Sights in Porvoo

Albert Edelfelt spent 26 summers in the Porvoo region and painted more than 220 works here, several of which won prizes in Paris and were bought for museum collections. The studio, built in 1883 as the artist’s working space, functions as a studio museum. The studio exhibits drawings, heliogravures and photographs, as well as artefacts that belonged to the artist.

In 2019, a new building, Villa Albert, was completed in the courtyard of Albert Edelfelt’s studio, which houses a showroom for changing exhibitions and a museum shop.

Edelfeltinpolku 3, 06400 Porvoo
telephone +358 50 553 3290, +358 40 552 9083

Galleria Maari is a new type of art exhibition space in Porvoo’s Old Town. The light green wooden house located on the edge of the Raatihuone square houses Galleria Maari, art-shop and Vanhan Porvoon Ekopuoti. The shared space of aesthetics and naturalness is harmonious and open to everyone interested in beauty and calming the mind. Maari Gallery is named after the beautiful natural area nearby old Porvoo. In the space, you can experience changing exhibitions while visiting historic Porvoo. There is a continuous application for the exhibition space: galleria.maari@viridianne.fi

Gallery ArtMarina is an art nook surrounded by nature. To reach the gallery take the Pellinki ferry and cross four bridges. The trip is worth it: Terttu Schroderus-Gustafsson’s paintings and the nature of the archipelago compete with each other in beauty and breathtaking colors.

Welcome to explore art at Gallery Garden with exhibition venues Skolan and Bryggeri! Open from May to September, Wednesday to Saturday.

The galleries host monthly rotating art exhibitions showcasing works by various artists. Admission is always free, so step in and get inspired by the world of art!

Galleria Katu brings art to the middle of the city. It is an art project to which artist Ylva Holländer invites a new artist every year. Galleria Katu opened its year of exhibition in June 2023 and is collaborating with Irmeli Mäkilä. 

In 2020, Galleria Katu spread to an even wider area. Under the bridge on Mannerheiminkatu, at the public toilet, which opened in July, you can see Ylva Holländer’s large-scale mural, Pilkullinen Pisara “Dotted Drop”.

Gallery Sofia is right next to Porvoo Cathedral. It has a permanent exhibition of Markku Halme’s paintings and Sofia Wilkman’s sculptures.

The gallery in the centre of Old Porvoo, by Raatihuoneentori Square is one of Porvoo’s most beautiful galleries. The spacious, bright rooms, painted deal floors and tiles stoves of the building, which date back to the 18th century, help to create a nostalgic atmosphere for exhibitions. The Gallery arranges art exhibitions of high standard throughout the year.

Instagram: @galleriavanhakappalaisentalo

Make a journey in time back to the archipelago as it was in the 19th century! In the main farmhouse there are changing exhibitions and a small museum shop where you can buy high quality local handicrafts. Admission free during opening hours. At other times €50/group.

Finland’s national poet Johan Ludvig Runeberg and Fredrika Runeberg lived with their sons in Porvoo. In their house museum the works of art, Runeberg’s hunting weapons in the ‘fox skin room’, and the porcelain in the cupboards all serve as reminders of both everyday and social life of the family. In Fredrika’s garden the scent of roses, mock-orange and fruit trees fill the air in summer.

Opening hours

Winter season 1 Sep – 30 Apr, Wed–Sun 10 am – 4 pm.
Summer season 2 May – 31 Aug, Mon–Sun 10 am – 4 pm.

Entry fees

Adults 8 €. Reduced price 6 € for seniors, students, unemployed, and group members (min. 10 persons).
Free admission for children (under 18 years), and with Museum Card or ICOM Card.
Tickets include admission to Walter Runeberg’s Sculpture Collection, open during the summer season.

Exhibition space Kulma features exhibitions of contemporary art that change approximately every month.

Kulma is located in the lobby of the second floor of the Art Factory. You can visit the exhibitions whenever the Art Factory is open.

Inquiries: taidehalli@porvoo.fi

The Orthodox Church in Porvoo is open by arragement at times to be agreed separately and during services. The services are held on the second and fourth weekend of every month, with the vigil on Saturdays at 6 pm and liturgies. The annual Praasniekka church festival is held on August 6.

The Taidehalli Art Hall is simply overflowing with art! The exhibition space, Gallery Fikka and the Kulma gallery in the upper hall have monthly changing exhibitions of contemporary art. The permanent exhibition consisting of works from Yrjö A. Jäntti’s art collection displays Finnish art from the 1950s to the 1980s. The Konsta Art Lending Service both rents and sells works of art.

Porvoo Art Hall will open to the public 1.6. 

Open durin summer, tue – fri 10am to 4pm, sat – sun 11am to 4pm

Art Factory, 2. floor

The Cathedral is dedicated to Mary, the mother of Jesus. The church took its present form at the end of the 15th century. Services are held in Finnish on Sundays at 10 am and in Swedish at 12 noon. The Cathedral can accommodate 750 people and it can be reserved for baptisms, marriage ceremonies and funerals at the Parish Office. For guided tours of the Cathedral and free concerts.

