Editing Turku

{{short description|City in southwest Finland}}
{{For|the traditional Turkish folk songs|Türkü}}
{{Redirect2|Åbo|Aabo|other uses|Abo (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2021}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Turku
| official_name = {{lang|fi|Turun kaupunki}}<br />{{lang|sv|Åbo stad}}<br />''City of Turku''
| other_name = 
| native_name = {{native name|sv|Åbo}}
| native_name_lang = 
| nickname = Paris of Finland,<ref name="timeout"/><ref name="paulig"/><ref name="kissmyturku"/> Food Capital of Finland
| settlement_type = City
| total_type = 
| motto = 
| image_skyline = {{multiple image
 |border = infobox
 |total_width = 270
 |image_style = border:1;
 |perrow = 1/3/3/2
 |image1 = View from Turku Cathedral tower.jpg
 |alt1 = 
 |image2 = Turku Castle.jpg
 |alt2 = 
 |image3 = Vexillum aboense.jpg
 |alt3 = 
 |image4 = Tall Ship Races Turku 2009.jpg
 |alt4 = 
 |image5 = Julfred utlyses Gamla Stortorget 2009.jpg
 |alt5 = 
 |image6 = Turun tuomiokirkko edit.jpg
 |alt6 = 
 |image7 = Turku Medieval Market, market booths.jpg
 |alt7 = 
 |image8 = Turku Aura River Summer.jpg
 |alt8 = 
 |image9 = Turku Car-free zone.jpg
 |alt9 = 
 }}
| imagesize = 270px
| image_caption = <small>'''Top row''': aerial view of Turku from atop [[Turku Cathedral]]<br />'''2nd row''': [[Turku Castle]]; Flag of Turku; [[Tall Ships Races]] in Turku<br /> '''3rd row''': The [[Christmas Peace]] Balcony of Turku; [[Turku Cathedral]]; [[Turku Medieval Market]]<br /> '''Bottom row''': summer along the Aura River; view of [[Yliopistonkatu (Turku)|Yliopistonkatu]] pedestrian area</small>
| image_seal = 
| seal_size = 
| image_shield = Turku.vaakuna.svg
| shield_size = 120x80px
| image_blank_emblem = 
| blank_emblem_type = 
| blank_emblem_size = 
| image_map = Turku sijainti Suomi.svg
| mapsize = 
| map_caption = Location of Turku in Finland
| image_map1 = {{hidden begin|title=OpenStreetMap|ta1=center}}{{maplink|frame-width=250|frame=yes|frame-align=center|plain=yes|zoom=9|id=Q38511|type=shape|stroke-width=2|stroke-color=#000000}}{{hidden end}}
| map_caption1 = Interactive map outlining Turku.
| coordinates = {{Wikidatacoord|Q38511|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|Finland}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[Regions of Finland|Region]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Southwest Finland]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[Sub-regions of Finland|Sub-region]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Turku sub-region]]
| subdivision_type3 = Metropolitan area
| subdivision_name3 = [[Turku metropolitan area]]
| leader_title = Mayor
| leader_name = [[Minna Arve]]
| established_title = First historical record
| established_date = 23 January 1229<ref name="earlyhistory"/><ref name="turku-790"/>
| established_title1 = First possible appearance on map
| established_date1 = 1154<ref name="earlyhistory"/>
| established_title2 = Capital city
| established_date2 = 17 September 1809 – 8 April 1812<ref>{{cite web |url=https://yle.fi/news/3-5486170 |title=Bicentennial of Helsinki as Finnish capital |work=[[Yle News]] |date=8 April 2012 |access-date=8 April 2022 |archive-date=8 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220408064025/https://yle.fi/news/3-5486170 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.helsinkitimes.fi/finland/finland-news/domestic/1978-lobbying-for-helsinki-200-years-ago-2.html |title=Lobbying for Helsinki 200 years ago |work=[[Helsinki Times]] |date=19 April 2012 |access-date=8 April 2022 |archive-date=29 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220629153447/https://www.helsinkitimes.fi/finland/finland-news/domestic/1978-lobbying-for-helsinki-200-years-ago-2.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
| area_footnotes = 
| area_magnitude = 
| area_total_km2 = {{Data Finland municipality|area_total_km2|Turku}}
| area_land_km2 = {{Data Finland municipality|area_land_km2|Turku}}
| area_water_km2 = {{Data Finland municipality|area_water_km2|Turku}}
| area_water_percent = 
| area_urban_km2 = 
| area_metro_km2 = {{formatnum: {{#expr: {{Data Finland municipality/land area|Kaarina}} + {{Data Finland municipality/land area|Lieto}} + {{Data Finland municipality/land area|Naantali}} + {{Data Finland municipality/land area|Raisio}} + {{Data Finland municipality/land area|Rusko}} + {{Data Finland municipality/land area|Turku}}}}}}
| area_rank = {{Data Finland municipality|area_rank|Turku}}
| population_as_of = {{Data Finland municipality|population_as_of|Turku}}
| population_footnotes = {{Data Finland municipality|population_footnotes|Turku}}
| population_total = {{Data Finland municipality|population_total|Turku}}
| population_density_km2 = {{Data Finland municipality|population_density_km2|Turku}}
| population_demonym = 
| population_metro = {{formatnum: {{#expr: {{Data Finland municipality|population_total|Kaarina}}+{{Data Finland municipality|population_total|Lieto}}+{{Data Finland municipality|population_total|Naantali}}+{{Data Finland municipality|population_total|Raisio}}+{{Data Finland municipality|population_total|Rusko}}+{{Data Finland municipality|population_total|Turku}}}}}}
| population_blank1_title = 
| population_blank1 = 
| population_density_metro_km2 = 
| population_urban = 
| population_density_urban_km2 = 
| population_rank = {{Data Finland municipality|population_rank|Turku}}
| population_note = 
| demographics_type1 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics_type1|Turku}}
| demographics1_footnotes = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics1_footnotes|Turku}}
| demographics1_title1 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics1_title1|Turku}}
| demographics1_info1 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics1_info1|Turku}}
| demographics1_title2 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics1_title2|Turku}}
| demographics1_info2 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics1_info2|Turku}} (official)
| demographics1_title3 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics1_title3|Turku}}
| demographics1_info3 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics1_info3|Turku}}
| demographics1_title4 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics1_title4|Turku}}
| demographics1_info4 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics1_info4|Turku}}
| demographics_type2 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics_type2|Turku}}
| demographics2_footnotes = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics2_footnotes|Turku}}
| demographics2_title1 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics2_title1|Turku}}
| demographics2_info1 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics2_info1|Turku}}
| demographics2_title2 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics2_title2|Turku}}
| demographics2_info2 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics2_info2|Turku}}
| demographics2_title3 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics2_title3|Turku}}
| demographics2_info3 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics2_info3|Turku}}
| blank_name = {{Data Finland municipality|blank_name|Turku}}
| blank_info = {{Data Finland municipality|blank_info|Turku}}
| timezone = [[Eastern European Time|EET]]
| utc_offset = +02:00
| timezone_DST = [[Eastern European Summer Time|EEST]]
| utc_offset_DST = +03:00
| postal_code_type = Postal code
| postal_code = 20000–20960
| area_code = 
| website = {{URL|https://www.turku.fi/en|turku.fi}}
}}

'''Turku''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|t|ʊər|k|uː}} {{respell|TOOR|koo}};<ref>[https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/us/Turku "Turku"] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190412194906/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/us/Turku |date=12 April 2019 }} (US) and {{Cite dictionary |url=http://www.lexico.com/definition/Turku |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200322182157/https://www.lexico.com/definition/turku |url-status=dead |archive-date=22 March 2020 |title=Turku |dictionary=[[Lexico]] UK English Dictionary |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] }}</ref><ref>{{Cite Merriam-Webster|Turku|access-date=12 April 2019 }}</ref> {{IPA|fi|ˈturku|lang|Fi-Turku.ogg}}; {{langx|sv|Åbo}}, {{IPA|sv-FI|ˈoːbu|lang|Åbo.ogg}}) is a city in [[Finland]] and the regional capital of [[Southwest Finland]]. It is located on the southwestern coast of the country at the mouth of the [[Aura River (Finland)|River Aura]]. The population of Turku is approximately {{formatnum:{{#expr:{{Data Finland municipality/population count|{{PAGENAME}}}}round -3}}}}, while the [[Turku metropolitan area|metropolitan area]] has a population of approximately {{formatnum: {{#expr: {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Kaarina}} + {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Lieto}} + {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Naantali}} + {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Raisio}} + {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Rusko}} + {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Turku}}round -3}}}}. It is the {{ordinal|{{Data Finland municipality/population count sequence|{{PAGENAME}}}}}} most populous [[Municipalities of Finland|municipality]] in Finland, and the third most populous [[List of urban areas in Finland by population|urban area]] in the country after [[Helsinki metropolitan area|Helsinki]] and [[Tampere metropolitan area|Tampere]].

Turku is Finland's oldest city.<ref name="timeout">{{cite web |url=https://www.timeout.com/travel/worlds-most-underrated-travel-destinations |title=14 of the World's Most Underrated Travel Destinations |work=Time Out |date=2 March 2023 |access-date=7 March 2023 }}</ref> It is not known when Turku was granted [[city status]]. Pope [[Pope Gregory IX|Gregory IX]] first mentioned the town of ''Aboa'' in his ''Bulla'' in 1229, and this year is now used as the founding year of the city.<ref name="earlyhistory"/><ref name="turku-790"/><ref name="finland-portrait"/> Turku was the most important city in the eastern part of the [[Sweden|Kingdom of Sweden]] (today's Finland). After the [[Finnish War]], Finland became an [[Grand Duchy of Finland|autonomous Grand Duchy]] of the [[Russian Empire]] in 1809, and Turku became the capital of the Grand Duchy. However, Turku lost its status as capital only three years later in 1812,<ref name="timeout"/> when [[Tsar]] [[Alexander I of Russia]] decided to move the capital to [[Helsinki]]. It was only after the last [[Great Fire of Turku|great fire in 1827]] that most government institutions were moved to Helsinki along with the [[Royal Academy of Turku]], founded in 1640, which later became the [[University of Helsinki]], thus consolidating Helsinki's position as the new capital. Turku was Finland's most populous city until the late 1840s and remains the regional capital, an important business and cultural centre, and a port.

Due to its long [[History of Turku|history]], Turku has been the site of many important events and, as a former capital, has had a major influence on [[History of Finland|Finnish history]]. Together with [[Tallinn]], the capital of [[Estonia]], Turku was named [[European Capital of Culture]] for 2011. In 1996, the city of Turku was declared the "Christmas City" of Finland.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.turku.fi/public/default.aspx?nodeid=9289&culture=en-US&contentlan=2 |title=Christmas City » Turku, the Finnish Christmas City |publisher=www.turku.fi |access-date=6 May 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716095158/https://www.turku.fi/public/default.aspx?nodeid=9289&culture=en-US&contentlan=2 |archive-date=16 July 2011 }}</ref> Turku has also been officially declared the Food Capital of Finland,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://thefoodellers.com/en/turku-finland-city-guide |title=Turku, the Food Capital of Finland |website=thefoodellers.com |access-date=27 October 2021 |archive-date=27 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211027160834/https://thefoodellers.com/en/turku-finland-city-guide |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://sites.utu.fi/bre/finlands-former-capital-turku-is-now-the-culinary-capital/ |title=Finland's former capital Turku is now the culinary capital &#124; Baltic Rim Economies |website=sites.utu.fi |access-date=13 November 2020 |archive-date=13 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201113081149/https://sites.utu.fi/bre/finlands-former-capital-turku-is-now-the-culinary-capital/ |url-status=live }}</ref> as it is home to some of Finland's oldest and highest quality restaurants, as well as a historically famous [[fish market]] held twice a year.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://theculturetrip.com/europe/finland/articles/11-places-finland-perfect-food-lovers/ |title=11 Places in Finland Perfect for Food Lovers |first=Jessica |last=Wood |date=10 February 2018 |website=Culture Trip |access-date=27 October 2021 |archive-date=29 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210929175438/https://theculturetrip.com/europe/finland/articles/11-places-finland-perfect-food-lovers/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Turku's [[Cafeteria|canteen]] and [[Coffeehouse|café]] culture has often been compared to [[French cuisine|French food culture]], which is why Turku is also known as the "Paris of Finland",<ref name="timeout"/><ref name="paulig"/><ref name="kissmyturku">[https://kissmyturku.fi/kohdekortit/turun-vierasvenesatama Turun Vierasvenesatama – Kiss My Turku] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210912051841/https://kissmyturku.fi/kohdekortit/turun-vierasvenesatama |date=12 September 2021 }} (in Finnish)</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20241002-turku-finlands-under-the-radar-nordic-destination|title=Turku: Finland's under-the-radar Nordic destination|first=Gemma Zoë|last=Price|work=[[BBC]]|date=3 October 2024|access-date=10 December 2024}}</ref> hence the Swedish saying: ''"Varför Paris, vi har ju Åbo!"'' ("Why Paris, we have Turku!").<ref name="paulig">[https://www.paulig.fi/kahvijutut/varfor-paris-vi-har-ju-abo Varför Paris, vi har ju Åbo! – Paulig] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210912051848/https://www.paulig.fi/kahvijutut/varfor-paris-vi-har-ju-abo |date=12 September 2021 }} (in Finnish)</ref>

Turku is a [[bilingual]] municipality with [[Finnish language|Finnish]] and [[Swedish language|Swedish]] as its official languages. The population consists of {{Formatnum: {{pct|{{Data Finland municipality/native language Finnish|Turku}}|{{Data Finland municipality/native language total|Turku}}|0}}}} Finnish speakers, {{Formatnum: {{pct|{{Data Finland municipality/native language Swedish|Turku}}|{{Data Finland municipality/native language total|Turku}}|0}}}} Swedish speakers, and {{Formatnum: {{pct|{{Data Finland municipality/native language other|Turku}}|{{Data Finland municipality/native language total|Turku}}|0}}}} speakers of other languages, which is well above the national average.<ref name="statistics-finland-population-2024-final"/>

Due to its location, the [[Port of Turku]] is an important commercial and passenger [[seaport]], with over three million passengers travelling to [[Stockholm]] and [[Mariehamn]] each year.<ref name="turku_stats">{{cite web |title=Statistical yearbook of Turku |url=http://www.turku.fi/Public/default.aspx?nodeid=3981&culture=en-US&contentlan=2 |date=17 July 2008 |language=fi |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927175319/https://www.turku.fi/Public/default.aspx?nodeid=3981&culture=en-US&contentlan=2 |archive-date=27 September 2007 }}</ref>

=={{anchor|Names and etymology}}Names and etymology==
{{see also|Names of Turku in different languages}}
The Finnish name ''Turku'' originates from an [[Old East Slavic]] word, ''[[wikt:търгъ#Old East Slavic|tǔrgǔ]]'', which in modern Russian means [[market place]], [[haggling]] or trading. The word was also borrowed into Swedish as {{lang|sv|torg}}, "market", but it likely entered Finnish directly, rather than via Swedish.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Huldén |first=Lars |title=Åbo |url=https://bebyggelsenamn.sls.fi/bebyggelsenamn/923/abo-abo/ |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=Finlandssvenska bebyggelsenamn |publisher=Svenska litteratursällskapet i Finland}}</ref> Over time, the original meaning faded, and by the Middle Ages, ''[[wikt:turku#Finnish|turku]]'' had become synonymous with the town's name. Today the word is rarely used outside [[idioms|idiomatic expressions]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Tori ja Turku |url=https://kotus.fi/sana/tori-ja-turku/ |access-date=25 February 2025 |publisher=Kotimaisten kielten keskus |language=fi}}</ref>

The Swedish name ''Åbo'' may be a simple combination of ''å'' ("river; creek; large stream") and ''bo'' ("dwelling"). There is however an old legal term called "{{interlanguage link|åborätt|sv|åborätt}}" (meaning roughly "right to live at"), which gave citizens (called "åbo") the inheritable right to live at land owned by the crown (''å'' meant ''at'' or ''on'' in old Swedish, now ''på'').

In [[Finnish language|Finnish]], the [[Finnish noun cases|genitive]] of ''Turku'' is '''''Turun''''', meaning "of Turku". The Finnish names of organizations and institutes of Turku often begin with this word, as in ''Turun yliopisto'' for the [[University of Turku]].

==History==
{{Main|History of Turku}}
Turku has a long history as [[Finland]]'s largest city and occasionally as the administrative center of the country, but for the last two hundred years has been surpassed by [[Helsinki]]. The city's identity stems from its status as the oldest city in Finland<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.visitfinland.com/W5/index.nsf/(pages)/Destinations |title=Destinations in Finland – Official Travel and Tourism Guide |publisher=Visitfinland.com |access-date=6 May 2009 |archive-date=13 November 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081113125820/http://www.visitfinland.com/w5/index.nsf/(pages)/Destinations |url-status=live }}</ref> and the country's first capital.<ref name="finland-portrait">{{cite web |url=https://www.finlandportrait.com/history-of-finland/ |title=History of Finland |work=Finland Portrait |date=25 March 2023 |access-date=1 July 2023 |archive-date=1 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230701133443/https://www.finlandportrait.com/history-of-finland/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> Originally, the word "Finland" referred only to the area around Turku (hence the title, "[[Finland Proper]]" for the region).

===Early history===

Settlement in the Turku area is relatively recent, as the Southwestern Finland remained below sea level for an extended period due to the [[Last Glacial Period|Ice Age]]. Due to [[tectonic uplift]], the Turku region transformed from an outlying [[archipelago]] to a shoreline during 3000-2000 BCE. The area was densely populated during the [[Iron Age]] as it was the most important agricultural region in the region.<ref name="Lahtinen2015_9">[[#Lahtine2015|Lahtinen (2015)]], pp. 9</ref> Ancient cemeteries dating from 550 to 1150 have been discovered in the region. Some cemeteries were utilized during the initial migratory phase, while some were solely utilized during the Viking Age, and others were established in the 12th century. There are also remains of houses and villages and old forts from the late Iron Age.<ref>{{Cite book |first1=Ella |last1=Kivikoski |first2=C. J. |last2=Cardberg |title=Turun kaupungin historia – Kivikaudesta vuoteen 1366 |year=1971 |location=Turku |publisher=City of Turku |language=fi }}</ref>

According to legend, the English [[Henry (bishop of Finland)|bishop Henry]] baptised the first Finns into Christianity in 1150. However, the first Christian graves date from the 10th and 11th centuries, and the first archaeological evidence of a church dates from the 12th century.<ref name="Lahtinen2015_11">[[#Lahtine2015|Lahtinen (2015)]], pp. 11</ref> In the 11th century, the Turku region began to develop as a port.<ref name="Lahtinen2015_9"/> The oldest known road, [[Hämeen Härkätie|Hämeen härkätie]], connected to region and the [[Old Castle of Lieto]] to [[Tavastia (historical province)|Tavastia]] in the 9th century at the latest.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Masonen |first=Jaakko |title=Hämeen Härkätie |publisher=Otava |year=1991 |isbn=951-1-11421-2 |location=Helsinki |pages=186–190 }}</ref> Early literary sources such as [[Tabula Rogeriana|Al-Idrisi's world map from 1154]] mentions Turku.<ref name="earlyhistory">[https://www.turku.fi/ensimmaisena-turussa Suomen historian merkkipaaluja: Ensimmäisenä Turussa] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210430072659/https://www.turku.fi/ensimmaisena-turussa |date=30 April 2021 }} (in Finnish)</ref>

===Swedish era===
[[File:Cathedral of Turku 1814.jpg|thumb|left|upright|[[Turku Cathedral]], 1814, prior to the [[Great Fire of Turku|Great Fire]] in 1827]]
According to the permission granted by [[Pope Gregory IX]] on 23 January 1229,<ref name="earlyhistory"/> the episcopal seat was moved from [[Nousiainen]] to [[Koroinen]], which is located near the current center of Turku.<ref name="turku-790">{{cite web |url=https://yle.fi/a/3-10607853 |title=Suomen vanhin kaupunki täyttää 790 vuotta ja valkoinen risti seisoo Turun syntymämerkkinä Koroisilla – katso video |first=Minna |last=Rosvall |work=[[Yle]] |date=23 January 2019 |access-date=17 August 2024 |language=fi |archive-date=17 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240817080915/https://yle.fi/a/3-10607853 |url-status=live }}</ref> There is nothing to suggest that the actual city of Turku still existed at this point; however, the city was not founded on uninhabited land, but there were fields and probably also a peasant village.<ref>{{cite magazine |first1=Markku |last1=Oinonen |first2=Emmi |last2=Mehtonen |first3=Heidi |last3=Nordqvist |first4=Kari |last4=Uotila |first5=Pentti |last5=Zetterberg |title=Turun kaupungistumisen alkuhetkiä radiohiiliajoituksia bayesilaisella menetelmällä |magazine=SKAS |date=2011 |pages=15–27 |language=fi }}</ref> Since no reliable document has survived about the year of the city's founding, it has also been speculated that the city was founded in the 1280s or 1290s by the joint initiative of the king, the bishop, and the {{ill|Dominican Convent of Saint Olaf|sv|Sankt Olofs dominikankonvent, Åbo}}, which itself was founded in 1249.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Hiekkanen |first=Markus |title=Turun kaupungin perustaminen. Tulkintayrityksiä uusien arkeologisten tutkimusten perusteella |magazine=Kaupunkia pintaa syvemmältä. Arkeologisia näkökulmia Turun historiaan |date=2003 |pages=42–52 |location=Turku |publisher=Suomen keskiajan arkeologian seura |isbn=951-9129-57-X |language=fi }}</ref>

[[Turku Cathedral]] was [[consecration|consecrated]] in 1300.<ref name="finland-portrait"/><ref name="Spicer2012">{{cite book |author=Andrew Spicer |title=Lutheran Churches in Early Modern Europe |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GyErqszUsFYC&pg=PA314 |year=2012 |publisher=Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. |isbn=978-0-7546-6583-0 |page=314 |access-date=14 November 2015 |archive-date=22 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160522130819/https://books.google.com/books?id=GyErqszUsFYC&pg=PA314 |url-status=live }}</ref> During the [[Middle Ages]], Turku was the seat of the [[Bishop of Turku]] (a title later upgraded to [[Archdiocese of Turku|Archbishop of Turku]]), covering then the eastern half of the Kingdom of Sweden (most of the present-day Finland) until the 17th century. Even if Turku had no official capital status, it was for a long time the most important city in Finland as part of the trade and shipping of the [[Hanseatic League]]. In the 14th century, two-thirds of the city's burghers were German, but gradually the proportion of domestic burghers increased.<ref>{{cite web |first=Kirsi |last=Peltonen |title=Turku Hansa-ajalla |url=http://opal.utu.fi/projektit/hansat/VII.htm |publisher=[[University of Turku]] |access-date=17 February 2023 |language=fi |archive-date=24 August 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070824171026/http://opal.utu.fi/projektit/hansat/VII.htm |url-status=dead}}</ref> In addition to the ecclesiastical authority, the only [[lawspeaker]]s in Finland operated in Turku, and from the 15th century to the 16th century, the court exercising the country's highest judicial power, the {{ill|Land Court of Turku|sv|Landsrätten i Åbo}}, met in the city.<ref name="kuparinen">{{cite book |first=Eero |last=Kuparinen |title=Turun seitsemän vuosisataa |year=1984 |publisher=Turun historiallinen yhdistys |location=Turku |language=fi }}</ref>

At the beginning of the 16th century, in connection with the disputes of the [[Kalmar Union]], the Danes destroyed the city twice, in 1509 under the leadership of Admiral [[Otte Rud]] and in 1522 under the leadership of Admiral [[Søren Norby]],<ref name="kuparinen"/> until [[Erik Fleming (councilor)|Erik Fleming]]'s troops expelled the Danes from Finland in 1523.<ref>''[[Pieni tietosanakirja]]'', [[Otava (publisher)|Otava]]. (in Finnish)</ref> After the beginning of peace, [[Gustav Vasa]], who had just become king, thoroughly got to know different parts of his kingdom, the center of the king's first visit to Finland being Turku Castle, where he lived during his visit.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kustaan kaksi vierailua Suomeen |url=http://www.turku.fi/Public/default.aspx?contentid=132789 |publisher=City of Turku |access-date=17 February 2023 |language=fi |archive-date=17 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110917222127/http://www.turku.fi/Public/default.aspx?contentid=132789 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The new king also brought with him the religious [[reformation]], and the first to preach the new doctrine was [[Petrus Särkilahti]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Nuorteva |first=Jussi |title=Särkilahti, Petrus |year=2007 |location=Helsinki |publisher=The [[National Biography of Finland]] |language=fi }}</ref> Särkilahti's student [[Mikael Agricola]], who is known as the "father of Finnish literary language", continued the religious reform first as the headmaster of the cathedral school and later as the Bishop of Turku.<ref>{{cite book |last=Heininen |first=Simo |title=Mikael Agricola. Elämä ja teokset |year=2007 |location=Helsinki |publisher=Edita |language=fi }}</ref> Duke John (later [[John III of Sweden|John III]]), the son of Gustav Vasa, received the title of [[Duke of Finland]] and ruled his territory from Turku Castle before becoming next king of Sweden after his brother, [[Eric XIV of Sweden|Eric XIV]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gofinland.fi/en/turku/things-to-see-and-do/turku-castle |title=Turku Castle |website=Gofinland.fi |access-date=17 February 2023 |archive-date=17 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230217141830/https://www.gofinland.fi/en/turku/things-to-see-and-do/turku-castle |url-status=live }}</ref>

In the aftermath of the [[War against Sigismund]], the city was the site of the [[Åbo Bloodbath]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Nenonen |first1=Kaisu-Maija |last2=Teerijoki |first2=Ilkka |year=1998 |title=Historian suursanakirja |publisher=WSOY |isbn=951-0-22044-2 |language=fi }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Schoolfield |first=G.C. |chapter=Wecksell, Josef Julius (1838–1907) |editor-last=Hochman |editor-first=Stanley |title=McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of World Drama |volume=1 |edition=2 |publisher=VNR |year=1984 |isbn=0-07-079169-4 |page=126 }}</ref> After that, the 17th century began as more peaceful period for Turku, when the focus was mainly on emphasizing Turku's position as the center of a wide area by establishing numerous new administrative and school institutions. In 1640, the first university in Finland, the [[Royal Academy of Turku]], was founded in Turku by order of [[Christina, Queen of Sweden|Queen Christina]].<ref name="finland-portrait"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.museo.helsinki.fi/yliopiston_historia/kuninkaallinen_turun_akatemia.htm |title=Kuninkaallinen Turun akatemia |access-date=17 February 2023 |language=fi |archive-date=27 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170727052152/http://www.museo.helsinki.fi/yliopiston_historia/kuninkaallinen_turun_akatemia.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> This project was also supported by Count [[Per Brahe the Younger|Per Brahe]], the [[Governor-General in the Swedish Realm|Governor General of Finland]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Per-Greve-Brahe-the-Younger |title=Per, Count Brahe, the Younger |publisher=Encyclopædia Britannica, inc. |access-date=17 February 2023 |archive-date=20 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320235147/https://www.britannica.com/biography/Per-Greve-Brahe-the-Younger |url-status=live }}</ref> and [[Isaacus Rothovius]], the Bishop of Turku.<ref>{{cite web |last=Tarkiainen |first=Kari |url=https://sok.riksarkivet.se/sbl/Presentation.aspx?id=6962 |title=Isaac Rothovius |work=Swedish biographical dictionary |access-date=17 February 2023 |archive-date=17 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230217141826/https://sok.riksarkivet.se/sbl/Presentation.aspx?id=6962 |url-status=live }}</ref> Turku was also the meeting place for the [[States of Finland]] in 1676.

[[File:Turun akatemian vihkiäiset.jpg|thumb|700px|center|''Inauguration of the [[Royal Academy of Turku|Academy of Turku]] in 1640'', by [[Albert Edelfelt]] from 1902]]

===Russian era===
[[File:Robert Wilhelm Ekman - Great Fire of Turku.jpg|thumb|left|upright|''[[Great Fire of Turku]]'', a painting by [[R. W. Ekman]]]]
[[File:Turku 1842 - Henrik Cajander.jpg|thumb|right|A [[daguerreotype]] photograph of the Nobel House, the first photograph taken in Finland, from 1842]]

After the [[Finnish War]], Sweden ceded Finland to [[Russian Empire|Imperial Russia]] at the [[Treaty of Fredrikshamn]] in 1809. There was no resistance of any kind in Turku when the Russians marched into the city in October 1809 in connection with the Finnish War. Despite the occupation, life in Turku continued peacefully. The Court of Appeal of Turku continued its session when the Russians arrived, and later in the spring [[Jacob Tengström]], the [[List of bishops of Turku|Archbishop of Turku and Finland]], and the teaching staff of the Turku Academy swore an oath of loyalty to their new ruler.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www05.turku.fi/turkuinfo/historia/hist_silmays.html |title=Turku Suomen pääkaupunkina |publisher=City of Turku |date=2005 |access-date=17 February 2023 |language=fi |archive-date=23 May 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120523222801/http://www05.turku.fi/turkuinfo/historia/hist_silmays.html |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Turku became briefly the official capital,<ref name="finland-portrait"/> but soon lost the status to Helsinki, as Emperor [[Alexander I of Russia|Alexander I]] felt that Turku was too far from Russia and too aligned with Sweden to serve as the capital of the [[Grand Duchy of Finland]]. The change officially took place in 1812. The government offices that remained in Turku were finally moved to the new capital after the [[Great Fire of Turku]], which destroyed a large portion of the city in 1827.<ref name="finland-portrait"/><ref>{{Cite web |title=Information about Turku |work=InfoFinland |publisher=City of Helsinki |date=5 November 2019 |access-date=20 April 2021 |url=https://www.infofinland.fi/en/turku/information-about-turku |language=en |archive-date=7 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210307114840/https://www.infofinland.fi/en/turku/information-about-turku |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="turku-liekki"/> After the fire, a new and safer city plan was drawn up by German architect [[Carl Ludvig Engel]], who had also designed the new capital, Helsinki.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Engel, Carl Ludvig (1778–1840) |last=Lilius |first=Henrik |work=Kansallisbiografia |publisher=SKS |date=24 August 2020 |access-date=20 April 2021 |url=https://kansallisbiografia.fi/kansallisbiografia/henkilo/3213 |language=fi |archive-date=9 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200109153416/https://kansallisbiografia.fi//kansallisbiografia/henkilo/3213 |url-status=live }}</ref> The new city plan, based on a regular [[grid plan]], was more spacious and fire-safe than before,<ref>{{cite book |last=Kallioniemi |first=Jouni |title=Kaikkien aikojen Turku |year=1992 |publisher=Kirjatorni |language=fi }}</ref> and after the reconstruction, Turku was one of the most unified architecture in Europe.<ref name="turku-liekki">{{cite web |url=http://www.turunsanomat.fi/sunnuntai/?ts=1,3:1012:0:0,4:12:0:1:2002-09-01,104:12:120190,1:0:0:0:0:0: |title=Kun Turku hukkui liekkeihin |work=[[Turun Sanomat]] |date=1 September 2002 |access-date=17 February 2023 |language=fi}}{{Dead link|date=April 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Turku remained the largest city in Finland for another twenty years.

In the middle of the 19th century, Turku was, after Helsinki, the most important craft city in Finland, but the [[Industrial Revolution]] with [[Steam engine|steam]] and [[electric machine]]s was experienced in Turku only around 1900. The [[First World War]] provided a boost to the city's industry, as the export difficulties affected the [[wood industry]], which Turku didn't have much of, and it was easy to get much-needed raw materials from neutral Sweden.<ref>{{cite book |first=Eino |last=Jutikkala |title=Turun kaupungin historia 1856–1917 |year=1957 |pages=73–150 |location=Turku |publisher=Turun sanomalehti ja kirjapaino osakeyhtiö |language=fi }}</ref>

===After independence===
[[File:Aurakatu 1910's.jpg|thumb|Aurakatu area in the 1910s]]
In 1918, a new university, the [[Åbo Akademi]] – the only [[Swedish-language]] university in Finland – was founded in Turku.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Åbo Akademi University |url=https://www.abo.fi/en/about-abo-akademi-university/ |access-date=22 August 2020 |website=Åbo Akademi University |language=en-US |archive-date=6 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190506140846/https://www.abo.fi/en/about-abo-akademi-university/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Two years later, the [[Finnish-language]] [[University of Turku]] was founded alongside it. These two universities are the second and third to be founded in Finland, both by private donations.

In the 20th century, Turku was called "Finland's gateway to the West" by historians such as {{ill|Jarmo Virmavirta|fi}}.<ref>{{cite book |editor-last1=Antikainen |editor-first1=Anne |editor-last2=Tarja |editor-first2=Pyöriä |title=Kaupunkiseutujen kasvun aika |year=2004 |chapter=Turku – Suomen portti länteen |publisher=Sisäministeriö |isbn=951-734-671-9 |language=fi }}</ref> The city enjoyed good connections with other Western European countries and cities, especially since the 1940s with [[Stockholm]] across the [[Gulf of Bothnia]]. In the 1960s, Turku became the first Western city to sign a [[town twinning|twinning]] agreement with [[Leningrad]] in the [[Soviet Union]], leading to greater inter-cultural exchange and providing a new meaning to the city's 'gateway' function. After the [[fall of communism]] in Russia, many prominent Soviets came to Turku to study Western business practices, among them [[Vladimir Putin]], then Leningrad's deputy mayor.<ref>{{cite web |title=Putin on vanha Turun-kävijä |url=https://www.ts.fi/uutiset/502110 |website=TS.fi |date=25 June 2013 |publisher=Turun Sanomat |access-date=12 April 2022 |language=fi |archive-date=12 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220412085832/https://www.ts.fi/uutiset/502110 |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:Market place turku.jpg|thumb|The [[Market Square, Turku|Market Square]] in 1965]]
As for architecture in the city, both the body of architectural styles as well as the prevalent way of living have experienced significant changes in the 20th century. While having survived relatively intact throughout the years of war 1939–1945{{Citation needed|date=June 2018}}, the city faced increasing changes in the 1950s and 1960s due to rising demands for apartments, the eagerness to rebuild, and most of all the new development of infrastructure (especially increased automobile traffic). The wooden one- to two-story houses that were the dominant mode of building in the city were mostly demolished in the 1950s and 1960s to both enable more efficient building and to ease vehicle traffic. This resulted in the destruction of buildings that were, in later decades, seen as beautiful and worth saving. Some individual buildings remain controversial to this day when it comes to their demolition in the decades after the war. For example, the building of {{ill|Hotel Phoenix|fi|Hotelli Phoenix}} that stood on corner of the [[Market Square, Turku|Market Square]] was torn down to make way for a large, multistory apartment building in 1959. The building was significant both for its location and history: having stood on one of the most valuable lots in the city center since 1878, the building had, for example, served as the first main building of the University of Turku. Other buildings whose demolition was seen as scandalous, either already at the time of action or proved to be so in later years, include {{ill|The Nobel House|fi|Nobelin talo}} (subject of the very first photograph ever taken in Finland) and the building of [[Hamburger Börs (hotel)|Old Hotel Börs]] which was built in jugendstil in 1909 by {{ill|Frithiof Strandell|fi}}.

==Geography==

Situated at the mouth of the [[Aura River (Finland)|Aura River]] in the south-western corner of Finland, Turku covers an area of {{convert|245|km2}} on both banks of the river. The eastern side, where [[Turku Cathedral]] is located, is the older and original centre. It is popularly known as ''täl pual jokke'' ("this side of the river"). The western side, where [[Turku Castle]] is located, is the newer part. It is called ''tois pual jokke'' ("the other side of the river").<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.turkulainen.fi/paikalliset/1396763 |title=Kumpi parempi: Täl pual vai tois pual? |work=Turkulainen |date=14 March 2019 |access-date=17 February 2023 |language=fi |archive-date=17 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230217143221/https://www.turkulainen.fi/paikalliset/1396763 |url-status=live }}</ref> In modern times, both banks of the Aura River are equally the [[City Centre, Turku|centre of the city]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://en.visitturku.fi/the-aura-riverside---turku--s-living-room3 |title=The Aura Riverside – Turku's Living Room |work=Visit Turku |access-date=22 October 2023 |language=en }}</ref>

There are ten bridges over the Aura river in Turku. The oldest of the current bridges is {{ill|Auransilta|fi}}, which was constructed in 1904. The newest bridge is {{ill|Kirjastosilta|fi}} ('library bridge'), a pedestrian-only bridge built in 2013.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.turku.fi/public/?contentid=480599&nodeid=23 |title=Kirjastosilta avattiin tulen ja valon juhlassa |publisher=www.turku.fi |access-date=10 January 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140114100705/https://www.turku.fi/public/?contentid=480599&nodeid=23 |archive-date=14 January 2014 }}</ref> The ''[[Föri]]'', a small ferry that transports pedestrians and bicycles across the river without payment, is a well known feature of the city.

===Administrative subdivisions===
{{Main|Wards of Turku}}
[[File:Stålarminkatu-Mestarinkatu.jpg|thumb|right|[[IV District, Turku|IV District]], or Martti, is one of the smallest but most densely populated districts of Turku]]
The city is divided into 78 districts and nine [[Ward (country subdivision)|wards]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.turku.fi/asuminen-ja-ymparisto/asuminen/kaupunginosat |title=Kaupunginosat |work=City of Turku |date=5 May 2015 |access-date=22 October 2023 |language=fi }}{{Dead link|date=March 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> These do not operate as units of local government. However, some social programmes are district-based, especially in the eastern part of the city, where unemployment is high in some areas. The largest populated districts are [[Varissuo]] and [[Runosmäki]]. By area, [[Kakskerta]] and [[Paattinen]] are the largest districts.{{citation needed|date=April 2012}}

As many of the small neighbouring [[municipalities of Finland|municipalities]] from the north and south of the city were annexed during the mid-20th century, Turku is today shaped like an elongated pear. The city centre and most of the suburban areas lie in the middle, separated from the less densely populated northern rural areas by the Turku [[Bypass (road)|bypass]], that forms part of [[European route E18]]. Islands such as [[Ruissalo]], [[Hirvensalo]] and [[Kakskerta]], forming the southern part of the city, are also sparsely populated and mostly contain summer residences, with the exception of some districts in Hirvensalo which are currently growing into [[upper middle class|upper-middle-class]] suburbs.

===Climate===
[[File:Autumn in Turku.jpg|thumb|Area of [[Turku cathedral]] in autumn]]
Situated by the [[Baltic Sea]] and sheltered by the islands of the [[Archipelago Sea]], Turku has a [[humid continental climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''Dfb''). Like much of southern Finland, the city experiences warm summers, with temperatures ranging up to 30&nbsp;°C (86&nbsp;°F), and relatively cold winters with frequent snowfall. The warmest month of the year is July, with an average temperature of {{cvt|17.5|°C|0}}, whereas the coldest month is February. The average year-round temperature is around {{cvt|6.0|°C|0}}. Winter usually starts in early December, and spring in late March.

[[Precipitation (meteorology)|Precipitation]] in Turku averages {{cvt|720|mm|1}} a year. The rainiest month of the year is August, when the city receives on average {{cvt|80|mm|1}} of rainfall. In April, the driest month of the year, the figure is only {{cvt|32|mm|1}}. The average [[air pressure]] at sea level is {{convert|101.2|kPa|inHg}}, with little variance throughout the year.

Operational since 1955, the city's [[weather station]] is located at an altitude of {{convert|47|m|ft|abbr=off}} at [[Turku Airport]].<ref>'Turku' at EuroWeather</ref> The weather in the city itself is affected by the proximity of the sea, so the wintertime temperatures are often milder than those measured at the airport. The moderating impact of the sea helps oak maple and ash trees, which are quite rare elsewhere in Finland, to thrive by the areas along the shoreline and in the archipelago.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://helda.helsinki.fi/bitstream/handle/10138/15734/2009nro8.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y |title=Suomen maakuntien ilmasto |access-date=7 October 2021 |archive-date=19 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210319235916/https://helda.helsinki.fi/bitstream/handle/10138/15734/2009nro8.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y |url-status=live }}</ref>

{{Weather box
| width = auto
| location = Turku Airport (elevation 47 m) 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1900–present
| metric first = Y
| single line = Y
| Jan record high C = 9.2
| Feb record high C = 10.2
| Mar record high C = 15.8
| Apr record high C = 24.5
| May record high C = 30.0
| Jun record high C = 32.0
| Jul record high C = 35.9
| Aug record high C = 33.0
| Sep record high C = 28.0
| Oct record high C = 18.9
| Nov record high C = 14.1
| Dec record high C = 11.0
| year record high C = 35.9
| Jan high C = -1.1
| Feb high C = -1.2
| Mar high C = 2.6
| Apr high C = 9.1
| May high C = 15.5
| Jun high C = 19.5
| Jul high C = 22.6
| Aug high C = 21.1
| Sep high C = 15.7
| Oct high C = 8.8
| Nov high C = 3.6
| Dec high C = 0.7
| year high C = 9.7
| Jan mean C = -3.8
| Feb mean C = -4.5
| Mar mean C = -1.3
| Apr mean C = 4.1
| May mean C = 10.0
| Jun mean C = 14.4
| Jul mean C = 17.5
| Aug mean C = 16.2
| Sep mean C = 11.3
| Oct mean C = 5.7
| Nov mean C = 1.5
| Dec mean C = -1.5
| year mean C = 
| Jan low C = -6.5
| Feb low C = -7.1
| Mar low C = -4.7
| Apr low C = -0.2
| May low C = 4.6
| Jun low C = 9.3
| Jul low C = 12.5
| Aug low C = 11.6
| Sep low C = 7.4
| Oct low C = 2.8
| Nov low C = -0.9
| Dec low C = -4.1
| year low C = 2.1
| Jan record low C = -35.5
| Feb record low C = -35.2
| Mar record low C = -32.8
| Apr record low C = -21.0
| May record low C = -6.6
| Jun record low C = -2.2
| Jul record low C = 1.8
| Aug record low C = 0.2
| Sep record low C = -6.9
| Oct record low C = -15.0
| Nov record low C = -22.3
| Dec record low C = -33.8
| year record low C = -35.5
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation mm = 58
| Feb precipitation mm = 42
| Mar precipitation mm = 39
| Apr precipitation mm = 32
| May precipitation mm = 35
| Jun precipitation mm = 55
| Jul precipitation mm = 74
| Aug precipitation mm = 73
| Sep precipitation mm = 59
| Oct precipitation mm = 73
| Nov precipitation mm = 71
| Dec precipitation mm = 73
| Jan precipitation days = 11
| Feb precipitation days = 9
| Mar precipitation days = 8
| Apr precipitation days = 7
| May precipitation days = 7
| Jun precipitation days = 8
| Jul precipitation days = 8
| Aug precipitation days = 10
| Sep precipitation days = 9
| Oct precipitation days = 11
| Nov precipitation days = 13
| Dec precipitation days = 12
| Jan sun = 40
| Feb sun = 75
| Mar sun = 134
| Apr sun = 204
| May sun = 284
| Jun sun = 276
| Jul sun = 287
| Aug sun = 230
| Sep sun = 155
| Oct sun = 89
| Nov sun = 38
| Dec sun = 27
| year sun = 
| source 1 = Climatological statistics for the normal period 1991–2020<ref name="fmi.fi">{{cite web |url=https://www.ilmatieteenlaitos.fi/ilmastollinen-vertailukausi |title=Normal period 1991–2020 |access-date=21 May 2025 |archive-date=30 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210930153447/https://www.ilmatieteenlaitos.fi/ilmastollinen-vertailukausi |url-status=live }}</ref>
| date = October 2021
| source = 
| Jan avg record low C = -19.4
| Feb avg record low C = -19.9
| Mar avg record low C = -15.0
| Apr avg record low C = -6.2
| May avg record low C = -1.8
| Jun avg record low C = 2.9
| Jul avg record low C = 6.9
| Aug avg record low C = 5.0
| Sep avg record low C = -0.6
| Oct avg record low C = -6.0
| Nov avg record low C = -10.9
| Dec avg record low C = -15.3
| year avg record low C = -22.7
| Jan avg record high C = 4.8
| Feb avg record high C = 4.3
| Mar avg record high C = 8.9
| Apr avg record high C = 18.3
| May avg record high C = 23.8
| Jun avg record high C = 26.2
| Jul avg record high C = 28.8
| Aug avg record high C = 27.4
| Sep avg record high C = 21.7
| Oct avg record high C = 14.3
| Nov avg record high C = 9.1
| Dec avg record high C = 5.6
| year avg record high C = 29.8
| source 2 = Record highs and lows<ref name="FMI open data">{{cite web
|url=https://kilotavu.com/asema-taulukko.php?asema=100932
|title=FMI open data
|publisher = FMI
|access-date=21 May 2025}}</ref>
}}

{{Weather box
|location = Turku Artukainen (elevation 8 m) averages and records 2003–2023, precipitation 2003–2005 Turku Airport, since 2006 Artukainen, sunshine 1991–2020
|metric first = Yes
|single line = Yes
|width = 65%
|Jan record high C = 9.2
|Feb record high C = 9.4
|Mar record high C = 15.0
|Apr record high C = 23.9
|May record high C = 29.4
|Jun record high C = 31.6
|Jul record high C = 33.6
|Aug record high C = 33.0
|Sep record high C = 27.5
|Oct record high C = 17.5
|Nov record high C = 14.1
|Dec record high C = 10.6
|year record high C =
| Jan avg record high C = 5.3
| Feb avg record high C = 4.7
| Mar avg record high C = 11.0
| Apr avg record high C = 17.5
| May avg record high C = 25.2
| Jun avg record high C = 26.5
| Jul avg record high C = 28.7
| Aug avg record high C = 27.1
| Sep avg record high C = 21.5
| Oct avg record high C = 14.9
| Nov avg record high C = 10.0
| Dec avg record high C = 6.7
| year avg record high C =
|Jan high C = -0.8
|Feb high C = -0.6
|Mar high C = 3.1
|Apr high C = 9.6
|May high C = 16.1
|Jun high C = 20.5
|Jul high C = 23.3
|Aug high C = 21.7
|Sep high C = 16.4
|Oct high C = 9.6
|Nov high C = 4.9
|Dec high C = 1.6
|year high C =
|Jan mean C = -3.5
|Feb mean C = -3.6
|Mar mean C = -0.6
|Apr mean C = 4.8
|May mean C = 10.9
|Jun mean C = 15.5
|Jul mean C = 18.6
|Aug mean C = 17.3
|Sep mean C = 12.5
|Oct mean C = 6.6
|Nov mean C = 2.7
|Dec mean C = -0.8
|year mean C =
|Jan low C = -6.2
|Feb low C = -6.5
|Mar low C = -4.4
|Apr low C = 0.1
|May low C = 5.7
|Jun low C = 10.4
|Jul low C = 13.8
|Aug low C = 12.9
|Sep low C = 8.6
|Oct low C = 3.5
|Nov low C = 0.5
|Dec low C = -3.3
|year low C =
| Jan avg record low C = -18.3
| Feb avg record low C = -15.2
| Mar avg record low C = -13.6
| Apr avg record low C = -6.2
| May avg record low C = -1.7
| Jun avg record low C = 4.1
| Jul avg record low C = 8.5
| Aug avg record low C = 6.6
| Sep avg record low C = 1.3
| Oct avg record low C = -4.5
| Nov avg record low C = -7.5
| Dec avg record low C = -12.8
| year avg record low C =
|Jan record low C = -25.4
|Feb record low C = -25.4
|Mar record low C = -20.4
|Apr record low C = -9.9
|May record low C = -3.7
|Jun record low C = -0.3
|Jul record low C = 4.5
|Aug record low C = 3.3
|Sep record low C = -1.3
|Oct record low C = -12.6
|Nov record low C = -18.6
|Dec record low C = -23.4
|year record low C =
|precipitation colour= green
|Jan precipitation mm = 55
|Feb precipitation mm = 38
|Mar precipitation mm = 31
|Apr precipitation mm = 30
|May precipitation mm = 39
|Jun precipitation mm = 45
|Jul precipitation mm = 70
|Aug precipitation mm = 84
|Sep precipitation mm = 55
|Oct precipitation mm = 71
|Nov precipitation mm = 70
|Dec precipitation mm = 76
|year precipitation mm =
|Jan snow cm =
|Feb snow cm =
|Mar snow cm =
|Apr snow cm =
|May snow cm =
|Jun snow cm =
|Jul snow cm =
|Aug snow cm =
|Sep snow cm =
|Oct snow cm =
|Nov snow cm =
|Dec snow cm =
|year snow cm =
|unit rain days = 1 mm
|Jan rain days = 11
|Feb rain days = 8
|Mar rain days = 8
|Apr rain days = 7
|May rain days = 7
|Jun rain days = 8
|Jul rain days = 9
|Aug rain days = 11
|Sep rain days = 9
|Oct rain days = 12
|Nov rain days = 12
|Dec rain days = 13
|year rain days=
|Jan sun = 40
|Feb sun = 67
|Mar sun = 141
|Apr sun = 205
|May sun = 284
|Jun sun = 283
|Jul sun = 293
|Aug sun = 239
|Sep sun = 163
|Oct sun = 88
|Nov sun = 34
|Dec sun = 24
|year sun =
|source 1 = Finnish Meteorological Institute<ref name="fmi_open_data">{{cite web |url=https://en.ilmatieteenlaitos.fi/download-observations |title=Finnish Meteorological Institute's open data |access-date=31 March 2024 |archive-date=24 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240324073206/https://en.ilmatieteenlaitos.fi/download-observations |url-status=live }}</ref>
|source 2 = https://www.ilmatieteenlaitos.fi/1991-2020-auringonpaiste-ja-sateilytilastot
<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ogimet.com/cgi-bin/gsynres?ind=02972&ano=2024&mes=9&day=6&hora=2&min=0&ndays=30|title=02972:   Turku (Finland)|author=<!--Not stated--> |date= 5 September 2024|website=ogimet.com |publisher=OGIMET |access-date= 18 September 2024|quote=}}</ref>
}}

==Demographics==

=== Population ===

{{Historical populations
| title= Historical population
| percentages = pagr
|state = collapsed
 |1815|12550
 |1850|17178
 |1870|19617
 |1890|30096
 |1900|31658
 |1910|41993
 |1920|45408
 |1930|53681
 |1940|65475
 |1972|160067
 |1980|163680
 |1990|159180
 |2000|172561
 |2010|177326
 |2020|194391
 |footnote=Source: Tilastollinen päätoimisto,<ref name="stv1940">{{Cite web  | url=https://www.doria.fi/bitstream/handle/10024/69230/stv_1940.pdf | title=Suomen tilastollinen vuosikirja 1940 | date=1941 | publisher=Tilastollinen päätoimisto | access-date=5 January 2024 | language=fi }}</ref> [[Statistics Finland]] (1972-2020)<ref name="Stat-finland-population-38,000-persons">{{Cite web |url=https://stat.fi/en/publication/cl8lprraorrr20dut5a0tywm5 |title=Number of foreign-language speakers grew by nearly 38,000 persons |date=31 May 2023 |publisher=Statistics Finland |access-date=12 September 2023 |language=en |archive-date=7 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230907001445/https://stat.fi/en/publication/cl8lprraorrr20dut5a0tywm5 |url-status=live }}</ref>
}}

The city of Turku has {{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Turku }}}} inhabitants, making it the {{ordinal|{{Data Finland municipality/population count sequence|Turku}}}} most populous municipality in Finland. The [[Turku metropolitan area]] has a population of {{formatnum: {{#expr: {{Data Finland municipality|population_total|Kaarina}}+{{Data Finland municipality|population_total|Lieto}}+{{Data Finland municipality|population_total|Naantali}}+{{Data Finland municipality|population_total|Raisio}}+{{Data Finland municipality|population_total|Rusko}}+{{Data Finland municipality|population_total|Turku}}}}}}, and the larger [[Turku sub-region]] has a population of {{formatnum: {{#expr: {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Turku}} + {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Kaarina}} + {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Lieto}} + {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Masku}} + {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Mynämäki}} + {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Naantali}} + {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Nousiainen}} + {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Paimio}} + {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Raisio}} + {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Rusko}} + {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Sauvo}} }} }}. This is making it the third largest region in Finland after [[Helsinki metropolitan area|Helsinki]] and [[Tampere sub-region|Tampere]]. Turku is home to 4% of Finland's population. 17 per cent of the population has a foreign background, which is almost twice as high as the national average. However, it is lower than in the major Finnish cities of [[Helsinki]], [[Espoo]] or [[Vantaa]].<ref name="statistics-finland-population-2024-final">{{cite web |url= https://stat.fi/en/publication/cm1jg8tr20lco07vwvoif9s6i |title= Number of foreign-language speakers exceeded 600,000 during 2024  |date= 2025-04-04 |series= Population structure |publisher= Statistics Finland |issn= 1797-5395  |access-date=2025-04-07 }}</ref>

The city's population density is 794.4 inhabitants per square kilometre. The median age in the city is 42.1, lower than the national average of 43.6.

{{Bar chart
| title = Population size 1980–2020<ref name="Stat-finland-population-38,000-persons"/>
| label_type = Year
| data_type = Population
| bar_width = 47
| width_units = em
| label1 = 1980
| label2 = 1985
| label3 = 1990
| label4 = 1995
| label5 = 2000
| label6 = 2005
| label7 = 2010
| label8 = 2015
| label9 = 2020
| data_max = 200000
| data1 = 163933
| data2 = 162379
| data3 = 159180
| data4 = 164744
| data5 = 172561
| data6 = 174868
| data7 = 177326
| data8 = 185908
| data9 = 194391
}}

=== Languages ===

{{Pie chart
|thumb = right
|direction=row
|caption = Population by<br/>mother tongue (2024)<ref name="statistics-finland-population-2024-final"/>
|label1 = Finnish
|value1 = 77.9
|color1 = #002F6C
|label2 = Swedish
|value2 = 5.4
|color2 = #FFCD00
|label3 = Russian
|value3 = 1.9
|color3 = #D52B1E
|label4 = Arabic
|value4 = 1.8
|color4 = #165D31
|label5 = Albanian
|value5 = 1.2
|color5 = #E41E20
|label6 = Kurdish
|value6 = 1.2
|color6 = #009A3D
|label7 = Ukrainian
|value7 = 0.9
|color7 = #0057B7
|label8 = Other
|value8 = 9.7
|color8 = #C5C5C5
}}
The city of Turku is officially [[bilingual]], with both [[Finnish language|Finnish]] and [[Swedish language|Swedish]] as official languages. {{As of|2024}}, the majority of the population, {{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/native language Finnish|Turku}}}} persons ({{Percentage|sigfig = 3|{{Data Finland municipality/native language Finnish|Turku}}|{{Data Finland municipality/native language total|Turku}}}}), spoke Finnish as their first language. The number of [[Swedish-speaking population of Finland|Swedish speakers]] was {{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/native language Swedish|Turku }}}} persons ({{Percentage|sigfig = 2|{{Data Finland municipality/native language Swedish|Turku}}|{{Data Finland municipality/native language total|Turku}}}}) of the population. Foreign languages were spoken by {{Formatnum: {{pct|{{Data Finland municipality/native language other|Turku}}|{{Data Finland municipality/native language total|Turku}}|1}}}} of the population.<ref name="statistics-finland-population-2024-final"/> As [[English language|English]] and [[Swedish language|Swedish]] are compulsory school subjects, functional bilingualism or trilingualism acquired through language studies is not uncommon.

More than a hundred different languages are spoken as mother tongues in Turku, and citizens from more than 130 countries live in the city. The people of Turku also represent all major religions. The most commonly spoken foreign languages are Russian (1.9%), [[Arabic]] (1.8%), [[Albanian language|Albanian]] (1.2%), [[Kurdish languages|Kurdish]] (1.2%), [[Ukrainian language|Ukrainian]] (0.9%) and [[Somali language|Somali]] (0.9%).<ref name="statistics-finland-population-2024-final"/>

=== Immigration ===

{|class="wikitable" style="float:right;"
|colspan="3"|'''Population by country of birth (2024)'''<ref name="statistics-finland-population-2024-final"/>
|-\
! Nationality || Population || %
|-
|{{flag|Finland}} || 174,850 || 84.8
|-
|{{flag|Soviet Union}} || 3,342 || 1.6
|-
|{{flag|Iraq}} || 2,462 || 1.2
|-
|{{flag|Estonia}} || 1,626 || 0.8
|-
|{{flag|Iran}} || 1,343 || 0.7
|-
|{{flag|Yugoslavia}} || 1,313 || 0.6
|-
|{{flag|Sweden}} || 1,286 || 0.6
|-
|{{flag|Ukraine}} || 1,127 || 0.6
|-
|{{flag|Somalia}} || 1,096 || 0.6
|-
|{{flag|India}} || 918 || 0.4
|-
|{{flag|China}} || 802 || 0.4
|-
|{{flag|Vietnam}} || 754 || 0.4
|-
|Other || 15,154 || 7.4
|- 
|}
{{As of|2024}}, there were 35,088 people with a foreign background living in Turku, or 17% of the population.{{refn|Statistics Finland classifies a person as having a "foreign background" if both parents or the only known parent were born abroad.<ref name="statistics-finland-persons-with-foreign-background">{{cite web |access-date=18 September 2023 |title=Persons with foreign background |publisher=Statistics Finland |url=https://www.stat.fi/tup/maahanmuutto/maahanmuuttajat-vaestossa/ulkomaalaistaustaiset_en.html |archive-date=5 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210105084300/https://www.stat.fi/tup/maahanmuutto/maahanmuuttajat-vaestossa/ulkomaalaistaustaiset_en.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>|group=note}} There were 31,223 residents who were born abroad, or 15% of the population. The number of foreign citizens in Turku was 21,665.<ref name="statistics-finland-population-2024-final"/>

The relative share of immigrants in Turku's population is well above the national average. Moreover, the city's new residents are increasingly of foreign origin. This will increase the proportion of foreign residents in the coming years.

Most foreign-born citizens came from the former [[Soviet Union]], [[Iraq]], [[Estonia]], [[Sweden]], [[Iran]], the former [[Yugoslavia]], [[Ukraine]] and [[Somalia]].<ref name="statistics-finland-population-2024-final"/>

=== Religion ===

In 2023, the [[Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland|Evangelical Lutheran Church]] was the largest religious group with 56.3% of the population of Turku. Other religious groups accounted for 3.3% of the population. 40.4% of the population had no religious affiliation.<ref>[https://pxdata.stat.fi/PXWeb/pxweb/en/StatFin/StatFin__vaerak/statfin_vaerak_pxt_11ra.px Key figures on population by region, 1990-2023] Statistics Finland</ref>

==Economy==
[[File:Icon of the Seas (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|[[Icon of the Seas|MS ''Icon of the Seas'']], the world's largest passenger ship, was built in Turku]]
The Turku region boasts 22,000 enterprises, two universities and four polytechnics. The city has also business branches with local expertise in the [[Maritime transport|maritime]], [[life science]]s, information technology, entertainment, [[biotechnology]], and [[sustainable development]] industries.<ref name="turku-region-yleisesite"/> The city's economic hub revolves around the [[Port of Turku]] and other service-oriented sectors. The dockyard of [[Meyer Turku]] and the maritime business cluster reign as the leading industrial employer in the area. The city also boasts a high-tech centre in the [[Turku Science Park]] area, with a growing role in the information technology and biotechnology industries in recent decades.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.turku.fi/en/move-turku/business-life |title=Business Life |publisher=City of Turku |language=en |access-date=22 October 2023 }}{{Dead link|date=March 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

The Turku region hosts the business service centre ''Potkuri'' and the start-up community ''SparkUp''. In addition, the ''West Finland Film Commission'' works to promote favourable operating conditions for companies in the AV industry and for the production of films and TV series in the Turku region. ''Turku Future Technologies'' is a development centre and research and innovation network supported by eight Finnish universities. ''Smart Chemistry Park'' is a collaborative platform and network for the bio- and circular economy as well as the chemical industry in [[Raisio]]. Meanwhile, ''Blue Industry Park'' is a growing cluster for maritime and manufacturing industries.<ref name="turku-region-yleisesite">{{cite web |url=https://turkubusinessregion.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/TBR_yleisesite_EN_WEB.pdf |title=Networking with impact |publisher=Turku Region Business |access-date=22 October 2023 |archive-date=28 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231028212600/https://turkubusinessregion.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/TBR_yleisesite_EN_WEB.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

At least the following major Finnish companies have their corporate headquarters in Turku: [[HKScan]] and [[Hesburger]]. Other major companies which have operations in Turku include [[Bayer]], [[Fläkt Woods]], [[Meyer Werft]], [[Orion Corporation (pharmaceutical company)|Orion Corporation]] and [[Wärtsilä]].

==Culture==

[[File:Turku medieval festival.jpg|thumb|right|Traditional [[Medieval Market of Turku]] in summer 2006]]
[[Culture of Finland|Cultural venues]] in Turku include several museums, theatres, cinemas, [[art gallery|art galleries]], and music. Turku offers a variety of cultural events. The most important one is the declaration of [[Christmas Peace]] on 24 December in the [[Old Great Square (Turku)|Old Great Square]].<ref name="christmas-peace-turku">{{cite web |url=https://www.joulukaupunkiturku.fi/en/christmas-city/declaration-christmas-peace |title=The Declaration of Christmas Peace |publisher=City of Turku |language=en |access-date=17 October 2023 }}</ref> The tradition is about 700 years old. Other notable events include the [[Medieval Market of Turku|Medieval Market]], the [[Turku music festival|Music Festival]], the [[Turku Book Fair|Book Fair]], the [[Turku Film Day|Film Day]], the [[Turku Animated Film Festival|Animated Film Festival]] TAFF, the [[Turku Jazz|Jazz Festival]], the [[Paavo Nurmi Games]] of athletics, the [[Ruisrock]] rock festival, the [[Down by the Laituri]] music festival and the [[New Performance Turku Biennale]].<ref name="turku-tapahtumvuosi-turku">{{cite web |url=https://www.turku.fi/tapahtumavuosi2023 |title=Turun tapahtumavuosi 2023 |publisher=City of Turku |language=fi |access-date=22 October 2023 }}{{Dead link|date=March 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

Turku was the [[European Capital of Culture]] in 2011,<ref>{{cite web |title=10 smaller European Capitals of Culture you may not have heard of |url=https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2020/mar/05/10-smaller-european-capitals-of-culture-you-may-not-have-heard-of |website=the Guardian |access-date=30 April 2021 |language=en |date=5 March 2020 |archive-date=27 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211027160835/https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2020/mar/05/10-smaller-european-capitals-of-culture-you-may-not-have-heard-of |url-status=live }}</ref> and the city council has approved numerous projects to boost the city's image in preparation for that status.

