What is cultural exercise?
Cultural fitness routes combine culture and physical activity. Each route has a specific theme. While exercising, you get to listen to fascinating stories from the past and learn new things about the city - whether you have lived here your whole life or are just visiting.
Cultural fitness trails are open every day of the year.
Get the most out of the trails
The trails are not marked, so you need a map. Maps are available as both paper maps and electronic versions.
You can find paper maps at the library or Monitori at the Market Square. Electronic maps and audio guides are available on the Citynomadi app, which you can download to your smart device.
Cultural fitness maps are free of charge.
Search for “kulttuurikuntoilu” in the Citynomadi app to find the trail maps.
Explore the routes
Memories and Stories
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Take this route and hear stories about what locals have experienced in Turku – things that could only happen here, things that are strange or wonderful.
The route runs from Samppalinna Outdoor Swimming Stadium to Ylioppilaskylä in the city centre.
The length of the route is 4.8 km.
Accessibility
- There are steep hills, cobblestones and stairs on the route.
- There is one free-of-charge public toilet near the route.
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- Hear city stories from Turku. The stories on the trail were compiled by Turkuseura.
- The stories along the route come from people who have had different kinds of influence around Turku, such as the organisers of the Tall Ship Race and Ruisrock Festival, the residents of the riverfront houses, and those who fought for the protection of buildings with cultural historical significance.
- The route runs from Turku Castle to Cathedral in the city centre.
- The length of the route is 4.1 km.
- Listen to the audio guide on SoundCloud
Accessibility
- The route is accessible
- There are four paid accessible toilets along the trail: the public bathroom near Turku Castle, the public bathroom at Forum Marinum, the public bathroom on the western shore of Föri, and the public bathroom on Läntinen Rantakatu near the Martinsilta Bridge.
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- Are you ready to look at Turku from a different angle, disappear from the map and find something quite unexpected and new?
- During the route, you learn about everything that has disappeared and been found in the centre of Turku. Let's try to get lost.
- The length of the trail depends on the choices you make during the walk, totalling approximately 6–7 km.
- You find the next checkpoint by completing the task at the previous checkpoint.
Accessibility
- There are steep hills along the route.
- See the nearest public toilets.
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- What was the name of the first bird at the bird pond? How was the last trip on the tram? Why was beer the drink of choice in Heideken?
- On the trail, you hear memories about the city by people who were born or lived in Turku between the 1940s and 1980s.
- The memories tell of the life lived in Turku through its residents’ experiences.
- The trail runs along and near Kupittaa, and you can choose either a 2 km or 4 km trail.
- The trail was created by Turun Seudun Nivelyhdistys together with the City of Turku and Folkhälsan. A video recording of the route is also available.
Accessibility
- The shorter of the two routes runs on even terrain and there are plenty of places to sit down along the way. The trail is suitable for walkers or wheelchairs.
- The longer route runs via Vartiovuori, but despite hilly terrain, the trail does not require taking the stairs.
- There is also an accessible public toilet along the trail.
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- Take a look into local love stories!
- Where is a good place to smooch and how have the people of Turku loved in different decades of the 20th century?
- We recommend listening to the audio guide which brings to life the voice of Ruben Oskar Auevaara, a notorious romance scammer from Turku.
- Listen to the audio guide on SoundCloud
- The trail runs along the riverbank in the centre.
- The length of the route is 6.2 km.
Accessibility
- The route is accessible between checkpoints 1–9, after which there are steep hills and many staircases.
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- What does Turku smell like? If Turku were an instrument, which instrument would it be? Where do you feel rushed in Turku?
- Take the Turku Is cultural fitness trail and find out. Follow the route by walking, running or cycling.
- The trail runs from the bus station to the Samppalinna hill.
- The length of the route is 4.2 km.
- Listen to the audio guide on SoundCloud
Accessibility
Art and architecture
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- Explore the architecture in the city centre! The trail explains the change in the cityscape “on this side of the river”, as the locals like to say.
- The map contains a concise information package on the architecture in the centre and the development of the cityscape. There are several route options.
