Sustainable leisure in Turku

With your leisure choices, you can support biodiversity, reduce emissions, and enhance your own well-being – for example, by spending time in nature. Turku’s beautiful natural destinations are easily accessible and invite you to hike boardwalks, explore caves, and enjoy stunning coastal views.

Sharing both successes and challenges of sustainable living with friends and neighbors can inspire new ideas or encourage others to make greener choices. Sometimes, the most powerful action is one that motivates others. One person’s example can spark a much larger shift.

Hobbies offer joy, wellness, and opportunities for new friendships. Whether your passion is culture, sports, nature, or crafts, consider if you could make your activities a bit more sustainable.

How you travel to your hobby matters for the environment. Walking, biking, or using public transport benefits both nature and your health – the physical and mental health benefits of walking, for example, are well established. Turku is developing better walking conditions through its “Walking and Relaxing” programme, which runs until 2029.

Turku offers 18 nature reserves, coastlines, islands, nature trails, and birdwatching towers. Spending time outdoors is not only enjoyable, but it also has proven health benefits.

Interested in volunteering for nature and the environment? The city of Turku organizes community work based on residents’ ideas, and you can even host your own cleanup event with support from the city. Or perhaps you'd like to become a "park godparent" – a volunteer who cares for public green spaces, often places dear to them.

 

Shopping, dining, and cultural offerings bring people to the vibrant heart of Turku. A summer evening stroll along the Aura River is city life at its best.

Sustainable shopping means choosing quality, durability, and repairability. Did you know that Turku has an excellent selection of second-hand and vintage shops? The city center also features small boutiques showcasing local craftsmanship.

Community-minded practices like shared items, co-use spaces, carpools, yard sales, and joint purchases reduce emissions and save money.

Culture brings joy, inspiration, and relaxation. Turku, a true cultural city, offers museums, galleries, theaters, and more – with plenty to enjoy for both locals and visitors. You don’t need a big budget to enjoy cultural life: Turku Art Museum has free entry evenings, the city hosts many free events, and the Turku Culture Card  offers discounts to cultural venues. The regional events calendar lists festivals, concerts, exhibitions, and more.

The Market Hall and Market Square are local food hubs in the heart of the city, offering fresh, seasonal, and vegetarian options. Ekotori is Turku’s recycling center, which also redistributes surplus food. Their "surplus food shelf" allows people to leave and take food items freely.
 

The Turku Archipelago, the Ring Road route, Ruissalo Island, and national parks in Southwest Finland offer world-class nature and outdoor adventures. Local tourism is a sustainable choice that supports the local economy and avoids high-emission travel.

A responsible traveler prefers walking, cycling, public transport, or carpooling – and stays in accommodation with recognized sustainability certification.

Boating or summer cottages?

Boating and cottage life are classic Finnish ways to enjoy free time. Nature and coastal living can be enjoyed without owning a boat, car, or cottage – shared use and rentals are hassle-free and eco-friendly options.

From a cozy cottage to a garden allotment, many Turku residents enjoy leisure time in summer homes throughout Southwest Finland. Sustainable practices are easy to take along to your cabin: recycle waste, manage wastewater responsibly, and replace old bulbs with energy-saving LEDs.

Boating is hugely popular in the region: there are over 35,000 registered boats in Southwest Finland, nearly 8,000 of them in Turku.

The city of Turku and city of Helsinki launched the Baltic Sea Challenge in 2007, which includes extensive materials and tips for protecting the Baltic Sea. Below are practical tips for eco-friendly boating.