Porvoo is located an hour’s drive from Helsinki and is Finland’s second oldest city, celebrating its 675th anniversary this year. Considered by most visitors to be the most beautiful city in the country, Porvoo is also one of Finland’s most popular tourist destinations. At its heart is an area known as Old Porvoo, famous for its delightful waterfront with houses on the Red Shore and medieval cobbled streets lined with old wooden houses and charming little boutiques and cafés. Visitors can best experience the unique charm of Old Porvoo during a leisurely stroll, admiring the delightful craft shops and boutiques, the beauty of Porvoo Cathedral, and the small market square in front of the old town hall.
Unique cafés and excellent restaurants
Old Porvoo is worth visiting if only for its restaurants and cafés, which are displayed in all their diversity in the market square. Along the main shopping streets of Jokikatu and Valikatu, you will find small cafés next to craft boutiques, close to the Cathedral on the hill. Noteworthy is the PetriS chocolate room, where tea and coffee are served with handmade pastries, macarons, and chocolate; check out Brunberg, Finland’s oldest confectionery factory, which has been producing chocolate candies and sweets for 150 years; or visit Vanhan Porvoon Glassikko, a café and ice cream shop that is also known for its late breakfasts. If you want something more substantial, Meat District offers fresh meat, combining Scandinavian ingredients with Italian culinary sophistication in its cuisine, while ONE is a cozy restaurant that uses local ingredients in its dishes and offers excellent food at reasonable prices.
Exploring nature and the Porvoo archipelago
Many visitors are happy just to stroll around Old Porvoo, but the city offers many other outdoor activities and attractions. Porvoo is surrounded by a beautiful national urban park that stretches across the entire river valley. Visitors can explore the Porvoonjoki River and the nearby archipelago on SUP boards or in kayaks and canoes, as well as enjoy a river or sea cruise. Local guides offer fishing tours in the archipelago. Hikers and cyclists will also find plenty of trails to explore. The Kokoniemi Bike Park has more than 8 mountain bike trails, divided by difficulty: from the easiest for beginners to trails with jumps, rental services, and a café.