The museum building was commissioned and donated to the city of Turku by the businessman Alfred Jacobsson and his wife Hélène.
The interior features hand-painted panoramic backgrounds for the dioramas that date back to the early 20th century.
The collections include over 30 separate dioramas covering mammals and birds found in the Finnish wilderness.
The museum grounds are situated adjacent to the scenic Aura River walking paths, though the building itself sits on a hill within a park.
The building was designed by architects Alexander Nyström and Allan Schulman.
The Turku Biological Museum is housed in a distinctive Art Nouveau villa built in 1907, specifically designed to function as a museum. Its primary collection consists of large-scale diorama displays that realistically depict Finnish flora and fauna across different habitats and seasons. The museum is located in the greenery-rich Urheilupuisto park area of Turku. It serves as a regional center for natural history education, focusing on biodiversity unique to the Finnish archipelago and inland landscapes. The building itself is a protected historic landmark, maintaining its original early 20th-century architectural character.
The exterior facade of the Art Nouveau villa is the most iconic subject, especially when surrounded by autumn foliage.
Combine your visit with a walk through the surrounding Kupittaa and Urheilupuisto parks.
Look closely at the dioramas to spot the transition in seasonal lighting effects designed to simulate different times of year.
Check the museum's digital calendar before visiting, as they occasionally host specialized temporary science exhibitions.
Do not mistake the museum for a modern interactive science center; the experience is traditional, quiet, and observation-based.
Closed on Mondays throughout the year.
