What to Do in Turku During Summer?
What does Turku offer to summer tourists?
Turku, Finland’s oldest city, offers summer visitors a unique combination of history, culture, and natural beauty. In the city, centuries-old traditions and modern urban life meet in a way that delights visitors of all kinds.
The Aura River is the heart of summer Turku, where you can enjoy terrace life, historical attractions, and a lively atmosphere along its banks. The riverside walking route connects the city’s most important attractions, such as Turku Castle and Turku Cathedral, forming an easy way to explore the city’s history.
The Turku Archipelago, meanwhile, opens a door to Finland’s most beautiful marine environment. During the summer months, you can easily explore the archipelago on cruises or by cycling along the archipelago route. Ruissalo Island, with its nature reserves and beaches, offers refreshing experiences just a few kilometers from the city center.
For culture enthusiasts, Turku offers museums, summer theaters, and numerous events. Medieval markets, music festivals, and numerous summer events make Turku one of Finland’s most vibrant summer cities.
What are Turku’s most popular attractions in summer?
In summer Turku, the most popular attractions include historical monuments and the vibrant cultural landscape of the riverbank. These are great places to start your summer city adventure.
Turku Castle is an absolute must-see destination that tells the story of the city’s rich history. This medieval castle is Finland’s largest medieval building and offers interesting exhibitions and guided tours. During summer, the castle hosts special themed tours and events that bring history more vividly to life.
Turku Cathedral, Finland’s national shrine, amazes visitors with its impressive architecture and historical treasures. In summer, the cathedral hosts concerts and other cultural events that bring new life to this historical environment.
The Aura River area is full of life and activities during summer. The riverside walking paths, restaurant boats, and numerous cafés create a unique atmosphere that attracts both locals and tourists. In summer, you can also rent picnic boats on the Aura River, offering a different perspective of the city.
The Luostarinmäki Handicrafts Museum is a living open-air museum that showcases the life of 19th century craftsmen. During summer, craftsmen of various trades work in the museum area using traditional methods, and visitors can observe these traditional work practices.
Forum Marinum, Turku’s maritime center, is an excellent destination for those interested in maritime history. At the museum area, you can explore historical vessels, such as the sailing ship Suomen Joutsen, and diverse exhibitions about the history of seafaring.
What events are organized in Turku during the summer season?
Turku’s summer is full of diverse events that offer experiences for people of all ages. The city comes alive with numerous festivals, concerts, and cultural events.
The Medieval Market is traditionally held at the end of June in Turku’s Old Great Square. The event takes visitors back in time to the atmosphere of the Middle Ages, offering crafts, food, and entertainment in the spirit of the era. At the market, you can watch knight tournament shows, medieval music, and dance.
DBTL (Down By The Laituri) is Finland’s oldest city festival, held in July in downtown Turku. The festival offers diverse music on several stages and brings together music enthusiasts from both near and far.
Ruisrock is Finland’s oldest and Europe’s second oldest continuously organized rock festival. Held at the beginning of July on Ruissalo Island, the festival attracts tens of thousands of visitors and Finland’s top artists. Omena Hotel’s location in the city center makes it a perfect base for festival-goers, as Ruisrock buses run right past the hotel’s door.
The Tall Ships Races brings magnificent sailing ships to Turku approximately every four years. When the event is organized, it attracts a significant number of visitors to admire the impressive vessels and enjoy a diverse range of accompanying programs.
Additionally, numerous smaller events are organized throughout the summer, such as the Turku Music Festival, Night of the Arts, and numerous summer theater performances around the city.
How best to explore the Turku Archipelago?
The Turku Archipelago, one of the most beautiful archipelago areas in the world, is an absolute highlight of a summer visit to Turku. There are many options for exploring the archipelago, and everyone can find the most suitable one for themselves.
Archipelago cruises are the most popular way to explore the archipelago. Cruise ships depart regularly from the Aura River bank, taking passengers to enjoy the archipelago landscapes. Both shorter few-hour cruises and full-day trips further into the archipelago are available. Particularly popular are cruises to Naantali, where you can visit Moomin World, and to the historical island of Seili.
Connecting vessels offer an opportunity to visit archipelago municipalities independently. M/S Norrskär and other connecting vessels operate daily in the Turku Archipelago during the summer season. Schedules should be checked in advance on the Archipelago Sea Connecting Vessel Traffic website.
Cycling on the archipelago route is an excellent way to explore the archipelago more actively. The Archipelago Ring Road is a roughly 250-kilometer route that runs through the archipelago, connecting the mainland, large islands, and numerous ferries. Bicycles can be rented from several places in Turku, and the route can be traveled either in full or in part.
Ruissalo is Turku’s own island, easily accessible by bus or bicycle. The island’s nature reserve, botanical garden, and beautiful beaches offer refreshing experiences just a few kilometers from the city center.
Where to enjoy Turku’s best summer restaurants and terraces?
Summer Turku is known for its lively restaurant and terrace culture, which especially flourishes along the banks of the Aura River. The riverside restaurant boats and terraces are favorite destinations for both locals and tourists.
The restaurant boats located on the eastern bank of the Aura River offer a unique dining experience. Popular options include Svarte Rudolf, Cindy, and Aussie Bar, where you can enjoy good food and drink on terraces with a stunning river view.
The Vähätori area is full of charming restaurants and cafés. Pinella and Tiirikkala offer quality taste experiences in a stylish environment. On summer evenings, the terraces in the Vähätori area are full of life and cheerful chatter.
The Turku Food Walk card is an excellent way to explore the city’s restaurant offerings. The card allows you to taste food from five selected restaurants, giving a good cross-section of the local food culture.
Turku Market Hall is a central destination for those interested in local delicacies. In the hall, you can enjoy traditional Turku foods, such as sausages flavored with Turku mustard or local fish dishes.
For travelers on a smaller budget, we recommend the numerous cafés along the riverside or more affordable options in the market hall. Omena Hotel rooms also have a mini-fridge and microwave for your own snacks.
How to find the best accommodation in summer Turku?
Summer Turku attracts many travelers, so booking accommodation in advance is recommended. Omena Hotel offers an excellent option for summer travelers who value good location, comfort, and affordability.
Omena Hotel in Turku is located right in the heart of the city. Our hotel on Humalistonkatu is just a few minutes’ walk from the Market Square, pedestrian street, and Aura River bank. Summer attractions and events are easily accessible from our hotel, making it a perfect base for exploring Turku.
Turku is particularly charming in summer when the historical city and lively riverside offer countless experiences. At the end of the day, it’s nice to return to a cool and peaceful hotel room where you can relax in a high-quality Finnish bed.
During major events like Ruisrock, accommodation is particularly in demand. Omena Hotel is a popular choice among festival-goers, as Ruisrock buses run right in front of the hotel. So book your room in advance, especially during event times.
Omena Hotel rooms have everything you need for a comfortable stay: a quality bed, private bathroom, air conditioning, as well as a mini-fridge and microwave for your own snacks. Four-person rooms are an excellent option for families or groups of friends.
Omena Hotel offers affordable accommodation in several of Finland’s largest cities. In addition to Helsinki, Tampere, and Turku, you can stay cheaply in hotels in northern Finland as well: Omena Hotel also serves travelers in Jyväskylä, Pori, Vaasa, Joensuu, and Hanko. Book an affordable hotel night at Omena Hotel and make your summer visit to Turku even more comfortable!
