Turku is Finland’s oldest city, a southwest-coast hub of just over 210,000 people, with its official founding usually dated to 1229. Set on the Aura River near the Baltic archipelago, it was Finland’s most important city under Swedish rule and served as the country’s capital before that role moved to Helsinki in 1812. Today it’s known for Turku Castle, the medieval cathedral, riverside restaurants and bars, and a strong student and cultural scene. The city also works as a gateway to the Finnish archipelago, with ferries, island routes and coastal day trips close by. Getting in and around is straightforward via Turku station, Turku Airport and ferry connections to Sweden, while the compact centre is easy to cover on foot or by local bus.

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