Porvoo / Borgå
The city of Porvoo (Swedish: Borgå) is located in southern Finland on the coast of the Gulf of Finland, the easternmost part of the Baltic Sea. Porvoo lies about 40 kilometres east of the capital, Helsinki, at the head of a broad bay dotted with islands and peninsulas. Porvoo is Finland’s second-oldest city, after Turku . As early as the 13th century, Porvoo was an important trading centre on the so-called King’s Road. The town was granted its charter in 1346. To this day, the King’s Road, which runs from Oslo via Karlstad and Stockholm, through Turku and eastwards to Vyborg and Saint Petersburg, is promoted as a tourist route. In the 19th century, Porvoo became home to numerous Finnish poets and artists.
Porvoo an der Ostsee in Finnland
Photo: © visitfinland.com
Places of interest in Porvoo
As in many Finnish towns, the old town, rebuilt after a city fire, is a special attraction. Most of Porvoo’s old houses date from the period after the great fire of 1760. The present-day historic town hall dates from 1764 and now houses a museum. Porvoo’s best-known landmark is its 15th-century cathedral. The rusty-red salt warehouses on the banks of the Porvoonjoki River are also noteworthy. A railway museum with historic trains can also be visited in Porvoo. Other attractions include a toy museum, an open-air museum featuring historic wooden houses, and the home of Finnish national poet Johan Ludvig Runeberg.
Holidays in and around Porvoo
Like elsewhere, the archipelago off the coast of Porvoo is a natural draw for visitors holidaying on the Baltic Sea in Finland. The so-called Archipelago Centre in Tirmo is an attraction, as is Söderskär Lighthouse, located in the Baltic Sea 25 kilometres from Porvoo within a well-known bird sanctuary. There are many ways to enjoy a relaxing family holiday in and around Porvoo. In addition to leisure activities such as water sports, hiking, boat trips, horse riding and cycling, the HopLop indoor children’s activity centre offers an option for every season. With its convenient location on Finland’s Baltic coast, urban atmosphere, attractive surroundings and wide range of accommodation—including hotels, holiday homes and campsites—Porvoo is an ideal base for a relaxing, active family holiday in Finland.
You can book directly at a Porvoo hotel