=== Medieval buildings ===

[[File:Turun tuomiokirkon Kellotaulu.jpg|thumb|Medieval [[Turku Cathedral]] clock face]]
According to archaeological evidence, Turku started to get built in the late 13th Century.<ref name="keskiaikainen-turku-yle">{{cite web |title=Keskiaikainen Turku |url=https://yle.fi/aihe/artikkeli/2013/02/21/keskiaikainen-turku |first=Rita |last=Trötsckes |publisher=YLE |date=21 February 2013 |access-date=22 October 2023 |language=fi |archive-date=28 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231028220037/https://yle.fi/aihe/artikkeli/2013/02/21/keskiaikainen-turku |url-status=live }}</ref> However, only a few of its medieval buildings have survived to the present day. The primary factor was the [[Great Fire of Turku|Great Fire]] in 1827, which decimated three quarters of the city.<ref name="turku-paloi-poroksi-yle">{{cite web |title=Turku paloi poroksi päivälleen 195 vuotta sitten – syyllinen ei ollut mikään piika, vaan paloturvallisuudesta piittaamaton byrokratia |url=https://yle.fi/a/3-12606282 |first=Päivi |last=Leppänen |publisher=YLE |date=4 September 2022 |access-date=22 October 2023 |language=fi }}</ref> [[Turku Cathedral]], constructed in the 13th century, is one of the oldest still-functioning buildings. It is also Finland's only medieval basilica church.<ref name="turun-tuomiokirkko-1800-luku">{{cite web |title=1800-luku – tulipalosta jälleenrakennukseen |url=https://www.turuntuomiokirkko.fi/etusivu/tutustu-historiaan/tuomiokirkon-7-vuosisataa/1800-lukut |publisher=Turun Tuomiokirkko - Turku Cathedral |access-date=22 October 2023 |language=fi}}{{Dead link|date=November 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Another surviving edifice from the medieval era is [[Turku Castle]], which was established in the 1280s and underwent several expansions in the 15th century. Only the ruins remain of the bishop's church in Koroistenniemi, [[Koroinen]], but the white cross serves as a reminder of the bishop's castle that existed centuries ago. [[Qwensel House]], the oldest wooden house in Turku dating back to the 18th century, has been converted into a museum. No other medieval buildings have survived to the present day.<ref name="history-of-the-qwensel-house-turku">{{cite web |title=History of the Qwensel House |url=https://www.turku.fi/en/pharmacy-museum-and-qwensel-house/history/history-qwensel-house |publisher=City of Turku |access-date=22 October 2023 |language=en |archive-date=6 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230606103112/https://www.turku.fi/en/pharmacy-museum-and-qwensel-house/history/history-qwensel-house |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Museums ===

[[File:Aurajoki, Apteekkimuseo.jpg|thumb|Qwensel House (left) and the old town hall. A small ferry runs in the river.]]
Most of Turku's museums are situated beside the [[Aura River (Finland)|Aura River]]. The [[Turku Art Museum]] is housed in a granite castle, with exhibits of both classical and contemporary art. Turku Cathedral and its museum, located on the banks of the Aura River, provide information about the history and artifacts of the church. Adjacent to the cathedral, [[Ett Hem]], a 19th-century bourgeois residence, and the [[Sibelius Museum]], which displays a collection of musical instruments, can be found. [[Aboa Vetus & Ars Nova]] presents a fusion of medieval ruins and modern art. On [[Vartiovuori]], lies the [[Luostarinmäki]] Craftsman Museum, which represents a wooden housing locality dating back to the 18th century.<ref name="turku-on-monipuolinen-museokaupunki-museokortti">{{cite web |title=Turku on monipuolinen museokaupunki – Museokortilla pääsee 15 kohteeseen |url=https://museot.fi/turun-museot |website=Museot.fi |publisher=Suomen Museoliitto - The Finnish Museums Association |access-date=22 October 2023 |language=fi |archive-date=2 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002085929/https://museot.fi/turun-museot |url-status=live }}</ref>

The [[Qwensel House|Pharmacy Museum and Qwensel House]] hold the distinction of being Turku's earliest wooden abode, offering a glimpse into the bourgeois life of the 18th century and a 19th-century drugstore. The [[Wäinö Aaltonen Museum of Art|contemporary art museum, WAM]], is named after Turku's sculptor, [[Wäinö Aaltonen]]. Additionally, the [[Biological Museum of Turku|Biological Museum]] serves as a diorama museum covering Finnish wildlife and fauna. [[Forum Marinum]] is a maritime museum of exhibits and museum vessels, including the frigate ''[[Suomen Joutsen]]'' and the last commercial steam ship in Scandinavia ''[[MS Bore]]''. Turku Castle is an attraction with over 700 years of history.<ref name="turku-on-monipuolinen-museokaupunki-museokortti"/>

=== Theatres ===

[[File:Turku City Theatre 2022-05-15 d.jpg|thumb|Turku City Theatre]]
There are half a dozen theatres situated in Turku, with the largest being the [[Turku City Theatre]]. Located in the city centre on the banks of the River Aura, it offers a varied programme of classical and contemporary drama. Other theatres in Turku include {{ill|Linnateatteri|fi}}, [[Åbo Svenska Teater]], [[TEHDAS]] and [[Turun Nuori Teatteri]], in addition to smaller establishments such as the puppet theatre, [[Aura of Puppets]], and the summer theatres, Samppalinna and Vartiovuori.<ref name="turku-teatteri">{{cite web |title=Teatteri |date=19 January 2015 |url=https://www.turku.fi/kulttuuri-ja-liikunta/teatteri-ja-musiikki/teatteri |publisher=City of Turku |access-date=22 October 2023 |language=fi |archive-date=24 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231124084622/https://www.turku.fi/kulttuuri-ja-liikunta/teatteri-ja-musiikki/teatteri |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Music ===

Turku is a music hub that provides a variety of musical experiences. The [[Turku Philharmonic Orchestra]] is the oldest ensemble in Finland, tracing its origins to the establishment of the ''Turun Soitannollinen Seura'' in 1790. The orchestra has a reputation for its classical repertoire and frequently conducts concerts throughout Finland.<ref name="turku-musiikki">{{cite web |title=Musiikki |date=3 December 2014 |url=https://www.turku.fi/kulttuuri-ja-liikunta/teatteri-ja-musiikki/musiikki |publisher=City of Turku |access-date=22 October 2023 |language=fi |archive-date=24 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231124084620/https://www.turku.fi/kulttuuri-ja-liikunta/teatteri-ja-musiikki/musiikki |url-status=live }}</ref>

Turku boasts a selection of music festivals, catering to diverse tastes and moods. The longest running rock festival in Finland, [[Ruisrock]], is held on the island of Ruissalo. [[Aura Fest]] is a new city-based festival, set to debut in the summer of 2022. [[Down by the Laituri|DBTL]] is another city festival, situated along the banks of the Aura River. [[Turku Jazz]] is an annual festival in July. August sees the [[Turku Music Festival]], dedicated to classical music.<ref name="turku-musiikki"/>

=== Association and city rivalry ===

The Finnish people associate Turku with its "old and historic" charm.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.turkulainen.fi/artikkeli/34479-vanha-ja-historiallinen-imago-turulle-vain-etu |title=Vanha ja historiallinen imago Turulle vain etu |date=25 February 2011 |work=Turkulainen |access-date=8 April 2023 |language=fi |archive-date=27 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180327144913/https://www.turkulainen.fi/artikkeli/34479-vanha-ja-historiallinen-imago-turulle-vain-etu |url-status=dead }}</ref> Established in 1957, ''Turkuseura-Åbosamfundet ry'' is a bilingual, politically neutral historical society with 2,200 members. Its main focus is to cherish Turku's culture and [[Southwest Finnish dialects|dialect]], and to preserve local history and traditions. The society strives to promote and enhance Turku's positive image.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.turkuseura.fi/ |title=Etusivu |website=Turkuseura.fi |access-date=8 April 2023 |language=fi |archive-date=8 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230408142500/https://www.turkuseura.fi/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Turku and [[Tampere]] are two cities in Finland that exhibit a cordial rivalry through humorous banter.<ref>[https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-9694432 YLE: Kumpi on kovempi, Turku vai Tampere? Testaa tietosi ikuisista tappelupukareista] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210208093300/https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-9694432 |date=8 February 2021 }} (in Finnish)</ref> Humorous topics include Tampere's traditional dish, ''[[mustamakkara]]'', Turku's Aura River, and distinct regional accents. Both cities boast excellent culinary scenes, which attract food lovers. Since 1997, students from Tampere have annually visited Turku to participate in the custom of leaping on the market square. This lively event is thought to nudge the city towards the Baltic Sea and counteract [[post-glacial rebound]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.students.tut.fi/~eto/turunsanomat06.pdf |title=Data |publisher=www.students.tut.fi |access-date=4 February 2020 |archive-date=3 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111003214742/http://www.students.tut.fi/~eto/turunsanomat06.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="everwas">{{Cite web |url=https://everwas.com/2010/07/finnish-rivalry/ |title=Finnish Town Rivalries |first=Ian |last=Kennedy |date=2 July 2010 |website=everwas |access-date=27 August 2022 |archive-date=26 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220926091333/https://everwas.com/2010/07/finnish-rivalry/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Sports==
[[File:Paavo Nurmi Marathon, 2007, Aurakatu.jpg|thumb|[[Paavo Nurmi Marathon (Turku)|Paavo Nurmi Marathon]] is run every summer]]
Turku has two major football teams: [[FC Inter Turku|FC Inter]], playing in the top national league, ''[[Veikkausliiga]]'', and [[Turun Palloseura|TPS]] in ''[[Ykkönen]]'', one level below. Both teams are based at [[Veritas Stadion]] in [[Kupittaa]].

The [[HC TPS]] is an ice hockey team that competes in the top level, ''[[SM-liiga]]'', and has secured 11 national championships. They play their games at [[Gatorade Center]] in [[Artukainen]].

The city also hosts the annual [[Paavo Nurmi Marathon (Turku)|Paavo Nurmi Marathon]], named after the legendary Turku-born runner [[Paavo Nurmi]].

Turku is home to the [[Eagles RFC|Eagles Rugby Football Club]], a division champion affiliated with [[Suomen Rugbyliitto]], which trains and competes at Impivaara Jalkapallonhalli and Kuppitaanpuisto.

[[Turku Titans]] is a [[lacrosse]] club with a rich history, having scored three silver and one gold medals in Finland's national lacrosse league.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.turkutitans.fi/club.htm |title=Turku Titans history |publisher=Turku Titans |access-date=18 July 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720194200/https://www.turkutitans.fi/club.htm |archive-date=20 July 2011 }}</ref> The Titans' women's team has also achieved success. Furthermore, the city hosted the FIL U19 2012 [[World Lacrosse Championships]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.2012worldlacrosse.com/ |title=2012 World Lacrosse |publisher=FIL U19 2012 World Lacrosse Championships |access-date=18 July 2010 |archive-date=4 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101204114031/http://www.2012worldlacrosse.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Finnish tennis player [[Jarkko Nieminen]], from the nearby county of [[Masku]], is among the most accomplished players in Finland.

==Government and politics==
[[File:Turun hovioikeus.jpg|thumb|The {{ill|Turku Court of Appeal|fi|Turun hovioikeus|lt=Court of Appeal}} and Academy House of Turku]]
[[File:Turun kaupungintalo.jpg|thumb|[[Turku City Hall]], on the west side of the Aura River]]
Being both a [[regions of Finland|regional]] and [[provinces of Finland|provincial]] capital, Turku is an important administrative centre, hosting the seat of the [[Archdiocese of Turku|Archbishop of Finland]] and a [[Appellate court|Court of Appeal]]. [[Minna Arve]] has been the mayor of Turku since 2017.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=17 October 2017 |title=Minna Arve elected as the new Mayor of Turku |url=https://www.turku.fi/en/news/2017-10-17_minna-arve-elected-new-mayor-turku |url-status=live |access-date=7 September 2021 |website=turku.fi |language=en |archive-date=7 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210907141057/https://www.turku.fi/en/news/2017-10-17_minna-arve-elected-new-mayor-turku }}</ref> Since August 2021 her role as the mayor has been an elected office instead of a hired position.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=18 August 2021 |title=Turun pormestarit |url=https://www.turku.fi/organisaatio/kaupungin-johto/pormestarit |url-status=live |access-date=7 September 2021 |website=turku.fi |language=fi |archive-date=7 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210907141058/https://www.turku.fi/organisaatio/kaupungin-johto/pormestarit }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=19 August 2021 |title=Turku saa pormestarin 100 vuoden tauon jälkeen |url=https://www.is.fi/turun-seutu/art-2000008204411.html |access-date=7 September 2021 |website=Ilta-Sanomat |language=fi |archive-date=7 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210907141054/https://www.is.fi/turun-seutu/art-2000008204411.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

The [[city council]] of Turku has 67 seats. Following the [[2021 Finnish municipal elections|2021 municipal election]], the council seats are allocated in the following way: National Coalition Party 16 seats, Social Democrats 13, Left Alliance 11, Green League 10, True Finns 9, Centre Party 3, Swedish People's Party 3, Movement Now 1, and Christian Democrats 1.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://tulospalvelu.vaalit.fi/KV-2021/en/kutulos_853.html |title=Turku: Results by party and by joint list |publisher=Ministry of Justice |date=22 June 2021 |access-date=27 July 2021 |archive-date=27 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211027160836/https://tulospalvelu.vaalit.fi/KV-2021/en/kutulos_853.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The current chair of the city board is [[Sini Ruohonen]] from National Coalition Party.

Results of the [[2019 Finnish parliamentary election]] in Turku:

* [[National Coalition Party]] 20.5%
* [[Social Democratic Party of Finland|Social Democratic Party]] 17.1%
* [[Left Alliance (Finland)|Left Alliance]] 16.8%
* [[True Finns]] 15.7%
* [[Green League]] 13.8%
* [[Swedish People's Party]] 5.5%
* [[Centre Party (Finland)|Centre Party]] 4.7%
* [[Movement Now]] 1.9%
* [[Christian Democrats (Finland)|Christian Democrats]] 1.6%

==Transport==
{{See also|Trams in Turku}}
[[File:Electric locomotives at Turku railway station..jpg|thumb|[[Locomotive]]s at [[Turku Central Station]]]]
[[File:Viking Line Grace.jpg|thumb|[[Viking Line]]'s [[MS Viking Grace|M/S Viking Grace]] in the Turku Archipelago]]
[[File:Turku train station 1920s.jpg|thumb|[[VR Class Hv1]] steam locomotive at Turku railway station in the 1920s]]
For a city of its size, Turku has a moderate public transport network of bus routes, which is comparable to the bus network of similar-sized [[Tampere]]. The bus network is managed and supervised by the ''Turku City Region's Public Transport Committee'' (FÖLI) ({{langx|fi|Turun kaupunkiseudun joukkoliikennelautakunta}}, {{langx|sv|kollektivtrafiknämnden för Åbo stadsregion}}), and is operated mainly by private companies. Bus traffic to and in the neighbouring municipalities of Kaarina, Lieto, Naantali, Raisio and Rusko are also handled by FÖLI. The bus rates are the same when traveling within these municipalities.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.foli.fi/fi/tietoja-ja-ohjeita/joukkoliikennetietoa |title=Joukkoliikennetietoa |access-date=14 January 2016 |publisher=Turun kaupunkiseudun joukkoliikennelautakunta |language=fi |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160110115933/http://www.foli.fi/fi/tietoja-ja-ohjeita/joukkoliikennetietoa |archive-date=10 January 2016 }}</ref>

Rail traffic to and from Turku is handled by the Finnish national carrier, [[VR (Finnish railway company)|VR]]. The number of services has fallen and only the railways towards Tampere and Helsinki are now in use. The railway stations currently used for passenger traffic are the [[Turku Central railway station]] in [[Pohjola, Turku|Pohjola]], and two smaller stations in [[Kupittaa]] and the [[Port of Turku]].

There is no local rail traffic at the moment, as the city's popular tram services were discontinued in 1972, and the various local railway lines to neighbouring towns and municipalities were all abolished during the late 20th century. {{Citation needed|date=October 2008}} However, there are plans for a [[light rail]] system in the Turku region in the near future. According to the current estimate the tramway's construction will start in 2026 and finish in 2031. The first route will be constructed between Turku Port−City Centre−Varissuo residential area. Route's estimated length is 11 kilometers (6.8 miles) with 17 stops.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date= |title=Turku Tramway |url=https://www.turku.fi/en/tramway |access-date=22 September 2023 |website=Turku.fi |language= |archive-date=4 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231004164209/https://www.turku.fi/en/tramway |url-status=live }}</ref>

The first outdoor inclined elevator, the Funicular, is located in Turku. The elevator offers unimpeded access to Kakolanmäki hill where is no other public transport. The Funicular has two stations and travelling time between the stations is approximately one minute. It is possible to hop on and off at both stations and travelling is free of charge. The elevator's rail is about 130 meters long and height difference between two stations about 30 meters.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date= |title=Funicular |url=https://www.turku.fi/en/funicular |access-date=22 September 2023 |website=Turku.fi |language= |archive-date=6 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230406032341/https://www.turku.fi/en/funicular |url-status=live }}</ref>

The State of Finland has announced plans to support [[Espoo]] with 30% of full expenses on a new metro rail, the Regional Council of Southwest Finland is going to use this as a test case for a new light rail network in Turku.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.turunsanomat.fi/kotimaa/?ts=1,3:1002:0:0,4:2:0:1:2006-09-27,104:2:407945,1:0:0:0:0:0 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20070630122159/http://www.turunsanomat.fi/kotimaa/?ts=1,3:1002:0:0,4:2:0:1:2006-09-27,104:2:407945,1:0:0:0:0:0 |url-status=dead |archive-date=30 June 2007 |title=Turun Sanomat |publisher=Turunsanomat.fi |date=27 September 2006 |access-date=6 May 2009 }}</ref>

The Turku Bus Station and the Turku Central railway station are currently located in different places. The City of Turku is planning to combine these two in a new greater station complex in the near future. This new travel center will consist of a hotel and several shopping estates. This center will connect all public transportation from commuter trains to long-distance buses.

Turku's most significant highways for traffic are [[Finnish national road 1|Highway 1]] leading to [[Helsinki]]; [[Finnish national road 10|Highway 10]] leading to [[Hämeenlinna]]; [[Finnish national road 9|Highway 9]] leading to [[Tampere]], [[Jyväskylä]], [[Kuopio]] and [[Joensuu]]; [[Finnish national road 8|Highway 8]] leading to [[Pori]], [[Vaasa]] and [[Oulu]]; and the [[Turku Ring Road]], which protrudes circumferentially from Turku.

[[Turku Airport]] is located {{convert|8|km|0|abbr=off}} to the north of the city centre, partly in the neighbouring municipality of [[Rusko]]. The airport is served by six passenger airlines, including [[airBaltic]] and [[Scandinavian Airlines|SAS Scandinavian]], and one cargo airline.

There are also daily ferry services from the [[Port of Turku]] to Sweden and [[Åland]], operated by [[Silja Line]] and [[Viking Line]]. These are something of a Finnish cultural tradition (see [[ruotsinlaiva]]), and people often travel long distances across Finland to Turku just to take a [[cruising (maritime)|cruise]] across the Gulf of Bothnia.

The [[Archipelago Sea]] boat traffic is handled by, among others, [[SS Ukkopekka]], an old [[steamship]] that cruises on the route Turku-[[Naantali]]-Turku.

Turku is the only city in Finland to have three long-distance railway stations: [[Turku Central Station|Turku Central]], [[Port of Turku]], and [[Kupittaa railway station|Kupittaa]].

==Education==
[[File:Turun yliopisto.jpg|thumb|right|The main building of the [[University of Turku]]]]

Turku has a longer educational history than any other Finnish city – the first school in the city, the [[Katedralskolan i Åbo|Cathedral School]], was founded along with Turku Cathedral in the late 13th century. The first university in Finland, the [[Royal Academy of Turku]] (now [[University of Helsinki]]), was established in the city in 1640. In 1820, the first school in Finland conforming to the [[Bell-Lancaster method]] was founded in Turku with the aim of making primary education more inclusive to the lower classes.

Turku is home to about 40 000 higher education students.<ref>{{cite web |title=Opiskelijakaupunki Turku -info |url=https://www.turku.fi/opiskelijakaupunki/info |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230127165650/https://www.turku.fi/opiskelijakaupunki/info |archive-date=27 January 2023 |access-date=22 September 2023 |website=Turku.fi |url-status=live }}</ref> There are two universities and several "[[University of applied sciences (Finland)|polytechnics]]" in the town.

The Finnish [[University of Turku]] is the fourth largest<ref>{{Cite web |date=11 May 2023 |title=Yliopisto-opiskelijoita 163 700 vuonna 2022 |url=https://www.stat.fi/julkaisu/cl8k4bzgmcuu40dut7esfla54 |access-date=22 September 2023 |website=www.stat.fi |language=fi |archive-date=15 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231015103953/https://www.stat.fi/julkaisu/cl8k4bzgmcuu40dut7esfla54 |url-status=live }}</ref> university in Finland (22,300 students in 2022), as measured by student enrollment, and one of the oldest as well, having been founded in 1920. Approximately 9% of all students are international students.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Opiskelijamäärien tilastot |url=https://www.utu.fi/fi/opiskelutilastot/opiskelijamaarat |access-date=22 September 2023 |website=www.utu.fi |language=fi |archive-date=15 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231015170648/https://www.utu.fi/fi/opiskelutilastot/opiskelijamaarat |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Åbo Akademi]], founded 1918 as the second university of Finland, is one of Finland's two Swedish-language universities. [[Turku School of Economics]] merged with The University of Turku in 2010, and Åbo handelshögskola, its Swedish counterpart, with Åbo Akademi 1980. The central hospital of Turku, [[Turku University Hospital]], is affiliated with the university and it is used as a teaching hospital.

[[Turku University of Applied Sciences]] (TUAS) is the second largest [[Institute of technology#Finland|polytechnic]] in Finland (12,000 students in 2022<ref>{{Cite web |title=Turun ammattikorkeakoulu |url=https://www.turkuamk.fi/fi/turun-amk/tutu/esittely/ |access-date=22 September 2023 |website=Turun Ammattikorkeakoulu |language=fi |archive-date=22 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150722054056/http://www.turkuamk.fi/fi/turun-amk/esittely/ |url-status=live }}</ref>) after Metropolia University of Applied Sciences. TUAS consists of six campus buildings in Turku and one separate campus in town of [[Salo, Finland|Salo]]. Bachelors of Business Administration, Social Services and Health Care Nursing study at Salo IoT Campus.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Salo IoT Campus |url=https://www.turkuamk.fi/fi/turun-amk/yksikot-ja-kampukset/iot-campus-salo/ |access-date=22 September 2023 |website=Turun Ammattikorkeakoulu |language=fi |archive-date=15 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231015104142/https://www.turkuamk.fi/fi/turun-amk/yksikot-ja-kampukset/iot-campus-salo/ |url-status=live }}</ref> TUAS offers Bachelor and Master studies in over 70 fields of education.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tutkinnot |url=https://www.turkuamk.fi/fi/tutkinnot-ja-opiskelu/tutkinnot/ |access-date=22 September 2023 |website=Turun Ammattikorkeakoulu |language=fi |archive-date=15 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231015103935/https://www.turkuamk.fi/fi/tutkinnot-ja-opiskelu/tutkinnot/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Also [[Novia University of Applied Sciences]] and [[Diaconia University of Applied Sciences]] have campuses in the town.

