{"id":15720,"date":"2023-10-30T08:49:19","date_gmt":"2023-10-30T08:49:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/christmasmarkets.io\/?p=15720"},"modified":"2024-04-20T10:24:56","modified_gmt":"2024-04-20T10:24:56","slug":"turku-christmas-market","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/christmasmarkets.io\/finland\/turku-christmas-market\/","title":{"rendered":"Turku Christmas Market 2024: Finland’s Oldest City"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

An interesting holiday destination this winter is Turku, a coastal city only two hours from Helsinki. Known for its Medieval sites and lively waterfront, the city is also home to the Turku Christmas Market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this article, I’ll help you plan a visit, listing all the essential details, including the unconfirmed 2024 dates and what local specialties you can expect.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Turku Christmas Market 2024<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In Turku, you’ll find that Christmas is not just a festive period but a part of the city’s cultural identity as Finland’s oldest town. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The season officially starts with the Declaration of Christmas Peace<\/strong>, a ceremony unique to Turku. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following this tradition, the city brightens with lights and decorations along the city’s official Christmas street, Yliopistonkatu<\/strong>, and on the giant spruce tree in front of Turku Cathedral<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Christmas market opens on weekends leading up to Christmas and spans two locations: the Old Great Square and Market Square<\/strong> at Yliopistonkatu. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While the Old Great Square<\/strong> is geared towards families with various types of entertainment and concerts, Market Square focuses more on showcasing high-quality products. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both locations contribute to the city’s winter atmosphere, with various food stalls selling locally produced snacks and meals to warm you up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dates and Information<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Turku Christmas Market dates:<\/strong> 25th November to 17th December 2024 (unconfirmed).
Location:<\/strong> Market Square and Old Great Square.
Opening times:<\/strong> 11am to 5pm.
Christmas Day:<\/strong> Closed.
Admission:<\/strong> Free.
Christmas lights:<\/strong> Yes, switch on date: 25th November (unconfirmed).
Santa:<\/strong> Yes.
Ice skating:<\/strong> Yes, at Market Square.
Vegetarian:<\/strong> Yes, plenty of options.
Vegan:<\/strong> Yes, plenty of options.
Gluten free:<\/strong> Yes, but limited.
Accessible:<\/strong> Yes.
Pet-friendly:<\/strong> Yes, but not recommended during busy periods.
Parking:<\/strong> Please take public transport to help limit congestion.
Reason to visit:<\/strong> Finland’s oldest city, with beautiful nature and coast.
Food specialities:<\/strong> Finnish pastries, smoked fish, gl\u00f6gi, piparkakut (gingerbread).
Where to stay:<\/strong> Scandic Hamburger B\u00f6rs<\/a> is a popular hotel, directly at Market Square.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Convenient Hotels<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Staying close to Market Square is more convenient than staying on the other side of the river at the Old Great Square. There are more shops, cafes and attractions of interest. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this area, I suggest booking a room at Scandic Hamburger B\u00f6rs<\/a>; it gets excellent reviews and is centrally located directly on the main square.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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To explore more of the region, read my Finland Christmas Markets 2024 guide, which lists some of the best markets in the country.

If you will also be spending time in the capital, find everything you need to know about
Helsinki Christmas Market<\/a> here.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Location<\/h3>\n\n\n\n