FI
Turku
Finland’s oldest city, on the Aura River, with a medieval castle and cathedral and the archipelago nearby
Finland’s oldest city, on the Aura River, with a medieval castle and cathedral and the archipelago nearby
Founded in the late 13th century, the castle is one of the largest surviving medieval buildings in Finland. Its museum covers its history as a fortress and royal residence.
Photo: Christian David, CC BY-SA 4.0
The mother church of the Finnish Lutheran Church dates back to the 13th century. Its brick tower rises over the city.
Photo: Superchilum, CC BY-SA 4.0
Walkways, boats and restaurants line the river. The small Föri ferry has carried people across it for free for over a century.
Photo: Htm, CC BY-SA 4.0
About 20 minutes away, this old wooden town by the sea is home to Moomin World, a popular theme park for children in summer.
Photo: Pierre Goiffon, CC BY-SA 4.0
Visit the Market Hall (Kauppahalli) for local food, and try smoked fish and Finnish rye bread.
Riverside restaurants and boat cafés are busy in summer.
Trains from Helsinki take about 2 hours. Overnight and day ferries connect Turku with Stockholm via the Åland Islands.
The centre is walkable; buses go to Naantali and Ruissalo.
Finland uses the euro (EUR).
City and archipelago.
Visit the cathedral, the market hall and Turku Castle, and walk the river.
Take a boat or bus to Naantali or an archipelago island.
🛂 Entry rules: EES and ETIAS
Finland is in the Schengen area, which has two EU border systems for non-EU visitors.
EES (in force): since 10 April 2026 the EU’s Entry/Exit System registers non-EU visitors’ passport details, fingerprints and a photo the first time they enter the Schengen area, replacing passport stamps. Allow extra time at the border on your first trip; later crossings are quicker. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens are not registered.
ETIAS (not yet running): a €20 online travel authorisation for visitors who don’t need a visa, such as UK, US, Canadian and Australian citizens. It hasn’t started and no start date has been confirmed, so nobody can apply yet; ignore websites that offer to “pre-register” you for a fee.
Visa-free visitors can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the whole Schengen area, not per country.
Official information: EU: Travel to Europe (EES & ETIAS) · Reviewed September 2026
The Föri ferry across the river is free.
Cycle the island route in summer.
Turku calls itself Finland’s Christmas city.
Days are very long in June and July.
Quick answers for planning time in Turku.
Yes, and it was the capital until 1812.
About 2 hours by train.
In Naantali, about 20 minutes from Turku.
Yes, ferries run via the Åland Islands.
June to August.
Planning a wider trip? Our Finland travel guide covers getting there, costs, when to go and more.