Tampere

Tampere (Swedish: Tammerfors) is the third largest city in Finland with around 236,000 inhabitants, and around 376,000 in the metropolitan area (as of 2019; second largest). Located 170 km north of the Finnish coastal capital Helsinki, it is also the most populous inland town in the Nordic countries. The city lies on a narrow isthmus between Lake Näsijärvi, which reaches far to the north, and Lake Pyhäjärvi in the south. In addition, there are some 200 lakes and ponds in Tampere, and around 450 in the region. Despite being predominantly a former heavy industry centre, today Tampere is a major hub for information technology, research, education, culture, sports and business.

Understand


The Tammerkoski rapids, which now run in a canal through Tampere centre, connect the two major lakes with an elevation drop of 18 metres. As early as the 7th century people started to gather at the banks of the lakes, and in the 18th century the utilization of the rapids as a source of hydropower resulted in a population boom. Tampere was officially founded on the banks of Tammerkoski in 1775 by Gustav III of Sweden, and four years later, 1 October 1779, Tampere was granted full city rights. The newly founded city was soon after established as a proving ground of revolutionary economical theories by declaring a freedom of trade to the city dwellers. The status of free town enabled import and export of foreign goods without customs. In addition, it was ordered that the citizens were allowed to freely practice any Christian faith. Due to the uncommon liberties, Tampere grew as a major market town and industrial centre in the 19th century. During the latter half of 19th century almost half of Finland's industrial labour force was in Tampere. The town's industrial inclination in the 19th and 20th centuries gave it the nickname that sticks to this day: "Manchester of the North", Manse for short (in Finnish).



Tampere has been an industrial pioneer in Finland since the very beginning. Finland’s first paper mill started operation in 1783, and the first paper machine was engaged at the J.C. Frenckell & Son’s factory in 1842. The cotton factory established in 1820 by James Finlayson grew to become the country’s first large-scale industrial establishment. The first electric light in the Nordic countries was also lit in Finlayson’s modern production facilities in 1882. Finlayson grew aggressively and eventually became the largest industrial complex in the Nordic countries. The city’s engineering industry was bolstered by the manufacturer of grinding machines and water turbines Tampella, which was established on the upper reaches of the Tammerkoski rapids in 1861.

By the time of the Finnish declaration of independence in 1917, Tampere had already grown into a major industrial hub that was predominantly inhabited by factory workers. Because of the unusually large working class, Tampere was also the worker's union stronghold. The workers' living conditions were terrible, which was increasingly generating social tension in the society. The First World War was initially profitable for industrial Tampere, but after the October Revolution in Russia, the vital eastern trade was severed. Now the Finnish society was deeply divided, and the socialists seized control of Tampere 1918. During the Finnish Civil War in 1918 Tampere became the Red (Social Democratic Party of Finland) stronghold. However, in April 1918 the eventually victorious White forces led by C.G.E. Mannerheim captured the town after the Battle of Tampere. It was the largest battle in the civil war. Whites seized 11,000 prisoners, summarily executing actual and suspected leaders and locking the remaining prisoners into camps. The decisive victory quickly led to the end of one of the bloodiest civil wars the world had yet seen.

After the war, both the city and the national consensus were rebuilt, and Tampere grew rapidly. In 1927 the first of the factories stopped industrial operations, and city offices later moved into the empty buildings. Even though the structural changes were already on their way, by the time of the Second World War, Tampere was centre of the Finnish war industry. In addition to uniforms made in textile mills, Tampella factories were manufacturing mortars and artillery. Tampere was bombarded by the Soviet air force in 1939–40, but the damages were not extensive. After 1960 most factories started to grind to a halt, but the buildings were kept. Nowadays the cityscape of Tampere is characterized by charming old red-brick industrial buildings, most of them reinstated as offices, restaurants, and places of culture. Modern Tampere has come a long way from its heavy industry roots, and transformed into a hi-tech research and development powerhouse.

In 2010, the City of Tampere came in first in an image survey comparing the largest cities in Finland. Leaving Helsinki behind, it was also found the most attractive city among Finns who plan on moving. In August 2021 the Tampere light rail system opened; as of 2022, it is the only one in Finland outside the capital area.

Tourist information

 * City of Tampere website
 * City of Tampere website

By plane


Bus: Taxi:
 * Line 1A connects Tampere city centre with the airport (€3), about 30 min via the railway station, Hämeenkatu (east), Koskipuisto and the bus station.
 * An express "Tokee" bus runs from the railway station timed to connect with the Ryanair flights, €6 cash only.
 * There's no longer a direct bus between the airport and Helsinki, take the 1A to the bus station for inter-city coaches.
 * The regular taxis cost €25–40 and take 20 min. A shared airport taxi costs €17 each way.

