This large port city at the mouth of the Aura River was founded in 1229 and was the Finnish capital until 1812. It's a great place to spend a few relaxing days—locals claim it has the best climate in Finland.
The Turku Art Museum houses one of the most important collections of modern Finnish art in the world. Also visit the open-air Luostarinmaki Handicrafts Museum, which is a preserved part of old Turku (it survived the great fire of 1827, which leveled most of the city). Check out the covered market—one of the oldest in Finland (be sure to look for the famous "no vagrants" sign); walk through the 18th-century wooden quarter; tour the Apothecary's House and the Qwensel House and look carefully at the amateurish-looking pen-and-ink drawings—they are not what they seem.
For great architecture, spend at least an hour at the 13th-century Turku Castle and stop at the 15th-century Turku Cathedral (note the star-vaulted ceiling and marble sarcophagus of Queen Catherine Maansdottar). Music buffs can listen to the music of Jean Sibelius in the Sibelius Museum and see the impressive modern concert hall.
On the Aura River, stop in one of the converted sailing ships for an evening drink. There are two superb museums nearby: Aboa Vetus and Ars Nova. Aboa Vetus is the ruins of a medieval town found during the castle's renovation. Ars Nova, built above the ruins, exhibits contemporary art. Turku is especially lively in August, when the city hosts numerous special events and festivals, including Ruisrock, Finland's largest rock-music festival.
Turku also has what is thought to be the oldest synagogue in Finland. It is architecturally interesting because it's built in traditional Russian shtetl style. Seeing the inside, however, may be more difficult, as it seems never to be open and no one ever answers the telephone.
Just west of Turku, the charming port town of Naantali began as a settlement surrounding a 15th-century convent. It's dotted with old wooden houses, and you can't miss the massive Naantali Church, which dominates the harbor. Once a destination for religious pilgrims, Naantali now draws pilgrims of a different sort. It's the home of the Muumimaailma, or Moomin World—a theme park based on the characters of a popular series of Finnish children's books. The town is usually full of families with wide-eyed children excited about visiting the Moomins. Those interested in art and literature will prefer the Muumi museum under the city library in Tampere. Naantali has a chamber-music festival in June. Turku is 95 mi/155 km west of Helsinki.
