Noemi came to Turku in August 2019, to do her Erasmus exchange at the Turku University of applied Sciences (Tuas). Does she like the City of Turku and her own neighborhood, Luolavuori? And what does Noemi think about the quiet Finns?
First impressions about Turku
The first thing I thought, when I arrived in Turku, was that the city was very small but also very clean and safe. I didn’t see any strange or threatening people so I felt comfortable walking alone in Turku during the night.
Another thing that impressed me was how calm the streets were. When I travel by bus, for example, all people are quiet or speak very softly, which does not usually happen in my country. However, I have to say that I prefer it this way.
Retrodorm accomodates exchange students in Luolavuori
I applied for an accommodation for students, called Retrodorm hosted by the City of Turku. Retrodorm is located in Luolavuori, which is about 2 kilometers from Tuas Campus in Kupittaa. The residence is actually in the middle of a small forest, so I really like the area since I was surrounded by nature. Plus, sometimes I could see some animals such as deers, rabbits, squirrels, and even a fox passing by.
The only thing I can complain about is that you have to go up the hill to reach the place. But that makes the area more quiet so at the end, it is good.
From shopping malls to city parks
There are several points of interest in the nearby neighborhoods, but let’s start with the most important thing - the groceries. The K-Citymarket in front of the Kupittaa park is open 24/7, so you can shop there whenever you need. Also, there are several K-markets around, and Lidl is not so far away either.
There aren’t many restaurants in the area, although there is the Hesburger, which is always a good option to eat something cheap. You could find more variety in “Skanssi”, which is a mall situated just 5 km from downtown Turku in the Skanssi neighborhood. There you can find different shops to buy clothes, food, home supplies and so on; so, I recommend going there and having a nice time with friends.
The Kupittaa park is probably where the most interesting things in the area are. It is a perfect site to walk, cycle, or do any sports… there’s something for everyone! There are lots of sports establishments, a traffic park for kids, the adventure park, birds’ pond and outdoor cages, huge lawns where you can lay around or have picnics on a warm sunny day.
On one end of Kupittaa park there’s an ice hall and on the other side next to the adventure park there’s the sports hall. Furthermore, there’s a skating track open to everybody since it is in the open space.
Busses take you here and there
Both Luolavuori ja Kupittaa are around 15 minutes by bus from the city center, and has generally good bus connections (Föli) since a lot of lines pass through these areas. You can always opt to go walking to, or through, the Kupittaa park for about 30 minutes or just cycling.
So, if you are looking for a green and calm space to stay, I recommend you to look for Luolavuori neighborhood. You won’t be disappointed!
-Noemi
P.S. Are you looking for a place to live in the Turku region? Check out the search engine for neighborhoods and find the best place to live.