Helsinki-Vantaa airport has a far greater range of flights. To reach Tampere, don't head into the capital, but take the P-train, bus or taxi to Tikkurila / Dickursby. Buy the train ticket at the airport from the ticket machines or staffed kiosk. Tikkurila to Tampere by train takes between 75 and 110 minutes.

There is an almost hourly ExpressBus coach connection from Helsinki-Vantaa airport to Tampere bus station operated by Paunu, departing from platform 13. The service operates round the clock, although there may be a gap of 1 to 2 hours between services in the small hours of the night. The trip takes 2–2½ hr depending on whether the service calls in towns on the way. In most cases, there is a change of coaches at Keimolanportti service station, but it is well-coordinated and effortless. Tickets cost €22.50 (round trip €40.50) for adults, €11.30 for Finnish students (ISIC not accepted) and children of age 4-16. Children under the age of four travel free.

It is also possible to come using Onnibus, in this case take the I-train from the airport to Keimola and walk to Keimolanportti bus stop to continue to Tampere.

By train
The national railway company, VR, offers extensive train services from different parts of Finland to Tampere with connections south to Helsinki, south-west to Turku, west to Pori, and north to Oulu, Jyväskylä and Lapland. The trip from Helsinki using the fastest Pendolino or InterCity connection takes 1 hour 35 minutes and costs between €8.90 and €21.00, whereas a "local" train will take 2 hour 12 minutes and costs €14.40. On weekdays, there are hourly connections from Helsinki except for a few hours during the night. On weekends, there may be a gap of up to 2 hours between trains.

is at the east end of main street Hämeenkatu. The station has a staffed ticket office plus machines and several cafes; many more in the nearby streets. Most hotels are a short walk from the station.

By bus
For coach timetables, see Matkahuolto. There are connections from all directions. Paunu and Onnibus have direct or arranged transfer services from Helsinki and Turku ferry terminals and from Helsinki-Vantaa airport.

Direct bus services from Saint Petersburg are provided by Ensi-Bus and Transgold.

By car
Tampere can be easily reached by car. The drive from Helsinki takes about 2 hours and the E12 is a four-lane motorway throughout the journey (speed limit 120 km/h with small portions 100 km/h in the summer, or 100 km/h throughout in the winter). The motorway is in excellent condition, but is mainly not well lit. Care must be exercised when driving in the dark, particularly in winter as driving conditions can be harsh due to snow and slippery roads.

There are also road connections to Tampere from Turku, Pori, Rauma, Seinäjoki/Vaasa, Jyväskylä and Lahti. These are mostly two-lane regular roads with speed limits between 80 km/h and 100 km/h.

You can rent a car from car-rental services found at Tampere-Pirkkala airport.

Orientation


The centre of Tampere has a couple of prominent features which make it easy to navigate:
 * The main street of Tampere, Hämeenkatu, effectively divides the city centre into a north and a south side. The 1-km stretch is limited in the east by the main railway station, where many visitors arrive, and in the west by Hämeenpuisto Park with the City Library and the Church of Alexander. The street continues to the east as Itsenäisyydenkatu and to the west as Pirkankatu.
 * Tammerkoski rapids crossing Hämeenkatu just by the central square, split the centre into an east and a west side. The rapids run from Lake Näsijärvi north of Tampere to Lake Pyhäjärvi in the south. The height difference between the two lakes is 18 meters, but the formerly thundering heart of Tampere now flows through the city centre rather peacefully, because of the several hydroelectric dams harnessing its power.
 * The central square, Keskustori, is next to the bridge where Hämeenkatu crosses Tammerkoski rapids. It is the geographical and social focal point of the city.
 * The centre is understood to be limited by Lake Näsijärvi in the north, Lake Pyhäjärvi in the south, the main railway station in the east, and the Hämeenpuisto park in the west.
 * A great majority of the hotels, shops and attractions are either in the centre or within walking distance from it.

You can get a great overview of the city beforehand from the aerial photos shot in 2011 at Virtual Tampere.

Districts


There are only a few neighbourhoods in Tampere that can be considered interesting to most visitors, namely the centre, Pyynikki and Pispala. While the centre is certainly where tourists often hang out in Tampere, it is worth the effort to spend a few hours hiking around the ridge in the Pyynikki and Pispala districts, which lie just 2–3 km west of the centre. Hervanta and Nekala districts are more off the beaten path.


