Tampere

Going with the flow comes easy when your city is never too far from the water. Situated between two great lakes and dissected by the flowing Tammerkoski river, Tampere is a perfectly paced playground just two hours from Helsinki by car.

The most populated inland city in the Nordic countries, Tampere is a major urban, economic and cultural hub in Finland. But despite all this activity, it is a city that wears its importance with ease.

Popular with tourists, people come to enjoy the area’s saunas, museums, family attractions and, perhaps most importantly, its gateway location to the popular Lakeland region.

We love Tampere, but don’t just take our word for it – Tampere is the favourite travel destination for Finns in their home country. And they really should know best.

INDUSTRIAL HERITAGE

The red brick buildings that line Tampere’s riverside were once home to cotton mills and factories. Now, they have been aesthetically repurposed into a thriving thoroughfare of museums, eateries, cafes and artisan shops.

Built in the 1820s, Finlayson cotton factory was the first building in the Nordic countries to have electric lighting. Now it houses a cinema, brewery and some interesting museums – sneak a peek into the spy museum, we dare you!

And Tampere Market Hall is the largest of its kind in the Nordics - the art nouveau building is a place to savour local delicacies and relax with a coffee and cinnamon bun.

SAUNA CAPITAL OF THE WORLD

Tampere has the reputation of being the sauna capital of the world. There are more than 50 public saunas in the region, from the county’s oldest public sauna still in use at Rajaportti; to art saunas, boat saunas, restaurant saunas, and lakeside smoke saunas perfectly situated for icy winter dips. How many can you visit during your stay?

FAMILY ACTIVITIES

For those travelling with kids, keep them – and therefore everyone – happy with trips to Tampere’s adventure parks and attractions.

Särkänniemi has adrenaline rides for those brave enough, and a fairy tale farm and aquarium for the small but mighty members of the family. Here, the Näsinneula Observation Tower is the second tallest in the Nordics, providing a bird’s eye view over the city and lakes.

For older kids, Flowpark Varala offers a treetop jungle gym in this eco-friendly adventure park, while everyone is encouraged to be creative at the Moominmuseo – an art museum celebrating the imaginary world of Tove Jansson.

MUSEUMS

The Tampere region likes a museum nearly as much as a sauna. Specialist museums abound, but a good place to start is Vapriikki - a riverside complex that is home to a wide and eclectic range of special interests including the Natural History Museum, the Finnish Museum of Games, the Finnish Postal Museum and the Hockey Hall of Fame Finland.

WHAT ELSE TO SEE

Tampere is a beautiful city, but its greatest asset is its location – at the heart of the lakes. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to take a kayak trip on Lake Saimaa, cruise from Savonlinna to Olavinlinna Castle, or rent a lakeside cabin for a few days of tranquillity and escape.