Porvoo Shopping

This is quite new candy-fabric,and very small.If in the shop there is 4 people,you might need to wait outside.Porvoo seems to be "unhealthy" town,because there´s two delicious candy-places.But these ones sold here are close Belgian-style,and two pieces is enough to satisfy your hunger for sweets.When we go there I cross my fingers,and hope that they will have fudge also-it´s my favourite-allthough VERY sweet-one piece is enough.Because it´s so small,you´ll never know witch ones they have today-but everything is fresly-made.

What to buy: Candies of course!They have some cakes also-I haven´t tasted,but I´m sure,that they are good also.

What to pay: This is little more expensive than typical candies-but like I said,you can´t eat many of them.

All Finns know Brunberg-and allmost all love their"pusu"(real name suukko=kiss).And all have their favourite taste-mine is coffee.My mother in law loves also their liquarise.
Also Alku-candies are famous,they are little like fudge.I also love their nougat,and orange-chokolad.
When we go to Porvoo,there´s allways someone who wants us to bring kisses.Mostly people want a box of 24 kisses!
This is one of smallest Finnish candy-factorys,but still one of best known-it´s also very old allready.
If you have a car,I suggest to go to factory-shop.There´s more options and some are little cheaper.But most famous products you will find at old towns shop also!

What to buy: You can taste some of candies,so you can decide yourself,witchones you would like to buy.Kisses aren´t in taste-boxes,because they are so big,but you shoul by at least a six-box.Most people like them-with a cup of coffee or how ever.I´ve even heard someone to freeze them and eat frozen-I haven´t tried that.

There are some fabulous arts and crafts shops located in Old Porvoo, one can spend hours browsing through the different array of Finnish crafts. Just take a stroll through the quaint cobble streets and almost every shop is filled with original arty and craft pieces.

What to buy: Traditional Finnish crafts.

Brunberg is a traditional chocolate and sweeties maker in Porvoo, established on 1871. Their factory store is located next to the main entrance to the Porvoo old town, and it is an excellent store to stock up for your journey back home.

Most of the products are based on traditional recipes, and some of them are traditions themselves in Finland. Take, for example, Brunberg's kisses -- almost everyone in Finland have eaten them, either as a kid or when using a kid as an excuse to get one for themselves, too.

I recommend trying out kisses, marmalade and liquorice. All of which will just melt in your mouth.

Riimikko is a fantastic toy store in the Porvoo old town. It specialises in old-time toys, such as wooden cars, traditional puzzles and so forth. You probably don't find anything that needs batteries or makes sounds.

There are toys from both local artisans and multi-national toy manufacturers alike. Some of the toys are really traditional, designs dating back decades or even centuries, and some are more recent, such as miniature cars from fifties or seventies.

The items are surprisingly inexpensive; I was expecting them to be more pricey, as the shop is in the middle of the heavy tourist area in the Porvoo old town.

Welmans is surprisingly well stocked kitchenware store in the Porvoo old town. The small wooden building has been stuffed with quality items, such as Peugeot pepper mills, Le Creuset pans and so forth.

The service is friendly and the staff is knowledgeable about the other shops, cafés and restaurants in the region, too. The prices are okay -- this is not a bargain store, mind you -- and won't drain your wallet empty. Quality items are more expensive, but you usually don't have to spend money on the replacements.

Design Deli is a charming small boutique selling the top-notch contemporary Finnish designs from a wide variety of designers. It is one of the shops in the Porvoo old town that you definitely should visit.

The shopkeeper is very friendly and helpful, and knows a lot of the designers, their working methodologies and so forth. Don't be afraid to ask.

The prices are a bit steep, but there is something for everything, at least budget wise. The shop has clothes, shoes, bags, fabrics, glassware and art, to name a few of the categories. Some stuff goes in between and a lot of them cross boundaries.

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Just check out the shops at Old Town area (on Jokikatu and Välikatu mainly). Just go in and check what they have to offer. You will find items made of wood, woollen socks (BUY a pair, they're the best ones to keep your feet warm) etc

The little shops are open mainly from Mon-Fri 9am -5pm and Saturdays 9am - 2pm. Most of the shops are closed on Sundays.

What to buy: You will find Finnish handicraft's...
buy a pair of woolled socks!

What to pay: It will not be a cheap shopping but at least worth looking around.