The City of Turku is organising a competition to find a feasible hotel concept for the Spider Site (Hämähäkkitontti), located on the banks of the River Aura next to Turku City Theatre and the new music hall Fuuga.

Prime location in the heart of Turku 

The competition site is an undeveloped area at Itäinen Rantakatu 12, in a prime location on the banks of the River Aura, surrounded by venues for arts, culture and athletics.  

The site is bordered by Itäinen Rantakatu, Volter Kilven katu and the park on Samppalinna Hill.  

Locals refer to the area as the Spider Site (Hämähäkkitontti), named after a work of environmental art on the site's rock face. Outi Sarjakoski's artwork "Network" resembles a giant spider's web. 

Competition objectives 

The competition is intended for companies in the construction and property sectors, or consortia formed by such companies. Each consortium must have a designated hotel operator. 

The aim is to find a high-quality, feasible hotel development that enhances the appeal of the River Aura waterfront in Turku and respects the area's valuable surroundings.  

The competition winner undertakes to purchase or lease the plot to be formed within the competition area and implement the development in accordance with the winning competition proposal.  

Following the competition, an amendment to the local detailed plan will be prepared to enable development on the site. The amendment will be drawn up jointly by the competition winner and the City of Turku, based on the winning competition proposal. The amendment will be subject to approval by Turku City Council

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Competition stages and timetable

Competition period: 3 November 2026 – 30 April 2027

  • Publication of the competition programme: 3 November 2026 at 12:00 pm
  • Questions about the competition: by 1 December 2026 at 3:00 pm
  • Responses to questions: by Tuesday, 15 December 2026 at 3:00 pm
  • Applications to participate and additional questions: by 8 January 2027 at 3:00 pm
  • Approval of competitors and responses to additional questions: by 22 January 2027 at 3:00 pm
  • Competition proposals: by 30 April 2027 at 2:00 pm
  • Announcement of the competition winner: summer 2027

Competition programme and appendices 

Download the appendices to the competition programme to your computer, one folder at a time 

1-3. Map materials 

4. 3D material 

5. Buildability assessment

6. Street and traffic management plans 

7. Elevation drawings 

8. Oblique aerial photographs 

9. Photographs 

Hotel overnight stays on the rise in Turku

  • Turku accounts for 4% of all hotel overnight stays in Finland. There were 751,000 overnight stays in early 2026.
  • Domestic travellers account for more than 80% of overnight stays. Their numbers grew more strongly in Turku in 2026 than elsewhere in Finland.
  • The share of international visitors is increasing. From January to September, there were 140,000 overnight stays by international visitors, more than 20% up on the previous year.
  • The largest source markets are Sweden, the United States, Germany and the United Kingdom.
  • The Nordic countries account for a larger share of visitors in winter, while Central Europe is more prominent in summer.
  • Business travel accounts for one-third of overnight stays by international visitors.
  • In 2025, visitors spent a total of EUR 325 million in Turku.

Contact information

Anna Hyyppä Planning Architect 044 9074342
Suvi Panschin Director of Land Use 044 9072229