Things to do in Tampere, Finland
Tampere is one of the biggest cities in Finland and is surrounded by thousands of lakes and forest making it a popular cabin destination for many Finns.
Recently I went on a trip to Finland to attend a business festival called PING Helsinki. I was given the chance to explore more of Finland for a few days and decided to grab a train to Tampere.
If you have a spare few days then the city centre has a lot to offer and explore.
I’ll take you through some information and some things to do in Tampere so if you ever want to visit yourself, you have some options to start planning your own trip.
Travelling to Tampere, Finland
The easiest way to reach Tampere is by train from Helsinki with VR (Finland’s national railway company). The journey takes only a few hours and is easy to arrange with many connections all day. Tampere does have its own airport but it currently offers limited routes. OnniBus also offers affordable bus trips from Helsinki to Tampere.
Where to stay? Lapland Hotels Tampere
No need to travel all the way to Lapland, you can simply travel to Tampere and stay at the Lapland Hotels Tampere.
From the popular Lapland Hotels chain, this is the first one to open outside of Lapland.
With a unique Lapland design, you no longer have to travel far in Finland to reach Lapland and can experience Lapland in Tampere. They even have mustamakkara (black sausage) made from reindeer to try at breakfast. Enjoy your stay!
Moomin Museum, Tampere
New to the city is the Moomin Museum which is set to open in June 2017. Here you will be able to explore a unique collection of over 2,000 pieces of Moomin artworks.
The original Moomin illustrations by Tove Jansson are an essential part of the atmosphere of the museum as well as a library with over 50 translated versions of Moomin books. You will also find many interactive displays for all ages around the museum. Perfect for any fan of the Moomin characters.
Experience a public sauna in Rauhaniemi
A trip to Finland wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the sauna.
Rauhaniemi is a short bus ride from the city centre. Here you will find one of Finland’s oldest and still running public mixed saunas.
Rauhaniemen kansankylpylä is situated next to a lake which makes for a perfect spot for a refreshing dip after a sauna.
I like Rauhaniemen kansankylpylä as it’s used by locals and open for visitors who wish to try an authentic Finnish style sauna. Not to worry, the sauna is mixed so you can wear your swimwear.
Rauhaniemi also offers walking trails if you wish to get lost in the woods and try some Nordic walking in the nature.
If you would like to go with a guide who can take you to Rauhaniemi and teach you how to enjoy a Finnish sauna, Adventure Apes can arrange group visits for you.
Walk around Pispankatu
Have a walk around Pispankatu and explore the cute traditional Finnish wooden houses that can be found here in this neighbourhood. You can also find some great viewing points that overlook the forest and lakes of Tampere below.
Perfect to do on a Sunday as you can enjoy a pancake brunch at Cafe Pispala, a cozy café situated along the street which is not to be missed.
From here you can enjoy a walk through the Finnish woods and head directly to the Pyynikki observation tower which is a nice walk away.
Donuts at the Pyynikki observation tower
After a nice walk, the Pyynikki observation tower is a lovely spot to stop off at. Walk up the 300+ steps to reach the top which offers stunning scenic views around the surrounding city of Tampere. Once you’ve made it back down again you’re sure in for a treat!
The Pyynikki observation tower is also popular amongst locals for its donuts which can be found in the café at the bottom of the tower.
A favourite amongst the locals, expect long lines waiting for this special sugary treat. They say it’s the best donut in all of Finland. I have to agree.
Just so you’re prepared, a Finnish donut is called munkki.
Try mustamakkara, the local sausage of Tampere
A trip to Tampere wouldn’t be complete without trying the local favourite, mustamakkara (black blood sausage). Many Finns will remember eating this dish for school lunch.
You can find mustamakkara to try at many local market grill stands around Tampere. Be sure to try with a bit of wild lingonberry jam for extra flavour.
Enjoy a cocktail and view at Solo Sokos Hotel Torni
Not a bad view hey!
Did you know that Solo Sokos Hotel Torni Tampere is one of the tallest hotels in Finland? This makes for a perfect viewpoint to look over the city of Tampere with a cocktail in hand. What a great way to end your trip to Tampere!
Be sure to check out the interesting cocktail menu with a twist and enjoy a sunset over Tampere.
Thank you for reading my blog post.
Thank you for reading my blog post about thing to do in Tampere, Finland. I hope you found it useful.
If you do have any further questions, I’m very happy to help. You can leave a comment below in the comment section of this blog post. Kiitos!
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Travelling the world, one adventure at a time. Follow Dave Brett, a solo adventure travel blogger on his travels around the world. A globe-trotting adventure travel blog featuring travel tips and advice, travel stories, travel videos and travel photography that will inspire your next trip abroad, and help you plan it too. To read more, please visit: