Just a short ferry ride or bike trip from Turku city centre, Ruissalo feels like a different world. This island combines protected oak forests, seaside walking trails, historic villas, sandy beaches and local cafés, all within easy reach of the city. Exploring on foot or by bike, Ruissalo offers an effortless day trip.
Few places offer such a diverse day trip so close to a city centre. In Ruissalo, historic villas, protected forests, beaches, and archipelago views all fit into a single day.
One of the easiest ways to reach Ruissalo is by the Föli waterbus from the Aura River in central Turku. The journey itself is part of the experience. During summer, two vessels operate the route. Along the route, the ferry passes attractions such as the Forum Marinum maritime museum and Pikisaari, home to the waterfront restaurant Airi.
The Föli waterbus timetables are available on the Föli website .
Public buses run to the western end of the island year-round, and summer ferries provide a scenic connection from central Turku. Cycling is another popular option: the island can be reached by bike across the bridge connecting it to the mainland. From Turku city centre, the ride to the Ruissalo shipyard takes around 30 minutes via dedicated cycling routes.
Ruissalo offers more than 20 kilometers of walking and jogging routes, along with several shorter nature trails suitable for casual visitors. Explore trails here.
Remember: When exploring nature reserves, remember that visitors must stay on marked trails between 15 April and 31 July to protect nesting birds and sensitive habitats.
If you arrive by ferry, you can hop off at the Ruissalo Shipyard or Ruissalon kansanpuisto (people’s park). Ruissalo’s small harbour and shipyard area has become a lively meeting point with restaurants, cafés, and boutiques.
Grab a pizza slice at Zakes, browse the carefully selected goods at Butik Blinkka, or stop for early dinner at Tenlén. The atmosphere here is relaxed, with boats bobbing in the marina and cyclists heading deeper into the island.
From the shipyard, it is about two kilometres to the Turku University Botanic Garden. The Turku University Botanic Garden offers a chance to see thousands of plant species from different climates and continents. Outdoor gardens showcase everything from Nordic flora to exotic collections, while the greenhouses transport visitors from the Finnish archipelago to tropical environments.
The garden is also a great introduction to Ruissalo's remarkable biodiversity. The island's oak groves form the largest and most valuable oak forest area in Finland. Many rare plants, insects, and birds thrive here, making Ruissalo one of the country's most important nature conservation sites.
Little wooden swim house
Continuing west, you'll reach the National Park ferry stop area, known locally as Kansanpuisto, or People's Park. Here’s also a ferry stop, if you want to walk about 2 kilometres to the shipyard for lunch for example.
A sandy beach loved by locals stretches along the shoreline. Large cruise ferries travelling between Finland and Sweden pass surprisingly close to shore, creating an interesting backdrop for a swim.
Follow the path beneath centuries-old oak trees, and you'll begin to notice colourful wooden villas appearing through the forest. Ruissalo’s villa’s remain one of the finest examples of historic architecture in Finland.
For a coffee break in Kansanpuisto, stop at Villa Promenade, located right next to the waterbus stop.
Fun fact
During the first weekend of July, the Kansanpuisto area transforms into one of Finland's largest festival grounds. Ruisrock, founded in 1970, is one of the oldest rock festivals in Europe. Festival-goers can watch performances while ferries and sailboats pass just offshore.
People sitting at Kuuvannokka.
If you're exploring by bike or looking for a longer walk, continue towards Kuuvannokka.
The route passes through peaceful oak forests and coastal landscapes before opening to broad views across Airisto, one of the most famous sea areas in the Archipelago Sea.
Along the way, visitors can stop at Villa Bella Vista, around four kilometres from the shipyard, or continue to Villa Kuuva, located about seven kilometres from the shipyard.
Kuuvannokka is one of the best places on the island to pause and simply watch the sea. Sailboats move across the horizon while forested islands rise from the water in every direction.
Fun fact
The elegant villa culture of Ruissalo was once the summer social scene of Turku. Families arrived by boat, hosted garden parties, and spent entire summers by the sea long before summer cottages became common in Finland. These villas tell the story of Ruissalo's transformation into a summer retreat for Turku's wealthy families during the 19th century.
At the western tip of Ruissalo lies Saaronniemi, a favourite destination among locals.
Here you'll find one of Turku's most popular beaches, a camping area, a dog beach, and several nature trails that wind through coastal forests and rocky shorelines. The scenery opens towards the outer archipelago, offering some of the island's most expansive sea views.
For those looking to combine nature with wellness or culture, the Saaronniemi area is also home to the Ruissalo Spa.
©© University of Turku, Hanna Oksanen
Plants at Ruissalo Botanic Garden.
©© Jaska Poikonen
Ruisrock festival goers enjoying the evening sun at the Kansanpuisto beach, with a Viking Line cruise ship going by.