 * The centre is the oldest part of Tampere, and where nearly all the sights and shops are. The busy main street, Hämeenkatu, runs through the charming main square Keskustori and is lined with shops, restaurants and bars. Many of these are set in the foundations of beautiful historic buildings dating back to late 19th century. Tammerkoski rapids flowing through the centre and between historic red-brick factory buildings only add to the charm and also give Tampere its distinctive look. The canal walls and surrounding buildings are tastefully lit when it's dark. Visitors in a hurry will do well even if they do not have time to wander far from the centre.
 * Pyynikki is an upscale residential area adjacent to the centre, and one of Tampere's most remarkable natural areas of beauty. It is an 85-m-high narrow isthmus between the two lakes defining the city, Lake Näsijärvi and Lake Pyhäjärvi. As such, Pyynikki ridge is regarded as the highest gravel ridge in the world. On top of the ridge there is a 1920s observation tower. Pyynikki is used by residents as an exercising area in all seasons, it is the city's most important recreation area. Some of the trails are lit and they function as skiing tracks in the winter. There are two pedestrian and bicycle paths on the ridge, cycling is prohibited elsewhere on it. The ridge and its nature trail are also of great educational importance.
 * Pispala lies next to Pyynikki and is built both sides of the ridge between Lake Näsijärvi and Lake Pyhäjärvi. This formerly working-class neighbourhood has gentrified radically, and is now one of the most exclusive neighbourhoods in Tampere. Strangely enough, there is also a vibrant artivist atmosphere and Pispala has much in kin with other bohemian arts areas such as Užupis, Montmartre, Greenwich Village or Freetown Christiania. Together with Pyynikki, Pispala is widely considered the most beautiful district of Tampere and locals often guide tourists here for the view and the unique urban design features of the area. There is a famous landmark in the area called the Shot tower. Pispala houses the oldest still active public sauna in Finland, Rajaportin sauna, which began its operation in 1906.
 * Hervanta is one of the biggest and best known suburbs of Tampere, about 10 km south of the city centre. It is home for Tampere University of Technology, Hermia Technology Center, many high tech companies and a large number of students. Hervanta has a gritty reputation based on the large amount of 1970s concrete residential tower blocks and the social problems it suffered especially during the 1980s, but nowadays it has been moderately gentrified. Hervanta's modern red-brick centre is an architecturally interesting work by the architect couple Pietilä. If you find yourself in Hervanta when the University is in session, do check out the campus and you have a good chance of running into something wacky.
 * Nekala is famous for its old wooden houses, non-conformist cultural landscape and sadly, quite high rates of violent crime by Finnish standards. Take a peek at the rough but still charming side of the city. It is generally agreed that people of Nekala hold a character unlike anywhere else, even if the problems associated with low-income and crime contribute to the atmosphere in a relatively small part. Safety for the visiting tourist is rarely a concern.

On foot and bike
Since nearly all the shops, restaurants and attractions are in the compact centre, walking is the preferred way to get around Tampere. From the main railway station, the central square is just a couple of hundred metres straight down the main street. While there are not many pedestrian-only streets, Tampere is still considered a very walkable city. However, there are few cycling lanes in the centre, and therefore bicycles are not encouraged. In the Pispala and Pyynikki districts cycling can be difficult, not only due to the lack of bike lanes but also because of the elevation differences and abundant flights of stairs in many alleyways.

Bike sharing
The Nysse city bike network includes a total of about 700 bikes and 95 stations in the city centre, Härmälä, Kauppi, Hakametsä and Hervanta. The bikes are used by an app. Prices are €4/day, €7/month and €25/season (15 April–31 October), including all trips of at most 45 minutes. After the trip, return the bike to any city bike station. For longer trips (max 5 hr) your card is charged according to a separate price list. If you return the bike to the station and acknowledge the trip as completed, the time counter resets; you can start a "new" journey directly with the same or a different bike.

Electric kick scooters
Swedish Voi, German Tier and Norwegian Ryde have electric kick scooters for rent to use in the centre.

By car
There is no need for a car if you are visiting Tampere only. Driving in the city is safe and straightforward, but there are many one-way streets in the centre, and after the inauguration of the tram system, driving on the main street Hämeenkatu is allowed only for going to and from buildings along that street (not for transit). Roads in Tampere are in excellent condition.

Parking: street parking is limited, but there is ample parking in indoor car parks in the centre:



The roads will be icy in the winter and very slippery even in cold spring and autumn nights. Always drive extremely carefully if you do not have experience in driving in such conditions. If you choose to drive outside Tampere, heed moose warning signs, especially at dawn and dusk.

Car rental
Many major car rental companies have offices in Tampere, both at the airport and clustered around the railway station. Autorentti is a local car hire business.

