Turku, Finland

City guide

Turku

June-August for archipelago boat trips and river-side terracesBest time
FinlandRegion

Turku is Finland's oldest city and former capital, built along the Aura river between a medieval castle at the river mouth and a Gothic cathedral upstream. It's also the gateway to the Turku archipelago, one of the world's largest, and to ferries across the Baltic to Stockholm.

What's on in TurkuPlan your trip
Photo: Ninara / CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

About Turku

Turku is Finland's oldest city and former capital, built along the Aura river between a medieval castle at the river mouth and a Gothic cathedral upstream. It's also the gateway to the Turku archipelago, one of the world's largest, and to ferries across the Baltic to Stockholm.

Country: FinlandPopulation: 195,301Time zone: UTC+2
Turku, FinlandTurkuSee what's on

The vibe & who it suits

Turku is Finland's oldest city and former capital, built along the Aura river between a medieval castle at the river mouth and a Gothic cathedral upstream. It's also the gateway to the Turku archipelago, one of the world's largest, and to ferries across the Baltic to Stockholm.

Best forMedieval castle and cathedral sightseeing; archipelago boat trips; ferry connections to Stockholm
When to goJune-August for archipelago boat trips and river-side terraces
Getting aroundWalkable centre along the Aura river; local buses; rail to Helsinki; ferry terminal for Stockholm and Aland routes
Where to stayRiverside near the Cathedral or Market Square, within walking distance of the castle and the Aura river promenade
Maybe skip ifYou want a large-city range of shops, museums and nightlife

What's on in Turku

Today & upcomingThis weekendThis monthFreeπŸŽ‰ Festivals🎡 Music⚽ Sport🎭 Culture & ArtπŸ‘¨β€πŸ‘©β€πŸ‘§β€πŸ‘¦ Family FriendlyπŸ›οΈ Markets & Fairs🀝 Community

What's on in Turku

Filter upcoming events by date and type, or open the full finder.

UpcomingThis weekendThis monthFull events finder
All event typesπŸŽ‰ Festivals🎡 Music⚽ Sport🎭 Culture & ArtπŸ‘¨β€πŸ‘©β€πŸ‘§β€πŸ‘¦ Family FriendlyπŸ›οΈ Markets & Fairs🀝 Community

No upcoming events matched β€” try another date range or browse the full finder.

Open the events finder

Turku travel guides

Planning around events? These guides collect 2026 calendars, festival clusters, and practical trip ideas so you can compare dates before you book.

Best places to visit in Finland in 2026

More ways to explore Turku

Partner links

Partner experiences in Turku

Tours, airport transfers and boat trips around Turku from partner platforms.

GetYourGuideViator

Commission-linked options appear once you allow partner content.

Opens partner sites for live prices.

Plan your stay in Turku

Travel insuranceSort your travel cover before you go β€” compare policies in minutes.Get insured
eSIM for TurkuStay connected without a local SIM card β€” instant activation, no roaming charges.Get eSIM

Useful city info

Where to stay in Turku

Compare hotels and stays around Turku for your dates.

πŸ›οΈ Find places to stay

Plan your trip to Turku

Build an itinerary with flights, stays and what's on while you're there.

🧳 Plan this trip

πŸ“¦ Build a trip package β†’

Partner links

Flights & hotels to Turku

Search live prices on our travel partners.

Search flights to TurkuFind hotels in Turku

We may earn a commission from bookings at no extra cost to you.

2026 guides

Planning around events? These guides collect 2026 calendars, festival clusters, and practical trip ideas so you can compare dates before you book.

Best places to visit in Finland in 2026

Planning your own trip? Open the trip planner