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Turku PET Symposium 2025 | 6-9 June 2025 | Turku, Finland

About Turku

Welcome to Turku

Turku, the oldest city of Finland, founded in 1229, is today the dynamic capital of its region, Southwest Finland, an exciting mixture of old and new. Turku is proud of its strong community spirit, innovation, and close cooperation with the institutes of higher education.

Turku has a compact size, perfect for exploring the city. You’ll find most hotels, restaurants, and attractions within walking distance of the centre. If you have a chance, visit also the unique and beautiful Turku archipelago! And, as you plan your journey, learn how you can travel sustainably and help Turku to be carbon neutral by 2029.

Discover TurkuFive ways to travel sustainably in Turku

Modern, yet historic

Turku, the former capital of Finland, lies 165 kilometres west of present-day capital Helsinki. Turku offers a skilled and educated workforce, modern municipal engineering, good international connections and flexible services for companies and businesses.

Situated at the mouth of the River Aura, Turku is a major port city today.

Turku is known as a bilingual city; around five percent of the population is Swedish-speaking. A great portion of Turku residents are students: every fourth person is either student or professional in higher education institute.

Urban life is focused around the river, and some of the most interesting sights are located on its banks, such as the Turku Castle, Finland’s national shrine the Turku Cathedral, and the Old Grand Market Square.

Turku facts

  • one of the largest cities in Finland
  • the first school in Finland was established in Turku, the old Cathedral school in the 13th century
  • wo universities and four universities of applied sciences
  • 40 000 higher education students
  • more than 100 nationalities in the area
  • declared the Food Capital of Finland
  • surrounded by a unique archipelago of thousands of islands and skerries

Getting around

Within Turku and its neighbouring areas, you can get around in many different ways. Public transport in the Turku region is provided by Föli’s bright yellow buses. Journeys can be paid using a travel card, cash or a mobile ticket. A single ticket costs only 3 € and lets you travel for two hours, allowing you to change bus as many times as you like. You’ll get more information about the local buses on the Föli website.

Föri is Turku’s own little city ferry, which travels across the River Aura between Wechterinkuja (on the west side) and Tervahovinkatu (on the east side). The treasured ferry has been transporting Turku residents since 1904, and, truth be told, you cannot say you’re truly from Turku before riding for free aboard Föri. The ‘cruise’ lasts about two minutes, enough time to admire the beautiful views of the River Aura. The ride is completely free from the moment you jump on board. Read more about Föri.

What could be a more convenient way to go on an adventure around the city than a bike?

The Turku region’s public transport service, Föli, introduced in spring 2018 the new Föli-bikes, and nowadays it’s impossible not to come across these yellow bikes when moving about the city.

The city bike-share system consists of bikes that are for public use for short-term use and which can be picked up and dropped off at bike stations around the city, so you can drop off the bikes wherever you go. Instructions for registering as well as using the bikes can be found on the Föli website.

Combine culture and outdoor recreation

Cultural exercise routes located around the Aura river are a refreshing combination of culture and exercise. Take your time and explore Turku and its love stories, statues and urban legends. You can walk, run or cycle, the choice is yours. Read more here.

Book your Turku and Archipelago experiences easily from here

Experience Turku, its surroundings and the beautiful Archipelago by booking day tours, activities and multiday packages from Book Turku website.

Book Turku
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