24Go and Aimo Park (see Driving in Finland) offer short-time car hire services. Cars can be picked up and dropped off in select public car parks.

By bus


Information about local buses can be found here. City of Tampere operates a handy trip planner service. You can also use the Nysse mobile app for journey planning. Matkahuolto Routes and Tickets app is able to first plan the route and after it sell the right ticket for it.

An extensive city bus network connects the suburbs to the centre. Due to the unique geography of Tampere centre, most of the bus lines run in the east-west direction and pass through the main street Hämeenkatu. All buses except a few circle lines stop at the central square, Keskustori, or nearby Koskipuisto.

The regional public transit system operates on a system of Zones. Zone 1 covers all of Tampere and Pirkkala, as well as some adjacent parts of other surrounding municipalities. A single ticket for adults (12 years and above) costs €3 for Zone 1 allowing for unlimited transfers on buses operated by any company within the Zone for the next 60 minutes. A children's ticket costs €1.20, but every paying adult can be accompanied for free by one child under the age of 7. Adults with a baby in a pushchair can travel for free. Between 00:00 and 04:40, night buses charge €3 extra (except if you have a valid Tourist Ticket). Tickets can be purchased in cash from the driver on board.

You can also use NFC payment with Visa, Mastercard or Eurocard (Diners Club and American Express do not work) or a mobile device with Apple Pay, Pivo or Google Pay: the payment card or mobile device is displayed to the reader device, which then says "Lähimaksu hyväksytty" ("Proximity payment accepted"). The system calculates the fare combining all trips paid with the card/device: a new single ticket fee (€2.70) will not be charged until the 90 minutes changeover period has ended.

Longer-term guests may consider buying a Tampere Travel Card for cheaper trips and more convenience. Purchase the smartcard at the railway or bus station, Central Square Kiosk or city transportation office at Frenckellinaukio 2 B, on the north-eastern side of the Central Square.

City buses offer a cheap and convenient way to get to know off-the-beaten path-locations. Nearly all the bus lines stop at the central square, Keskustori.

Some interesting or useful lines include:


 * 1 Vatiala–Koskipuisto–Pirkkala (Airport) The line to use to and from the airport. Departs from the airport every 30 mins during the week, once an hour on weekends. Much cheaper than taking a cab (which can easily exceed €30). The bus stops at, e.g., the Railway Station and Bus Station in the centre of Tampere before continuing on towards Kangasala.
 * 2 Pyynikintori square–Tammela–Rauhaniemi A midtown line which takes you to Tammelantori market place, Lapinniemi spa (and Naistenlahti marina) as well as to Rauhaniemi beach and public sauna. Departures every 15–20 min.
 * 5 Keskustori–Vuores–TAYS Get off the bus at Västinginmäki and you can enjoy nature paths around lake Särkijärvi or at Särkinen to reach lake Hervantajärvi recreational area.
 * 15B Höytämö–Pitkäniemi You can go and enjoy nature in Pitkäniemi hospital area.
 * 25 Linnainmaa–Keskustori–Tahmela Useful for getting to enjoy beautiful hilly lakeside nature of Pyynikki and Tahmela.
 * 26 Tesoma–Petsamo Eastbound, takes you to the idyllic Petsamo garden suburb, with deep woods and allotments nearby.
 * 27 Pispalanharju–Ratina–Järvensivu A relatively short (ca 20 min) line from the must-see Pispalanharju ridge and Pispala workers' district through nearly-untouched Pyynikki ridge with the observation tower. It then descends through the upper-class Pyynikki with luxurious villas and palaces (and an art museum: Villa Mac) and arrives at Ratina shopping centre. Eastbound from Ratina, it continues to Järvensivu, a "light edition" of Pispala. Departures every 60 min.
 * 38 Lentävänniemi–TAYS–Hervanta The only local bus route going through the longest road tunnel in Finland.
 * 40 Tampere–Kangasala An affordable way to enjoy beautiful lakeside nature of Kangasala.
 * 44 Kangasala–Valkeakoski A route through idyllic countryside.
 * 55 Keskustori–Lempäälä–Vesilahti–Narva Using this bus route you can visit Ideapark shopping centre in Lempäälä. ABC bus ticket needed. Departures every hour on weekdays and Saturdays. You can also use bus route 60 Tampere bus station–Valkeakoski.
 * 65 Hervanta–Pirkkala–Nokia A good sightseeing route to Tampere, Pirkkala and Nokia suburbs, a one-way ride takes about an hour.
 * 85 Keskustori–Kuru A long route which goes to village of Kuru which is near to national parks of Seitseminen and Helvetinjärvi.
 * 90 Pyynikintori square–various termini in the Aitolahti/Teisko area The bus routes to various parts of the vast rural areas incorporated in the city of Tampere. The ultimate experience available with your Tourist Card. The common route for all the variations is the same as for the city line 28, from Pyynikintori square to Sorila. From there the line splits to the west (Aitoniemi), north (Kämmenniemi–Terälahti–Kaanaa) and east (Viitapohja). Recommended for adventurous backpackers. If you want to see some oldest fossiles on Earth, the 2-billion-year-old "carbon bags" (hiilipussit), take the Aitoniemi-bound bus. If you want to experience the hillbilly scene of Tampere, take the northbound bus and leave at Kämmenniemi (the first proper village after Sorila). There's the somewhat legendary Kessan baari, the local pub. If you proceed further north, there's Terälahti, the last village with any services. There's though only a small grocery store and a library with irregular opening times, so it's more for hikers than shoppers. The final terminus within city limits is in Kaanaa, and there's practically nothing there, except forests and farms. The Viitapohja-line takes you to deep woods. Departs about once an hour.

