One Day in Porvoo, Finland: An Easy Day Trip from Helsinki

During our trip to Finland, Spencer and I decided to take a day trip from Helsinki to Porvoo – a small coastal town. While many people decide to go to Estonia for a day, we knew we wanted to see more of Finland. Porvoo was a perfect place to get out of the city and see small world charm!

Porvoo was settled during the Middle Ages and is the second-oldest town in Finland! It’s most well known for its charming Old Town and brick-red riverside warehouses. Its claim to fame, though, is being home to national poet Johan Ludvig Runeberg. His home, now a museum, can be visited today. Porvoo, while small in size, has plenty to offer visitors. 

It’s one of the best Helsinki day trips, located about an hour away and easily navigable by foot (yes – even in winter in the snow!) Here’s how to spend one day in Porvoo, Finland! 

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Contents hide

1 All About Porvoo

2 Getting to Porvoo from Helsinki

3 Why Take a Day Trip to Porvoo from Helsinki?

4 Best Things to do in Porvoo, Finland in One Day

5 Map of Things to do in Porvoo, Finland

6 More Information on Visting Porvoo, Finland

7 Pin “One Day in Porvoo, Finland” for later!

All About Porvoo

How old is Porvoo, Finland? 

Porvoo was founded in 1248, making it one of the oldest cities in Finland. The city has a population of about 50,000 people, which makes it the 15th largest city in Finland.

Where is Porvoo, Finland?

Porvoo Finland is located in the north of Finland. The city has a population of about 50,000 people.

Getting to Porvoo from Helsinki

The first thing to do is decide how you’re getting to Porvoo and how much time you want to spend there.

There are a number of ways to get to Porvoo from Helsinki (or elsewhere in Finland). Public transportation in Finland is reliable, safe, and affordable! The easiest is to take the local bus or a guided day tour. Be mindful of the weather. 

Bus to Porvoo from Helsinki

There are a few buses that run from Helsinki city center to Porvoo. The length ranges from 50 minutes to 1 hour 15 minutes depending on the line and how many stops it makes. The 848 bus, which runs most frequently from Kamppi bus station, takes about 1 hour 10 minutes with a few stops, and costs around €15 – €25 for a round-trip ticket. You can buy tickets at any of the ticket stations in Kamppi terminal. You can check out the bus schedule for timetables and fares. 

We opted for the slightly cheaper (and faster) Onni Bus. It took us about 50 minutes and cost €9 – €10 for a round-trip ticket. Tickets cannot be purchased at the station, but online. 

 If buses are going to be your main mode of transportation, be sure to check out the Finland Bus Pass. 

Driving to Porvoo

If you have a car while in Finland, you can easily drive to Porvoo on your own. Most of the roads are main highways. However, in the winter the roads are often snow-covered, so be sure to check the car for studded tires and check the weather before leaving. 

If you prefer to have a scenic drive, check out the Kuninkaantie (Old King’s Road) or Great mail Route. This route extends all the way to Russia and was used during medieval times for the king’s messages! 

Parking in Porvoo is available for free, time-limited, and metered. Be sure to read all the parking regulations to avoid any fines. 

Guided Day Trips to Porvoo from Helsinki

Of course, when you’re on vacation, sometimes it’s easier to let others plan for you. It also gives you the added benefit of a guide to help give you background on Porvoo, it’s history, and show you the main highlights. 

Here’s a guided day trip with transportation that makes it easy to get around!

Take a Boat to Porvoo

Of course, we visited in winter, so this wasn’t an option. In the summer, though, you can take a scenic river cruise to Porvoo. There are almost daily cruises running from Helsinki to Porvoo with Royal Line or M.S. J.L. Runeberg (I told you they’re really proud of him!) 

Bike to Porvoo from Helsinki

This we definitely weren’t doing in winter, but it IS an option during the warmer months. You can safely cycle the King’s Road route. It’s 39 miles or 62 kilometers one way. Don’t worry – if you miss the stop for Porvoo you’ll end up in Russia in a week. 

Helsinki to Porvoo Train

There is currently not a direct train from Helsinki to Porvoo. In the warmer months, you can take a short classic train ride within Porvoo through the Porvoo Museum Railway. 

Why Take a Day Trip to Porvoo from Helsinki?

The short answer – why not? I know, that’s not really helpful, so I’ll give you a long answer. When we travel to capital cities or other larger cities we only get to see one side of the country. It’s a small piece of the puzzle. Traveling to a small town, like Porvoo, gives us another glimpse into the daily life of the local people. It opens our eyes to another way of living outside of the busy city. While many people take a day trip to Tallinn, Estonia (and we wanted to too), our day trip to Porvoo was shorter, more affordable, and showed us more of Finland. 

