An Unusual Title for a Blog Post 😂 But That’s the Official Slogan for Turku, Finland!
As many of you may already know, we recently embarked on a journey to Turku, Finland, and it was an absolutely enchanting experience! Every moment was filled with wonder, and we’re already planning our next visit. Now, let’s talk about full disclosure—our entry to Moomin World was complimentary as we were invited, and we received a discounted media rate for our hotel. As for our flight, we flew with Wiz Air, and I covered the expenses entirely.
Now, onto the journey itself…
We decided to utilize London Luton Airport for the first time since it offers the only direct flight from London to Turku via Wiz Air. However, I must admit, the plane was not the cleanest I’ve ever been on, but I’ll circle back to that in a moment.
Our experience at Luton airport was less than ideal! Perhaps it was an off day, but the security line moved at a snail’s pace. It felt like everyone’s bags needed to be double-checked through the X-ray machines. This is perhaps why they recommend arriving at the airport three hours prior to your flight, to account for unforeseen delays like this one!
After enduring approximately a 35-minute wait in the security line, we finally cleared and settled down to await our flight. So, not only was this our first venture to Luton Airport, but it also marked our initial trip to Finland and our debut flight with Wiz Air! Wiz Air operates as a budget airline, but as you’re aware, there are additional costs such as luggage fees, seat selection, and priority boarding.
The condition of the aircraft certainly sheds light on why the fares are so affordable, haha! It was quite dirty—I almost felt like I was on the Bakerloo line!
There were food spills all over the floor! It was quite shocking because I’ve never encountered such a dirty plane before. I had to quickly grab some wipes and plead with my daughter not to touch anything 😭
However, despite all this, we arrived safely and even arrived 30 minutes earlier than expected, which was fantastic! Plus, they managed to keep track of my buggy (unlike British Airways last year when we went to Amsterdam… still not over that lol). Taxis are readily available right outside the airport, so there’s no need to pre-book. Our destination was the Naantali Spa Hotel, approximately a 20-minute taxi ride costing around €40-50 .
Naantali Spa Hotel
Oh my goodness, this hotel was absolutely stunning! It’s sprawling and offers nearly everything you could imagine – a spa, numerous restaurants, entertainment options, a dedicated play area for children, and much more!
Our room was beyond impressive! We booked the Deluxe Double with a terrace, which came with breakfast included and complimentary access to the sauna and pool paradise.
As previously mentioned, there are several restaurants within the hotel. During our stay, we dined at TK’s, and the food was excellent! The staff were incredibly friendly and made my daughter feel warmly welcomed.
After a long day of traveling, we headed straight back to our room.
Day 2 was dedicated to Moomin World! The opening hours vary depending on the time of year you visit. During our stay, Moomin World opened at 12 pm, so we had some time to spare before heading there.
Breakfast wasn’t particularly impressive, so we opted for simple fare like bread and fruit.
The playroom was a lifesaver – there’s a dedicated area for kids, complete with plenty of activities, books, and toys to keep them entertained. Little miss was thoroughly content!
Moomin World!
It’s approximately a 30-minute walk or a 15-minute drive from the hotel. I decided on a leisurely stroll and used Google Maps to guide us, which proved to be quite easy. I was surprised by how tranquil the walk was—it almost felt like a scene from a horror movie! I half expected a zombie to pop out of the bushes at any moment!
We were both incredibly excited to visit! I grew up watching the TV show, and I recently introduced it to little miss, who instantly fell in love!!!
One of my favourite parts of the journey was walking across a bridge to get to Moomin World. The views were absolutely fantastic! While it’s a theme park, there aren’t any rides, which is perfectly okay because there’s an abundance of things to see and do! Naturally, our first stop was at the iconic Big, blue Moomin house, where we were warmly greeted by the Moomins themselves! It was magical right from the start!
Inside the house was absolutely incredible! Little miss was overwhelmed with excitement and just wanted to touch and play with everything. It seemed perfectly fine since there were no signs indicating that she couldn’t.
I nearly forgot to mention, but upon entering, you receive a wristband. Kids get a wristband with a microchip embedded in them, which they can use throughout Moominworld to activate special activities when they encounter the blue shells. It’s a really cool feature!
One of the highlights of Moominworld for me was meeting the characters. There were no excessively long queues, and it seemed like they were available all day long without breaks. We took plenty of photos, which will be wonderful additions to our memory book! Moominworld is expansive, offering a plethora of activities.
The Giant Pumpkin was undoubtedly little miss’s favourite part of our day! If I had let her, she probably would’ve spent the entire day inside, cooking away!
Additionally, there’s a beach, a fairytale walkthrough (which might be a tad spooky for the very young ones), live shows, character meet-and-greets, and much more!
It truly is the ideal family outing!
Stickers to ensure your kids’ safety! With such a vast space, this is certainly a smart precautionary measure. Simply fill in your kids’ names and your contact details!
I almost forgot to mention the food options. There are several places where you can sit down and enjoy a meal, with prices typical of those found at any theme park. Little miss had a reasonably sized kids meal for €7.90.
Following a day filled with walking, we made a brief visit to Naantali Old Town, which was simply beautiful. Unfortunately, I only managed to snap a photo at the Moomin shop, but take my word for it – you absolutely must visit! The old town is visually breathtaking!
We treated ourselves to a well-deserved nap after returning to the hotel 😴. On our final day, we skipped breakfast and headed straight to the swimming pools! And let me tell you, we were not disappointed. There were two indoor pools, an outdoor one, and even a jacuzzi! Absolutely stunning
We absolutely adored every aspect of our trip! From the enchanting experience at Moominworld to the delightful accommodations at the hotel, everything exceeded our expectations. The locals were incredibly friendly as well! I can honestly say I have no complaints, and I’m already looking forward to returning next year. Plus, we’ll be back in Finland again this year for Lapland 😉, so be sure to check back on the blog for our full review!
