Porvoo

Porvoo is 48 kilometers east of Helsinki and is the country's second oldest town after Turku. It rises from a lovely tangle of old alleys and ochre-colored wooden dwellings to its hilltop medieval church, which is lined by small red wooden buildings. The magnificent 1764 pulpit, as well as 15th-century wall paintings, are highlights.

The Market Square, located between the river and the hilltop church, is home to two museums worth seeing. The Edelfelt-Vallgren Museum, for example, contains exhibitions on local history, while the other, the Edelfelt-Vallgren Museum, is a must-see for anybody interested in the Art Nouveau style. It houses the furniture, pottery, and other works of various artists who established an art colony in the area around the turn of the century. Allow time to browse the stores and studios of Porvoo, which are still famed for their beautiful crafts. Porvoo is accessible by boat from Helsinki throughout the summer.

Location: Porvoo, Finland
Highlights: Porvoo Cathedral, The Brunberg Chocolate Factory, The Runeberg Home Museum, The Old Town, Sikosaari, Näsi stone or ‘The Magic Rocks’, eating at Zum Beispiel, ...
Best time to visit: May 28th to September 9th