Turku (Finland)

Advantages: Road sign to Tampere!!!
Disadvantages: Still part of Finland

...about city of Turku. Turku or Abo (like Swedish call it) founded in the 13th century, is the oldest and fifth largest city in Finland, with a population over 174 000. Today Turku is third largest city in Finland after Helsinki and TAMPERE. Turku has one of the largest Finland-Swedish populations in the country and it was also the capital from 1809 to 1812. History: In school I learn that Turku was found by Swedish its name originated from an Old ...
...Finland after the Cathedral of Turku was consecrated in 1300, and Turku Castle and the Dominican monastery were founded in 1249. In 1640, the first university in Finland, the Academy of Åbo, was founded in Turku. Turku was also the meeting place of the States of Finland in 1676. I'm very happy that after the Finnish War, which ended when Sweden ceded Finland to Imperial Russia at the Treaty of Hamina in 1809, the capital was changed from Turku to ... Read review

Advantages: Superb bars, laid back, friendly
Disadvantages: Fewer things open in off season, not for lazy visitors

Situated in south west Finland, Turku is the closest major city to Sweden, and as such is often regarded with some suspicion by residents of other parts of the country; in particular it is the focus for some considerable rivalry with the city of Tampere some two hours or so north (which seems to me just too far to have any kind of point). Turku is a seaport and it is used by many holiday makers a as base for exploring what is known as the south ...
...available all year round. Turku was capital of Finland until Helsinki took the title in 1812; sadly, few of the medieval buildings still exist and this makes it visually less appealing than some of the other Baltic cities such as Tallinn or Helsinki. This does mean that Turku is a place where you have to work a little for your entertainment; there are attractive places to wander or to sit and people watch but on the whole you do have to make a bit ... Read review

Advantages: Cheap, choice of destinations, good food
Disadvantages: Not first class luxury

...by Viking Line are; Stockholm (Sweden) Helsinki (Finland) Kapellskär (Sweden) Långnäs (Åland) Mariehamn (Åland) Turku (Finland) Most ships sail every day from Helsinki & Turku in Finland to Stockholm (Sweden) and vice versa. The Åland Islands (which belong to Finland) are reached from Turku or Helsinki in Finland and also from Stockholm or Kapellskär in Sweden. The port terminals themselves are modern, with computerized check-in, and friendly staff to greet you, and issue boarding passes. Boarding is reasonably quick and trouble free. PRICES ****** Prices are somewhat difficult to explain, as they vary widely depending on the type of cabin, the route, the time of year, size of your party etc, so I will provide a couple of examples from experience. Day crossing between Stockholm and Marieham, and back again, April... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: cheap and chearful
Disadvantages: not for finding peace and quiet

...Viking line cruises go between Helsinki and Turku (finland ) and Stockholm (sweden). I use the cruises as a cheap means to visit my friend in stockholm, I live in helsinki and flights anywhere from helsinki are expensive. The journey takes 16 hours, but dont worry because there is plenty to keep you busy on the boat. There are various accomodations, if you travel in a seat which reclines you really can get a bargin with prices for a return trip varying from 4 to 10 english pounds. If you are a real party goer and dont intend on sleeping much anyway this is a good option. All of the cabins have own facilities, the cheapes cabins are under the car deck and classed a C, these sleep 4 people in two bunk beds and have own bathroom (as do all the cabins). When i have stayed in a C cabin the price has varied based on season from 20 to 40... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Good value, great food, safe, plenty to do
Disadvantages: Can't sail from the UK!

.... Silja has been chosen by the Swedish travel agency sector, 8 times as the best shipping company doing travel business in Sweden. So all in all, top marks to the company, they seem to be doing something well, which has aided their success. ROUTES ------ Silja operates several routes including: Helsinki - Stockholm Helsinki - Tallinn Helsinki - Rostock Turku - Stockholm As well as routes to Gotland, an ancient and popular island off Sweden, Åland, another island between Sweden and Finland, and also to Riga in Latvia. The Swedish and Finnish archipelago, with thousands of tiny islands, little villages and bays is a stunningly beautiful and tranquil place to cruise through, at any time of the year. The four hour journey through the archipelago at the start or end of your journey is one of the most scenic cruise ship... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful