A tasting tour of Turku - local delicacies from dawn till dusk

Due to the wonderful hotel, restaurant and cafe selection in Turku, you really have some great breakfast options! And the best thing is that even if you’re not staying at a hotel you can still enjoy breakfasts there as well. Hungry diners can indulge in a rich breakfast buffet each day of the week at both the Sokos Hotel Wiklund’s Trattoria and the Radisson Blu Marina Palace. Also, located at the corner of the market square is the iconic Scandic Hamburger Börs, where you can get a refreshing and energetic start to your day with a bountiful breakfast. After all, breakfast is the most important meal of the day!

The 10-year-old Fabbes Café advertises itself as Turku's coolest café and serves breakfast that includes porridge, omlette, Fabbes’ own bread, jam, juice and coffee. The charming Fabbes Café is known for its delicious, homemade products. A popular place amongst students, located close to the Turku university, just a stone's throw from Turku Cathedral.

*Breakfast in Turku is also served, for instance, at Tiirikkala, Café Helmi, Bistro Elli and Fazer Café (Aurakatu 10).

After breakfast, it’s a good time to visit the boutiques or museums in the centre of Turku. At the same time, pick out a perfect picnic place, and find your lunch ingredients from Turku’s Market Square and the Market Hall.

At Turku Market Square you will find, for example, Lindroth and Sorri's enticing counters serving the best salads and seasonal vegetables. Excellent social media content is guaranteed, so don’t forget to snap away! On top of that, you will find, for example, fruit, berries and mouthwatering smoked fish at the market.

Complement your picnic treats with goodies from the great selection in the Turku Market Hall, whether that’s bread, cheese or even sushi and spring rolls. In other words, you can choose to select your own seperate products or pick up a pre-made meal to enjoy on your picnic. In addition, remember the Turku-products from the city’s famous MBakery the popular Turku chocolate, liquorice balls and a Turku bun filled with caramel cream!

*Definitely sit down for a drink at the market café! However, watch out for the winged ones in the queue, as the seagulls see themselves as regular customers.

*At the Turku Market Hall, be sure to swing by and admire the variety of fish products at the counters of Herkkunuotta and S. Wallin. If you'd prefer vegetarian food, Roots Kitchen is the place for you! 

Following a filling lunch it’s great to go for a pleasant walk. Why not take a stroll all the way to the Turku Castle? Along the way it’s easy to step into the maritime centre Forum Marinum, an authentic presentation of maritime Turku, as well as enjoying the giant Daisy, a piece of art located in the forecourt. Another great reason to get the camera out again!

Don’t miss taking a ride on the legendary Föri ferry. Delicious ice cream is waiting for you when you disembark on the opposite shore!

*If you want a longer ride on the waves and desire to explore even a tiny bit of the archipelago take the Föli water bus. It will take you from Turku to Ruissalo, and only for the price of one bus ticket!

If hunger starts to kick in again then it must be time for an afternoon treat!

The sheltered courtyard of Cafe Qwensel, located next to the Pharmacy Museum, is like travelling in time to the past. The 18th Century milieu is the perfect place to enjoy homemade delicacies, such as, fresh Norwegian donuts, tasty scones and delicious savory pastries.

*Other popular riverside cafes include Café Art, Café Sirius and Café Paawo. Also try out the popular doughnuts at Café Ankka!

After eating so much you might require something to wash it down with, and that’s where one of the many Aura riverboats come to the rescue! With a refreshing drink in hand, watch the walkers strolling along the shore whilst enjoying the music and sunshine from the deck of a riverboat. With so many restaurant boats in the river bank, everyone will find one they like! As an example, Donna is a common choice amongst locals!

*The restaurant boats are fixed in place, but the pearls of the river, the Jakke Jokilautta and Låna's rental boats sail the river, under the Auransilta bridge and pass by the famous sailboat called Suomen Joutsen. Just find a stop and jump onboard! However, you will need to buy a ticket.

When evening comes, it's time to move from the riverboats to the large Kirkkopuisto terrace, which stretches out in front of the Turku Cathedral. On the Kirkkopuisto terrace you will find a wide selection of drinks as well as quality food, provided by some of the most famous restaurants in Turku. A large area of the terrace is a sheltered park that still gets plenty of sun. So take a rug with you, stretch out on the grass and if you’re lucky, you can enjoy some live jazz while you’re there!

When the evening turns to night and there's still some room left in your stomach, it's time to test another classic: the famous sausage & potatoes from Mantu's Grill in Olavinpuisto. Don’t hold back on the spices and you’re guaranteed to keep your hunger away (at least until morning).

*The hamburger chain Hesburger is from Turku, and a very suitable option after a night out. The secret is in Hesburger's famous mayonnaise! Be like a real local and just ask for “ranut Hesen majoneesin kera”.