- ”Täl pual jokke” (“This side of the river”) starts from the Old Great Square and runs through the campus areas of Academic Turku.
- ”Tois pual jokke” (“The other side of the river”) is actually two routes that intersect on the Market Square.
- The routes are designed so that moving between the two is easy and you can pick the checkpoints that you are most interested in.
Accessibility
- The length of Täl puol jokke is approx. 3.3 km. The trail passes over different hills with large variations in elevation. The trail involves steps and stairs at several points.
- Route 1 of Tois puol jokke is approx. 2.3 km. The trail is partially accessible. The route surface is hard and even throughout, but in Puolalanmäki, there are some large elevation differences.
- Route 2 of Tois puol jokke is approx. 3.5 km. Out of the three options, this trail is the most accessible. There are a few gently sloping long hills along the route, but the elevation differences on the trail are moderate.
- The sections along the riverside have a good amount of accessible resting places and free public toilets.
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- What statues can you find in the centre of Turku and what is their history? Explore the statues outdoors!
- Outdoor sculptures and environmental works of art in the city centre have been divided into three route options.
- Route 1 leads to Puolalanmäki and the western riverbank (approximately 7.5 km).
- Route 2 runs near Samppalinna Park and the eastern riverbank (approximately 3 km).
- Route 3 leads to Turku Cathedral and the University (approximately 4 km).
- More fun for your walk: Experience the statues through augmented reality (pdf)
Accessibility
- There are cobblestones and steep hills on all routes
For children and likeminded adults
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- Small sculptures made by children have been hidden along the River Aurajoki. Can you find the little statues in their hiding places?
- You can use the tips or GPS coordinates on the Piiloleikki cultural fitness map.
- The coordinates are marked on the maps in two-part series of numbers for each statuette. You can view the coordinates through, for example, the Map Browser application. Note! The coordinates may show the location of the statuette approximately 10 metres in the wrong direction.
The route runs between Martinsilta Bridge and Turku Castle. The length of the route is 2 km. Listen to the audio guide on SoundCloud
Accessibility
- The route is accessible.
Explore the suburbs
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- For most people, Pansio probably equals grey steel, shipbuilding, and naval forces. But Pansio is also so much more.
- Where did the cinema once stand? What does the area have to do with the funding of the Seili Mental Hospital and the first date of the past President Mauno Koivisto? Why does a lighthouse loom above Pansio and which area has been called the Fool’s Village?
- Take the Pansio cultural fitness trail if you enjoy combining history and stories and get answers to these questions and more.
- The length of the route is approximately 5.2 km.
Accessibility
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- What is Runosmäki like through its residents’ eyes? Take the Runosmäki cultural fitness route to find out.
- The residents’ experiences, stories and memories have been compiled into so-called ear poems on the route map.
- There are two route options: approx. 2 and 5 km.
- The poems were written by Turun Sanataideyhdistys.
Accessibility
- Accessible trail: Points 4–11 + 23 if you take Piiparinpolku.
More exercise
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- Combine stair sections with the walking route and get more fit without even noticing – one stair corresponds to ten steps on even ground.
- Three cultural fitness trails with plenty of stairs have been built around the city centre. Learn about Turku’s history while climbing stairs.
- Follow the route by walking or running.
- The trail options are 2 km, 9 km and 11 km.
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- For a long time, Ruissalo was used for pastures. People began cutting down groves in the 1540s to cultivate fields. Around the same time, Ruissalo came under the rule of Turku Castle, and its crops were used for the castle’s needs.
- Today, Ruissalo has become a recreational site with no natural attraction quite like it anywhere else.
- Trail lengths: Kuuva trail approx. 9.5 km and Kansanpuisto trail approx. 8.7 km.
- Ruissalo also speaks in tunes! Along the trail, we highlight songs and tracks that suit the themes of the checkpoints - local flavour forward. Lose yourself in the music
Accessibility
- The riverbank promenade is accessible, otherwise the trail runs on natural terrain.
Whispers of History
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- What has happened along the River Aurajoki over the years? And what is planned for its future?
