Visit Turku. A day trip from Helsinki

We will meet you in the lobby of your hotel and transport you to the train station. When travelling at a high speed in a pleasant atmosphere for two hours, the time will fly by. Our helpful tour guide will meet you at the platform between 10 and 11 in the morning and take you on a tour of the fascinating city of Turku.

The first capital of Finland was located in Turku, the country’s oldest city. It is a significant economic and cultural centre of Finland.

The city of Turku, which was formerly the capital of Finland, now holds the sixth spot in terms of population but the second spot in terms of significance. There is a concentration of historical monuments representing a wide variety of cultures and time periods.

At the mouth of the Aura River in the 13th century, Turku was established as a town. The history of the city starts with a letter in which Pope Gregory IX grants permission to move the bishopric to the region that is now known as Turku. This letter is considered to be the beginning of the city’s growth.

During that historical period, Turku was not only the biggest city in Finland, but it was also regarded as one of the largest and most significant mediaeval cities among the cities that comprised the Swedish Empire.

One of the most important bastions of secular rule in Finland was the Turku Fortress, which is situated in close proximity to the city itself.

Places to visit in Turku

On the tour to Turku, one of the stops will be at the Turku Castle.

The construction of the oldest section of the castle at Turku began in the 1280s. During the whole Swedish occupation of Finland and up until the very beginning of the 19th century, this was the most important stronghold in the nation and served as the administrative heart of Finland. The look of the castle was brought back to its mediaeval era throughout the 20th century.

The Turku Cathedral is also included in our guided tours of the city. This is the most important Lutheran church in Finland and also serves as the country’s national shrine. The cathedral is the oldest and most important historical landmark in Finland. Its history is intricately intertwined with that of its people, which dates back hundreds of years. In addition to being a museum and a functioning church, it also serves as a location for musical performances.

The museum’s exhibition educates us about the historical phases of the church and church life beginning in the 1300s.

Your journey also includes a visit to the Museum of Folk Crafts. This is without a doubt one of the most important historical buildings associated with urban culture in Northern Europe and represents traditional Finnish cultural values.

The museum has conserved more than thirty craft studios in addition to eighteen different artisan homes. Houses in Luostarinmaki have been converted into workshops, where skilled craftspeople work on various projects. These homes made it through the devastating fire that occurred in 1827 and were able to be restored to their original locations.

The museum re-created scenes of urban life in the historic capital of Finland using artefacts and photographs. Right here, you may get a glimpse into the traditional customs and everyday lives of the locals. There are stores in some of the homes that offer products that were manufactured locally.

Following the conclusion of the trip, you will have the opportunity to have lunch on your own in one of cafes or restaurants and continue independently exploring the city.

The return trip to Helsinki will start on the train at 16:40 local time. Is Turku worth visiting? Yes! We at Scandi Travel hope that you had an enjoyable and educational time on your trip with us.