Event information
On this page, you will find comprehensive information about the biggest public event in Finland. Use the buttons below to conveniently navigate to different sections of the page.
Area map
Event Area
The event area is open 24/7. From Thursday to Saturday, 18–20 July, the area will have round-the-clock security, and on Sunday, 21 July, security will be in place until 2:00 PM.
There are approximately 15 toilets in the area, identifiable by the WC balloons attached to them.
There are two first aid stations in the area: one near Föri in Barkerinpuisto Park on the western shore, and another on Unioninkatu on the eastern shore.
The stages are located as follows: the Suomen Joutsen stage is by the ship Suomen Joutsen on the western shore, and the Helsingin Sanomat stage is in Varvintori on the western shore. The children’s park is located near Föri in Barkerinpuisto Park.
In addition to the bridges, there are three ferries crossing the Aura River. For more details on ferry services, see the Ferry traffic section.
Cafes and Restaurants
In addition to more than 60 spectacular sailing ships and an array of immersive programs, the event area features around 10 restaurants.
In the courtyard of Forum Marinum, you will find:
- The large parking area bar, open from 12:00 PM to 12:00 AM
- Sales points under the boat shelter, open from 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM
- The Nosturi cafe, open from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM
- Restaurant Göran and Göran’s terrace cafe, open from 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM
- The Götterö ice cream kiosk, open from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM
On the western shore of the Aura River, there are also:
- Unica’s Kajo terrace at Varvintori
- At Katti Kesäpiha, children can enjoy a bouncy castle, juice and ice cream tastings, and a wheel of fortune
On the eastern shore of the Aura River, you will find:
- Rica Bar’s pop-up terrace, the largest licensed area on the eastern shore, located at Itäinen Rantakatu 72
- The summer bar Mathildan Marina at guest harbor
Craft Markets
Throughout the event, there will be a craft market featuring over 40 finnish artisans. The market is located in Barkerinpuisto Park on the western shore.
The market stalls are open:
- Thursday, 18 July, from 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM
- Friday, 19 July, from 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM
- Saturday, 20 July, from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM
- Sunday, 21 July, from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Arrival
To avoid congestion in Turku city center, we encourage you to use public transportation to reach the biggest public event in Finland. Below, you will find information about train connections, local buses, parking options, arriving by boat, and accommodation.
Trains
Due to track work between Helsinki and Turku railway stations, VR will replace all long-distance trains between Helsinki and Turku with buses from 4 June to 28 July. Buses replacing long-distance trains will continue from Kupittaa to Turku central railway station and, during ship schedules, also to Turku harbor and vice versa.
Tickets for the substitute bus transport can be purchased on VR’s website vr.fi.
Read more about the track work between Helsinki and Turku stations here.
Föli Buses
Tickets
Single Tickets
Valid for 2 hours for buses and water buses
Adults: 3 €, if purchased with cash on the bus 4 €.
Children under 15: 1.50 €, if purchased with cash on the bus 2 €.
Children under 7 travel for free with a paying passenger or with a person carrying a child in a stroller.
Night surcharge: +1 € to the regular ticket price.
A single ticket can be purchased with contactless payment, from the Föli mobile app, at service points, from ticket machines, or with cash from the driver.
Daily Tickets
Valid for 1-7 days on buses and water buses
A daily ticket can be purchased from the Föli mobile app, at service points, and from R-kiosks within the Föli area.
A one-day ticket can also be purchased from the driver with contactless payment or cash, as well as from Föli ticket machines.
Timetable
Local Föli lines 1 and 1B from Bus Station to Turku Harbor will operate on the west side of the Aura River every few minutes throughout the event. The routes will detour via Linnankatu–Vallihaudankatu–Satamakatu and vice versa.
- Thursday, 18 July
Lines will operate every 7-8 minutes from the event’s opening until approximately 10:30 PM.
Otherwise, the lines will follow the regular weekday timetable.
View the line 1 weekday timetable on Föli’s website here | View the line 1B weekday timetable on Föli’s website here
You can also download the schedules for lines 1 and 1B (pdf) here - Friday, 19 July
Lines will operate every 5 minutes from 9:00 AM to 10:30 PM. From 10:30 PM to 1:00 AM, lines will operate every 7-8 minutes.
Otherwise, the lines will follow the regular Friday timetable.
View the line 1 Friday timetable on Föli’s website here | View the line 1B Friday timetable on Föli’s website here
You can also download the schedules for lines 1 and 1B (pdf) here - Saturday, 20 July
Lines will operate every 5 minutes from 9:00 AM to 10:30 PM. From 10:30 PM to 01:00 AM, lines will operate every 7-8 minutes. - Sunday, 21 July
Lines will operate every 7-8 minutes from 9:00 AM until the end of the event.
