Essentials
- City
- Turku, Southwest Finland, Finland
- Population
- Approximately 200,000
- Internet Speed
- Excellent connectivity, average 100-500 Mbps via fiber; 5G widely available
- Currency & Banking
- Euro (EUR). 1 EUR ≈ 1.09 USD. Major banks: Nordea, OP Financial Group
- Tap Water
- Drinkable and among the highest quality in the world
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C/F sockets
- SIM Card
- Telia, Elisa, DNA. Pre-paid 'Rajaton' (Unlimited) SIMs cost approx. €20-25
- Banking for Expats
- OP Bank, Nordea, Revolut (highly recommended for nomads), and Wise
- Accommodation
- Average monthly rent for small studio: €650-€850 via Vuokraovi or Forenom
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, almost 100% cashless; card and mobile payments (MobilePay) are standard
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb, Forenom Aparthotels (Kristiinankatu 9), Kotihotelli
- Budget Accommodation
- Hostel S/S Bore (Linnankatu 72) - unique cabin stay on a ship from €45/night
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- City Center (Keskusta) or near the Aura River (Jokivarsi)
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Kupittaa (tech hub) or Martti (bohemian vibe near the river)
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Werstas (Tykitiekatu 2). Day pass approx. €20. Located in the Science Park
- Best Cafe for Work
- Cafe Art (Läntinen Rantakatu 5). Award-winning coffee, great river views, laptop-friendly
- Networking Events
- Turku Business Region events and 'The Shift' business festival
- Social Events for Expats
- Turku Expats Facebook Group and International House Turku meetups
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Bolt, 02 Taksi, and Lounais-Suomen Taxidata
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Föllärit (City bikes) - €5/day or €20/season; Tier and Voi scooters
- Best Beach Nearby
- Ispoinen Beach (approx. 15 mins by bus) or Ruissalo Saaronniemi
- Top Regional Airline
- Finnair (connecting through Helsinki)
- Top International Airline
- SAS, Air Baltic (direct flights to Riga/Stockholm)
- Highway Access
- E18 (to Helsinki) and E8 (to Pori and Oulu)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Turku Main Railway Station (Ratapihankatu 37) and Kupittaa Station
- Public Transport Passes
- Föli (Regional Public Transport). Single ticket €3, 24h pass €8, Monthly €55
- Regional Travel
- VR Trains (to Helsinki in 1h 50m) and OnniBus for budget long-distance
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Turku University Hospital - TYKS (Kiinamyllynkatu 4-8)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Pure Move (Linnankatu 3). Yoga, pilates, and functional training
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Elixia Centrum (Eerikinkatu 4) or affordable city-run Kupittaa Sports Hall
- Laundry Services
- 24Pesula (Self-service laundry at Prisma stores like Tammitie 9)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Wolt (originated in Helsinki) and Foodora
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Mustamakkara (blood sausage) or Archipelago bread (Saaristolaisleipä)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Kuori (Hämeenkatu 8) - amazing vegetarian food and 'Falafel bar' lunch
- Best Dessert Spots
- MBakery (Kauppiaskatu 9) - named Best Bakery in Finland
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Turun Kauppahalli (Market Hall, Eerikinkatu 16) for local produce
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Verkkokauppa.com, Amazon.de (ships to Finland), Zalando
- Grocery Delivery
- S-Kaupat or K-Ruoka apps
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Riverboats (Aurajokiranta) in summer; Kristiinankatu in winter
- Local Brewery
- Kakola Brewing Company (Graniittilinnankatu 2) located in an old prison
- Wine Bars
- Viinitupa Vuoro (Läntinen Rantakatu 5)
- Street Food Stalls
- VG Wok (multiple locations) for affordable Asian-style street food
- Popular International Cuisine
- Delhi Darbar (Hämeenkatu 8) for Indian; Sergio's (Läntinen Rantakatu 27) for Italian
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Turku Castle (Linnankatu 80) and Turku Cathedral
- Museums & Art Venues
- Aboa Vetus Ars Nova (Itäinen Rantakatu 4) - history and contemporary art
- Historical Sites
- Luostarinmäki Handicrafts Museum (Vartiovuorenkatu 2)
- Religious Sites
- Turku Cathedral (Tuomiokirkonkatu 1) - the Mother Church of Finland
- Annual Events
- Turku Medieval Market (June), Ruisrock Festival (July)
- Cultural Districts
- Logomo (Junakatu 9) - creative center for concerts and exhibitions
- Theater Venues
- Turku City Theatre (Itäinen Rantakatu 14)
- Local Markets
- Kauppatori (Central Market Square) for seasonal berries and fish
- Music Scene
- Gong or Apollo Nightclub for live gigs and DJ sets
- Street Art
- Hämähäkkitontti (Spider plot) mural and various works in the Port area
- Cooking Classes
- Local community colleges (Työväenopisto) offer courses in Finnish
- Art Galleries
- Turku Art Museum (Aurakatu 26)
- Historic Buildings
- The Old Great Square (Vanha Suurtori)
- Local Heritage
- Suomen Joutsen full-rigged ship anchored in the river
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Ruissalo Island - oak forests, botanical gardens, and seaside trails
- National Parks Nearby
- Kurjenrahka National Park (35 km north) - great for mire hiking
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- The River Aura pathway (runs the length of the city center)
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Vartiovuori Hill or the roof terrace of Kakola
- Birdwatching Locations
- Friskala Bay (Friskalanlahti) on the island of Hirvensalo
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Public lean-to (Laavu) sites at Ruissalo Saaronniemi
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Posti (Post of Finland) and Matkahuolto
- Tech Repair Services
- Digiman (Skanssi Shopping Center)
- Table Tennis Spots
- Kupittaa Sports Hall
- Language Classes
- Turun suomenkielinen työväenopisto (Kaskenkatu 5)
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Turku Main Library (Linnankatu 2) - spectacular modern architecture
- Community Centers
- International House Turku (Linnankatu 31)
- Gaming Lounges
- Grail Group (gaming center/esports lounge)
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Feel Vegas (Eerikinkatu 4)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €4,800 per m² (e.g., 30 m² = €144,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €3,100 per m² (e.g., 30 m² = €93,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €4,200 per m² (e.g., 50 m² = €210,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €2,600 per m² (e.g., 50 m² = €130,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €3,900 per m² (e.g., 75 m² = €292,500)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €2,300 per m² (e.g., 75 m² = €172,500)
- Corporate Tax
- 20% (Finland national rate)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- Generally 15-30%, depending on tax treaties
- Tax System
- Progressive taxation for residents; Flat tax for non-residents (35% source tax)
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- Approx. 50-54% (including municipal and church taxes)
- VAT
- 24% Standard; 14% Food; 10% Books/Transport
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, strict Finnish CFC legislation applies
- Property Tax
- Annual tax ranging from 0.41% to 2.0% of appraised value
- Property Transaction Tax
- 1.5% for shares in housing companies; 3% for real estate (land/house)
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- None specifically; Finland focuses on high standard of living and social security