Things to do in Turku & the West Coast

In Turku, the medieval Turku Castle fills its outer castle and main castle with exhibitions on its history, the people who served the Crown and its halls and chambers, Forum Marinum by the Aura River keeps year-round maritime exhibitions and a fleet of two tall sailing ships, four naval ships and smaller vessels, and Turku Market Hall, opened in 1896 and one of Finland's oldest market halls, is a protected building lined with vendors selling delicacies, from long-standing Turku businesses to newcomers. Föli bus 28 runs from the centre to Ruissalo, a nature-reserve island with marked trails of around 9 km, a seaside promenade and a botanical garden with greenhouses. In nearby Naantali, Moominworld on Kailo Island lets families walk through the Moominhouse, the Witch's House and Snufkin's camp, watch theatre and swim at the beach. Up the coast, Old Rauma is the largest coherently preserved wooden town area in the Nordic countries and is still lived in, with cobbled lanes, ornate gateways and Kitukränn, said to be Finland's narrowest street. Near Vaasa, the Kvarken Archipelago, Finland's natural World Heritage site shaped by land uplift, shows De Geer moraines and uplift forests, and after crossing Replot Bridge, Finland's longest, the 20-metre Saltkaret tower looks out over old fishing harbours. Further north in Oulu, the Science Centre Tietomaa has hands-on exhibitions, a makerspace for trying experiments, a nature exhibition on animal trails and a northern lights experience space.

Good to knowTurku Castle and Forum Marinum are closed on Mondays and Turku Market Hall on Sundays, so a Tuesday to Saturday visit covers all three. Last entry at Turku Castle is 30 minutes before closing and its guided tours are seasonal, while Forum Marinum's museum ships can be boarded only in the summer months. Moominworld opens only in summer and is reached from Turku by buses 6 and 6A in about 35–50 minutes. Guided walks of Old Rauma start from the Rauma tourist office on Saturday afternoons, the Saltkaret tower is open year-round, and on Ruissalo stay on the marked paths, as most of the island is protected. Tietomaa opens daily with family tickets, and on rainy or cold days it, Turku Castle and Forum Marinum's exhibitions are good indoor picks, with Turku Market Hall a warm lunch stop.