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City in Uusimaa, Finland
Photo: Jpatokal, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Porvoo (Swedish: Borgå) is a scenic small town 50 km east of Helsinki, Finland. One of the most popular day trips from Helsinki, its picturesque city centre of wooden houses is a proposed UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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Borgå domkyrka
A heavy, squat, white stone building, this church wins no awards for architectural innovation, but it's among the oldest and largest in Finland, with parts dating back to the 11th century. Predating the Reformation, it was built as a Catholic church, but was somewhat crudely converted into a Protestant one later on by removing icons and painting over murals. The building burned four times between 1300 and 1700, and took a direct hit from a bomb in 1914 – miraculously, the bomb fell through the roof, but did not explode. The roof was burned by an arsonist in 2006, but the damage was repaired and it's now open again, with some of the Catholic-era murals restored in the process. The diocese of Porvoo comprises the Swedish-speaking parishes of Finland.
Taidetehdas
A culture and congres centre, where you can get to know the milieu of the old factory, visit the art hall and participate in various events.
Lelumuseo
Contains over 1000 dolls and hundreds of toys dating from 1800 to 1990. Open from June 1st to August 10th only.
Porvoon museo
History and art museum in the heart of the Old Town, housed in the former City Hall (1760). The Diet of Porvoo – where the Russian emperor promised to let Finland keep its Swedish law, language and religion under Russian rule – was held here, and today it showcases artefacts from peasant life and a collection of old photographs.
Home of national poet Johan Ludvig Runeberg (1804–1877), more or less as it was when he lived here with his family in the 1860s, including the garden where there also is play site for children.
Albert Edelfeltin Ateljeemuseo
A museum dedicated to the Finnish artist Albert Edelfelt (1854–1905).
Johannes Linnankosken patsas
The memorial statue of Johannes Linnankoski (1869–1913), one of the famous authors of Finland, best known for his 1905 novel The Song of the Blood-Red Flower.
Kungsbackan kotieläinpiha
Porvoon vanha rautatieasema
A historical landmark.
Porvoon vesitorni
Summer cottage of Tove Jansson
Tove Jansson, famous for her Moomin books, lived her summers with Tuulikki Pietilä on this rock in the outer archipelago (with a tiny cottage by famous architects Reima and Raili Pietilä) for 25 years. One week each summer the island is open for visitors on guided tours or with their own boats. The guided tours include 2×30 min travel from Pellinge and 45 min on land, and are arranged twice daily for 6–8 persons per tour, with reservations at least 14 days in advance. The rest of the year it is rented for one week at the time, based on applications. The terrain is rough. Pets are not allowed. Landing is not possible in rough weather, overnighting is not allowed.
Kokonniemi
A few slopes on a small hill just outside town
A beautiful island about 3 kilometers south of the city centre. There is mainly an easy-to-navigate nature trail on the island, which runs in wetter places on the support of duckboards. The island also has a fish shop called Sikosaaren puoti and a three-room Villa Aronia motel.
Porvoon linnamäki
A historic hilly area right next to the Old Town. Iso Linnamäki ("Big Hillfort") is known as the largest ancient hillfort in Finland, which has been in use from 8th century to the 14th century. Pikkulinnamäki ("Little Hillfort") is an Iron Age cemetery area from the 2nd century BC to the 4th century AD. The area is protected under the Antiquities Act.
A grill restaurant serving food made on a charcoal grill. A bar service also included.
A lunch restaurant, café and bakery. Also catering service, many different kind of cakes and different menus to order.
Sailing ship turned into restaurant. Pizza, burgers, wings etc.
Meat District
A casual bistro operating since 2016.
Bistro Sinne
A dinner and brunch restaurant serving Nordic food from local ingredients.
A kebab pizzeria.
Restaurant Vår
A restaurant awarded a Michelin star in 2023.
A pizzeria serving in the Neapolitan style.
Classy restaurant in a building dating back to 1790, now serving up modern fare with a Finnish twist: try the deer carpaccio or tar-flavoured salmon.
Pleasant cafe right on the old market square in the heart of old town, with indoor and outdoor seating. The homemade cakes are excellent.
Licensed bar and café in a converted brick warehouse by the river. Riverside and floating terrace tables available.
A bar.
Basic guesthouse, 400 m from the bus station. No breakfast, but free use of kitchen facilities. Bedclothes included, towels €1.
Camping and caravan ground plus 10 cabins for up to four people. Showers, sauna, kiosk, BBQ shelter, playground.
Porvoon retkeilymaja
HI-affiliated hostel in a Porvoo-style red wooden building. 33 beds in 10 rooms.
Has a popular restaurant.
Pleasant, centrally located business hotel. Breakfast and sauna (weekdays only) included.
Haikon kartano
Old feudal manor turned luxury spa and hotel by the seaside, popular with Finnish honeymooners. Features a Japanese-style Yorokobi bath section.
The name means "happiness", and this charming small hotel in the heart of old Porvoo (the building was built in 1840) was boutique before they invented the word. Four rooms decorated in various retro styles from Functional (as in the 1920s architectural movement) to Manor. Breakfast included.
Another quirky small hotel in the heart of Old Porvoo. Ten rooms named and individually decorated after merchants and artisans who once worked in the building, ranging from tar merchants to glass blowers.
Basic hotel, 300 m from the bus station, also a car park next to hotel. Breakfast is included in the price, also free Wi-Fi connection.
One of Finland's most famous confectioners, this family-run business was founded in 1871 and is best known for their Pusu ("Kisses"), or giant puffs of flavored whipped cream encased in a thin chocolate shell. Brunberg's liquorice (lakritsi) is another local favorite, and don't miss the chocolate truffles either. Most products are made in a factory in the outskirts of the town, which also has a shop (Teollisuustie 19 B, M–F 09:00–17:00, Sa 09:00–15:00), but their always-crowded Old Town shop is a bit more convenient. Though on a summer Saturday afternoon, expect equally long lines at the factory shop.
A souvenir store.
A large hypermarket.
A mid-sized supermarket.
A mid-sized supermarket.
A small grocery store.
A small grocery store.
By train
There is no regular passenger train service to Porvoo, but the Porvoo Museum Railways run a vintage 1955 Lättähattu ("Flat Hat") Dm7 from Helsinki via Kerava to Porvoo and back occasionally.
By boat
L. Runeberg cruises from Helsinki to Porvoo between May and September 3–5 times a week, departing at 10:00 and returning from Porvoo at 16:00.
By car
Porvoo is easily accessed via the E18 motorway east from Helsinki towards Kotka and the Russian border.
By bicycle
Bike fans may want to consider pedalling the 78 km along the scenic King's Road from Helsinki to Porvoo, or 50 km along the more direct Highway 170 (part of EuroVelo route 10).
By bus
Information about local buses can be found here. There is a route planner for local transport trips.
By bike
Since 2019, there is a bike sharing system with 20 stations. Bikes can be rented with the Donkey Republic app.50/30 min, €5/4 hr, €12/one day, €20/2 days.
By ferry
About 30 km south-east of the centre of Porvoo is the archipelago around Pellinki, which is a popular tourist destination.
By taxi
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