City: Southwest Finland
Top Things to do in Southwest Finland
Top Restaurants in Southwest Finland
What to do and see in Southwest Finland, Finland: The Best Places and Tips
Southwest Finland, also known as Finland Proper (Finnish: Varsinais-Suomi, Swedish: Egentliga Finland) is a region in the south-west of Finland. It borders the regions of Satakunta and Tavastia Proper. The region’s capital and most populous city is Turku.
Restaurants in Southwest Finland
1. Turku City Library
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 210 reviews
Reviewed By Raymond W - Chengdu, China
This is not just your average city library. It is a historic building in a Neoclassical style with columns and fine brickwork. It isn't everywhere the local library has a Reading room with Corinthian columns!
I came in here to enjoy the historic architecture but they have a great English language section if you want to sit in a comfy chair and do a bit of Reading. I read a few poems from Derek Walcott's "Collected Poems" and enjoyed the ambience.
2. Turku Castle
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 880 reviews
Reviewed By Elle_Ventrouge - Helsinki, Finland
Did not really expect that this castle can be so interesting! Not overcrowded (at least in March), nicely renovated and having supportive and efficient personnel. Wall thickness is impressive!
Bailey gives a hint about everyday life of people in different centuries through well-preserved rooms. Some of them are accessible, others need to be looked through a plexiglass shield. Both experiences are amazing!
Entrance fee is €11 and covers both the main castle and Bailey. Wear something comfortable, you will have to walk up and down a lot!
3. Luostarinmaki Handicrafts Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 217 reviews
Reviewed By Katherine L
We spent hours exploring the fascinating shops, workshops, and living spaces in this gem of a living museum. Highly recommended, except for those who have difficulty walking. For them, alas, it is quite inaccessible.
4. Aboa Vetus & Ars Nova
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 223 reviews
Reviewed By Nea_Barman - Helsinki, Finland
I have been visiting Turku many times but never visited the museums. This history and modern art museum truly amazed me. Also the museum shop was nice - small but really nice. The cafeteria looked nice sunday afternoon playing jazz. The only down side was that the caffe did not accepted American Express. I so wanted to enjoy class of cava at they nice Terrace but had only amex and museum card. But defenetly if you visit Turku and you love history or art - or just museums - visit here!
5. Forum Marinum Maritime Centre
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 175 reviews
Reviewed By Cheryl M - Spokane, Washington
Turku has centuries long history with maritime industries, including ship building. And the ships built in Turku range from small crafts to ocean going cruise ships, which are more like ocean going cities. Forum Marinum details Turku's marine history quite well. It also has an impressive collection of outboard motors and wooden leisure boats.
My husband and I were tight on time to make a 4 PM Seating at Kaskis so we didn't tour the restored ships at Forum Marinum. From their exteriors, they looked beautiful.
6. Turun Kauppahalli
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 146 reviews
Reviewed By 10Patrick - London, United Kingdom
Good selection of different vendors - market is big enough for there to be a choice but small enough that there is limited repetition. Caters largely to a local crowd - so does not feel as touristed as some of the markets in Helsinki.
7. Turku Cathedral
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 528 reviews
Reviewed By Keith S - Leesburg, Virginia
The change from Catholicism to Lutheranism is very evident in the austere decorations of the Cathedral. The building is interesting, a mix and match on the outside and very nice on the inside with high vaults. The park and trees surrounding are also nice.
8. Naantali Old Town
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 122 reviews
Reviewed By niinan2 - Nurmijarvi, Finland
I visited Naantali town in April. The weather was partly sunny but the wind was chilly. Anyway the view from "Kuparikallio" to the old town was nice and you can also see the "Kultaranta" ( the summer residence of the President of Finland) from there. There is a path to the old town from the Kuparikallio so it's easy to reach after some scenic views.
The old town is really pretty and even the new wooden houses can be easily spot among the old ones I'm really happy that it has remained to be a wooden house area.
It has many nice small shops and the Promenade looks nice. I 'd like to go back the on summer.
9. Turku Art Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 106 reviews
Reviewed By vedet - Turku
Robert Doisneau's "My Paris" exhibition presented more than one hundred photographs by Doisneau, between 1930 and 1980 or something like that. You can always also see part of the permanent collection, which is mostly Finnish and Nordic art, and one of the best in Finland. The collection consists of almost 7000 works.
10. Pharmacy Museum and Qwensel House
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 89 reviews
The Qwensel House is the oldest bourgeois housing from the autarchic times in Turku. The house was built approximately in the year 1700 to an area that was reserved for the nobility. Check for opening times online.
Reviewed By andrewjameswarren - Cambridge, United Kingdom
This place is on the north river walk, but rather hidden away. It is genuinely interesting, with some splendid rooms not only showing a pharmacist lived and worked in the 19th century, but also the herbs and spices employed medicinally. Reasonably cheap to go round, and well worth a half hour visit by the layperson, not just the specialist
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