The Aura River runs through the heart of Turku for about 60 kilometres before emptying into the sea near the castle, and its banks are where the city comes to life. Walking the riverside promenade from the cathedral down to the harbour takes about twenty minutes and passes the main bridges, student bars, and a string of ravintolalaivat — restaurant boats permanently moored along both banks.
The restaurant boats are a Turku institution. In summer, their outdoor decks fill with students and locals drinking beer and eating grilled fish, sometimes until well after midnight. Each boat has its own character: some lean casual and cheap, others more polished. In winter a few stay open, relying on indoor warmth and candlelight. Either way, walking the river in the evening is the best free entertainment in the city.