Nightlife in Turku

17 clubs, live music venues and late-night spots in Turku.

Ranked with the travel guide's picks and well-known places first.

Drink
Apollo Nightclub
Age limit 22. Apollo serves live music by bands playing mostly cover music hits by domestic and international stars. Music ranges from rock to pop and disco, old and new. There's also a VIP section which you can reserve. Next door is Armas karaoke bar, which has same opening hours and age limitation.
Fri Sat 22:00–04:00
Drink
Bar Kuka
Bar Who
On the corner of Linnankatu and Kristiinankatu, Bar Kuka with its retro 1960s and 70s decoration has a loyal fanbase, who think it's the best and cosiest bar you'll ever find in Turku. Kuka offers lots of live music, DJ gigs, stand-up and theme nights.
Daily 18:00-04:00, Age limit 18
Do
Down by the Laituri (DBTL)
Finland´s oldest and most legendary city festival, DBTL was sparked into life in the late 1980s by the rock-club of the Student Union of the Turku University. Its popularity spread like a blaze and nowadays it attracts around 70,000 visitors. Mostly pop and rock.
End of July€55–165
Drink
Dynamo
Age limit 20. At Linnankatu, opposite the main library, caters for hipsters with a passion for slightly more eclectic sound. Downstairs indie pop, electro and rock 'n' roll are the main draws, upstairs it's chiefly soul, funk and disco. Live music gigs from hot domestic artists are also frequent. Attracts a healthy number of exchange students.
Tue–Sat 21:00–04:00
Eat
Latte Café and Gourmand
Sweet little café, which also serves very inexpensive lunch. Huge list of different coffees from every corner of the earth (to be drank or bought). Menu includes toasts, paninis, salads, and bagels. No need to go to a restaurant because of hunger because the sizes of these foods are big. Atmosphere is very relaxing thanks to jazz and Latin sounds and warm colours. If you feel like you want more privacy, you can go to the back room and sit on the cosy couch. And during summer you can also sit outside.
Mon–Fri 10:00–17:00, Sat–Sun during events
Drink
Naima
For proper dancing (not night club dancing) in a nightclub setting, Naima is the recommended place in Turku. The age group skews towards the 30s, 40s and 50s. Often music includes live performances by some of the biggest names in Finnish Iskelmä (entertainer music) music.
Wed–Sat 20:00–04:00
Drink
Night Club Marilyn
For the late teens-early 20s crowd, the Night Club Marilyn is particularly popular as a disco/night club. It is the oldest privately owned Night Club in Turku and has seen all the other clubs come and go. In its history it has been chosen as the Best Nightclub in the city on several occasions.
Tue–Sat 22:00–04:00
Eat
Pikku-Torre
Pikku-Torre (Little Torre) is a combination of restaurant, sports bar and club. It has a good menu full of steaks, burgers and salads. It also serves lunch every day. In the evening it turns more into a bar and nightclub.
Mon Tue 11:00–00:00, Wed Thu 11:00–01:00, Fri 11:00–03:00, Sat 12:00–03:00, Sun 12:00–00:00
Eat
Roster
Roster offers a place to wine and dine in a nice milieu. Have a drink before dinner in a fancy cocktail bar. And another after the dinner too.
Mon 11:30–22:00, Tue-Fri 11:30–23:00, Sat 15:00–23:00, Sun 12:00–18:00
Do
Saaristomeren melojat
Local canoe/kayak club, equipment for rent. Also short and three-evening courses. Quick intro on-site, if you need more advice, ask in advance (instructions about equipment etc. in Finnish on the website). Pay in cash.
Tue Thu 17–20, Sat Sun 11:00–15:00 or 11:00–17:00 (check!)Kayak €10/hour, €40/day, €80/weekend, €120/week; twin or canoe €20, €60, €120, 180; courses €40/100
Do
Sekahaku
Dances to live music. A 1½-hr course on one dance, before the dancing proper, is included in the price, beginning with the basics but soon advancing quickly with something for advanced dancers at the end. Rotating system/random pairs on the course and in the first hour of the dancing proper (instead forming your own pairs is allowed), then men's/women's/mixed asking. Quite many skilled dancers, friendly atmosphere, no alcohol.
Mid September–mid April Fri 18:30/20:00–23:30€20, youth under 25 €7, accompanied children under 15 free
Eat
Suomalainen Pohja
Club Restaurant Suomalainen Pohja (Finnish Base) was built in 1980 and was designed by architect Sigvard Eklund. The interiors were designed by an Englishman, Sir George Salmon. The plan has been the basis for an English club activities. Pohja serves traditional fine dining food and atmosphere.
Mon–Fri 11:00–20:00
Do
Turku Jazz
Second oldest jazz festival in Finland. Performers include leading Finnish jazz musicians and special international guests. Concerts are held in restaurants and entertainment venues throughout the city of Turku.
Beginning of March; 2024: 1–10 March
Do
Turku's Winter Outdoor Swimmers Club
Turun avantouimarit
Sauna, ice swimming and club room. Members are happy to help newcomers.
Mon 15:00–19:45, Wed 15:00–20:45, Fri–Sat 15:00–19:45, Sun 15:00–20:45Non-member single ticket: adults €5.20, children under 16 €1.50, accompanied children under 7 free
Eat
Vaakahuoneen Paviljonki
Pavilion restaurant Vaakahuone is an entertainment complex by the river. It offers live music (for dancing or otherwise), a speciality coffee shop, a pizza restaurant, and an à la carte restaurant. The end of the building also serves as S/S Ukkopekka's ticket office.
Do Not mapped
Turku Music Festival
Turun musiikkijuhlat
Large orchestral concerts, chamber music, recitals, jazz and outdoor events as well as experiences for the whole family. A variety of venues, both modern and historical, are imaginatively used. Turku Music Festival is the oldest continuously running festival in Finland, since 1960.
Annually in August, 2023: 10–24 Aug
Drink
ShowTime & SaunaTime
A strip club with sauna.
Wed–Thu 22:00–02:00, Fri–Sat 22:00–03:00€6 (W–Th), €12 (F–Sa)

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Turku (CC BY-SA 4.0).