Open: 1 May–30 Sept: Mon–Fri 10am–6pm, Sat 10am–2pm, Sun and public holidays 2–5 pm. 1 Oct–30 Apr: Tue–Sat 10am–2pm, Sun and public holidays 2–4 pm.

Please note that the Cathedral’s opening hours may change due to religious ceremonies and other events.

Among the best toy museums in the country, the Porvoo Doll and Toy Museum has more than a thousand dolls and countless other toys on display. All of the toys in the museum have been played with – from the coat of the teddybear and the tires of the toy car you can see how beloved they have been. It is not only children who have fun in the museum, but also their parents and grand-parents, who often enjoy reminiscing over their own toys and childhood.

Holm House, built in 1763, gives you an opportunity to see how a wealthy merchant family lived at the end of the 18th century. On the ground floor there are changing exhibitions and the Museum Shop.

Finland’s oldest Town Hall has exhibitions of works by masters of Finland’s Golden Age of art, production of top names in Finnish industrial arts, and historical exhibitions.

Welcome to the World of Experiences! Porvoo Virtual Art Gallery will take you from one mood and theme to the next. You can expect the power of colours, life and fantasy, landscapes and portraits, and an ambience beyond reality.

The idyllic Postimäki museum is one of Finland’s best preserved areas of cottagers’ dwellings. The buildings date back to the 19th century, and nearly all of them are still on their original sites. Come and take a look how the craftsmen and -women lived in the 19th century. You can also take part in a handicrafts day or community singing, order a dramatised guided tour or watch a play at the summer theatre.

Enjoy art in the unique ambiance of RUNO Hotel Porvoo. RUNO, a hotel concept that celebrates Finnish identity and traditions, also serves as a showcase for Finnish art. In spring 2022, RUNO Hotel Porvoo launched a completely new exhibition concept, RUNO Biannual Exhibitions, curated by visual artist Fanny Tavastila. The exhibition features works by six Finnish artists, thoughtfully scattered throughout the hotel.

The exhibition is free and open 24/7 in accordance with the hotel’s schedule. Pick up an artwork catalog from the lobby at RUNO Hotel Porvoo and enjoy a delightful tour!

See spell-binding exhibitions at the Artpark in Sillvik, Tolkkinen. The artist herself presents her exhibitions, and the presentation is always included in the visit (in Finnish, Swedish or English). The exhibitions include the fairytale town Rose Castle, marionettes, naïvist ceramic figures, paintings, drawings and Park of Myths. The Artpark shop sells articles at moderate prices.

Welcome to get to know Kråkö’s boat building tradition and famous boat builders from Kråkö! The exhibition features a wooden boat under construction, which allows you to learn about the basic work steps of boat building and, for example, how a board is bent and pressed into the right shapes and what kind of tools boat builders use.

The Kråkö Boat Builders Museum is open in the summer season on the 2nd Saturday of the month 14–16 pm, in connection with village events and by agreement.

The museum is located at the tip of the Girsnäs peninsula in Kråkön in Porvoo, opposite Haikko Manor, about 16 km south of the center of Porvoo. You can get there by paved road and by boat to Girsnäs guest pier (free parking, max 4 h).

2 € adult, 1 € child. A separately agreed fee will be charged for guiding groups. Accessibility:
At the entrance outside step 16 cm.

The Little Church, located beside Porvoo Cathedral, was dedicated in 1740. The Church accomodates 170 people and it can be booked for christening, marriage ceremonies and funerals at the parish office.

Veterans room contains exhibits of war memorabilia belonging to local veterans as well as civil life items from the time of war and depression. Exhibits were gathered between 2010 and 2012 by Veteran associations of Porvoo and area and Defenders of Homeland associations. Veterans room is open to visitors on Saturdays and some holidays from 11am-3pm.

Special viewing times for groups are available by appointment. Admission is free.

Note! The collection is is closed until further notice! Walter Runeberg (1838-1920), son of the Finnish national poet, was one of the most important Finnish sculptors of his time. The collection comprises more than 100 of his works, including sketches for well known monumental works, plaster sculptures and a large portrait gallery. During winter the collection is closed. €8/adult, children free of charge (under 18 year olds), groups (min. 10 persons) €6/person. Includes admission to J.L. Runeberg’s Home.

Yrjö A. Jäntti (1905–1985), the director of publishing company WSOY, donated his art collection of more than a thousand works to the City of Porvoo in 1984.

Exhibited at the Art Hall is a selection of the collection comprising paintings, graphics, drawings and miniature sculptures between 1950s to 1980s. Featured artists include Juhani Linnovaara and Åke and Karin Hellman and Stig Fredriksson, all from Porvoo.