Every Christmas Eve at noon, the city of Turku reads the Declaration of Christmas Peace from the balcony of Brinkkala House, a tradition dating back 700 years and broadcast live to over a million Finns. As Finland’s oldest city and former capital, Turku takes the festivities seriously, and the Turku Christmas Market is the centrepiece of the season.
Turku Christmas Market 2026
Dates and Information
Status: Confirmed
Turku dates: Weekends only
21st to 22nd November
28th to 29th November
5th to 6th December
12th to 13th December
Last checked: July 2026
Source: Christmas City Turku
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Location: Old Great Square.
Opening times: 11am to 5pm.
Christmas Day: Closed.
Admission: Free.
Lights switch-on: 21st November 2026.
Santa: Yes.
Ice skating: Market Square.
Vegetarian: Yes, plenty of options.
Vegan: Yes, plenty of options.
Gluten free: Yes, but limited.
Accessible: Yes.
Pet-friendly: Yes, but not recommended during busy periods.
Parking: Please take public transport to help limit congestion.
Reason to visit: Finland’s oldest city, with beautiful nature and coast.
Food specialities: Finnish pastries, smoked fish, glögi, piparkakut (gingerbread).
Where to stay: Scandic Hamburger Börs is directly on Market Square.
Convenient Hotels
Staying close to Market Square is convenient for shops, cafes and attractions of interest. In this area, I suggest booking a room at Scandic Hamburger Börs as it gets excellent reviews and is centrally located directly on the main square.
If you will also be spending time in the capital, find details for the Helsinki Christmas Market.
Location
Christmas in Turku
A visit to Finland’s oldest town can be interesting in winter. The season officially starts with the Declaration of Christmas Peace, a ceremony unique to Turku. Following this tradition, the city brightens with lights and decorations along the city’s official Christmas street, Yliopistonkatu, and on the giant spruce tree in front of Turku Cathedral.
The market opens on weekends leading up to Christmas and spans two locations: the Old Great Square and Market Square at Yliopistonkatu. While the Old Great Square is geared towards families with various types of entertainment and concerts, Market Square focuses more on showcasing high-quality products.
Local Specialties
- Karjalanpiirakka (Karelian Pie): A rye crust pie filled with rice porridge.
- Lohikeitto: A creamy salmon soup with potatoes and leeks.
- Piparkakut: Spiced gingerbread cookies are available individually or in decorative tins.
- Glögi: A mulled wine spiced with cloves, cinnamon, and cardamom.
- Riisipuuro: A simple rice pudding topped with cinnamon.
- Hernekeitto: Hearty green pea soup flavoured with smoked ham.
- Joulutorttu: Christmas Star is a Finnish seasonal pastry filled with prune jam.
- Salmiakki: Liquorice comes in various shapes, sizes and flavours.
- Leipäjuusto: A fresh cheese is served warm and topped with cloudberry jam.
- Joulukinkku: A smoked and slow-cooked ham.
- Korvapuusti: A variant of the classic pull-apart cinnamon roll, flavoured with cardamom.
Gifts and Stocking Fillers
- Moomin Merchandise: Originating from Finland, Moomin characters are well-loved and widely recognised.
- Knitwear: Local artisans sell hand-knitted items including woollen socks, mittens, beanies and jumpers.
- Kalevala Jewellery: Designs are inspired by Finnish folklore.
- Tuohi Products: These are eco-friendly items crafted from birch bark, an abundant natural resource in Finland.
- Himmeli Ornaments: Traditionally made from straw, himmeli are intricate geometric ornaments. They serve as festive decor and are believed to bring good fortune.
- Kantele Instruments: A regional string instrument.
Sustainable Travel Tips
- Eco-Friendly Hotels: Look for hotels that rely on renewable energy sources and are working to minimise waste.
- Reducing Food Waste: Be mindful of portion sizes when ordering at the stalls.
- Ethical Consumption: While it may be tempting to purchase numerous souvenirs and products, consider what you truly need.
- Sustainable Food: Many stalls sell vegetarian or vegan food options, which produce fewer emissions compared to meat dishes.
- Transport: The city runs electric buses and is generally walkable.
Comment below if you want to leave a Xmas review, have any questions or would like to report any inaccuracies.
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Recommendations are independently chosen based on personal travel experiences and extensive research. While we make every effort to provide accurate information, the dates and details listed here should not be relied upon as definitive. Please consult the official website before booking your trip or planning a visit.
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