Travel

How to spend one day in Turku

Hang Le (HM)

Dec 15, 2020 • 4 min read

I lived in Turku for 1.5 years before I moved to Helsinki. Turku is a lovely city with a lot to offer, from beautiful sceneries to stories about its rich history. In this post, I will share with you my own ideas about a one-day Turku tour. For me personally, the ideal time to visit Turku is in the summer. Therefore, this post will be best applied on a sunny summer day 🙂 All photos used in this post were taken by me.

Turku Cathedral

Located at the heart of the city, Turku Cathedral must be one of the most iconic symbols of Turku. It’s big, gorgeous and placed right next to the old square. This could be a perfect starting point and check-in place for your one-day tour. The cathedral was built in the 13th century, and from then it has witnessed a lot of ups and downs happening in Turku. The inside of the church is impressive. The church is open from 9am to 6pm every day, and it is free to get inside. There is a museum upstairs with a small admission fee (1 euro for students and 2 euros for adults). The museum shows a lot of interesting ancient church-related things. Although there are no English descriptions for the items, the museum’s definitely worth taking a look.

Aboa Vetus And Ars Nova

Aboa Vetus and Ars Nova is a museum located right opposite the Cathedral. Look across the street and you’ll see a big pink museum. So after visiting the cathedral, this should be your next stop. I highly recommend this place not only because of the artwork it has to offer but also for the interesting history lessons from the underground floor. The admission fee is 8 euros for students and 11 euros for adults. You should spend around 1-2 hours there.

The underground looks something like this

Aura River

So assuming you are done with the above two destinations and have already had something delicious for lunch (if you are interested in what to eat in Turku, I can write another post about this topic), your next activity should be walking along the river that runs through the city. The best way to get the “Turku vibes” is to take a long walk along the waterside, then see and feel how the locals live. There are a lot of bridges on the way. At night time you will see them lit up in colorful lights. You should definitely walk on the bridges, and see the river as well as the city from a different angle.

There are many riverboats that serve as restaurants and bars

Turku Castle

Turku castle is one of the most popular destinations of Turku. The castle is visible even from a long distance. It’s located near the harbor of Turku. It was also built in the late 13th century. During the course of history, it has served several roles, from a defensive fortress to prison and more. While you are inside the castle, don’t forget to put on some beautiful medieval clothes and take some fun pictures with them 🙂

How the castle looks like from the front

Ispoinen Beach

This is the last destination of our one-day tour in Turku. After taking a bus to the center from the castle (bus number 1), you can then take bus 13 from the center to Ispoinen. The beach is not too far away, it will take only about 20 minutes from the center. This is my most favorite beach in Turku. It feels like a hidden gem to me because it’s breathtakingly charming and set at a good distance yet never too crowded. My most favorite activity every time I visit this beach is to climb up the highest rock and enjoy the view from up there. If you go with a group, remember to bring some board games to play with your friends while enjoying the view. If you want to swim, this is also a great place to get in the water.

Being with the beach brings me peace, so I hope this last destination will give you some rest after a long day full of different activities. And as stated at the beginning of this post, this one-day tour will only work on a perfect sunny summer day. In the summer the sun doesn’t set until around 11pm. So you got all the sunlight to enjoy everything I’ve listed above 😉

People enjoying the sun at Ispoinen beach

I hope this post gives you some ideas about what to do when you visit Turku. I hope after the pandemic is over, many of you will have the chance to visit Turku and try out my one-day tour suggestion 😉

Take care!

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Discovering Helsinki: my personal guide for first-time explorers

Hi! I've called Helsinki home for the last 4 years. Sometimes when a friend plans to visit Helsinki, they often ask where are the must-visit places. In this blog post, I'll share the list of places I took my parents to during their first visit to Helsinki this summer. If you want to bring your loved ones to visit Finland too, I wrote about how my parents got their tourist visas.

If you prefer watching a video instead, here's a Youtube video I made: 2 weeks in Helsinki with my Vietnamese parents || Helsinki vlog. It's on my new Youtube channel where I plan to make videos about traveling and Finland in general, so basically my blog but visualized :D

Below you'll find the list of places that I think are worth checking out in Helsinki, most of them are free to visit! All the photos in this post were taken by my phone.

Helsinki City Center

If you have only a day to see Helsinki, I'd recommend the city center area. There are a few popular places that are located within walking distances to each other.

