Visit Tampere

 

Welcome to Tampere!

 

Tampere is one of the best-kept secrets of Northern Europe. Surrounded by two large lakes that give the city its distinctive air of natural peace, Tampere is a vibrant regional capital with active cultural life and versatile event scene. The city is a popular destination for festivals, sports events, congresses, trade shows and holidays. A big city by Finnish standards, Tampere still manages to feel like a small town.

Tampere is the sixth-largest urban area in Nordic countries, the third-largest city in Finland and one of the most rapidly developing regions in the country. Currently there are 224,000 inhabitants in Tampere and nearly 500,000 inhabitants in Tampere Region.

Tampere was founded in 1779 on an isthmus between the great lakes Pyhäjärvi and Näsijärvi; the scenic Tammerkoski rapids connecting the two lakes runs through the city center. A city with a prestigious industrial heritage, today Tampere is a center of technology, research and business as well as a city of culture, sports and education. Three universities make Tampere one of the most vibrant and youthful cities in Finland. 

Tampere has been a Fairtrade City since 2007 and has made a strong commitment to implement and promote ecologically sustainable policies in the city.

 

Sights and Activities

Tampere city center is compact: all major tourist attractions, hotels, restaurants and shops are within a convenient walking distance.

The main tourist attractions in the city are the historical cityscapes along Tammerkoski rapids and Keskustori (Central Square), Finlayson and Tampella industrial heritage areas, the Moomin Valley Exhibition (temporarily housed at Tampere Art Museum and relocating to Tampere Hall in 2017) and Särkänniemi Amusement Park that also features the landmark Näsinneula tower, topped by a revolving restaurant.

Other sites of interest include the historical Pispala and Pyynikki districts, Tampere Market Hall and the open-air markets Tammelantori and Laukontori, Tampere Cathedral with its iconic artwork by the symbolist painter Hugo Simberg and the Medieval Messukylä Church. Among the most scenic places in Tampere are Pyynikki nature conservation and recreation area, Pyynikki Observation Tower and Hatanpää Arboretum. Also worth a visit is the new Hotel Torni Tampere with its sky bar.

Tampere is home to many museums, including Tampere Art Museum, Sara Hildén Art Museum, Lenin Museum, Police Museum, Spy Museum, Finnish Labour Museum Werstas and the excellent Vapriikki Museum Centre with its various exhibitions.

Thanks to its location in the midst of a lake labyrinth (around 200 lakes within the city limits!); water is a quintessential element of Tampere. The great lakes Näsijärvi and Pyhäjärvi dominate the cityscape along with the ridge formations on the isthmus separating the two lakes. Viikinsaari Island, the local summer getaway, is just a short ferry ride from the city center, and ferry cruises to Hämeenlinna and the small towns north of Tampere are a popular summer activity.

 

 

 

VISIT TAMPERE *** POSTAL MUSEUM *** MOOMIN VALLEY