Turku

Turku specs

Turku is the sixth-largest city in Finland
Turku has a population of about 202,000. And the population density is 795,1 inhabitants per square kilometre
Total area is 306,36 km², of which 245,63 km² is land, 3,47 km² inland waters, and 57,26 km² sea waters
82,2% speak Finnish as a mother tongue, 5,5% speak Swedish, and 12,3% speak other languages
Hotel capacity 5,200 (2024)
Distance from an international airport, Helsinki-Vantaa Airport (HEL) 170 km (car 2 hours, train 2 hours)

About Turku

Turku, with its surrounding municipalities, is an energetic centre of growth in the Baltic Sea area. The versatile livelihood structure, top-class selection of education, culture, and services, as well as the beautiful archipelago, form a magnetic combination in Turku.

There are around 195,000 residents in Turku. In addition to residents, students and companies, the city attracts tourists. Turku is one of the most popular travel and congress destinations in Finland. Finland’s oldest city also has a long tradition as a city of top-level sports.

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Sport events

Paavo Nurmi Games

The Paavo Nurmi Games, held every year, are Finland’s most prestigious athletics competition and one of the Gold level events – the highest on the Continental Tour (the world’s largest athletics competition series). The games are part of the Paavo Nurmi Festival, which celebrates and honours the memory of running legend Paavo Nurmi.

Paavo Nurmi Marathon

The Paavo Nurmi Marathon will take over the streets of Turku for 2 days every year. Distances available to run at the event include the 5 km, 10 km, half marathon, and marathon, as well as a Mini-marathon for the little ones in the family. The running routes run through the beautiful archipelago scenery of Turku.

Turku Touring Cycling

The largest cycling event in Southwest Finland brings together cyclists of all ages and levels from active enthusiasts to commuters to enjoy cycling and the landscapes and historical sights of Turku and the surrounding municipalities.

Turun Tuomiopäivä

Turun Tuomiopäivä (Turku Judgement Day), formerly known as a competition for functional training, has received a CrossFit license as the first event in Finland and can now continue to serve as an arena for international CrossFit competitions. The goal is to make Turun Tuomiopäivä the largest Nordic CrossFit event in the next three years.

Challenge Turku

Challenge Turku brings an international triathlon competition to Turku and the iconic Aura riverside. Even though the competition draws the world’s best professional triathletes and their Finnish counterparts to challenge for victory, Challenge Turku is also an event for the whole family. There are few barriers to participation, with available distances for people of all ages and abilities!

Sports Venues

There are hundreds of sports venues in Turku that are suitable for top-level sports as well as for everyday sports.

Sports Park

Turku’s Sports Park is situated at the city centre along the east bank of the Aurajoki river. The Sports Park is used by a variety of sports teams and clubs as well as by individual athletes. The sports facilities are meant for both exercise and competition use. Facilities at the Sports Park include:

Paavo Nurmi stadium (track and field stadium)
1 artificial grass pitch (upper and mid-lower fields)
2 gravel pitches / natural ice rinks
5 tennis courts
2 basketball courts
5 beach volley pitches
a grisbeegolf track
a jogging track
outdoor gym devices
an outdoor exercise area for seniors
Olympiasauna (for afternoon club activities)

Paavo Nurmi Stadium

Paavo Nurmi Stadium provides great settings for athletics. The stadium has a full-length 8-line running track and venues for field sports. The size of the grass field inside the running track is 62 x 102 m. The grandstand has approx. 4 000 seats and the embankment seating circling around the stadium has room for around 9 000 people, so the total number of seats is 13 000.

Kupittaa Sports Hall

The Kupittaa Sports Hall is a versatile place to do sports and exercise. It has running tracks and facilities for long jump, high jump, pole vault, and shot put. The stand has 1000 seats.

Gatorade Center

The Gatorade Center is one of the largest multi-purpose halls in Finland. It can be transformed from an ice hockey arena into an indoor ballroom overnight. The total capacity of the Gatorade Center is nearly 12,000 with approximately 4,400 seats in the lower stand, 3,900 in the upper stand, plus 780 box seats.

Impivaara Sports Center

Impivaara Sports Center has facilities for swimming, football, ice skating, tennis, badminton, skiing and jogging.

Upcoming sports events in Turku

2025 Eight Metre World Cup
2026 Agility World Championships
2027 Women’s World Floorball Championships
2028 The Tall Ships Races
2029 The Europeade
2029 Turku’s jubilee year
2029 Paavo Nurmi Games Diamond League?

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