Otherwise, the lines will follow the regular Sunday timetable.
View the line 1 Sunday timetable on Föli’s website here | View the line 1B Sunday timetable on Föli’s website here
You can also download the schedules for lines 1 and 1B (pdf) here
Line 8 from Kauppatori to Ruissalo will operate with increased frequency on Sunday, 21 July. View the line 8 sundays timetable (pdf) here.
On the east side of the Aura River, lines 3, 14, 14T, 15, 15A, 15B, 15T, 30, 53, 53A, 53T, 55, 56, P1, and P3 will operate a temporary route from Monday 15 July to Sunday 21 July. View detailed temporary routes here.
The bus stops 292 and 336 on Sotalaistenkatu, 1815 and 1816 on Savenvalajankatu, 294 and 334 at Föri, 783 and 797 on Unioninkatu, 789 and 790 at Telakkaranta, 331 and 1694 on Merimiehenkatu, and 296 and 332 at Telakka are out of service.
From 18–20 July, the water bus will run from Martinsilta bridge to Ruissalo Shipyard and back according to its regular daily schedule. Additionally, there will be an extra trip to Ruissalo Shipyard at 9:00 PM and a return trip to Martinsilta bridge at 9:30 PM. On Sunday, 21 July, the water bus will start operating at 4:00 PM. Check the daily schedule for the water bus here.
The Fölläri parking stations at Forum Marinum, Varvintori, Föri, and the Water Bus will be closed from 18–21 July.
The Forum Marinum water bus stop will also be closed from 18–21 July.
For more information, visit Föli’s website at foli.fi.
Private Cars
Access to the event area by private car is not permitted. The event will affect traffic arrangements only within the event area from Martinsilta bridge to the shipyard, as well as at Forum Marinum on Läntinen Rantakatu and Itäinen Rantakatu. Traffic on Linnankatu on the western shore and Stålarminkatu on the eastern shore will remain normal.
Sunday, 21 July
The public is requested to arrive at Ruissalo by Föli buses on Sunday to watch the Parade of the Sails. Föli buses will operate on a more frequent schedule on Sunday.
In Ruissalo, driving will be restricted if the parking areas become full. In this case, driving will be limited on the following roads in Ruissalo: Hevoskarintie, Isopukintie, Kansanpuistontie, Kuuvantie, and Pikkupukintie. Once all parking spaces are occupied, no cars will be allowed into the area to prevent road congestion.
Parking
Those arriving by car can use the affordable parking options listed below around Turku.
Information on accessible parking can be found here.
Park-and-ride, Turku Fair Center
Starting Wednesday, 17 July, you can park your car at the Turku Fair Center parking area. Park-and-ride is an easy way to reach the event since the fee includes both the parking and bus rides to and from the event area. Bus transportation from the Fair Center to the event area and back will be provided every 30 minutes.
Parking is valid for 24 hours at a time, but you can leave your car at the Fair Center parking area for a longer period.
You can easily extend the parking time through the EasyPark app.
Address
Messukentänkatu 9–13
20210 Turku
For navigation, choose Kirjaltajankatu as the address.
Opening Hours
Wed–Sat, 17–20 July: 10:00 AM–10:00 PM
Sun, 21 July: 10:00 AM–5:00 PM
Price
The parking fee is 15 € per car + operator service fee.
Payment is made via the EasyPark app.
Wastewater Treatment Plant Parking Area
During the event it is possible to park your car at the Wastewater Treatment Plant Parking Area for multiple days at a time. The parking in the area is supervised during the opening hours listed below. The area has 300 parking spots on estimate.
Address
Ruissalontie 14
20200 Turku
Opening Hours
Tue–Thu, 16–18 July: 10:00 AM–6:00 PM
Fri–Sat, 19–20 July: 10:00 AM–7:00 PM
Sun, 21 July: 10:00 AM–5:00 PM
Price
The parking fee is 6 € per car per day.
Payment can be made by card, MobilePay, or cash.
When parking for more than one day at a time, the total parking fee of all days must be paid at once.
Toriparkki
Address
Yliopistonkatu 15
20100 Turku
Opening Hours
Open 24 / 7
Price
06:00 AM–10:00 PM | 0–3 hours €3.75 € / hour
Subsequent hours 2 € / hour
10:00 PM–06:00 AM | 0.50 € / hour
24 hours 24 €
Website
turuntoriparkki.fi/en
Louhi
Address
Läntinen Pitkäkatu 12 b
20100 Turku
Opening Hours
Entry: 6:00 AM–00:00 AM
Exit: 00:00 AM–12:00 PM
Price
06:00 AM–10:00 PM | 2 € / 30 min
10:00 PM–06:00 AM | 1 € / hour
24 hours 30 €
Website
aimopark.fi/en/cities/turku/louhi
Ruissalo
Free parking is available in the Hevoskarintie and Kansanpuisto areas. If these areas are full, no more cars will be allowed in. Parking is supervised on Sunday, 21 July.
