'''Pori''' (Swedish ''Bjorneborg''; [http://www.pori.fi/english/]) is in Western Finland. It was founded in 1558, making it one of the oldest cities in Finland.

Pori is a traditional industrial city, with its former wealth and prominence showing in the neo-renaissance buildings in downtown and in several beautiful red-bricked industrial facilities alongside the Kokemaenjoki river. However, the city has suffered heavily during the economic downturms, especially in the early 90's, earning a somewhat gritty reputation. Things are now looking brighter again with lots of students coming to city and city centre being revamped.

Today Pori is most famous for the excellent Yyteri beach and the annual international jazz festival in July, organised in 2009 already for the 44th time.

Get in

By plane

Finnair and FinnComm Airlines fly from Helsinki to Pori Airport ({{IATA|POR}}, {{ICAO|EFPO}}) (45 min). One way tickets starting from 39 ?.

By bus

Bus connections from Helsinki (3-4h), Turku, Tampere (2h), Oulu, Jyvaskyla and Rauma (1h). Cost is about 30-40? (Helsinki-Pori-Helsinki bus ticket for adults is now about 59 eur).

By train

All the passenger trains go through Tampere. One way adult ticket from Tampere costs around 15 ?, from Helsinki around 40 ?. Tampere-Pori takes 1,5h, Helsinki-Pori 3,5h.

By car

Drive the main highway 2 from Helsinki (3,5 - 4 hours), main highway 8 from Turku or from Vaasa (both about 2 hours), or road 11 from Tampere (about 1,5 hours).

Get around

Central Pori is comfortably small to be relatively easily explored by foot, or in the summer on a bicycle. The most attractions are within a short walking distance from each other. The few destinations further away, such as the Sigrid Juselius Mausoleum (about 3 km from the city center) and the Yyteri sand beaches (about 15 km away) can be reached with a bus.

See

  • '''Etelaranta''', '''City Hall'' and the '''Pori Cathedral''. The riverfront in Pori has several prominent neo-renaissance stone building quarters, and the City Hall (with it's park) by Carl-Ludvig Engel is especially worth a look. The gothic-style Pori cathedral (that built instead of the castle that originally gave Pori its name) is also on alongside the river just a stone's throw away.
  • '''Reposaari'''. The fisher/seaside village outside the city filled with pittoresque wooden buildings on the seaside. Especially recommended for summertime visits.
  • The '''Sigrid Juselius Mausoleum''' containing paintings of the famous Finnish painter '''Axel Gallen-Kallela'''. It is situated on the main graveyard and the entrance is free.
  • '''Viikkari''', or the 5th district, consists solely of old wooden buildings. There's nothing to see in particular, but the area has a unique "bohemian" character and is best enjoyed by just walking around. Located alongside the eastern border of the city center, it's a popular location to live for local artists and underground musicians as well.
  • Do

  • '''Pori Jazz Festival''' in the middle of July. Quite big names, like Santana, Simon & Garfunkel or for example Alicia Keys have played here recently. Really not-so-jazz-festival anymore, altough jazz & blues can also be found. One of the biggest (if not the biggest) festival in Finland[http://www.porijazz.fi/]. Favorite festival of the slightly older crowd.
  • '''RMJ Festival''' in the midsummer, June. Was relocated to Pori in 2008, also one of the biggest festivals in Finland. In past RMJ was mostly oriented to big Finnish pop/rock groups but '08 featured Jay-Z and AC/DC is planned for '09. Festival's name will probably change for 2009. Favorite festival of the slightly younger crowd.
  • Visit the '''Yyteri sand beach''', one of the largest and certainly best beaches in Finland
  • In the winter, see an ice hockey game of '''Porin Assat''' ("The Aces"). Although the team isn't as succesful as it used to be, the redcoats are still an essential part of the city culture ? especially the Saturday games boast an excellent atmosphere and draw in large crowds. You see the traditional Ace of Spades logo a lot around the city during the Finnish Professional Hockey League season, which begins in September and ends around March/April. Tickets (10-25?) are available at the Sokos department store in downtown, or at the Lippu.fi website [http://www.lippu.fi].
  • '''Pori National Urban Park''' situated at the river banks. It contains a free smallish children's theme park, a theme based golf link and small streams of water. It is lush green during summer.
  • Buy

  • '''Isokarhu''' mall is a large shopping mall in the heart of the city, alongside the pedestrian zone. In it are located franchises of the most common Finnish and international chains ranging from H&M to Intersport. What you can't find inside, is very probably sold in a store located right next to it (it's a small town afterwall). There are some nice cafe's as well.
  • '''The old market hall''', or in Finnish "kauppahalli" is a nostalgic experience. The hall sells local products ranging from fish to vegetables. It opens early in the morning and stays open through the afternoon. Good place to take it easy for a while and have an old-fashioned cup of coffee with a sweet bread. But be warned: the retro has a downside in the average age of visitors being probably over 70 years.
  • '''BePop''', a shopping mall located in the northern end of the pedestrian zone, also has several small stores. It's also a crazy example of the building boom of the "casino economy", with a huge structure (in pastel colors) but very little commercial space. There's a nice view if you bother to climb to the top bridge that crosses the "alley".
  • Eat

    The normal price for restaurant meal is 20-30?. Fast food is obviously cheaper.

