Goodbye or Good memories

augusti 26, 2025

How do you know that your exchange was truly a memorable one? The answer is simple: if a few months have passed after the end of your exchange and you still think dearly about the time that you spent abroad. But Turku is not just a place to study, it is a student city with many enjoyable activities for your spare time, both within a student union, with other students, or completely on your own. There are many activities available, and I promise you that there is something available for everyone, for every taste. Below, you can find pictures from different activities and places with only a little description because memories are incorporated into images and not text.

Churches

Turku is a place where different religions meet and two of these churches that are worth visiting (central location and free of charge) are the Turku Cathedral and Orthodox Church.

*Turku Cathedral, The Orthodox Church, The Orthodox Church during Easter, Turku Cathedral during Easter. Photos: Cristian Bujor*

Museums

If you are passionate about history or art, Turku offers a big variety of museums (including some that are in open air, available only during summer). The museums that I visited are: Turku Castle (a good place to learn the history of Turku), Forum Marinum (Maritime Centre) (offers an insight into the maritime history of Turku and you can also visit some ships during summer), Aboa Vetus Ars Nova (archaeological museum mixed with modern art) and Pharmacy Museum and Qwensel House (the chance to explore an old pharmacy and learn more about the cures of the past).

Turku Castle, me in the interior courtyard of the Turku Castle, model ships from Forum Marinum, me inside of the restaurant of MS Bore (part of Forum Marinum), me outside of a military ship part of Forum Marinum, ruins inside Aboa Vetus Ars Nova, pharmaceutical containers inside Pharmacy Museum and Qwensel House, me inside the old pharmacy from the Pharmacy Museum and Qwensel House. Photos: Cristian Bujor

Exploration activities

If you are a person that loves to explore and enjoys outdoor activities more than the indoor one, Turku has plenty to offer. You can take a stroll through one of the many parks, go on a hike through the forest (and find the “magical” land in the middle of the forest), explore the Botanical garden (during the winter and spring, the greenhouse is the only part of the garden worth visiting; PS watch out for the noisy parrots), take a two-minute trip with Föri (the old ferry crossing the Aura river), visit the old market (where you can buy ingredients or cooked meals from the exact same stand) or go on an aurora hunting (especially if you have a boring evening).

*Moose from one park, a clearing with different vegetation inside a forest, me inside the greenhouse of the Botanical garden, Föri, the old market, aurora close to my accommodation.*
*Photos: Cristian Bujor*

Social activities

When it comes to social activities, you can go to a student party (organized by every possible student committee from Turku), go to a classical music concert (I strongly advice you to buy the ticket last minute as you have an extra discount and end up paying only 6 euros) or, during the spring semester, enjoy Vappu (the Finnish may day) with other students (and there is a high chance of meeting your supervisor in the crowd).

The interior of a pub durin a student party, the Turku Concert Hall before a classical music concert, celebrating Vappu with other students while the student cap is placed on the statue of Paavo Nurmi. Photos: Cristian Bujor

Going on exchange is a great opportunity to meet new people, learn a lot and make great memories. I would like to encourage you to go on exchange if the opportunity arises and, in the case you are interested in visiting a city, I recommend you take your time to plan a trip to Turku. I wish you all the best with your studies and I am looking forward to reading new adventures of the exchange students.