Accessible Parking
There are parking spaces for people with mobility impairments available on both sides of the Aura River and in the Forum Marinum courtyard.
Western shore of the Aura River
Linnankatu 52
2 spaces
Eastern shore of the Aura River
Tervahovinkatu, at the end of Itäinen Rantakatu
2 spaces
Forum Marinum
Linnankatu 72, access via Linnanpuomi from the main entrance of Forum Marinum
8 spaces
Bicycles and Electric Scooters
Riding bicycles, scooters, and other light electric vehicles within the event area gates is prohibited. See below for parking options for bicycles and scooters.
Bicycle Park in Borenpuisto park (Myllynsilta bridge)
- Enclosed area
- Service from Thursday 18 July to Saturday 20 July 12 PM – 8 PM
Other Bicycle Parks
Parking for bicycles and electric scooters can be found on Unioninkatu and Veistämöntori. A separate bicycle parking area is located on Linnankatu beside Turku Castle from Friday 19 July to Saturday 20 July.
Electric Scooter Parks
A separate electric scooter parking area is located at the corner of Linnankatu and Vallihaudankatu in the park area from Friday 19 July to Saturday 20 July.
Arrival by Private Boat
During the event week, boaters are allowed to arrive in the Aura River, but mooring is not permitted between Tuesday, 16 July, and Saturday, 20 July. On Sunday, 21 July, all traffic on the smaller channels of the Aura River is completely prohibited from 11:30 AM to 4:00 PM.
Water traffic in the Aura River will be restricted during the event week on the main channel of Turku Harbor and between Aura River as necessary for safety reasons. If needed, the event organizers have the right to completely block access to the river for external water traffic.
Boaters arriving in the Aura River are expected to adhere to good seamanship practices. Smaller yachts must always yield to professional traffic occurring in the river.
Guest Harbors
The following guest harbors offer mooring spaces in the Turku area:
- Beckholmen | Hemisidan (airistosegelsallskap.fi) (in Hirvensalo)
- Vierassatama / Guest harbour – Turun Pursiseura ry (in Ruissalo)
- Vierasvenesatama Ruissalo Marina | Turku | Rauhallinen, täyden palvelun satama (in Ruissalo)
- Venesatama — Ruissalon Telakka (in Ruissalo)
- Vierasvenesatama | Turun Moottorivenekerho r.y. (tmvk.com) (in Ruissalo)
- Raision venesatama – Raisio Marina | Raisio (in Raisio)
- alalemunkartano.fi (in Kaarina)
Accommodation
Ship Hostel S/S Bore
Located immediately near the event area is the Ship Hostel S/S Bore.
Reception
Open around the clock
Check-in from 3:00 PM–9:00 PM
Check-out 11:00 AM
Contact Information
Aurajoki, Linnankatu 72
20100 Turku
+358 (0) 40 8436611
hostel.bore@turku.fi
Accommodation can also be booked online here.
Radisson Blu Marina Palace Hotel
Near the event area is the Radisson Blu Marina Palace Hotel.
Reception
Open around the clock
Check-in from 3:00 PM
Check-out 12:00 PM
Contact Information
Aurajoki, Linnankatu 32
20100 Turku
+358 (0) 20 1234 710
info.turku@radissonblu.com
Accommodation at the Radisson Blu Marina Palace can be booked online here.
For more accommodation options, visit visitturku.fi.
Traffic Arrangements
Read about the event’s impact on land and sea traffic arrangements here.
On Sunday, 21 July, water traffic will be suspended on the Rajakari–Turku and Pukinsalmi routes leading to Turku harbor from 11:30 AM to 4:00 PM. See the map below. Additionally, traffic on the small routes of the Aura River will be completely prohibited on Sunday, July 21st, from 11:30 AM to 4:00 PM.
Restricted area. Click the picture to view it in a bigger format.
Ferry Traffic
During the event week, the Föri ferry will operate on an extended schedule from Monday to Sunday, 15–21 July, from 6:15 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. Föri will have one approximately 30-minute break for battery charging around 9 p.m.
The Pikku-Föri ferry, located in front of Forum Marinum, will operate from Wednesday to Sunday, 17–21 July, from noon to midnight.
The temporary ferry between Bore and the east bank will operate from Thursday to Saturday, 18–20 July, from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. The ferry has a capacity of about 300 people.
