Trip to Tampere
- Jun 16
- 4 min read
Tampere, located in southern Finland, ranks among the largest cities in the country. It is nestled between two significant lakes, Näsijärvi and Pyhäjärvi. Tampere's history is marked by the onset and growth of industrialization. Today, it continues to be the hub of Finnish industry and is also recognized as the Sauna Capital of the world.
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The natural surroundings of Tampere
The Tampere region is known for its remarkable natural beauty. The Pyynikki ridge, a significant gravel formation from the ice age, provides stunning vistas over the two lakes. Although Tampere is well-known for its lakes, it is also encircled by five national parks, such as Puurijärvi, Isosuo, Isojärvi, and the more famous Seitseminen and Helvetinjärvi, which means Hell's Lake. The name alone makes it worth visiting.
While visiting Finland's natural landscapes, you can engage in various activities like hiking, rock climbing, paddling, and swimming. Additionally, you have the option to camp or stay in a cabin.
Sights to See in Tampere
Tampere offers a variety of attractions for visitors to explore and enjoy. The city's social and cultural scene includes diverse public saunas and intriguing museums like the Finnish Labour Museum Werstas, the Spy Museum (Vakoilu-Museo), Nootti Museum, and the Moomin Museum. Throughout the year, Tampere also hosts numerous events and festivals. Among the city's popular attractions is the vibrant and picturesque area of Pispala, known for its well-preserved wooden houses.
Pispala, a remarkable wooden architectural area
Pispala is a well-maintained area in Tampere that's famous for its colorful wooden houses. It's also considered as the most beautiful part of Tampere because of the breathtaking views of the lakes Näsijärvi and Pyhäjärvi. Visitors can find the oldest public sauna in Finland built in 1906 which is still in use called Rajaportti, a monument and museum for the Finnish poet Lauri Viita, a popular building called Shot Tower for the nice view of the area, a café called Pispala and the Pispalan Pulteri restaurant.
Tampere Cathedral
Tampere Cathedral is a Lutheran church built between 1902 and 1907. It is well-known for its frescoes; decorated, painted, and designed by Hugo Simberg, Magnus Enckell, and Architect Lars Sonck. The Wounded Angel and The Garden of Death are among the famous paintings of this historical church.
Old Town, Finlayson area
Finlayson area, also known as the old town of Tampere, is where the industrial life was born. The first electric light in Finland was illuminated and taken in use in the Finlayson area at the cotton factory. The first metal wheel, the first automatic fire extinguishing system and the textile factory are examples of an industry that was created.
The factory boutique, Finlayson Church, the Finlayson Palace, and Tallipiha Stable Yards are also situated close by. The Finlayson area is also full of events throughout the year, cultural and various entertainment activities, business and services, cinema, restaurants, and cafés.
Moomin Museum
The Moomin Museum is situated in Tampere Hall, which presents and exhibits the artistic work of Tove Jansson, the creator of Moomins. This is the only Moomin Museum in the world. It describes the original fairy tale through the wonderful illustrations of the creator. There's a Moomin shop selling gifts and various products and the Moomin books available in different languages in the Moomin library as well.
Nootti Museum
The Nootti Museum, which was also known as Lenin Museum, is among the unique and particular museums situated at the Worker's Hall of Tampere. The museum is well-known for highlighting specific aspects of the shared history between Finland and the Soviet Union, focusing on figures like Lenin, Stalin, and Kekkonen.
Särkänniemi amusement park
The Särkänniemi is a well-known amusement park in Finland. It is not so far from the Tampere city center and situated by the lake Näsijärvi. There are many games, fun activities, and events for children, teens, and adults throughout the year even during off-seasons such as Halloween and Christmas festivals. The Angry Birds Park, Doghill miniature town (based on the characters of the popular writer Mauri Kunnas), Planetarium and Aquarium are among the popular attractions of the amusement park.
Pyynikki observation tower
Pyynikki is a 26-meter tall popular location that attracts many visitors because of the stunning views from the top of the observation tower. There's a pine tree forest on top of a ridge where you can go for jogging and skiing trail in winter. There's also a charming beach by Lake Pyhäjärvi. During summertime, the Pyynikki summer theatre offers decades of tradition and a wonderful café known for its delicious doughnuts.
Tampere as the sauna capital
If visiting or even living in Finland, the sauna experience is absolutely a must-try. Finland has a worldwide reputation for a high number of saunas; as almost every residential building has one. The Tampere region is particularly known for having most public saunas of high level and of different types for every preference. According to Visit Tampere, International Sauna Association and Finnish Sauna Society has announced that Tampere can now be called as the Capital of Sauna.
To eat and drink
Although it's now easy to find a variety of foods and cuisines, numerous restaurants in Tampere still utilize local ingredients for those who want to enjoy local flavors. Tamperen Kauppahalli, or Tampere Market Hall, is a destination not only for shopping but also for dining. It offers both local and international restaurants in one location.
Accommodation
For those staying overnight in Tampere, a variety of accommodations cater to different preferences and budgets, including hotels, hostels, B&Bs, apartments, cottages, and camping areas. Tampere's diverse accommodations ensure a suitable option for every traveler, with prices starting at 50€.
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How to get to Tampere
You can travel to Tampere by car, train, bus, sea, or airplane. If you're interested in renting a car, consider booking one online. Tampere is served by its own Tampere-Pirkkala International Airport. For further details, visit.
