cathedral
Helsinki Cathedral
A striking neoclassical Lutheran cathedral overlooking Senate Square in the heart of Helsinki.
46 km · about 55 min drive
EuropeFinlandUusimaa
Porvoo
Uusimaa, Finland · Europe
About Porvoo
Porvoo sits on the route: 25 minutes from Monninkylä, 46km from Suomenlinna.
Porvoo is in Uusimaa, Finland, with about 52,000 people. You drive on the right here. The nearest town is Monninkylä, about 13 km away.
Porvoo (Finnish pronunciation: [ˈporʋoː]; Swedish: Borgå [ˈborɡo] ; Latin: Borgoa) is a city in Finland. It is located on the south coast of the country, on the Gulf of Finland. Porvoo lies in the eastern part of the Uusimaa region. The population of Porvoo is approximately 52,000, while the sub-region has aRead more
population of approximately 60,000. It is the 19th most populous municipality in Finland, and the 15th most populous urban area in the country.
Porvoo is located on the southern coast of Finland, approximately 35 kilometres (22 mi) east of the city border of Helsinki and about 50 kilometres (30 mi) from the city centre. Porvoo was one of the six medieval towns of Finland, along with Turku, Ulvila, Rauma, Naantali and Vyborg, and is first mentioned as a city in texts from the 14th century. Porvoo is the seat of the Swedish-speaking Diocese of Borgå of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland. Porvoo briefly served as the capital of the former Eastern Uusimaa region.
Porvoo is a bilingual municipality with Finnish and Swedish as its official languages. The population consists of 63% Finnish speakers, 27% Swedish speakers, and 10% speakers of other languages. The municipalities neighbouring Porvoo are Askola, Loviisa, Myrskylä, Pornainen, and Sipoo; and the sub-region maintained by Porvoo includes Askola, Myrskylä and Pukkila.
Porvoo Old Town (Finnish: Porvoon vanhakaupunki; Swedish: Borgå gamla stan) is a popular tourist destination, known for its well-preserved 18th- and 19th-century buildings, and the 15th-century Porvoo Cathedral. The Old Town and the Porvoonjoki River Valley are recognized as, together, one of the National landscapes of Finland. In December 2025, Radio Nostalgia voters chose Porvoo as the "most beautiful Christmas town in Finland".
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Porvoo?
Within an hour or so of Porvoo: Helsinki Cathedral (46 km), Suomenlinna (46 km), Linnanmäki (46 km), Temppeliaukio Church (Rock Church) (48 km).
Where is Porvoo?
Porvoo is in Uusimaa, Finland, about 13 km from Monninkylä.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 51,853
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- Finland
- Region
- Uusimaa
- Timezone
- Europe/Helsinki
- Coordinates
- 60.3923, 25.6651
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in Finland
Winter tyres mandatory December–February.
Full driving guide for FinlandTags
Worth the detour from Porvoo
5 notable places within an hour's drive.
castle
Suomenlinna
A sea fortress built on a group of islands off the coast of Helsinki, one of the largest maritime fortresses in the world.
46 km · about 55 min drive
landmark
Linnanmäki
Helsinki's beloved amusement park operating since 1950 with all profits going to Finnish child welfare organizations.
46 km · about 55 min drive
cathedral
Temppeliaukio Church (Rock Church)
A remarkable Lutheran church in Helsinki excavated directly into solid rock, topped with a copper dome that floods the interior with natural light.
48 km · about 55 min drive
cafe
Café Regatta
Tiny red 1887 fisherman's hut on the Töölö shoreline, now Helsinki's best-loved café: cinnamon buns and coffee by the water, sausages grilled over an open fire, kayaks and SUPs for rent off the jetty.
48 km · about 55 min drive
When to drive here
May to September
Far northern latitude: short daylight hours outside summer make long drives harder.
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