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Turku, Finland
Turku was Finland's capital until 1812 and retains a historic gravitas that Helsinki lacks. The city is built along the Aura River, and the riverside promenade — passing restaurant boats, galleries, and parks — is the city's social backbone. Turku Castle, dating to the 1280s, is the largest surviving medieval building in Finland. Turku Cathedral, Finland's national shrine, anchors the other end of the river walk. The old town, largely rebuilt after a devastating fire in 1827, centers on the Old Great Square with the Brinkkala Mansion and pharmacy museum. The Turku Market Hall sells local delicacies, and the creative Kakola neighborhood on a hilltop occupies a converted 19th-century prison. The Turku Archipelago, reachable by ferry, offers thousands of islands for day trips and coastal walking.
explore by interest
Walk along both banks of the Aura River for different perspectives — the restaurant boats moored along the riverbanks are a Turku institution for dining and drinks.
June through August offers warm days with nearly 20 hours of daylight, while Christmas season brings atmospheric markets and the national Peace of Christmas declaration tradition.