Helsinki Cathedral

This is one of the symbols of the city. Standing tall in gradient white, this architectural marvel was crafted between 1830 and 1852. Next to it is the Senate Square where in the winter there's a lovely Christmas market. It's free to visit the inside of the church. If you want a Helsinki check-in photo, I think this cathedral is a great spot :D

My parents and I at Helsinki Cathedral

Uspenski Cathedral

Close by Helsinki Cathedral is the Uspenski Cathedral. I call it the Red Church because of its color. This Orthodox church was inaugurated in 1868. It's located on a small hill, so you'll need a bit of exercise to get there. I love the view from this hill, especially for the sunset.

My parents at Uspenski Cathedral

Helsinki Market Square (Kauppatori)

The market square is right next to the water and a short walk from the churches above. In the summer, it's a busy place where various vendors are selling fresh berries and local produce. In the winter, it's a treat to get a pulla and a hot cup of tea there. I searched my library but couldn't find a photo of the square for the summer, so here's a photo I took 2 winters ago.

Helsinki Market Square

Helsinki City Museum

Right across from the iconic Helsinki Cathedral, the Helsinki City Museum is a hidden gem with free entry, welcoming visitors every day! Helsinki City Museum is a great place to learn more about the capital's history and the city's development over time. The theme for the exhibition changes every few months. Below is a photo I took from a wall in the museum (If you speak Vietnamese then hopefully you'll spot the funny Vietnamese note like I did :D)

A wall of notes in the city museum

Kamppi

Kamppi is a busy area with lots of shopping options as well as restaurant. In this area, I recommend visiting the Kamppi Chapel. It is known as the Chapel of Silence where people can come and have a moment of quiet reflection even in one of the busiest parts of the city. There is also a popular art museum here called Amos Rex with dynamic exhibitions throughout the year.

My parents at the outside of Amos Rex

Oodi library

Close to the central railway station, this architecture-award-winning library has become one of the hotspots for locals and tourists alike. As a Helsinki resident, it's one of my frequently-visited places. Even though it's "just" a library, this place has way more to offer beyond book shelves: music studios (where I regularly come to sing karaoke for free with my friends), 3D printers, video game rooms, sewing machines, lots of study rooms, a movie theater on the 1st floor...Definitely worth a visit!

My parents in front of Oodi library

Suomenlinna

If you have a bit more time in Helsinki, then a day trip to Suomenlinna should be at the top of the list. Suomenlinna is a world heritage site, a sea fortress with stories to tell. It's an inhabited island so there are actual people living there. A stroll around the island on a sunny summer day would make a delightful memory. It's easy to go to Suomenlinna with your HSL ticket as the ticket includes the ferry ride to the island. Once there, treat yourself at the island's cafes and restaurants, and explore some fascinating museums. My dad loved the canons there and my mom enjoyed the sea and ferries passing by a lot.

My parents at Suomenlinna island

Nuuksio National Park

If you stay in Helsinki area for even longer time, consider visiting the famous Nuuksio national park. It's located in Espoo, about 35km away from Helsinki city center. For me, this national park has the most typical Finnish nature scenery: serene lakes, enchanting forests, and rugged crags...There are many marked trails for both beginner and experienced hikers. My parents and I followed a simple trail and got rewarded with a stunning lake view at our destination! This national park would be great for a day trip where you can have a picnic and immerse yourself in Finnish nature.

My parents at Nuuksio National Park

Seurasaari Open-Air Museum

Looking for a blend of outdoor fun and a dash of history? Seurasaari would be the perfect place! The Seurasaari Open-Air Museum is like stepping into a time machine, with authentic historic Finnish buildings scattered across the island. From charming farmsteads to cozy cottages and elegant manors, each one tells a tale from Finland's past. My parents and I had a fun time there learning about Finland through these buildings.

My parents in front of a building on Seurasaari open-air museum

Lammassaari Nature Boardwalk

Last on the list is a place that I'd have loved to take my parents to, if I hadn't been sick for 3 days when they were here: Lammassaari nature trail. I visit this place every summer and autumn. For me it looks like something straight out of those nature documentaries on National Geographic. Picture a raised wooden pathway, letting you wander through the landscape of Lammassaari Island. Along the way, there are cool signs teaching you about the local plants and little animals. The bird-watching platforms provide a wonderful view. Occasionally you might catch a glimpse of a squirrel or even a deer. It's a mini adventure every time!

Lammassaari at 9 p.m in July

View from the bird-watching tower

If you make it this far, here's a bonus list that I made before my parents came to visit. We didn't have time to visit every item on the list. Nevertheless, my parents still had a great time exploring Helsinki, from trying out all the public transportation options to visiting all the Finnish supermarkets...

My personal list of recommendations for things to do in Finland

Again, if you wanna see a video of my parents' trip in Helsinki, check out 2 weeks in Helsinki with my Vietnamese parents || Helsinki vlog.

Final words

Living in Hesinki for almost 4 years has taught me that while it may not be the most popular tourist spot, there's something special about the city. I've grown to appreciate the uniquely charming beauty of Finnish nature and culture. Seeing my parents enjoy these simple yet wonderful things about Finland during their visit made me really happy.

I hope this post gives you some ideas about where to visit next time you are in Helsinki :) Comment and share with me your favorite spots to visit in Helsinki! Cheers!

How I got my Finnish citizenship: journey to getting a Finnish passport

Hi, in today’s blog post, I'm sharing about a topic that means a lot to me: How I got my Finnish citizenship. I will write about the whole journey, from the date I arrived in Finland for the first time, until the date I held the Finnish passport in my hand.

Disclaimer: I am not an immigration expert, everything in this post is written based on my own experience.

By the way, I updated my blog a bit: It now has a much shorter URL and it wears a new theme. I now use Ghost instead of Wordpress because Ghost has some very cool built-in functions, subscribing is one example. Consider subscribing to my blog to get the latest updates! At the beginning of this year, I had "Invest more in the blog" as one of the new-year resolutions, so I'm making a conscious effort to write more often :) If you are reading this, subscribe and let's stay in touch!

Alright, back to the Finnish citizenship. According to the official website from Migri, one needs to fulfill the below requirements to be able to apply for Finnish citizenship. Let’s go through the list of requirements together.

Requirements for becoming a Finnish citizen

You are at least 18 years old and your identity has been reliably established

I arrived in Finland on 03/02/2017. I was 19 years old at the time, and 25 when I received the Finnish citizenship. I am a Vietnamese citizen and have a valid Vietnamese passport. Fortunately, Vietnam allows dual citizenship, and Finland as well!

You know Finnish or Swedish on a satisfactory level

From what I have seen, the easiest and most common way to prove this is to take the YKI test. One needs to pass at least 2 out of the 4 skills (reading, listening, speaking, writing) and the combination has to be correct (at least one active and one passive skill). According to Migri, the accepted combination is seen in the image below:

Migri's requirement on the accepted language combination

I think this is the most difficult requirement for the citizenship application because learning a language takes a lot of time and practice. I already wrote about my Finnish language learning journey and how I passed the YKI test at the first try, the post also includes all the resources I used to study Finnish.

You live in Finland and you have lived here long enough

The requirement is that you have to live in Finland for 5 years without interruption.

Migri explains the rules to calculate period of residence on their site. My understanding is that in order to make your residence uninterrupted, your traveling outside of Finland should follow these rules:

Short trips like weekend trips or a few days' trips are fine, there’s no limit.
One-month-long trips are fine and also unlimited.
1-2 month absences: maximum 6 times.
2-6 month absences: maximum 2 times.

Knowing this information, I tried to keep my abroad travels within the limit: I did an exchange in Japan for 3 months, went home to Vietnam every year before Covid for about 1-2 months each time (total 4 times), and had a lot of short Europe trips over the years.

In the application, you are asked to list all abroad travelings over the years (destinations and dates). I only listed the big ones, which were longer than 10 days.

About calculating the residence period: I arrived in Finland with a visa type B, which is a student visa. It means that every 2 years on a visa type B equals 1 year that could be calculated towards this 5-year requirement.

Visa type B residence calculation from Migri

I had a student visa from 2017 until I graduated in 2020, so 4-year student visa equals 2 years for citizenship application.
Then I was on my work visa from 12/2020 until I applied for citizenship in 01/2023, so 2 more years accumulated.

By the time I applied, I had about 4 years of continuous residence in total. And it still works. Because according to this Migri FAQ, you could already apply after 4 years if you passed the language test. Another explanation that I heard often is that the processing time for a citizenship application is usually quite long (6-28 months), so by the time your application gets processed, it’ll already be 5 years or more.

You are not guilty of any crime or no restraining order has been issued against you

I guess this is self-explanatory, as a clean record is preferred everywhere. The Migri website says petty fines are not a deal-breaker. So I believe if someone forgot to pay for a metro ticket and had to pay a fine, it’s not gonna stop them from getting the citizenship.

You have met your payment obligations

I think this is about having good credit, that you pay your debt, your taxes and any fines. Fun fact: I had my final back taxes decision of this year on 21/06/2023 and paid it immediately that day. The next day 22/06/2023 my application got to the processing phase and I had my decision within a few hours on the same day. I don’t know if the two have anything to do with each other, but it’s still an interesting coincidence.

