At the mouth of Kokemäenjoki there is a city that has the full glare of the sun at Yyteri beach. Pori is known for its international jazz event and its highly-ranked ice hockey team, Ässät, which translates as Ace of spades.
A central area, the lively city of Pori is located by the Sea of Bothnia. While on holiday in Pori, you can enjoy the greenery of the park area and the sunshine at the Kirjurinluoto and Yyteri beaches. The people of Pori appreciate a wide range of culture, as evidenced by the passionate fan culture of their ice hockey team, as well as the great popularity of the Pori Jazz Festival. Also pay a visit to the Pori Art Museum, and Pori Theatre, if looking for cultural sustenance.
The most famous event of this coastal city is surely the Pori Jazz Festival, which attracts many kinds of music lovers to Kirjurinluoto every July. Every year, the oldest jazz festival in Finland attracts thousands of visitors who, in addition to free music, can enjoy the beautiful scenery of Kokemäenjoki river basin. Kirjurinluoto is also the home of the Porispere rock festival, where Kirjurinluoto Arena serves as the main stage of its large-scale events.
Even if your trip to Pori did not coincide with these major events, Kirjurinluoto is still a great place to visit. Its English-style garden is a delightful place to take a stroll or relax with a picnic. The free three-hectare Pelle Hermanni play park, with lots of fun activities, makes Kirjurinluoto a nice place to visit with your children too. Kirjurinluoto is also the home of a shallow beach, as well as the children's traffic park Vinkkari.
A summer holiday in Pori would not be complete without the Yyteri beach for strolling around. Recline in the fine sands heated by the sun, or go windsurfing on the waves. If you fancy a day with more action, Yyteri cape hiking trails provides a good opportunity to explore the wildlife in the area. Yyterin Sannat is gorgeous and, in the Finnish context, a rare dune area. Along the Yyteri sludge route, there is a chance to spot an unusually diverse selection of birds.
The grid plan area of the Pori city centre and its suburbs offer a lot of places to see for those wishing to immerse themselves in an historical environment. Begin your holiday in Pori by visiting its Empire-style city centre and the Sea Captain's House, or the Pori Town Hall, designed by Carl Ludvig Engel, for example. Next, go to the picturesque village of Ahlainen, known for its culturally and historically valuable wooden houses, its crowning glory being Ahlainen Church, which is more than two hundred years old. Finally, head to the idyllic village of Reposaari, which is known for its wooden houses.
After the city tour in Pori, you can explore its cultural life. The towns of Pori and Rauma are like rival neighbours that are always competing against each another. If you happen to be travelling in Pori when the Pori and Rauma ice hockey teams meet, then venture into the Isomäki Ice Stadium to experience a local hockey euphoria. For cultural experiences, visit the Pori Art Museum's contemporary art exhibitions, theatre performances and Pori Sinfonietta concerts. Of course, you can also add music to your playlist from legendary Pori bands, such as Dingo, Mamba and Yö (Night).
Pori has good transport connections by bus and train and, particularly during the Pori Jazz Festival, there are plenty of connections to the airport. Go to the heart of the Satakunta region to a city with plenty of relaxed cultural life for every occasion.