Turku is one of only two cities in Finland to have an established international school (the other city being Helsinki). [[Turku International School]], located in the eastern district of [[Varissuo]], has been operating since 2003. By an agreement signed between the city of Turku and the [[University of Turku]], [[Turun normaalikoulu]] takes care of the teaching in the international school.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tnk.utu.fi/index.php?id=1389&news_id=125&archive= |title=Turku International School |publisher=[[University of Turku]] |date=15 January 2006 |access-date=31 October 2008 |archive-date=26 December 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081226054046/http://www.tnk.utu.fi/index.php?id=1389&news_id=125&archive= |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Media==
[[File:Turun kaupunginkirjaston päärakennus.jpg|thumb|[[Turku Main Library]]]]
The most widely read [[list of Finnish newspapers|newspaper]] of Turku, and the area around it, is the daily regional morning newspaper ''[[Turun Sanomat]]'', with a readership of over 70% of the population every day. ''[[Åbo Underrättelser]]'', a Swedish-language newspaper published in Turku, is the oldest newspaper in Finland, having been published since 1824. The free-of-charge ''Turkulainen'' newspaper was also among the most popular newspapers, together with the local edition of ''[[Metro International]]'' and the national evening [[Tabloid (newspaper format)|tabloid]] ''[[Ilta-Sanomat]]''.<ref>see ''Tutkimus: Lehtien lukijapeitot''</ref> Turkulainen was founded in 1958 but the newspaper has been on publishing break since 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 April 2020 |title=Etusivu |url=https://www.turkulainen.fi/ |access-date=22 September 2023 |website=Turkulainen |language=fi |archive-date=25 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230925194223/https://www.turkulainen.fi/ |url-status=live }}</ref> There are also a number of local newspapers such as ''Kulmakunta'' (for the eastern suburbs of Turku, including Varissuo and Lauste), and ''Rannikkoseutu'' (for the area around the neighbouring cities of Raisio and Naantali).

The first Finnish newspaper ''[[Tidningar Utgifne Af et Sällskap i Åbo]]'', in Swedish, was started in Turku in 1771, as well as the first Finnish-language newspaper ''Suomenkieliset Tieto-Sanomat'' which was started in 1775.

The newspaper ''Turun Sanomat'' also operated a regional television station, called ''Turku-TV,'' but station stopped operating in 2012.<ref>{{Citation |title=TSTV |date=10 March 2023 |url=https://fi.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=TSTV&oldid=21333307 |work=Wikipedia |access-date=22 September 2023 |language=fi }}</ref> The Finnish national broadcaster ''[[Yleisradio]]'' screens local news, daily from Monday to Friday, for the Southwest Finland (including the regions of [[Southwest Finland]] and [[Satakunta]]) residents. All [[list of Finnish television channels|Finnish national TV channels]] are viewable and national radio channels audible in the Turku area. In addition, a number of local radio stations, e.g. ''Auran Aallot'', ''Radio Sata'' and ''Radio Robin Hood'' are operational. Local [[public broadcasting|public service]] radio stations are ''Yle Turun Radio'' broadcasting in Finnish (the regional version of [[Yle Radio Suomi]]) and ''Yle Vega Åboland'' broadcasting in Swedish (the regional version of [[Yle Vega]]).

==Notable people==
{{Div col}}
* [[Rauno Aaltonen]], rally driver
* [[Fredrika Bremer]] (1801–1865), writer and feminist reformer, born at Tuorla Manor in Piikkiö Parish.<ref>{{cite EB9 |wstitle = Fredrika Bremer |volume= IV | pages=256-257 |short=1 }}</ref>
* [[Teemu Brunila]], singer, songwriter, musician and producer
* [[Antti Buri]], racing driver
* Toni-Ville Henrik Virtanen, electronic music producer known as [[Darude]], author of the hit song "[[Sandstorm (Darude composition)|Sandstorm]]"
* [[Karl Ebb]], athlete and racing driver
* [[Alex Federley]], political cartoonist and illustrator
* [[Marcus Forss]], football player, member of Finland's [[UEFA Euro 2020]] squad
* [[Johan Gadolin]], chemist, physicist and mineralogist
* [[Kasper Hämäläinen]], football player
* [[Janne Henriksson]], football goalkeeper
* [[Utti Hietala]], bodybuilder
* [[Vera Hjelt]], Member of Parliament and social reformer
* [[Lukáš Hrádecký]], football goalkeeper, member of Finland's [[UEFA Euro 2020]] squad
* [[Tuuli Hypén]], cartoonist
* [[Kaan Kairinen]], football player
* [[Kaapo Kakko]], hockey player
* [[Katja Kallio]] (born 1968), novelist, journalist, columnist and screenwriter
* [[Joni Kauko]], football player, member of Finland's [[UEFA Euro 2020]] squad
* [[Miikka Kiprusoff]], former professional ice hockey goaltender who played for the [[Calgary Flames]] and [[San Jose Sharks]] during his [[National Hockey League|NHL]] career
* [[Mauno Koivisto]], 9th president of Finland
* [[Saku Koivu|Saku]] and [[Mikko Koivu]], ice hockey playing brothers playing respectively in Montréal and Anaheim Ducks and [[Minnesota Wild]] as an alternate captain and captain
* [[Christina Krook]] (1742–1806), educator
* [[Matti Kuusimäki]], lawyer
* [[Joalin Loukamaa]], a member of global pop group [[Now United]]
* [[Agnes Lundell]] (1878–1936), Finland's first female lawyer
* [[Erik Johan Löfgren]], portrait painter
* [[Baron]] [[C. G. E. Mannerheim]], military leader and statesman
* [[Marjatta Metsovaara]], textile artist
* [[Niklas Moisander]], former captain of [[Finland national football team]]
* [[Michael Monroe]], rock musician, the vocalist of [[Hanoi Rocks]]
* [[Paavo Nurmi]], The [[Flying Finn]], 9 time Olympic Champion in long-distance running
* [[Joni Ortio]], professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for [[HC Vityaz]] of the [[KHL]]
* [[Elli Pikkujämsä]], defender for [[KIF Örebro DFF]] and the [[Finland women's national football team]]
* [[Taru Rinne]], motorcycle racer
* [[Rasmus Ristolainen]], hockey player currently with the [[Philadelphia Flyers]] of the NHL
* [[Seppo Ruohonen]] (1946–2020), opera singer
* [[Jarno Saarinen]], 1972 Grand Prix motorcycle racing [[List of Grand Prix motorcycle racing World Champions by year|world champion]]
* [[Matti Salminen]], bass singer
* [[Henri Sigfridsson]], classical pianist
* [[Tabe Slioor]], socialite, reporter and photojournalist
* [[Darren Smith (footballer, born 1996)|Darren Smith]], a South African-born football player
* [[Herman Spöring Jr.]], explorer and botanist
* [[Niilo Sevänen]], vocalist and bass guitarist of [[Insomnium]]
* [[Elsa Sylvestersson]], ballet dancer and choreographer
* [[Jere Uronen]], football player, member of Finland's [[UEFA Euro 2020]] squad
* [[Jonne Valtonen]], composer
{{Div col end}}

==International relations==

===Twin towns – sister cities===
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Finland}}
Turku is [[Sister city|twinned]] with:<ref name=twins>{{cite web |title=Twin Cities of Turku |url=https://www.turku.fi/en/turku-info/twin-cities-turku |website=turku.fi |date=27 October 2015 |publisher=Turku |access-date=13 March 2022 |archive-date=6 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181006200334/https://www.turku.fi/en/turku-info/twin-cities-turku |url-status=live }}</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
* {{flagicon|DEN}} [[Aarhus Municipality|Aarhus]], Denmark (1946)
* {{flagicon|NOR}} [[Bergen]], Norway (1946)
* {{flagicon|SVK}} [[Bratislava]], Slovakia (1976)
* {{flagicon|GER}} [[Cologne]], Germany (1967)
* {{flagicon|ROU}} [[Constanța]], Romania (1958)
* {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Florence]], Italy (1992)
* {{flagicon|POL}} [[Gdańsk]], Poland (1958)
* {{flagicon|SWE}} [[Gothenburg Municipality|Gothenburg]], Sweden (1946)
* {{flagicon|UKR}} [[Kharkiv]], Ukraine (2022)
* {{flagicon|GER}} [[Rostock]], Germany (1958)
<!--Saint Petersburg - suspended-->
* {{flagicon|HUN}} [[Szeged]], Hungary (1971)
* {{flagicon|EST}} [[Tartu]], Estonia (2008)
* {{flagicon|BUL}} [[Varna, Bulgaria|Varna]], Bulgaria (1963)
{{div col end}}

In March 2022, Turku suspended the agreement with [[Saint Petersburg]], Russia (twinning since 1953<ref name=twins/>) due to the [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine|Russian invasion of Ukraine]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=ipendoli |date=28 February 2022 |title=City of Turku suspends its twin city operations with City of St. Petersburg |url=https://www.turku.fi/en/news/2022-02-28_city-turku-suspends-its-twin-city-operations-city-st-petersburg |access-date=12 March 2022 |website=Turku.fi |archive-date=28 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220228080646/https://www.turku.fi/en/news/2022-02-28_city-turku-suspends-its-twin-city-operations-city-st-petersburg |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Co-operation agreements===
Turku has co-operation agreements with:<ref name=twins/>
* {{Flagicon|EST}} [[Tallinn]], Estonia
* {{Flagicon|CHN}} [[Tianjin]], China

==Gallery==
<!-- No need to add more images; that is what Commons is for. -->
{{Gallery
|mode=packed
|height=140
|Turkucastle_edit.jpg|The medieval [[Turku Castle]] as seen from the harbour side
|Turku Museum of Art.jpg|{{ill|Turku Art Museum|fi|Turun taidemuseo}} is a classical example of [[Romantic nationalism]] in architecture.
|Turun apteekkimuseo.jpg|[[Pharmacy museum, Turku|Pharmacy museum]]
|Turun käsityöläismuseo.jpg|[[Luostarinmäki]] open-air museum
|Aurajoki, Turku 2.jpg|[[Aura River (Finland)|Aura River]] in central Turku
}}

==See also==
{{Portal|Finland|Europe|Geography|Cities}}
* [[Archipelago Sea]]
* [[Bishop Henry]]
* [[Christmas Peace]]
* [[Great Fire of Turku]]
* [[History of Turku]]
* [[King's Road (Finland)|King's Road]]
* [[Posankka]]
* [[Royal Academy of Turku]]
* [[Turku Cemetery]]

=== Other medieval cities and towns of Finland ===
* [[Naantali]]
* [[Porvoo]]
* [[Rauma, Finland|Rauma]]
* [[Ulvila]]
* [[Vyborg]] (now in Russia)

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Sources==
* {{cite book |last=Lahtinen |first=Rauno |date=2015 |title=Turun historia |trans-title=History of Turku |language=fi |edition=2nd |location=Turku |publisher=Turkuseura |isbn=978-952-7025-04-8 |ref=Lahtinen2015}}
* [http://www.euroweather.net/english/climate/city_EFTU/weather-forecast_turku%20finland Turku] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060516182149/http://www.euroweather.net/english/climate/city_EFTU/weather-forecast_turku%20finland |date=16 May 2006 }} at ''EuroWeather''.

== Further reading ==
* Anttonen, Martti (ed) (1992). ''Täällä Suomen synnyinmuistot''. Jyväskylä: Varsinais-Suomen maakuntaliitto. {{in lang|fi}}
* Knuuti, Heikki et al. (1986). ''Kotikaupunkini Suomen Turku''. Keuruu: Otava Publishing. {{in lang|fi}}
* Virmavirta, Jarmo (2004). ''Finland's City of Turku''. Keuruu: Otava Publishing.
* Turun kaupunki (2007). [https://web.archive.org/web/20150512025249/http://www.turku.fi/Public/download.aspx?ID=44392&GUID=%7B00A2862E-0AAB-412B-B4E2-15EFBE2A0429%7D Muutoksen suunnat 3/2007]. Retrieved 27 September 2007.

==External links==
{{Commons|Turku}}
{{Wikivoyage}}
{{Collier's poster|Åbo}}
* {{Official website}}
* The website of the tourist organisation Turku TouRing at [https://web.archive.org/web/20060202002518/http://www.turkutouring.fi/ Turkutouring.fi].
* [http://www.christmascity.com Turku] – Finland's official Christmas City

{{Geographic location
| Centre = Turku
| N = {{Tooltip|''Kuhankuono''|boundary stone where 7 municipalities meet}}
| NE = [[Aura, Finland|Aura]]
| E = [[Lieto]]<br />[[Kaarina]]
| S = [[Pargas]]
| W = [[Rusko]]<br />[[Raisio]]<br />[[Naantali]]
}}
{{FinlandProper}}
{{50 most populous Nordic urban settlements}}
{{50 most populous Finnish municipalities}}
{{Medieval towns of Finland}}
{{European Capital of Culture}}
{{Finland topics}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Turku| ]]
[[Category:Turku metropolitan area|*]]
[[Category:Cities and towns in Finland]]
[[Category:Former capitals of Finland]]
[[Category:Grand Duchy of Finland]]
[[Category:Medieval Finnish towns]]
[[Category:Municipalities of Southwest Finland]]
[[Category:Populated places established in the 13th century]]
[[Category:Port cities and towns of the Baltic Sea]]