Easy Day Trip from Helsinki: Lovely Porvoo
Porvoo
You have probably never head of Porvoo. It is one of Finland’s six medieval towns. Originating in the 14th century, it is the second oldest city in Finland. The main attraction of Porvoo is the picturesque old town, which is full of history and character.
Porvoo is an easy and charming day trip from Helsinki, or perhaps even worth an overnight stay, as Bunny discovered on her recent visit.
How to Get There
By Car or Bus
A number of private and guided tours are available from Helsinki, but you shouldn’t really bother with those. It is super easy to visit Porvoo independently. If you have a car, the drive from Helsinki takes about 45 minutes.
Alternatively, Onnibus takes you from the Kamppi complex in downtown Helsinki to Porvoo in about an hour. The price is less than 10 euros - if you buy online, you can get a one-way ticket as cheap as under three euros! The bus station in Porvoo is not the most picturesque place but it is only about a five-minute walk from the old town.
Fancy Going by Boat?
If you would like to arrive in Porvoo by boat, a restored old ship, J.L. Runeberg, sails from Helsinki to Porvoo and back almost daily in summer time. The journey through the beautiful Finnish archipelago takes about 3,5 hours. You can return by bus or take the same boat back later the same day.
Old Town
An important milestone in Finnish history, the Porvoo Diet (nothing to do with food, look it up), was convened in Porvoo in 1809. Not much worth mentioning has happened there afterwards, but the idyllic old town - one of the nicest Bunny has seen in Finland - retains the atmosphere of the bygone days.
Bunny was certainly impressed with the cobbled streets, pastel-coloured wooden houses, small design shops, cute handicraft and antique boutiques, atmospheric cafes, and restaurants with outdoor terraces… It is a photographer’s paradise.
The old town is rather compact, so Bunny enjoyed hopping around and exploring at her own pace. Straying from the most popular streets, she discovered a lot of quiet narrow lanes, hidden spots and secluded gardens - some of them with PRIVATE signs around the property to keep the plentiful tourists at bay.
There are about 800 people living and working in Porvoo’s old town today. They are lucky to live in such an idyllic environment but Bunny suspects many of them are not happy with the constant flow of curious visitors. Bunny wouldn’t want tourists peeking over her fence either.
Red Riverside Houses
Porvoo river flows through the town and Porvoo’s most famous attraction are the red-ochre painted warehouses on the river bank. They are, in fact, one of the most photographed national landmarks in Finland.
Porvoo used to be an important trade centre. The red riverside houses originally served as storage houses for exotic fruits, spices, coffee, tobacco and wine being transported by boat along the river.
The houses were painted in red ochre in the late 18th century to honour a visit by the Swedish King. Bunny wonders why, was he a fan of the colour red or something? You never know about them Swedes…
Today, the houses accommodate private residences, shops and restaurants. You can even stay the night in one of them - check out Ida-Maria.
Stay the Night
As is often the case with popular day trip destinations, Porvoo gets even better if you stay overnight. To truly appreciate the quiet beauty of Porvoo and experience the charming streets without the crowds, you will have to stay the night, Bunny says. Luckily, she has found the perfect place to do so: Hotel Pariisin Ville.
Bunny had this hotel on her radar for a couple of years before she was actually able to stay. And when she did, she was just as delighted as she had hoped to be.
Pariisin Ville is a cute little place, a true boutique hotel with just 10 rooms, located in the heart of the old town. All rooms are decorated individually, in a simple style, but with a touch of old-world glamour and rural sophistication. The service is friendly and a delicious breakfast with local specialities, such as Karelian rice pies (karjalanpiirakka), is included in the room price.
Where to Eat
If you happen to visit Porvoo on a Sunday, Bunny can recommend the Sunday brunch at Sinne Porvoo. The restaurant is on the other side of the Porvoo river, an easy 10-minute walk from the old town across one of a number of bridges you can choose from, including one for pedestrians.
The brunch comprises a buffet first course, followed by a served main dish (three different options, including vegetarian) and dessert. Bunny had a delicious asparagus risotto and fresh strawberries as part of her excellent brunch. Her only annoyance was the service which was a bit slow. Luckily this was Finland, so no tipping was required (Mr. Bunny asked that the last detail be included).
And speaking of eating, don’t forget to visit the little Brunberg chocolate shop in the old town. Brunberg have been producing mouthwatering chocolates since 1871 and are deservedly popular. And there are free samples in the shop! If the Brunberg chocolates appeal to you, there is also a proper Brunberg Factory Shop in Porvoo, a couple of kilometres from the old town. Mmmmm.
If you are planning to visit Porvoo and have some flexibility about your dates, check out Port of Helsinki website before you go. This way, you can pick a date when no cruise ships are scheduled to visit Helsinki. This will improve your chances of wandering the streets of Porvoo without hordes of annoying tourists.
Sights
For Bunny, enjoying Porvoo was less about the sights and more about just hopping around, soaking up the atmosphere and taking photos at a lazy pace. If you are less like Bunny and more like a proper tourist, there are a couple of sights you can check out whilst in town.
Porvoo Cathedral
Porvoo Cathedral, dating back to the 14th century, is worth a visit. It is a bit of a hike up the hill from the old town, but it is free of charge to visit (if you need any further encouragement).
Not everyone is a fan though. In 2006, an enterprising young man tried to burn the church down and caused significant damage. The Cathedral was renovated - they have a lot of experience with fires in the wooden old town - and is now happily accepting visitors again.
The Cathedral’s interior is rather typical for Finland: simple and somewhat austere, but atmospheric. Bunny noted two curious details: a model boat hanging from the ceiling and a statue of Alexander I, the Czar of Russia who convened the Porvoo Diet in 1809.
Museums
Porvoo has a few museums, including Doll and Toy Museum and Porvoo Museum housed in the old Town Hall.
Bunny thinks museums are for rainy days. She was lucky to enjoy sunshine on her trip to Porvoo so she happily skipped the museums, including the small Runeberg House Museum, dedicated to Finland’s national poet. Bunny had to study his poems at school, so she already felt sufficiently enlightened on the man and his works.
Iso Linnamäki Castle Hill
If you feel energetic (Bunny didn’t), you can also climb up Iso Linnamäki Castle Hill to see the remains of an old medieval castle and beautiful views over Porvoo.
Bunny’s Conclusion
If you are visiting Finland and spending any time in Helsinki, you should set aside half a day (or more) and take a trip to Porvoo. It is Finland at its best: picturesque, atmospheric and very easy and pleasant to explore. Bunny likes!
