Turku, Finland2-3 hoursMorning
Turku Castle
Finland's largest surviving medieval fortress on the Aura River.
Ideal: Good for history, fortress architecture, and routes beyond Helsinki.
Construction began around 1280 and it is Finland's largest surviving medieval structure. Turku was the country's capital until 1812; it lost that status with the Great Fire of Turku in 1827 — the blaze that destroyed three-quarters of the city was Finland's greatest urban disaster and the university moved to Helsinki afterwards. The castle was bombed in 1941 and restoration took decades. The museum inside spans sections from medieval halls to the 20th century.
Why go?
- To see Finland's medieval history
- To discover Turku's cultural and historic character
- For a different city experience outside Helsinki
Travel tip
If doing Turku as a day trip, add the castle to a route around the Aura River.