Best Things to do in Porvoo, Finland in One Day 

 I am not a “city person”, so I really enjoy taking a break from cities to explore smaller towns. It gives me a break from the hustle of the city to enjoy the scenery and see a different part of the country. Porvoo is very compact, making a self-guided tour pretty easy to do. However, if you prefer having a guided tour, you can do so with  You can pick up a free map and some brochures at the Porvoo City Tourist Office, or use this Google Map for reference. 

Walk around the Historical Old Town Porvoo

A stroll through Porvoo’s historic Old Town is an absolute must-do during your day trip (that’s why I listed it first!) The Old Town is compact, with small streets and locally-owned shops all around it. I loved the colorful buildings and the cozy atmosphere of the entire area. It snowed that morning, so everything was winter white! Be sure to wear boots that can handle snow and ice – I recommend these – because Finland doesn’t salt the snow, but rather compacts it down so it’s easier to walk on. 

Porvoo Cathedral

Porvoo Cathedral was originally constructed during the Middle Ages but has been rebuilt several times since then. It remains one of the oldest cathedrals in Finland today. There’s been a church on this site since the 11th century. Some parts of the current church, an Evangelical Lutheran Church, date back to the 13th century. 

Currently, Porvoo Cathedral is the seat of Finland’s Swedish-speaking diocese, the Diocese of Borgå. It was at this church where the Treaty of Porvoo (1809) was signed between Finland and Russia, making Finland part of the Russian Empire instead of being under the control of Sweden. It was an important milestone for Finland’s path towards becoming independent from Russia. Finland became independent in 1917.

Over the years there have been several incidents that have threatened or damaged the church. One of the most recent disasters occurred in 2006 when the whole roof was burnt down. It’s still active and visitors are welcome when it is open. 

Climb the Ancient Iso Linnamäki Fortress Hill

On the north side of Old Town, there are quite steep hills. These are important archeological sites with incredible views. The larger hill – Iso Linnamäki (Great Castle Hill) – was one of the largest ancient fortresses in Finland. The nearby smaller hill is Pikku Linnamäki (Lesser Castle Hill) is an Iron Age burial site.

You can choose to take a path to get up the hill. It crosses over wooden bridges and former moats. From the top, you can see all the colorful buildings of Porvoo. 

The Old Town Hall (or The Old Town Hall Museum) 

Right in the center of town is the colorful Old Town Hall, now the Old Town Hall Museum. It has a wooden clock tower and a mansard roof. Be careful walking in this area, it was a pure sheet of ice for us and I fell right in front of Cafe Fanny (may have yelled a loud curse word as well, so hopefully no one heard that). 

The building was completed in 1764 and housed the administrative council, court, and constabulary. The Diet of Porvoo was also convened here in 1809. It remained the town hall until the end of the 19th century when it was almost demolished because of structural issues. Today, it is the Old Town Hall Museum and is home to both art and history exhibitions. 

Explore Vuorikatu

This neighborhood is filled with colorful buildings and shops. Vuorikatu is where the Great Fire of Porvoo started back in 1760. Half of the town burned down because someone cooked fish soup in the early morning. After, the town was rebuilt on the original foundations. It’s an important part of Porvoo history, but people still live there, so be respectful

The Red Warehouse Buildings

Probably the most ‘instagrammable’ place in Porvoo – at least it’s one of the most photographed landmarks in Porvoo – the riverside red buildings can’t be missed. You can walk along the riverside to see them at eye level, or cross the bridges to see them from above. There are stairs near each bridge and a walking path. 

The wooden buildings served as storage areas for the river trade – they protected coffee, wines, fruits, tobacco, and other goods that were shipped along the river. 

In the late 18th century, Swedish King Gustav III visited Porvoo. In honor of his visit, the warehouses were painted a rich brick red to make them look beautiful. Today, most of these houses are private homes, so please be respectful of taking pictures. 

Enjoy a Runeburg torte (and a cinnamon bun)

Right next to the houses is the small cafe Porvoon Paahtimo Bar & Cafe. We stumbled on this cafe after walking the riverside for the warehouse buildings and desperately needed to warm up. With old beams in the ceilings and brick red walls, it felt cozy and comfortable. We opted for a seat on the covered dining right along the river. In the warmer months, there is a boat you can eat on. 

A Runeberg torte is found year-round in Porvoo, but only in January and February most other places in Finland. You’ll find similar pastries around Finland, but they weren’t the same as ours in Porvoo. It is a Finnish pastry with almonds and an arrack of rum. On top is raspberry jam encircled with frosting. 

