is the most animated season, with long evenings beside the river, but Turku’s museums, market hall and restaurants make it a rewarding cultural stop throughout the year.