Founded in 1229 (or at least that is the date that documents mention a marketplace in this part of Finland — Turku, in fact, translates to “market”). Turku is approached through an archipelago of 40,000 islands and islets before passing the Ruissalo nature park en route to the port. Less than two miles from the city center, the port offers cruise passengers shuttle and taxi service to the city center, or cruise passengers may walk along a promenade to the center. Next to the port is Turku Castle, dating back to the 1280s.
Most Popular Excursion
Situated in the southwest corner of Finland, where two gulfs of the Baltic sea meet – the Gulf of Finland and the Gulf of Bothnia – Turku is Finland’s oldest city. Once the country’s capital city, Turku boasts a beautiful medieval castle, a fine cathedral and stylish boat restaurants. One of the most superb archipelagos in Europe opens up from the coast of Turku and stretches out into the Baltic Sea. Excursions include Ox Road-Medieval Tour; Middle Ages from the Sauna to the Church; the Route of War and Peace; an Afternoon with Sibelius; Guided Tour in the City Center of Turku; and Historical Turku, from the Viking Days to the Manor Era.
Shopping
In Turku, visit Hansa Shopping Center, situated in the center of Turku and featuring nearly 200 boutiques, cafés, restaurants and the department store Stockmann.
Museums
Turku’s Luostarinmaki Handicrafts Museum is an open-air museum where craftsmen working in original workshops demonstrate pre-industrial skills and lifestyles.
Maritime Museums
Turku’s Forum Marinum features famous vessels such as Suomen Joutsen (The Swan of Finland), the mine ship Keihässalmi and the beautiful bark, Sigyn.
Turku is the oldest city and the first capital of Finland. The city was founded in the 13th century and became a centre of trade, administration, religion and civilisation for the Baltic Sea region and for Finland. Turku’s long and rich history can be seen in its cityscape with Turku Castle and Turku Cathedral as its most important symbols of the Middle Ages. As recognition and confirmation to that fact, the city of Turku will act as the Cultural Capital of Europe in 2011.
On the journey to Turku the cruise passenger travels through a breathtakingly beautiful archipelago with some 20,000 islands and islets, one of the biggest in the world. The port is located at a sheltered place at the mouth of the river Aura, which runs through the city. A dedicated cruise pier opened in 2008 for smaller vessels with a beautiful location next to the medieval Turku Castle.
Turku is a city full of life and activities, has a compact size and easy walking distance for exploring. Every summer visitors can attend the highly popular Medieval Market that fills the city’s Great Old Square, enjoy the Turku Music Festival, rock festival Ruisrock or the open air `Down By The Laituri’- festival, just to mention a few. The Aura riverbanks are worth a visit since they are pulsing with life when people gather there to dine, listen to music, watch different performances or just take a nice stroll.
Being the cultural city of Finland, you also find a wide variety of museums and art galleries that are highly valued both in Finland and abroad. For example, the Sibelius museum provides an insight into the life and music of the great Finnish composer Jean Sibelius, the Luostarinmäki Handicrafts openair museum an insight into artisans’ work and life of past times – to name a few. For nature lovers and more active people the Ruissalo Island is right next to the port with diverse nature and an ideal place for excursions. From 23 to 26 July 2009 Turku will host the spectacular sailing event The Tall Ships’ Races attracting spectators from all over Europe.
The city is a highly innovative technical centre, some of the world’s largest cruise vessels are built in Turku and the shipyard is also worth a visit, either by riverboats or by buses. Turku is the official Christmas City of Finland from where the Proclamation of Peace is broadcast to many countries.
Turku is the main gateway between Finland and Scandinavia. Turku is clean, safe and friendly with something to offer every visitor. A FIVE STAR CRUISE PORT WELCOMES YOU!
Avid Cruiser Posts, Photographs and Videos Featuring Turku.
