Travelling to & around Turku

Getting to Turku is a piece of cake. The city has an airport, harbour, bus depot, and three railway stations, so you’re bound to find an option that’s just right for you. We encourage you to plan your journey carefully and aim to minimize your carbon footprint.

You can fly directly from Stockholm, Riga, Gdansk and Rome, or pick a convenient connection with SAS via their Stockholm hub or with airBaltic via their Riga hub. Flight times to most Western European capitals take ca. 4 hours including the stopover. It`s fast and easy to fly from compact sized Turku airport, which is located 8 km or 25 min public bus ride away from the city center. More flight connections are also available from Helsinki-Vantaa airport, located 170 km or ca. 2,5 hours bus ride from Turku.

Turku is not far from Sweden and ferries travel back and forth between Stockholm/Kapellskär and Turku, with a stopover in Mariehamn, on daily basis. It’s around 11-hour journey and you’ll find tax-free shopping, live entertainment, dining options, and even a sauna and wellness services onboard.

Viking Line and Silja Line are are the main ferry operators between Turku and Stockholm, but you can also choose a faster 8-hour connection with Finnlines between Kapellskär and Naantali (15 km from Turku), if you are arriving with a bike/car/charter bus, as it`s required to travel with a vehicle on Finnlines ships.

Turku harbour is located just over three kilometres from the city centre, so you can walk there or hop on a Föli bus.

If you’re coming to Turku from another city in Finland, why not travel by bus? It’s a popular and inexpensive option, especially when you book your trip in advance. Plan your journey with Matkahuolto route planner, which gives you a lot of options to get from one place to the next. The bus ride to Turku from Helsinki or Tampere takes a bit over 2 hours.

A convenient and sustainable way to travel to Turku is by train. VR manages the railway network in Finland, and the trains are clean, safe, and punctual. There are hourly services to Turku from Helsinki and multiple daily services from Tampere. The journey to Turku takes less than 2 hours from both cities – and is filled with beautiful scenery.

Turku has three railway stations. There are long-term (2022-2026) track works along the Helsinki route, meaning that the trains between Helsinki and Turku operate to and from the Kupittaa station only. The trains to and from Tampere operate from Turku Central Station and Turku Harbor Station. Kupittaa station is located 2 km from Turku city center. More information about the connections between Kupittaa and the city center can be found here.

Note! The Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency track work will affect train journeys between Helsinki and Turku from the 29th of July to the 10th of October, 2024. Buses will occasionally replace some of the train journeys on the route. You can find the most up-to-date information on the replacement bus services and timetables through the VR journey search. 

More info here.

The only thing easier than getting to Turku is getting around once you’re here. The city has bike-friendly paths, a stress-free public transportation system, and even water buses in the summertime. Turku is also is incredibly compact, so it`s easy to walk around the city.

There’s no better way to experience Turku than by strolling around the city. You’ll find most hotels, restaurants, and attractions within walking distance of the center. Plus, it’s almost impossible to get lost. All you need to do is follow the Aura River.

If you travel by foot, you’ll also be able to take a ride on Föri, the city’s beloved city ferry, or hop on the funicular, which will take you to the top of Kakolanmäki Hill.

• Föri
• Funicular

As you walk around Turku, you’ll notice bright yellow bikes sprinkled around the city. These are citybikes managed by Föli, the local public transport system, and are available for anyone to use during the summer season (usually from April to October). Just download the Donkey Republic app, register, and the app will guide you through the rest. There are plenty of bike stations in the city, and the app has a map where you can easily find the nearest one.

The bikes are designed for short-term use, and costs only €2 for the first hour. 
If an electric bike is more your thing, you can rent one from 10bikes or Carfield Bike Rental.

• Fölläri bikes
• 10bikes
• Carfiel Bike Rental

Föli maintains a first-rate bus network. Just like their bikes, Föli buses are bright yellow and affordable. A single adult ticket costs €3 and it’s valid for two hours. If you would like even more flexibility, you can purchase a one-day ticket or a multi-day pass.

There’s no need to worry about sticking close to the centre. Föli oversees public transport in the surrounding region, so you can travel as far as Kaarina, Raisio, Naantali, Lieto, or Rusko, and it’s still the same price. Use the Föli journey planner to get up-to-date info on routes and timetables.

• Föli

Turku is not only a coastal town; it’s a gateway to a spectacular archipelago, combining over 40,000 islands and islets. The archipelago begins from the city center on the Aura River, and it stretches to the far west and Åland. 

With all this water around the city, it’s no surprise that it’s easy to get around by boat. You can hire a private river taxi, or even cruise down the Aura River with your own electric boat.  

Föli also runs water buses to the nearby island of Ruissalo in the summer months. It takes around 45 minutes and it’s not more expensive than a regular bus ticket. You can also travel to Naantali or Loistokari island on S/S Ukkopekka, a classic steamship that was built way back in 1938. If you would like to head even further out to the sea, Rosita Cruises runs daily excursions to the popular island of Vepsä. 

• Föli
• Låna
• River Taxi Aura 1
• Rosita Cruises
• S/S Ukkopekka

Taking a taxi is a convenient solution when you’re short on time. There are loads of taxi operators in Turku.

During the summer season, you can also take a Biketaxi. It’s definitely the coolest way to get around Turku and they work just like taxis: either give Biketaxi a call or flag one down in the city. Plus, the bikes are electric, so the environment will be just as happy as you.  

• Biketaxi Turku

While Turku is bound to captivate you, there is also plenty to explore in the surrounding region. Renting a car is easy, affordable, and perfect for those excursions that take you beyond the city limits. Operators like Avis Car Hire Turku offer a wide range of models, suitable for every type of traveller and journey. 

• Avis Car Hire Turku