Have you ever climbed to the top of Korpolainenmäki? From this observation point right by the city centre, you can see a large part of Turku and far over the sea! - The Linnanniemi area will be transformed into an artistic district, where you can experience history, the sea and the archipelago. The most noteworthy new addition will be the Museum of History and the Future, which will open its doors in 2030.
- The trail offers many interesting memories from Turku.
Accessibility
- The trail is accessible between points 1–15. There are free-of-charge, accessible toilets along the route.
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- Travel through time in Turku! During your time travels, you learn about the development of the surroundings of the River Aurajoki and Turku.
- You can choose between three themed audio guides: Villages and cultural landscapes, River of War and Peace, and Green Aurajoki Valley.
- Each route runs from the Governor’s Magazine in the centre of Turku to Vanhalinna in Lieto.
- The length of the route is 11.5 km. There are 12 information boards along the trail.
- In cooperation with the city: Southwest Finland Regional Fund, Turku University Foundation, Finnish History department at the University of Turku, and Liedon Vanhalinna foundation.
Audio guides on SoundCloud
- Villages and cultural landscapes audio guide
- River of War and Peace audio guide
- Green Aurajoki Valley audio guide
Heart of Finland for school groups
- An independent tour for schoolchildren covers a 4 km section of the Heart of Finland route.
- The trail has its own checkpoints and is specifically designed for pupils in grades 5–9.
- Teacher’s instructions for the pupils’ walk (pdf)
- Pupils’ tasks for the walk (pdf)
- Additional tasks for the pupils’ walk (pdf)
- Audio guide for schoolchildren on Soundcloud
Accessibility
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- Explore the sinful history of Turku by exercising.
- Where was justice administered? Where did hangings take place? Who committed an infanticide? What does ‘breaking on the wheel’ mean and where were these wheels? These and other questions are answered on this route that takes visitors to old places of crime and punishment.
- The trail is aimed at people over 16 years of age.
- The trail runs from the Old Great Square to Puutori in the historic centre of Turku.
- The route covers roughly 4 kilometres.
Accessibility
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- On this route, we travel from one place to another to remember and learn about different perspectives related to the civil war and the Second World War in Turku.
- There are two route options: one near the university and the other around Sirkkala, Cathedral and Puutori.
- The shorter route is approximately 1.8 km and the longer route is approximately 4 km.
- The routes have been implemented in cooperation with the organising committee of the Turku National Veterans’ Day 2023.
Accessibility
- The shorter (1.8 km) route is accessible with the Cathedral Park and benches located around its mid-point.
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- Where is the missing lake in Turku? Where is the bridge that collapsed? Where is the house that fell into the River Aura? Take the Turku Returns to the Map cultural fitness trail and find out.
- The route runs from the Market Square to the Betel Church.
- The length of the route is 8.4 km.
Accessibility
- There are stairs and steep hills along the route.
Routes in simple language
The guide maps are for everyone who wants to learn more about Turku. They are particularly good for those learning Finnish, as the text is written in simple Finnish.
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- Walk through the centre of Turku and learn about the history and culture of the city by asking questions and taking photos.
- We recommend bringing an instructor or a teacher with you to help complete the tasks along the route.
- The route includes a map, text instructions, and tasks.
Accessibility
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Open map
Learn more about the route
- Walk through the centre of Turku and learn about the history and culture of the city by asking questions and taking photos.
- We recommend bringing an instructor or a teacher with you to help complete the tasks along the route.
- The route includes a map, text instructions, and tasks.
Accessibility
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Open map
Learn more about the route
- Prepare for this walk in advance.
- The tasks teach you how to read a map and you learn important vocabulary. You will also learn to talk better.
- Tasks of the Culture and Sports route (pdf)
Accessibility
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- Ruissalo of today is a recreational site popular with locals - there is no natural attraction quite like it anywhere else.
- Explore the history and nature of Ruissalo!
- The length of the route is approximately 8.7 km.
Accessibility
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Open map
Learn more about the route
- Prepare for this walk in advance.
- The tasks teach you how to read a map and you learn important vocabulary. You will also learn to talk better.
- The length of the route is approximately 2.8 km.
- Tasks of the Prison and Turku on Fire route (pdf)
Accessibility
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