Things to do in Turku
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Åbo Discotek
A good place for dancing to chart music.
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Kino Thalia
Shows more off-beat films and art-house releases.
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Akateeminen Kirjakauppa
Stocks maps, English-language books and foreign newspapers.
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Akateeminen Kirjakauppa
Stocks maps, English-language books and foreign newspapers.
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Julia
Central cinema in the same building as the hotel of the same name.
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Dynamo
Eclectic sounds with local DJs duelling national bands for places on this busy bill.
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Monk
Turku’s best (OK only) jazz club in town plays live jazz, funk and Latin, with DJs on weekends.
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Concert Hall
Founded in the 1790s, the Turku Philharmonic Orchestra is one of the oldest in Europe; it performs here.
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Kauppahalli
The historic kauppahalli is ideal for groceries and quick eats, and its brilliant cafe, Sininen Juna.
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Puutorin Vessa
This bar is unusually set in what was formerly a public loo! There's toilet humour and paraphernalia on the walls and a sunny terrace.
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Samppalinnan Swimming Stadium
At the Samppalinnan Swimming Stadium, the entry fee includes a sauna and use of the 50m pool, which has diving boards.
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Kauppatori
The kauppatori hosts a fruit and vegetable market, but there’s no shortage of grilli (fast food) and kebab shops here.
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Turku Biological Museum
In a beautiful building, the Turku Biological Museum features much of Finland’s wildlife represented in realistic dioramas.
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Svenska Teater
Next to the Hansa Shopping Arcade, this is one of the oldest theatres in Finland and it hosts well-known musicals with performances in Swedish.
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Wäinö Aaltonen Museum
Wäinö Aaltonen Museum displays sculptures by the famous artist, with temporary exhibitions of contemporary and experimental art.
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Impivaara Swimming Hall
In winter, go to the indoor Impivaara swimming hall for swimming and a sauna, north of the city centre (take bus 13 to Impivaara).
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Bossa
First-rate Brazilian food is the order of the day at this vibrant eatery, from heart steaks to black-bean soups. Tuesday night features live music that jazzes up the joint.
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Cosmic Comic Café
Sipping coffee in the sea of comics (both papered to the walls and available to browse) at this late-night haunt is a fanboy’s dream but there are also some good cakes on offer.
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Turku Cathedral Museum
The cathedral museum has models showing stages of the cathedral’s construction from the 14th century, as well as medieval sculptures and religious paraphernalia.
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Cafe Fontana
Close to the city’s heart, this art nouveau cafe serves up delicious pastries and pies. Inside it’s classic Nordic pine tables but the outdoor terrace is the beating heart of the city.
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Three Beans
Serious caffeine freaks converge on this little shop for their java hits, because of the fresh-ground beans and espresso machine. They also do take-home beans and light lunches and pastries.
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Teini
Something of an institution with city workers for its lunch specials, this traditional grill house does great fish, lamb and steaks in an atmospheric little dining room. Dinner is a little pricey.
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Uusi Apteekki
South of the river, this bar is a converted old pharmacy where medication has been dispensed from over a hundred spent beer bottles. It attracts an older local crowd and is ideal for the quiet drink.
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Sininen Juna Aschan Café
This is a neat little café where you sit in a converted train carriage. The name translates as 'blue train'. It's run by a famous Turku bakery, which supplies the delicious bread, buns, and cakes.
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Old Bank
This former bank remains a grand monument, with the trappings of an Irish pub and a formidable roster of beers. The crowd is usually male and older, often enjoying a post-work drink or watching the hockey.
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