How to Get to Turku, Finland
According to baglib, 8 km from Turku there is an international airport that receives regular flights from Budapest, Riga, Warsaw and some other European cities. There is no direct communication with Russia, you will have to fly with a transfer. The shortest flight (3 hours 50 minutes) is offered by Air Baltic with a transfer in Riga. In 4 hours 45 minutes you can fly with Aeroflot and Finnair with a change in Helsinki. Departure – from Sheremetyevo.
From airport to city
Between the airport and Turku, regular buses run by the carrier Foli (off. site in English) departing every 20 minutes. Bus number 1 departs from the platform on the lower tier of the airport. Its final stop is “City Port”, it is more convenient to get off earlier at the “Trading Square” stop – this is the central district of Turku. Travel time is 15 minutes. The second option: rent a taxi, the fare starts from 22-27 EUR.
Despite the fact that almost every taxi has meters, it is better to agree on the cost of the trip in advance – this will help to avoid unpleasant surprises at the end of the route.
From Helsinki by train and bus
Popular route option: by train from Helsinki. Trains leave every hour from the Central Railway Station, which operates seven days a week from 5:00 to 1:30. Carriers: InterCity (off. site in English) and Pendolino (off. site), approximate travel time – 2 hours, ticket price 16-25 EUR.
Another way is the commuter bus. Departs from the Central Station (Kamppi) at Urho Kekkosen katu, 1; about 55 flights to Turku per day, the key carrier is OnniBus (off. site in English). Ticket price starts from 25 EUR, travel time – from 2.5 hours.
From St. Petersburg by bus
Every day a bus departs from St. Petersburg to Turku, following from Vosstaniya Square to Helsinki Airport (the route may vary, depending on the flight and carrier). Travel time from 8 hours to 12 hours. Carriers: FinEstTour (off. site), Finnlinkgroup (off. site), Fintaxi (off. site), Scan Line (off. site), Tour-Voyage (off. site), ticket price starts from 27-30 EUR.
Transportation
Buses
Turku is a compact city, which is easy to get around on foot if you wish, so only buses are available from public transport. They run around the clock, from 23:00 to 4:00 there is a night rate. The cost of the train is quite high, so it is more profitable not to pay for each trip separately, but to purchase a daily pass. You can do this with the driver (it is better to have change money with you with a face value of no more than 20 EUR) or in ticket machines at bus stops.
When a bus approaches, wave to the driver. Otherwise, he may pass by.
Taxi and bike rental
Among tourists, a taxi is popular, which can be caught at official parking lots or called by phone. A trip within the city will cost 10-12 EUR. You can check the price in advance with the operator receiving the call. If you take a car in the parking lot, it is better to agree on the cost of the trip in advance.
A good way to see the key sights is to rent a bike. This can be done in the tourist center, along with transport, the traveler is given a helmet and a city bike map indicating the parking lots. But rent is possible only during the summer season, in October the service ceases to operate.
Turku Hotels
Hotels and inns in Turku are dispersed throughout the city. Most travelers tend to stay in the center, close to key attractions. For example, Park Hotel Turku 4 * operates here, captivating guests with individually designed rooms and proximity to the railway station. Accommodation – from 137 EUR per day, breakfast included.
More affordable housing is worth looking for in remote parts of the city, and in its vicinity for 60-70 EUR you can rent a spacious cottage with a picturesque terrace. Apartments are also rented in Turku itself – they are more popular than hotels. Hostels are also open in the city – the most economical option. A bed, for example, in the Linnasmaki hostel costs from 66 EUR per day. Guests can use the shared kitchen, outdoor pool, free Wi-Fi.
Turku Card
To save money, you can apply for a Turku Card tourist card, which provides additional benefits in the form of free admission to city museums and discounts at local restaurants. Program participants are constantly changing, the exact information will be known when the card is issued (a brochure is issued along with it). You can buy a card at the tourist center at the address: Aurakatu, 2.
The principle of use is simple: the tourist chooses how long he will use the card, which determines the cost of the Turku Card. It is especially beneficial for those who want to get the most out of the city and get around the key attractions in 1-2 days.
There are interesting offers for lovers of gastronomic tours: get a Turku Food Walk bonus card. With it, you can try several dishes for free at 5 out of 10 restaurants participating in the Food Walk program (their addresses and menus are indicated in the brochures that tourists receive when applying for a card).
