Pori

Understand

thumb|200px|Pori town hall

The town of Pori was founded in 1558 by the Swedish king Gustav Vasa, as a strategic centre for trade and commerce. The town grew quickly in the following centuries, becoming an important regional centre for industry, culture, and education.

During the Finnish War of 1808–1809, Pori was occupied by Russian forces, and the town suffered significant damage during the conflict. However, in the following decades, Pori began to recover and rebuild, with new industries and businesses being established in the area.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Pori experienced a period of rapid growth and modernization, as new transportation links and infrastructure were built. The construction of the Tampere–Pori railway line in the 1890s brought improved transportation and communication to the city, while the electrification of the area in the 1920s paved the way for new industries and businesses to be established.

After the war, the city continued to grow and modernize, with the establishment of several new industries, including manufacturing, shipping, and tourism.

The city has suffered heavily during the economic downturns, especially in the early 1990s, earning a reputation as a somewhat gritty place. Things are looking brighter again as of 2020, with lots of students coming to the city and the city centre being revamped.

Although the city is officially unilingual, there is a Swedish school and some cultural activities in Swedish thanks to the res…

Get in

Pori is on E8 along the west coast and at the end of highways 2 from Helsinki and 11 from Tampere.

Get around

Central Pori is small enough to be relatively easily explored on foot or, in the summer, on a bicycle. Most of the attractions are within a short walking distance from each other. The few destinations further away, such as the Sigrid Jusélius Mausoleum (about 3 km from the city centre) and the Yyteri sand beaches (about 15 km away) can be reached by bus. Information about local buses can be found at Porinlinjat (web page in Finnish only). You can use the Kyyti likel route planner to seek local bus routes between given locations and addresses.

You can purchase single tickets by showing your NFC bank card to the ticket reading machine. The cheapest way to purchase tickets is through Kyyti Likel's mobile app. 10 tickets bought from the app cost €25 and each is valid for 2 hours. The app is available for Android and iOS.

Pori bus station is at the central square. The bus connections are quite good. Often the buses depart every 30 or 60 minutes. Citylinja has frequent departures.

See

thumb|The Bear of Satakunta (Satakunnan karhu) in front of Pori City Hall

Buy

Outlet stores Tactic board games, Karjarannantie 2 km west of the city. Open M–F 08:00–16:00. Bakeries/cafes Mäkilän leipomo: Raja-Hiltantie 3 M-F 07:00–15:00; Jauhopojat Uusikoivistontie 73 open M–F –17:00, Sa 08:00–13:00.

Eat

There are Kebab and pizza restaurants at almost every corner of the town, often open until early in the morning. Normal restaurants can be found as well. There is a list of lunch offers for each day.

Drink

The city centre is full with bars and nightclubs. They are situated at or near the main street Yrjönkatu. The age limit is usually 18 years, but to some clubs it's 20. The latter limit is the restaurant's own, and you may be able to get the bouncer to let you in. Bartenders often ask younger customers to present their identification card. If you are in Pori at the summer, go to Eteläranta, there are many nice bars and much to do.

Go next

Lavia — A rural village and former municipality, today part of Pori. Ulvila — neighbouring medieval town. Rauma — Finland's third oldest town, with a beautiful wooden old town, less than an hour away by car or bus.