By tram


After a few years of construction work, tram services on the red trams started in August 2021. In the first phase the network is made up of two lines, line 1 and 3. Line 1 goes from the University Hospital (TAYS) to Tammela and the centre, following the main streets of Itsenäisyydenkatu and Hämeenkatu past the railway station, then before the rapids heading down to Sorinaukio and the bus station in Ratina district. Line 3 goes from the south-eastern suburb of Hervanta (notable for the Technical University campus), meeting up with the former in Tammela and along the main streets as far as Pyynikki (to Pyynikintori). This line will extend further west to Lielahti and Lentävänniemi, construction is in progress and services are scheduled to begin in 2024.

The trams are part of the public transportation system, and its ticketing system. In the trams, if you don't have a valid ticket, travel can be paid for by app, or by showing the card reader a travel card, a contactless debit or credit card or prepaid paper ticket with a QR-code (sold at the public transportation office at Frenckellinaukio 2B).

By train
You're unlikely to use the train within Tampere, but you could ride between Tampere and Lempäälä (to the south) or Nokia (to the west) for about €5.

By taxi

 * Smartphone apps: Valopilkku, 02 Taksi, Uber, Bolt
 * Smartphone apps: Valopilkku, 02 Taksi, Uber, Bolt
 * Smartphone apps: Valopilkku, 02 Taksi, Uber, Bolt
 * Smartphone apps: Valopilkku, 02 Taksi, Uber, Bolt
 * Smartphone apps: Valopilkku, 02 Taksi, Uber, Bolt

Museums and galleries


Most of Tampere's museums concentrate on its industrial history. Kids will get a kick out of the Moomin Valley and the Spy Museum.



Churches




Parks and gardens
Check out the map of parks in Central Tampere (PDF).



Others



 * Särkänniemi - Trombi and Tyrsky.jpg
 * Tampere Exhibition and Sports Centre in early morning.jpg
 * Särkänniemi - Trombi and Tyrsky.jpg
 * Tampere Exhibition and Sports Centre in early morning.jpg
 * Särkänniemi - Trombi and Tyrsky.jpg
 * Tampere Exhibition and Sports Centre in early morning.jpg
 * Särkänniemi - Trombi and Tyrsky.jpg
 * Tampere Exhibition and Sports Centre in early morning.jpg
 * Tampere Exhibition and Sports Centre in early morning.jpg
 * Tampere Exhibition and Sports Centre in early morning.jpg
 * Tampere Exhibition and Sports Centre in early morning.jpg
 * Tampere Exhibition and Sports Centre in early morning.jpg

Do



 * Football: Ilves play soccer in Veikkausliiga, the top tier. Their temporary home ground is Tampere Stadion, but in 2024 they expect to return to Tammelan Stadion 1 km east of town centre, shared with third-tier clubs TPV and Tampere United. The playing season is April-Oct.
 * Football: Ilves play soccer in Veikkausliiga, the top tier. Their temporary home ground is Tampere Stadion, but in 2024 they expect to return to Tammelan Stadion 1 km east of town centre, shared with third-tier clubs TPV and Tampere United. The playing season is April-Oct.
 * Football: Ilves play soccer in Veikkausliiga, the top tier. Their temporary home ground is Tampere Stadion, but in 2024 they expect to return to Tammelan Stadion 1 km east of town centre, shared with third-tier clubs TPV and Tampere United. The playing season is April-Oct.
 * Football: Ilves play soccer in Veikkausliiga, the top tier. Their temporary home ground is Tampere Stadion, but in 2024 they expect to return to Tammelan Stadion 1 km east of town centre, shared with third-tier clubs TPV and Tampere United. The playing season is April-Oct.
 * Football: Ilves play soccer in Veikkausliiga, the top tier. Their temporary home ground is Tampere Stadion, but in 2024 they expect to return to Tammelan Stadion 1 km east of town centre, shared with third-tier clubs TPV and Tampere United. The playing season is April-Oct.
 * Football: Ilves play soccer in Veikkausliiga, the top tier. Their temporary home ground is Tampere Stadion, but in 2024 they expect to return to Tammelan Stadion 1 km east of town centre, shared with third-tier clubs TPV and Tampere United. The playing season is April-Oct.