Lost & Found Items
Lost items can be brought to and retrieved at the information point and event office between 8:00 AM and 6:00 PM, from Monday to Saturday, 15 to 20 July. The information point is located at the main gate near Martinsilta bridge, and the event office is in the Arts Academy building at Linnankatu 54.
After the event, lost items can be inquired about from the Finnish Lost Property Service at Turku – Suomen Löytötavarapalvelu (loytotavara.net).
Values
The Tall Ships Races Turku 2024 is a responsible public event. The event’s sustainability work is committed to accessibility and safety, youth work, volunteer work, as well as the protection of the Archipelago Sea and environmental responsibility.
Youth Work
The Tall Ships Races events are organized by Sail Training International, an international charity dedicated to youth sailing. According to the rules, at least half of the crews on the ships participating in the Tall Ships Races must be between 15 and 25 years old.
The City of Turku is sending 50 young people on the voyages to learn new skills, self-awareness, interpersonal skills, and to form new friendships, as well as to gain experience with different cultures and ways of working. Journeys to and from the departure and return ports will be made using ship and bus transportation.
Environment
Our event is only partnered with companies that share the same commitment to responsibility and sustainable development as The Tall Ships Races Turku. We have set high responsibility criteria for our partners and expect them to adhere to the values and standards listed in this page.
Protection of The Archipelago Sea
Our commitment to protecting the Archipelago Sea is a central part of the event. We emphasize the protection of the Archipelago Sea in the event’s communications and commit to this by increasing cleaning measures of the Aura River during the event days. A part of the proceeds from the sale of the event’s business packages are donated to the charity that supports the waste collection vessel Roska-Roope, operated by Keep the Archipelago Tidy Association.
Accessibility
We pay attention to the accessibility of the event and strive to ensure that services are available to everyone. The event area is free of charge and open to all.
There are two assistance centers operating in the event area, located on both sides of the ferry Föri. Each assistance center is staffed with helpers who ensure personal accessibility and are available to event visitors. The helpers can be recognized by their white vests. The event information desk is equipped with an induction loop.
The placement of sales and promotional points, as well as terrace areas, has been done in such a way that they do not create obstacles. The event area has designated accessible parking spaces, marked with LE parking permits. The city’s accessible parking spaces can be found on the City of Turku website Disabled Parking | Turku.fi. Disabled taxis can park in the Forum Marinum yard area. The event’s restroom areas include facilities for the physically disabled, which are marked with an LE symbol.
Unfortunately, the ships do not have accessible entry.
Safety
Safety in our event is the top priority for us, and we ensure that all our facilities and activities provide a safe environment for employees, volunteers, event visitors, and other stakeholders. The event adheres to the principles of safer spaces, and everyone is welcome to attend as they are. The event’s security arrangements are handled by the event’s partner, X-Sec Solutions.
The Tall Ships Races Turku 2024 is a discrimination-free event. We require the entire staff, event partners, subcontractors, and event visitors to commit to the principles of equality, fairness, and inclusivity.
If any behavior indicative of discrimination, harassment, or other inappropriate conduct is observed at the event, it should be reported immediately to the security at the area.
FAQ
When will the ships arrive to Turku?
The journey from Tallinn to Turku is a race between the sailing ships, so arrival times depend entirely on the ships’ speed. Most ships will arrive between Tuesday and Wednesday, 16 to 17 July, providing a good opportunity to see them in the archipelago and follow their arrival along the Aura River. During the event week, we will update information about ship arrivals on the event’s social media channels on Facebook and Instagram.
Can I visit the ships?
Yes. Generally, the ships will be open to the public at times determined by their captains, outside the official event program hours, approximately from 10:00 AM and 10:00 PM. Opening hours are specific to each ship. Information about known ship visiting times can be found in the Ships section.
Is the event free?
Yes. Entry to the event area is free, and the official program is free for the public. The official program can be found in the Program section of the website.
When will the ships leave the Aura River?
The ships will start departing from the Aura River on Sunday starting at 12:00 PM. We recommend being on-site at the event area, near Turku harbor, or on the cliffs of Ruissalo at that time. It takes about an hour for the ships to sail from the Aura River to Airisto. The large ships will raise their sails for the Parade of Sails, weather permitting.
Can I arrive at the event with my own boat?
Yes. Boaters are allowed to arrive in the Aura River during the event week, but there will be no mooring available between Tuesday and Saturday, 16 to 20 July. On Sunday, 21 July, all traffic on the smaller channels of the Aura River is completely prohibited from 11:30 AM to 04:00 PM. For more information, see the Arrival by Private Boat section.