  • '''Raatihuoneen kellari''', probably the most upmarket restaurant in Pori, situated in the cellar of the town house.
  • '''Bucco''', popular Italian restaurant at Hallituskatu. Reservation might be a good idea at least in the weekends.
  • '''Hesburger''', already an institution, is the Finnish equivalent to McDonald's. There are many franchises, the most famous ones being the one in the shopping center BePop (northern end of the pedestrian zone) and the one at the market square, which is open until 5 am in the morning. Meals 6-10?.
  • '''Kebab''' and '''pizza''' are at almost every corner of the town. The price range for is from 5? to 10?. These joints are often open until early in the morning.
  • Drink

    The main city center area is full with bars and nightclubs. They are situated at/near the main street ''Yrjonkatu''. The agelimits are often 18, but in many it is 20. But don't worry, if you are 18, you can negotiate, and you may sometimes enter the bar/nightclub. But not always. Bartenders often ask ID from young-customers. If you are in Pori at the summer, go to ''Etelaranta'', there are many nice bars and much to do.

    Bars and pubs

  • '''Rattis''', Yrjonkatu, opposite the bus station. Most genuine Pori experience can be found here. The '''Tulli Pub''' on the other side of the square gets occasionally pretty "genuine", too.
  • '''Beer Hunters''', Antinkatu, besides the market square. Nice selection of beers, has it's own little brewery.
  • '''Coco''', on the other side of market square, cosy place. Mostly visited by younger people.
  • '''Havanna''', in the Finnkino movie theatre building (Promenadikeskus), tries to draw in local 'hipsters' with moderate success.
  • '''One for the Road''', two blocks west from the market square and then south. Known to locals as "Irkku". An Irish pub with delicious toasts, reasonable prices and a unique atmosphere.
  • Clubs

  • '''Down Under''', in the downstairs of Hotel Scandic. Relatively trendy and expensive - at least on Pori scale, Australian-themed (that's right) club.
  • '''Bar Kino''', live music on thursdays. Most popular live venue in Pori. On weekends regular, quite popular club with mainstream dance music.
  • '''Ilon Talo''', a newer, popular club that is a part of a chain of discotheques bearing the same name around Finland. The queue can get very long, so after midnight you might have difficulties getting in.
  • '''PK''', is a nightclub aimed at a somewhat older (but certainly not less drunk) clientele. There are several floors, with electronic dance music in the basement, karaoke in the middle floor, and Finnish 'schlager' in the largest dance floor.
  • '''Amarillo''' and '''Vaakuna''' are located in the Sokos Hotel Vaakuna next to the market square. Amarillo has a restaurant and a relatively popular bar, and as the place closes around 1 am, people tend to the Vaakuna club upstairs. It tries to distinguish itself as a somewhat more elegant club experience. On a Pori scale, anyway.
  • Sleep

    Budget

  • '''Hostel Buisto'''. Itapuisto 13. Phone +358 44 3330 646, +358 2 6330 646. 17 Rooms with 42 Bedis. Located in the very centre of Pori.
  • '''Matkakoti Musa'''. Putimaentie 69. Phone +358 2 637 0100. 5 Rooms with 12 Bedis.
  • Mid-range

  • '''Sokos Hotel Vaakuna'''. [http://www.sokotel.fi/]. Gallen-Kallelankatu 7. Phone +358 20 1234 626. 416 Beds in 203 Rooms.
  • '''Scandic Hotel Pori'''. [http://www.scandic-hotels.com/]. Itsenaisyydenkatu 41. Phone +358 2 624 900. 170 Beds in 82 Rooms. Rooms from about €70.
  • '''Hotelli Cumulus'''. [http://www.cumulus.fi/hotelli.cfm?id=cumupori]. Yrjonkatu 24. Phone +358 2 550 900. 172 Beds in 109 Rooms. Internet access available in rooms.
  • Meri-Pori

    Budget

  • '''Yyterin leirintaalue (Yyteri camping area)'''. Yyterin santojentie, Yyteri. Phone +358 2 634 5700. 75 Cottages. Located near the Yyteri sand beach. Four person cottage costs €45/night.
  • '''Matkakoti/Gasthaus Marita'''. Satamapuisto 2, Reposaari. Phone +358 2 638 4463, +358 50 592 6041. 11 Rooms with 25 Bedis. Located on the island of Reposaari.
  • '''Matkakoti Tiira'''. Santojentie 9, Kaanaa. Phone +358 2 638 3792. 17 Beds. Located near the Yyteri sand beach.
  • '''Yyterin Kievari'''. [http://www.vapaalle.com/yyterinkievari/]. Yyterin santojentie 10 A, Yyteri. Phone +358 2 638 3922. 20 Beds(+20 In the summer). Located near the Yyteri sand beach.
  • Mid-range

  • '''Yyterin Kylpylahotelli'''. [http://www.yyterinkylpylahotelli.fi/]. Sipintie 1, Yyteri. Phone +358 2 628 5300. 230 Beds in 113 Rooms. Price includes use of Sauna and baths. Located on Yyteri sand beach. Double rooms for €94, single rooms for €73.
  • Get out