"Porvoo" a Porvoo Travel Page by deptlads

Porvoo is a charming little town about 50km east of Helsinki. It is reputed to be the second oldest city in Finland. It features classic red wharf houses lining the river, an attractive town square, an ancient cathedral, and an old town stuffed with little wooden houses along winding cobbled streets.

I have to say that there was much more to Porvoo than we were expecting. It is a really good place to explore on foot, and there is lots of interest and variety in the streets and squares, and along the riverside. You can easily spend a day here just wandering around.

Unfortunately, one of the major sites of interest - the cathedral - was seriously damaged by fire (arson) earlier in 2006, and had lost its roof. It is now completely covered by scaffolding and a temporary roof, and is unfortunately closed to visitors.

You can easily get to Porvoo by bus from Helsinki (see travel tip below), or, during the summer, by boat.