See Helsinki with a twist – make a daytrip to Old Porvoo! If you fancy small towns with wooden old architecture and beautifully colored walls, then Old Porvoo is the town to visit. Helsinki and Porvoo are located in Southern Finland. The drive time between them is approximately 40 minutes.
To my mind Porvoo is a place in which you automatically fall in love. Especially in the summer this city just gives you the happy summer feeling. My favourite activity in Porvoo is wandering next to old wooden houses eating ice cream and enjoying the sun.
Old Porvoo can be related to words organic, pure, handmade and local. Old Porvoo is full of boutiques and restaurants offering organic locally produced food and handmade products. I spent a small eternity in an interior design shop and there are so many other shops like it that are filled with beautiful handcrafts.Β I really recommend popping in a few and while you’re at it, support the local business and buy a souvenir!
What I love in Old Porvoo the most is the architecture and for me just wandering through the streets is an adventure. In Old Porvoo you can still feel the nature close by and just 5 minutes walk from the main church you can find beautiful meadows and calm river spots. You can also take a riverboat ride and sail along the river with a glass of champange or see historic railway carriages near the train station built in 1897!
How to get there?
Take a bus from the Helsinki City Center. There are different companies operating between Helsinki and Porvoo. The prices vary and you can find tickets from around 2,50 euros up. You can check the prices and timetables from the websites www.onnibus.com or www.matkahuolto.fi.
In the summertime and on Christmas there is a cool old museumtrain operating between Helsinki and Porvoo. It goes only on Saturdays 10.6., 1.7., 15.7., 22.7., 12.8., 26.8., 16.9. ja 9.12.2017. One way is 20 β¬ and return 30 β¬. Read more from the website (unfortunately only in Finnish but there is always Google translator :D)Β https://www.porvoonmuseorautatie.fi/.
Porvoo is not only a summer town but it is a gorgeous visit in the winter especially during Christmas. Glittering lights, Christmas market and the white beautiful church are definitely worth seeing.
Bonus tip: Leave high heels at home and take more comfy shoes. The streets are made of cobblestone so save your ankles with a lower heel.
Combine Porvoo to your trip to Helsinki! Check out my Helsinki Travel Planner to get most out of your Helsinki holiday!
20 comments
Thank you for introducing old Porvoo with beautiful pictures..
Since it is only 40mnts drive from Helsinki, I think visitors can easily visit this town.
It is so good to know that the shops there offer organic locally produced food and handmade products.This is really appreciable. Also by buying some thing in one of the shops, one supports locals, their economy, and tradition & culture.
Wish you could have put up pictures of historic railway carriages near the train station built in 1897! and also those of glittering markets during Christmas !!
By the way, who is that smiling beautiful girl in that write-up? :)))))))))
Thank you again for such an inviting article.
Thank you! I’m really glad you enjoyed reading my article! Old Porvoo is fairly close to Helsinki and such a different experience than what Helsinki has to offer. I thought it’s a good teaser not to put photos about the railway museum and Christmas since now you have a good reason to check them out yourself. π
Thanks.Your reply also seems correct so that I will have a good reason to visit.:))
It’s so good to hear that! π
Thank You for this great article presenting Porvoo. It is lovely small town and walking tours in its old town crowns the experience of visiting it. Even in winter, it is beautiful. I love its church and it is also worth for a visit. Thank You. Have a good day!
I’m really glad you enjoyed reading my article! π I agree with you! The church of Old Porvoo is definitely worth visiting. π Thank you for your kind comment!
Little but overly beautiful town! I’m sure it’s gorgeous during Christmas.
Thanks for the tips.
Carolina xx
I’m really glad you enjoyed reading my article! π I hope you get the chance to visit this wonderful little town!
I have never traveled to the northern countries of Europe. It was in our plan to go for our honeymoon but we eventually selected Portugal with Madeira. However they are still high on my bucket list. Nice to see what other travel options are near the big cities like Helsinki.
I’m sure i would love this town, especially because i’m such a sucker for organic and bio products and also wood small traditional houses.
Julia
https://egodiary.com
Oh! It’s a shame you haven’t yet had the chance to visit Nothern Europe! I hope you will in the future! Old Porvoo is a very nice short break from the buzzing Helsinki and it’s quite close – just a short busride. π I also love the fact that they use organic ingredients and offer handmade products! It’s also a really beautiful place to visit!
Such a nice city, I have never been to Helsinki and in sure if I’ll go there one day I’ll definitely visit here. You made it so detailed and a lot of information. Thanks for sharing this post.
I’m so glad to hear that you liked my post! Helsinki doesn’t have a proper old town so that is also why I highly recommend visiting Old Porvoo. π I hope you will get the chance to visit Helsinki and combine the trip with Porvoo!
I went there this winter and loved it (wrote about it on my blog too). While lots of places were closed on Monday, there were added bonuses: walking on the frozen river and ice-fishing!
Wow! That must have been cool! I have done ice-fishing on the lakes and that’s fun especially if you get some fish. π
Thanks! I will visit it when possible π
Awesome! π I know you will like it!
Very Beautiful. I will visit your blog regularly for some latest post.
Thank you! I’m so glad to hear that! π Hope you will enjoy my upcoming posts too!
Seems such a cute and enchanting village !! Its on my list already βΊοΈ Thank you !
It is such a beautiful town – especially the Old Town or Old Porvoo as they call it. π I hope you get to visit this town! It is within easy reach, just hop on a bus in the center of Helsinki!