The surroundings of Turku Castle and the port area will undergo major redevelopment in the coming years. Linnanniemi will become a maritime art district where one can experience history, the sea and a sense of connection to the beautiful archipelago all at the same time.
Progress on the Linnanniemi redevelopment
The Linnanniemi area will be built in phases. The first new building to be built in the area will be the joint terminal for the ferry companies in 2027. With the new terminal and new transport arrangements, land will be freed up for other uses and the waterfront area will become more widely accessible to all.
The Museum of History and the Future is expected to open in 2030. Linnanniemi, Turku's first art district, is already hosting temporary art and events.
Schedule
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2024
- The winner of the international architectural competition for the Museum of History and the Future announced.
- Completion of the MAL agreement and implementation programme for the port railway.
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2025
- The refinements to the development principles for Linnanniemi were approved by the City Board on 10 November 2025.
- Construction of the joint terminal begins. (Ferry Terminal Turku)
- Changes in traffic arrangements in the plan area begin with the construction of streets in the Port Area.
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Active2026
- The urban planning of the maritime quarter starts (Merikortteli).
- The urban planning of the castle's storehouse quarter starts (Makasiinikortteli).
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2027
- Tallink Silja moves to the joint terminal.
- The port railway is completed.
- The Linnanpuisto landscape architecture competition is launched.
- Specifications to the Linnanniemi local detailed plan.
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2028
- Viking Line moves to the joint terminal.
- Construction of the Linnanpuisto Park starts.
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2029
- Turku 800 years – Linnanniemi as one of the venues.
- The old Viking terminal available for temporary event and other use.
- Street construction work is completed.
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2030
- Renovation of the old Viking terminal begins.
- The Linnanniemi redevelopment continues.
The objectives of the amendment to the local detailed plan approved at the meeting of the City Board on 27 September 2021 (in Finnish).
The Linnanniemi development programme and reference plan aim to ensure the timeliness of the development of the entire area and the realisation of the city's strategic objectives in the projects of the area. The background for the development is the winning work of the Linnanniemi International Idea Competition in 2020, the “KOLME PALAA” concept by the Lithuanian-Finnish After Party group
- Urban planning of Linnanniemi
- Linnanniemi development programme (pdf, in Finnish)
- Linnanniemi reference plan (pdf)
The local detailed plan for the joint terminal Ferry Terminal Turku is legally in force. The new terminal building is designed by PES-Arkkitehdit, who won the international architectural competition organised by the Port of Turku with their work “Origami”.
The port railway that runs through Linnanniemi is to be moved to a more northerly route, via Pahaniemi. Discussions on the implementation timetable and financing of the transfer of the port railway will start with the joint negotiations on the MAL agreement between the state and the municipalities.
- Urban planning of the Ferry Terminal Turku
- Ferry Terminal Turku project website
- Preliminary report on the transfer of the station location of the port railway line (pdf, in Finnish)
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Projects linked to Linnanniemi
A completely new museum concept is planned for Linnanniemi: Museum of History and the Future. The new museum will become part of the cultural riverbank.
Cultural riverbank is a culturally-filled urban space along the banks of the River Aurajoki, extending from Old Town to Linnanniemi. The objective is to make it the largest and most surprising cultural hub in Finland.
The future of Linnanniemi is also affected by the possible Turku tramway. The tram route is planned to extend to Linnanniemi.
After Linnanniemi, we look to the northern port area, and the maritime western part of Turku. The Turku Maritime City Vision provides a glimpse of the potential future of the area.