Festivals and important holidays
Most festivals are held during summer, but events are always organized somewhere throughout the year. Some national holidays, such as May Day, are also celebrated like festivals, and others, such as Midsummer, may offer other special events.

Spring

 * Walpurgis eve fills the streets with party people and sparkling wine. A large market is held in Keskustori with vendors selling cheap carnival paraphernalia.
 * May Day fills the green areas downtown with hungover picnicers. There are also parades in Hämeenkatu (communists, Christians, tech students carrying crazy thingemabobs). A fun Tampere tradition is that on May Day the freshmen of Tampere University of Technology are dipped with cranes in Tammerkoski rapids.
 * Walpurgis eve fills the streets with party people and sparkling wine. A large market is held in Keskustori with vendors selling cheap carnival paraphernalia.
 * May Day fills the green areas downtown with hungover picnicers. There are also parades in Hämeenkatu (communists, Christians, tech students carrying crazy thingemabobs). A fun Tampere tradition is that on May Day the freshmen of Tampere University of Technology are dipped with cranes in Tammerkoski rapids.
 * Walpurgis eve fills the streets with party people and sparkling wine. A large market is held in Keskustori with vendors selling cheap carnival paraphernalia.
 * May Day fills the green areas downtown with hungover picnicers. There are also parades in Hämeenkatu (communists, Christians, tech students carrying crazy thingemabobs). A fun Tampere tradition is that on May Day the freshmen of Tampere University of Technology are dipped with cranes in Tammerkoski rapids.

Summer



 * Midsummer is celebrated by fleeing the city to countryside or summer cottage. Bonfires are also traditionally burnt. If you come during Midsummer, you may mistake Tampere for a ghost town!
 * União da Roseira at Tampere Floral Festival 2016 6.jpg
 * Midsummer is celebrated by fleeing the city to countryside or summer cottage. Bonfires are also traditionally burnt. If you come during Midsummer, you may mistake Tampere for a ghost town!
 * União da Roseira at Tampere Floral Festival 2016 6.jpg
 * União da Roseira at Tampere Floral Festival 2016 6.jpg
 * União da Roseira at Tampere Floral Festival 2016 6.jpg
 * União da Roseira at Tampere Floral Festival 2016 6.jpg

Autumn

 * The Great Nocturnal Happening ("Tapahtumien yö") is a night filled with arts and culture. Museum stay open until late.

Winter

 * Tampere Christmas Market open up in Keskustori in mid-December. It doesn't really live up to its central European counterparts, but is worth visiting nevertheless.
 * Fire crackers, rockets and the smell of gunpowder is in the air during New Year's eve. There's a large fireworks show in Ratina stadium downtown.

Talk
Finnish is the language spoken in Tampere. English is also widely spoken in Tampere, particularly by the younger people. Swedish, while not as universally spoken as in Helsinki, Turku or Vaasa, is still spoken to a considerable degree. Other European languages (mainly German, French, Spanish and Russian) may also be understood by hotel staff and people in tourist profession, and also by many students at the academic level.

The local regional dialect can be recognized by the strong trilling "r"s, as in the greeting Moro!, and the use of mää and sää instead of mä and sä for me and you. There is a stereotypical belief that the word nääs ("you see") is widely used in the area, but it's quite rare in reality.

Learn
The Tampere University and Tampere University of Applied Sciences have some 25,000 and 10,000 students respectively.

City of Tampere runs the Adult Education Centre that offers rather cheap courses for everyone.

Buy


Although Tampere is lacking some of the international high end boutiques and brand stores, there are still lots of shopping opportunities from small specialised shops to malls. As Finland is generally quite an expensive country, one would do best to concentrate on finding high quality Finnish products, such as textiles, clothes, glassware, design and home decor. Notably, smaller boutiques are usually closed on Sundays.