Yes, the pastry is named after the poet J.L. Runeberg, but it’s his wife who made it famous. If you want to try to make it at home (which I will definitely do to remember my day trip to Porvoo) you can try this recipe. It was made by a local baker named L.H. Astenius. It’s said that Fredrika Runeberg would pick up the cakes and decorate them with apple jam (instead of raspberry jam) for her husband to eat for breakfast every day!

Cinnamon buns in Finland are not like American buns at all. They’re not dripping in frosting and honestly, not even THAT cinnamony (to be fair, I don’t believe there is a maximum amount of cinnamon a baked good could have). The white stuff on top is sugar! I had to ask what it was because it looked like the salt on soft pretzels. When she told me it was a cinnamon bun I HAD to have it! So worth it – and remember calories don’t count on vacation! 

Go Shopping

I’m not a huge shopper, and I don’t buy a ton of souvenirs anymore. I prefer local handmade goods and sweets – something that is hard to find in big cities like Helsinki. However, as you walk around Old Town, you’ll see a LOT of little shops in historical buildings. You’ll find boutiques, antique stores, craft stores, and souvenir shops. We stumbled across a small shop that handmade everything out of recycled products! 

Try some chocolate at Brunberg

Brunberg chocolate is a staple of Porvoo, dating back to 1871. If you have time, you can visit the Brunberg chocolate factory to see how the sweets are made and get a free tasting! The factory is located about 30 minutes away from Old Town. If you’re short on time, there is a shop right in the Old Town that has plenty of options. I would argue that chocolate is the best souvenir. 

Check out the Doll & Toy Museum

In full disclosure, I did not visit here – I have seen way too many horror films to go into the Doll & Toy Museum. However, if you like dolls or are traveling with kids that do (or are not a horror film fan) then visiting this museum could be for you. It’s home to over 1,000 dolls and toys – some over 200 years old! 

Visit the J.L Runeburg home museum

Unfortunately, this was closed when we visited, so we could only check it out from the outside. It’s a yellow home that looks pretty normal and not like a museum at all. This was once the home for the Finnish Poet Johan Ludvig Runeberg. It’s the oldest home museum in Finland, dating back to 1882. The cost for entrance to the museum is 8€ for adults and 6€ for seniors, students, unemployed, and groups of over 10 people. The entrance price includes admission to the nearby Walter Runeberg Sculpture Collection which is open in the summer. For more information and opening hours, check out the museum website.

Check out Albert Edelfelt Studio Museum

This one is a little outside Porvoo and would require a bike, taxi, or car. It’s worth mentioning for any art lovers. Albert Edelfelt was a local artist (1854-1905) and his studio can be visited today. Admission to the Albert Edelfelt Studio is 7€ for adults and 6€ for seniors and students.

Experience Modern Porvoo

Most of our time was spent in Old Porvoo, but right across the river you’ll find sleek and modern buildings. Most of the locals are not living and working in medieval buildings (I know, shocking!). I loved seeing the modern brick-red buildings – I don’t know if it’s intentional, but it felt like they were bringing the red brick warehouses to the modern-day here. 

Check out The Art Factory

Located near the Aleksanterinkatu Bridge, the Art Factory opened in 2012 and has been an essential part of Porvoo since. It is home to the Porvoo City Tourist Office, a concert venue, boutiques, and numerous art exhibitions. 

Enjoy the outdoors

There are plenty of outdoor activities to do in Porvoo – but they depend on the season. Since we visited in late January, most of the activities available involve snow. From skiing to ice fishing, to snow-shoeing, and walking on the frozen river – don’t be afraid of the cold! (Just be sure to wear layers!). We even saw people riding bikes on the snow-covered paths. To go skiing, head to the Kokonniemi Ski Centre which you can see overlooking Porvoo from a distance.

In the warmer months, the river isn’t frozen and is open for boating, kayaking, canoeing, and even stand-up paddleboarding. If you have more than one day in Porvoo, you can explore the Pellinki Archipelago for even more outdoor activities.

Map of Things to do in Porvoo, Finland

Click on the image below for access to Google Maps featuring everything mentioned in this post!

More Information on Visting Porvoo, Finland

You can check out Visit Porvoo’s official tourism website for up-to-date information, events, and covid-19 regulations. There’s also a tourist office located at Läntinen Aleksanterinkatu 1 06100 Porvoo. They’re also available via e-mail at [email protected].

For a great guidebook, check out Lonely Planet’s guidebook for Finland. 

Pin “One Day in Porvoo, Finland” for later! 

Have you considered a day trip to Porvoo from Helsinki? Let me know if you have any questions.

If you’ve been to Porvoo, feel free to share any additional tips or share your experiences. I love adding reader suggestions to the post!