Veranatura - Reliable Finnish Incoming tour operator / DMC - Cycling Holidays in Finland

On this cycling tour your home will be Finland’s oldest town, Turku. This beautiful city on the coast of Archipelago Sea is the former capital of Finland. Today Turku is a lively university city with rich cultural heritage and many attractions and events to attempt. The river Aurajoki crossing the town with its atmospheric old ships and restaurants is the heart and soul of the city. During your holiday you will discover Turku region’s history, culture and nature. You will visit historical sites, nature reserves, some Turku Archipelago islands, the old town of Naantali with wooden houses and lovely countryside. Besides cycling you can go walking in nature paths and in Kurjenrahka National Park, paddling or to a boat trip in the archipelago and of course to a real Finnish sauna.

During your cycling holiday you will be staying comfortably in one hotel in the heart of Turku.

• • Accommodation
• • Breakfast
• • Welcome meeting / route briefing
• • Use of Veranatura’s recyclable / reusable route description-map booklet (one per each party, in English / German / French / Italian)
• • On request: GPS-codes to be used with mobile application or gps-device
• • Destination information
• • Service-hotline

• • Outward and return journey
• • Use of Veranatura bicycle (see Bicycles tab)
• • Lunch and dinner
• • Entrances to the museums / attractions
• • Bus / boat tickets to the archipelago / Aurajoki River / National Park
• • Everything not specified on Included in the price

Middle class hotel

Note! The rooms are standard double rooms that have two beds put together or put separately (twin). In case your customer wants a room with a uniform bed for two we must do an upgrade (to a superior room).

Airports: Turku, Tampere, Helsinki
Nearest airport: Turku
Most flights: Helsinki

From Helsinki (or Tampere) bus or train to Turku
Optionally flight to Stockholm and ship from Stockholm to Turku

( Click map to enlarge )

Day 1
Turku

Independent arrival in Turku. Turku is the oldest city and the former capital of Finland. Some of the main attractions are the Cathedral, Turku Castle, Aurajoki riverside, Forum Marinum maritime centre and its museum ship fleet (including the full-rigger Suomen Joutsen), Luostarinmäki Handicrafts Museum and Turku Art Museum. In the summer the city holds many events and festivals with themes like middle age, music, theatre, art, design and much more. The river is the heart and soul of the city. Walk along the Aurajoki River and admire the old ships. There are many nice cafés and restaurants in the centre and by the riverside.

Day 2
To Hirvensalo and Kakskerta Islands

53 km or 25 km

Today you cycle in the nearby Turku Archipelago connected to the mainland by bridges. Your first destination is Hirvensalo Island where the famous Finnish sculptor Wäinö Aaltonen also lived. In Hirvensalo you can visit St. Henry's Ecumenical Art Chapel which is a pilgrimage site for lovers of architecture. This mystical landscape sculpture was completed on the fringe of the archipelago nature in 2005.

Kakskerta is also an island in the Archipelago Sea in the district of Turku. Like other islands in the Turku Archipelago, it has a large number of summer residences. There is a lake in the middle of the island. In the summer you can take a bath in the lake or in the sea. In Kakskerta you can visit the old stone church and the Brinkhall Manor famous as a filming location for a historical TV-drama.

Day 3
Through countryside to Naantali

55 km

Today you cycle in the lovely and calm Finnish countryside. In the summer you can take a swim in the small lakes along the way in Rusko and Masku. Then you arrive to Naantali by the Archipelago Sea. Naantali is one of the oldest towns in Finland and was founded around the medieval Brigittine convent of which the church still dominates its skyline. Known as the Sunshine Town, Naantali attracts local and foreign visitors from around the world with the ever-popular children's favourite Moomin World theme park. The official summer residence of the President of Finland, Kultaranta estate, is also located in Naantali.

Take a walk through the idyllic old town and harbour and enjoy good food in one of the beautiful seaside restaurants. After Naantali you have a 18 km ride back to Turku.

Day 4
To Lake Littoinen and Koroinen

32 km

Today you cycle first along Aurajoki River and along seaside. In summer you can take a swim in the sea along the way. Then you arrive to Katariinanlaakso nature reserve where you can take a short walk in the beautiful and calming seaside forest.

Through lovely paths you arrive to Lake Littoinen where in a beautiful nature setting there is a small, well-preserved old cloth factory industrial area, Verkatehdas. Established in 1823, it was the first of its kind in Finland. The National Board of Antiquities has classified the area as a cultural historical environment. Take a nice walk around the beautiful buildings and by Lake Littoinen. On your return to Turku centre you cycle along the Aurajoki River and pass the historical area of Koroinen. Koroinen was the residence of the Bishop of Finland until 1300 when, because of the upthrust, it was moved a couple of kilometres further down the Aurajoki River, to the present-day Cathedral of Turku. There is a white, wooden memorial cross and stone foundations still remaining in Koroinen.

Day 5
Rest day / sightseeing day / walking day in Kurjenrahka National Park

It’s good to dedicate one day to Turku sightseeing - maybe without cycling. Take a boat trip in Aurajoki River or in Turku Archipelago. In summer you can go by boat to Vepsä Island and have a great nature and sauna experience there. Turku has a lot to offer; many museums and also fun parks. You can also go for a lovely walking day tour in the nearby Kurjenrahka National Park.

Day 6
To Ruissalo Island

30 km

Ruissalo Island is located to the south-west of the city, in the Archipelago Sea. You can reach the island by cycling or by waterbus with your bicycle on board. The Ruissalo Island has lovely nature reserves and one of the largest old oak forests in Finland. The Botanical garden of University of Turku is situated in the middle of the island. The charming 19th century villas on the island are considered as culturally and historically valuable. You can take a swim in the sea and a real Finnish sauna experience is available year round! From Ruissalo you can also go paddling in the Archipelago Sea.

Day 7
To St Mary’s church and to countryside

52 km

Today you cycle first though the Koroinen historical area along the Aurajoki River and then to St Mary’s chuch which is an important medival stone church.

Then you cycle passing calm countryside districts and municipalities of Maaria, Paattinen, Vahto and Rusko. In the summer you can take a swim in the small lakes along the route.

Day 8
Departure

Departure or extension of your holiday. We recommend you to have an extra day in Turku for more sightseeing or for a lovely walking day tour in the nearby Kurjenrahka National Park, boat trip in the archipelago or any other activity of your choice with good time.