Grocery stores in Tampere (and in Finland) are usually quite easy to find. There are grocery departments in the bottom floors of all three department stores in the centre (see below). In addition, look for e.g. K-market, S-market, Sale, and Lidl for small to mid-size grocery stores. Supermarkets (Prisma, Citymarket) are large stores outside the city centre, where you can buy a range of different products (e.g. food, clothes, electronics). Alcohol, however, can only be sold 09:00–21:00. Generally, wine or strong liquor are only sold in Alko stores, which are closed on Sundays. They are found next to larger grocery stores and by the three department stores.

Malls




Marketplaces




Eat


Tampere's most famous dish is black sausage (mustamakkara), made from pig blood, minced pork and rye. Despite the intimidating pitch-black appearance, the taste is rather mild and fans of English black pudding will feel right at home.

The cheapest and most authentic way to try this is to buy from one of the stalls at the Tammelantori or Laukontori markets, with a dab of lingonberry jam (puolukkahillo) and a pint of milk (maito) on the side, but old Tampere hands will insist that the one true condiment is a mix of lingonberry jam and mustard. Order by price, not weight: "two euros" (kaksi euroa) will get you a nice hefty chunk. You can also try a doughnut (donitsi) with a cup of coffee. Both markets close by 14:00 and are closed Sundays too.

Lunch and brunch
Most restaurants have offers at €7–10 at lunch time, mostly at least weekdays 11:00–14:00. There are also lunch restaurants or cafés serving meals only at lunch time, including student cafés and lunch restaurants for big workplaces, often having a very affordable price also for outsiders. The department store Sokos has family friendly cafés that can come handy. When you are in the city and want to grab something to eat you can check the Tampere lunch options page and prices to decide where to go.



Budget
For inexpensive fast food, you can always visit McDonald's and Subway, or local fast food chains Hesburger (McDonald's with added mayo) and Kotipizza pizzeria (they're actually rather good, although dry – they win international pizza contests on regular basis); they have restaurants everywhere. Ethnic kebab-pizzerias can be found throughout the city, and they are usually even cheaper than the fast food restaurants. Some restaurants stay open as late as 05:00 in weekends.

Many of the more pricey restaurants also have lunch offers around €10 during weekdays, most notably the lunch at Ravintola C is a steal at €10–12. Lunch can also be bought in several places in Kauppahalli (the market hall) and in university restaurants on the campus (in the centre).



Mid-range



 * Smokey ham sandwich at restaurant Speakeasy in Tampere.jpg
 * Smokey ham sandwich at restaurant Speakeasy in Tampere.jpg
 * Smokey ham sandwich at restaurant Speakeasy in Tampere.jpg
 * Smokey ham sandwich at restaurant Speakeasy in Tampere.jpg
 * Smokey ham sandwich at restaurant Speakeasy in Tampere.jpg
 * Smokey ham sandwich at restaurant Speakeasy in Tampere.jpg
 * Smokey ham sandwich at restaurant Speakeasy in Tampere.jpg
 * Smokey ham sandwich at restaurant Speakeasy in Tampere.jpg
 * Smokey ham sandwich at restaurant Speakeasy in Tampere.jpg
 * Smokey ham sandwich at restaurant Speakeasy in Tampere.jpg
 * Smokey ham sandwich at restaurant Speakeasy in Tampere.jpg
 * Smokey ham sandwich at restaurant Speakeasy in Tampere.jpg
 * Smokey ham sandwich at restaurant Speakeasy in Tampere.jpg
 * Smokey ham sandwich at restaurant Speakeasy in Tampere.jpg
 * Smokey ham sandwich at restaurant Speakeasy in Tampere.jpg
 * Smokey ham sandwich at restaurant Speakeasy in Tampere.jpg
 * Smokey ham sandwich at restaurant Speakeasy in Tampere.jpg
 * Smokey ham sandwich at restaurant Speakeasy in Tampere.jpg
 * Smokey ham sandwich at restaurant Speakeasy in Tampere.jpg
 * Smokey ham sandwich at restaurant Speakeasy in Tampere.jpg
 * Smokey ham sandwich at restaurant Speakeasy in Tampere.jpg
 * Smokey ham sandwich at restaurant Speakeasy in Tampere.jpg
 * Smokey ham sandwich at restaurant Speakeasy in Tampere.jpg
 * Smokey ham sandwich at restaurant Speakeasy in Tampere.jpg
 * Smokey ham sandwich at restaurant Speakeasy in Tampere.jpg

Pubs and nightclubs
There's no shortage of nightlife in Tampere, and better yet, it's all concentrated to a very manageable area downtown. Virtually all the noteworthy establishment are either on the main street Hämeenkatu or on the adjacent streets. Therefore, pub crawling is ridiculously easy and there is virtually no fear of getting lost even on the morning hours.

