8 days in Turku & Helsinki Itinerary

Sitting at the mouth of the Aura River, Turku is one of Finland's quaintest and most historically rich towns.

Start off your visit on the 2nd (Sun): grab your bike and head to Bike Rental - by Carfield, explore the galleries of Turku Castle, then get your game on at Moomin World, and finally make a trip to Naantali Old Town. Keep things going the next day: kick back and relax at Ispoinen Beach and Sauna, examine the collection at Luostarinmaen Kasityolaismuseo, and then look for all kinds of wild species at Kurjenrahka National Park.

To see where to stay, traveler tips, ratings, and other tourist information, read Turku trip planner.

London, UK to Turku is an approximately 9.5-hour flight. You can also drive. You'll lose 2 hours traveling from London to Turku due to the time zone difference. Traveling from London in August, expect slightly colder with lows of 12°C in Turku. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 3rd (Mon) early enough to drive to Helsinki.

Finland's largest and most populated metropolis, the maritime town of Helsinki boasts varied architecture, a lively cafe culture, and plethora of picturesque natural delights.

Deepen your sense of the past at sights like Sea Fortress Suomenlinna and Uspenskin Cathedral (Uspenskin Katedraali). You'll explore and learn at Seurasaari Island and Open-Air Museum and Galleria Lapinlahti. Step out of Helsinki to go to Espoo and see Nuuksio National Park, which is approximately 48 minutes away. There's lots more to do: admire the landmark architecture of Temppeliaukio Church, pause for some serene contemplation at Helsinki Cathedral, find your balance on the water with some of the best stand-up paddleboarding in the area, and surround yourself with nature on a nature and wildlife tour.

To see more things to do, ratings, traveler tips, and tourist information, go to the Helsinki sightseeing planner.

Traveling by car from Turku to Helsinki takes 2 hours. Alternatively, you can take a train; or fly. Expect a daytime high around 24°C in August, and nighttime lows around 13°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 8th (Sat) to allow time to travel back home.