Cheap flights to Turku

Quick summary

Why track Turku with SniperAir

You do not need to compare prices every day

Airport and getting into town

An airport about 8 km away, linked to the centre and the port by bus

Distance given by Wikipedia (EN, DE) and Wikivoyage (EN); the bus frequency comes from Wikivoyage and should be checked. Times are approximate and fares are not listed because they change.

Turku is the oldest city in Finland. The year 1229, the date of a bull by Pope Gregory IX, is traditionally taken as the year of its founding, although this interpretation is debated. For centuries it was the most important city in the country, and the capital of the Grand Duchy until Helsinki replaced it in 1812.

Turku lies at the mouth of the Aura River, facing the Baltic Sea archipelago. A great fire in 1827 destroyed much of the city, and few medieval buildings survived. Turku was European Capital of Culture in 2011, together with Tallinn, and it has two universities.

The castle and the Aura River

A medieval fortress by the sea

Turku Castle, whose construction began in the 1280s, is the symbol of the city. It served as a residence for the kings of Sweden and as a fortress, and today it can be visited as a museum. The Port of Turku, where the ferries depart, is very close.

The Aura River

The Aura River crosses the city and is its heart: museums, restaurants and cafés cluster along its banks, which form a national urban park. You can walk from the cathedral to the castle, or take the Föri, a small free ferry for pedestrians and bicycles.

The centre

The vast majority of sights are within a kilometre or two of the market square (Kauppatori), which is easy to reach on foot. The Kauppatori is not illustrated: it is described in text only.

The castle's whitewashed walls

The whitewashed walls and rounded towers of the castle overlook the coast. Built of stone from the late 13th century, it was enlarged over the centuries. Check opening hours and visiting arrangements before you go.

A vaulted passage and its cobbled courtyard

This photo shows a vaulted, whitewashed passage opening onto a cobbled courtyard and lit stone buildings; we do not tie it to a specific place. It conveys the atmosphere of the stone medieval fortresses of northern Europe.

The cathedral and the old town

The national cathedral and the district that was spared

Places without a photo in this section are described in text only.

Vanha Suurtori and Luostarinmäki

The Old Great Square (Vanha Suurtori) is the historic heart of the city. The Luostarinmäki district is the only large part of the city that survived the 1827 fire: its wooden houses now hold a living handicraft museum, with craftspeople working in traditional ways.

The cathedral on the banks of the Aura

Turku Cathedral, built in the 13th century, is Finland's national shrine and the country's main medieval church. Its brick tower rises over the left bank of the Aura; this photo shows it at dusk, reflected in the water, with a lit bridge.

The chancel and its altarpiece

Inside, the chancel is dominated by a large painted altarpiece in a gilded frame, lit by tall windows. The cathedral is a working Lutheran church: respect services and visiting rules.

The archipelago, Naantali and Ruissalo

Ferries to Åland and Stockholm, a wooden town and an island of villas

Turku is the gateway to the Baltic Sea archipelago, one of the richest in islands in the world. Ferries link the Port of Turku daily with the Åland archipelago and Stockholm, a trip that has become a tradition for many Finns; check schedules and onboard conditions before you book. Cruise boats and a seasonal water bus also run on the Aura and to the islands.

Ruissalo

Ruissalo island, west of the centre, is a summer destination with beaches, large villas, a nature reserve and the University of Turku botanical garden, reachable by bus (line 28) or, in summer, by water bus. It also hosts a rock festival. The island is not illustrated: it is described in text only.

Naantali

Naantali is a small coastal town about 20 km from Turku, reached by bus or boat. It is known for its old town of wooden houses, its marina and a theme park devoted to the Moomins.

Naantali's old town

The quiet streets of Naantali's old town are lined with wooden houses and trees, with many cafés. It is an easy half-day or day trip, about 20 km from Turku; this photo was taken in Naantali, not in Turku itself.

Museums and culture

From medieval archaeology to contemporary art

The places in this section are not illustrated: they are described in text only. We do not give prices. Many museums can be visited with the Museokortti card.

Aboa Vetus & Ars Nova

This museum combines Turku's medieval history with contemporary art: you walk over the ruins of stone buildings uncovered by excavations, while Ars Nova shows modern art.

Luostarinmäki

The living handicrafts museum occupies the district of wooden houses spared by the great fire of 1827.

Other museums

The Turku Art Museum, housed in a granite building, presents works of the 19th-century national awakening and modern pieces. The Pharmacy Museum and Qwensel House show 18th-century bourgeois life, and the WAM museum is named after the sculptor Wäinö Aaltonen. There is also a biological museum, with dioramas of Finnish wildlife.

Food and drink

Herring, raisin sausage, archipelago bread and coffee

Cooking from sea and land

Turku and south-west Finland have a cuisine influenced by Sweden, Denmark and Germany. Herring, the regional fish, is eaten salted, fried, grilled or smoked; perch, whitefish and pike are also widely used. The city calls itself the food capital of Finland.

Specialities to try

Raisin sausage is a regional speciality; you can buy it, for example, at the market hall. The sweet malt bread of the archipelago, skärgårdslimpa, rye bread and Karelian pies round out the basket. At a café, try pulla, a cinnamon bun, or the Piispanmunkki, the "bishop's doughnut".

Restaurants and cafés

Many cafés and restaurants line the Aura, some on boats. Restaurants often offer cheaper lunch menus on weekdays; kitchens generally close fairly early in the evening.

Getting around

Föli buses, the Aura ferry, bikes, ferries and trains

In town

The centre is walkable. The Föli bus network serves the city and several neighbouring municipalities, including Naantali, Raisio and Kaarina, with harmonised tickets; line 1 links the airport, the centre and the port. Cycle routes are well signposted, and the Föri crosses the Aura free of charge.

Excursions

For Naantali, take the bus or, in summer, a boat. For Ruissalo, bus line 28 or the seasonal water bus. For the archipelago, ferries and seasonal boats serve many islands.

From the rest of the country

Turku is about 166 km from Helsinki: allow around 2 h 15 to 2 h 55 by coach, or take the train. Tampere and Oulu are linked by train; ferries sail to Åland and Sweden.

Budget and precautions

A medium to high budget

Price level

Turku is a medium to high budget destination compared with many European countries. Many sights are free (the Aura riverside walk, the outsides of the castle and cathedral, parks), and lunch menus and markets let you spend less. We give no figures because we could not confirm them from two independent sources.

Flights

The flight remains the most variable cost. SniperAir tracks fares to TKU and compares them with the route's history, but it does not sell or book tickets.

Entry rules and precautions

Finland is part of the Schengen Area: entry requirements depend on your nationality, so check them on official government sites. Also consult the official recommendations of your country of departure. In winter, cold and ice call for caution; if you board a ferry or a sea excursion, follow the crew's safety instructions.

When to go

A coastal climate: cold winters, bright summers

Turku has a humid continental coastal climate under the influence of the Baltic Sea: winter is cold but generally a little milder than inland, and summer is warm and bright. Summer is the best season for the archipelago; winter suits museum visits and the Christmas atmosphere.

By length of stay

What to do in Turku depending on how long you stay

In pictures

Turku in pictures

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions about flights to Turku