As anywhere in Finland, most pubs close at 02:00, but nightclubs stay open until 04:00, at least on weekends. People enter the clubs quite early by central European standards, and the queues are the longest around 23:00. Most clubs have an entrance fee of €3-10 plus an added mandatory service fee of €2-3. The legal drinking age in Finland is 18, but some places have even more strict limit at 20 or 22. Dresscode is rather informal even in the highest end clubs (one might even say that there are no high end clubs in Tampere), but locals still often dress to impress.

Bartenders in night clubs are usually not very knowledgeable and drinks are almost always poorly made, if available at all. On the other hand, there might be a rather good selection of shooters and beers in some bars. While the standard big brewery Finnish lagers are rather bland, new and exciting microbrews are popping up every year. Be sure to give them a try somewhere along the way. Nearly every decent pub has some of them nowadays, but you won't find them in clubs. Also, a kind of Finnish drink speciality are ciders and long drinks which are flavoured with (sometimes exotic) artificial essences. The ciders do not bear a strong resemblance to their Continental European counterparts.

Especially in Tampere, there are quite a few pubs - or gastropubs - with varying but decent and affordable dinner (and lunch) menus that are definitely worth a try for any visitor. The Belgian style menu in Gastropub Tuulensuu is a fine example and worth trying.

Budget




Splurge




Connect
Internet cafes are not very common in Finland, and Tampere makes no exception. If you have your own laptop or a smartphone, most cafes offer free wireless internet (or WLAN as it is mostly called in Finland). In the city centre and some other locations around town, there is Roam.fi. The tourist office and main library also offer free Internet access.



Stay safe
As Finland in general, Tampere is a safe city for its size.

Drug-related crime is an increasing problem in the city. The city has also faced problems with juvenile crime, but Tampere has done a lot to support young people and fight crime. Violent crime is less reported in Tampere than in Helsinki for example.

On weekend nights, intoxicated people wandering around city streets may be an annoyance, especially during summer festivals such as Tammerfest, Tapahtumien yö, Sauna Open Air, and on New Year's Eve and April 30, the eve of May Day, which is the most important beer-drinking festival in the Finnish calendar. Warm summer nights always gather a drunken crowd downtown. Intoxicated Finns tend to be rather noisy (in stark contrast to sober Finns) and admittedly sometimes picking a fight with just about anyone. Just use your common sense, and steer clear of overly loud groups of young men. As Tampere is not a big tourist destination, pickpockets and common hustlers are rare.

There are rare exceptional health hazards, although the extreme cold in the winter should be borne in mind by visitors, especially those planning outdoor activities. Whilst in summer the temperature rises occasionally to 30°C, in the winter months it can drop to around -30°C for a week or two. Dressing warmly is a must. If you forget to bring winter clothing, you can always visit local shops for appropriate apparel. Also, watch out for slippery sidewalks in winter. Thousands of people slip and injure themselves every winter! Winter-time driving needs also special caution as the roads may be very slippery with ice and/or snow.



In emergencies,. This includes social services, although for non-urgent matters you could contact the social services directly.

Go next

 * Helsinki, the coastal capital of Finland is well worth visiting for anyone, and it is only 170 km (90 minutes by train) to the south.
 * Turku, another coastal city, is the historic capital of Finland 165 km to the south-west from Tampere. It makes an interesting day trip by train, bus or car.
 * Jyväskylä, an inland city also surrounded by lakes in the middle of Finland, about 150 km to the northeast.
 * Hämeenlinna is a mid-size town 80 km south most famous for its small medieval castle.
 * Seitseminen National Park (70 km north of Tampere) offers a good view to the Finnish nature. Forests, mires and eskers alternate in the landscape. There are guided hikes in summer, marked trails (60 km, à 1.5–17 km; some accessible by wheelchair and pram), and maintained skiing tracks in winter (45 km).
 * Helvetinjärvi National Park (85 km north of Tampere) encases wild forests and deep gorges that were formed by faults in the bedrock running through the area. Special features of the area include deep rifts, steep-sided lakes and small forest ponds. 40 km of marked trails.
 * Sappee (50 km east of Tampere), and Himos (95 km north of Tampere) are small downhill skiing stations in the region.
 * Nokia, a small city 15 km west of Tampere.
 * Akaa, a charming and quiet municipality 35 km south of Tampere.
 * Tampere lies on the Näsijärvi–Ruovesi waterway to the north (upstream), to Sulkava 130 km away, perhaps for a week of boating; on the Längelmävesi–Vanajavesi waterway to the south and east; and Kulovesi–Rautavesi to the west, downstream. The latter leads to Kokemäenjoki, but hydroelectric power dams interrupt the river.