You have informed us about your means of support

You can find official info about means of support here. In my case, I listed in my application all the paid jobs that I did in Finland:

Cleaning jobs in N-clean and Sol in Turku. I worked on the ships for a few months over the summer when I was a student. I don’t have the contracts anymore, so I provided the names of the companies I worked for, the work period, and some contact info of my supervisors at that time.
Student Assistant job in Turku UAS. I still have a copy of the contract so I submitted it.
Software Developer job in my previous workplace. I submitted the contract and the last 3 pay slips from the company.
Software Engineer job in my current workplace. I submitted my contract and pay slips from the latest 3 months.

Citizenship application process

Fill in the application in EnterFinland and pay for it

See my general checklist for an EnterFinland citizenship application below:

Checklist for EnterFinland application - Finnish citizenship

This might be irrelevant, but I also submitted a scanned version of my Bachelor's Degree, as I graduated from a Finnish University of Applied Sciences. I don't think it's required anywhere, but I still had it included in my application.

The citizenship application costs 460 euros when applying online (at least in January 2023). See the fees details from Migri here.

Finnish citizenship application fees

Book an appointment to visit the service point

You can book an appointment from Migri's reservation website. Remember to bring all the original documents that you submitted in your EnterFinland application. The non-negotiable ones are your passport, residence permit, and the YKI certificate. On the day of the appointment, try to come 5-10 minutes early and listen attentively in the waiting room, because they will call out your name and the room number you should go to, at the exact time of your appointment.

This appointment is said to be a mini language evaluation, as you are expected to communicate in the language that you took the exam in (Finnish or Swedish). Some of my friends say that in case you took the Swedish exam and your interviewer doesn't speak any Swedish, you may get away with speaking in English (?), but I am not sure how true this is.

Because I took the Finnish language test, I spoke in Finnish at the appointment with the Migri officer. He didn’t ask me so much, just a few basic questions about my address, my work, if I own my own company or if I work as an employee…The longest part of the conversation was when I tried to explain to him why there were 2 stamps from the Berlin Wall (?) in my passport 😩. With both verbal and body language efforts I told him about how I was 19 and thought that a 2-euro stamp in my passport would be so cool because it was proof that I visited Berlin (tip: DON’T have any unofficial stamps in your passport!!). Anyway, the whole meeting was about 20 minutes long and not as difficult as I imagined.

Wait for the decision

So after all that hard work with the application and the verification appointment, all I had to do was...waiting. There's a way to track your application with the Kamu chatbot from Migri. I actually tried to check my application status over time, see below an authentic record of my application's queue number:

My Finnish citizenship application's queue number

I submitted my EnterFinland application on 08/01/2023. I had my in-person appointment with the Migri officer on 16/01/2023. My application got to the processing phase on 22/06/2023 in the morning around 9 a.m. After 2 hours, I logged in to EnterFinland to find out that a decision was ready and that I became a Finnish citizen! No further documentation was required in my case, yay :D They didn’t send a separate email about the ready decision, so logging in EnterFinland was the only way to find out. The total waiting time for my case was 5 months and 4 days. It’s a lot better than the expected processing time on Migri website (6-28 months), and for that I am thankful!

Order passport and ID

After getting the citizenship decision, everything is automatically updated on the system, so you could immediately order your Finnish passport and ID from Poliisi. There was a deal when I ordered mine, that if you order both passport and ID at the same time you’ll pay 100€ for both and save like 8 euros. Check out the fee details here.

Passport fee and other fees from Poliisi

If you don’t have a photo that has been taken in the last 6 months, then you’ll have to get a passport photo first. I recommend getting the photo’s electronic code option for more convenience.

You also need to book an appointment to the police station so they could take your fingerprints. I received my ID and passport exactly 1 week after the appointment at the police station.

Me holding the Finnish passport

Final words

It was a long road to get the Finnish passport, but the benefits of a Finnish passport are clear to me. Finnish passport ranks third in the world in 2023, meaning traveling around is a lot easier. Finland has been the happiest country in the world for the last 6 years. For me, it translates to a safe and clean environment, easy access to nature, free education, good social safety nets, accessible health care, and a highly educated population. Holding a European passport also opens many doors, because in case I ever want to move to another EU country, the amount of paperwork would (hopefully) be significantly less overwhelming. If you have lived in Finland for more than 3 years, I'd highly recommend taking the time to learn the language and apply for Finnish citizenship.

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Cheers!

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