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City in Western Finland
Photo: Tiia Monto, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Tampere (Swedish: Tammerfors) is the third largest city in Finland with around 260,000 inhabitants, and around 410,000 in the metropolitan area (as of 2024; 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.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
Amurin työläismuseokortteli
Amuri is a block of 19th-century wooden houses turned into an open-air museum that vividly displays how the working-class used to live between 1880s and 1970s. The houses form an almost closed inner court, and there is a nice old-fashioned cafe with seatings both indoors and in the courtyard. Highly recommended for history buffs, but interesting to others as well.
Käsi- ja taideteollisuuskeskus Verkaranta
Monthly exhibitions on arts and crafts.
Työväenmuseo Werstas
The exhibitions at Werstas offer an overview of the history of the industrial era, worker population and civil society from different perspectives. At Werstas, you can visit the Textile Industry Museum, the Steam Engine Museum and the Labour Museum's changing and permanent exhibitions. The huge steam engine that used to give power to the entire factory complex is the definite high point of Werstas.
Hiekan taidemuseo
Home museum of art collector Kustaa Hiekka.
Lenin Museum
Formerly the Lenin Museum, this is a small and quirky museum that has expanded its scope from covering one of the founding fathers of Soviet communism, who met Stalin for the first time in this building still owned by the Workers Association of Tampere, to the broader story of Finland-Russia relations. Contains a lot of texts, maps and pictures as well as some artefacts. The museum shop is also worth visiting.
Maitolaiturimuseo
The smallest museum of Finland.
Muumimuseo
The only museum in the world devoted to the Tove Jansson characters, with original sketches and drawings.
Poliisimuseo
A museum presenting the history of the Finnish police, established in 2004.
Media museum focusing on the history and development of mass communications. There is also an exhibition on the history of the Internet, and a bunch of cool retro computer and video games in the GameCabinet.
Sara Hildénin taidemuseo
Modern art, both Finnish and foreign.
Vakoilumuseo
Claims to be the first spy museum in the world, exhibiting everything from world-famous spies to their equipment such as spy cameras and secret weapons – many of which you can try. You can also attempt to fool the classic lie detector.
Tampereen taidemuseo
Changing exhibitions of Finnish and foreign art.
Tampereen kivimuseo
Not quite as boring as you'd think, the museum has plenty of gemstones cut and raw, including a 600-kg chunk of Brazilian amethyst, meteorites and even a couple of dinosaur eggs.
Museum centre with ten exhibitions varying from prehistory to technology and art. Exhibitions include the Finnish Hockey Hall of Fame, Doll Museum, Shoe Museum and Tampere Museum of Natural History.
Kalevan kirkko
Solid concrete modernist church designed by famous architect Reima Pietilä in 1966. It is likely the most important piece of architecture in Tampere. Locals call it "The Silo of Souls" (Sielujen siilo) and from the outside it's not hard to see why, but the stark interior is quite awe-inspiring: very high and big room without pillars, minimalist interior made of bright wood. Some Sundays, community members guide onto the roof, which offers a good view over Tampere, and let one have a nice view from the top into the church room.
Messukylän vanha kirkko
The oldest building in Tampere, built in medieval times with parts dating back to the 1400s. Unheated and thus open only from May to August.
Tampereen tuomiokirkko
Imposing church in the National Romantic style, designed by architect Lars Sonck and completed in 1907. The interior has a series of famously macabre frescos by Hugo Simberg, including The Wounded Angel (once voted Finland's "national painting") and the Garden of Death.
Aleksanterin kirkko
This is a neo-gothic red brick building. Its interior is simple coloured wooden craftswork. It is surrounded by a small park containing a few old grave stones.
Vanha Kirkko
The oldest church in Tampere centre is this yellow wooded church built in 1824. Four years later, a bell tower designed by Carl Ludwig Engel was added.
Tampereen ortodoksikirkko
Russian-style onion-domed church dating to 1896, serving Tampere's tiny Orthodox minority.
Finlaysonin kirkko
The church in the Finlayson area was built in 1879 for the factory workers. It is a small church in Gothic revival style with a red brick façade. This is the favourite wedding church in Tampere.
Aitolahden vanha kirkko
The stone church from 1928, designed by Birger Federley.
Sorsapuisto
Large park around a pond by Tampere Hall, near the city centre. Good choice for a summer picnic. In the summer there are also different species of birds in cages by the pond.
A mansion with an arboretum (a collection of trees and plants), a rose garden and a park by Lake Pyhäjärvi.
Park by the Tammerkoski rapids in the centre of the city. Popular place to have a picnic or a beer on a sunny summer day.
Eteläpuisto
A park with a fountain. From the park you can walk through the woods to Pyynikin uimaranta, the most popular beach in Tampere.
Viinikanpuisto
A peaceful park in a picturesque residential area. Lime trees are beautiful in autumn.
Näsinpuisto
Nice park by Lake Näsijärvi, created in the early 20th century. Starts from the north end of Hämeenpuisto. On the highest point of the park lies a memorial for the victims of the shipwreck of S/S Kuru, which sunk off Tampere in 1929, killing 138 people. By the memorial you'll have a great view over the lake Näsijärvi and Särkänniemi Amusement Park.
Aunessilta
The arch bridge from 1899. It crosses the longest inland fjord in the Nordics, also known as Aunessillansalmi.
Collection of historic factory buildings gradually extended from a textile mill founded by a Scotsman named James Finlayson in 1820. The oldest building, six-storey high-rise TR1, dates back to 1837. The complex also includes the factory church, now the most popular wedding church in Tampere, stable yards with arts and crafts shops and pony rides, and the owner's mansion with park and a restaurant. The factory buildings have been transformed into shops, restaurants, museums, movie theatres, and office spaces. Well worth visiting for anyone.
Haiharan kartano
A peaceful place to visit on a warm summer day. There is a cafe, art exhibitions and a garden. The mansion's history dates back to 16th century. The last stop of bus line 15 is near Haihara.
Kaupin tähtitorni
The observatory owned by Tampereen Ursa ry, the association of astronomy enthusiasts.
A historically significant manor house dating back to 1872.
Mannerheimin patsas
The statue from 1956, sculptured by Evert Porila. It represents General Mannerheim (1867–1951) during the conquest of Tampere in 1918 during the Finnish Civil War.
Built in 1901, the historic market hall is still a beautiful social focal point of the city. Lots of fresh goods, cafes, cheap local eateries and infinite people watching opportunities.
Haulitorni
Old and well-preserved shot tower. Shot towers are nowadays quite rare throughout the world, especially ones that are in good shape. No admittance though.
Metso
In 1978 a competition was arranged for the design of a new main library. The jury unanimously chose the design by Raili and Reima Pietilä. The architects said they had been influenced by various elements, such as Celtic ornaments, sheep horns and glacial spin formations. The basic idea was a space coiling spirally like the shell of a snail. The form of a bird appeared in the design process. Increasingly, the building began to resemble a large game bird, the capercaillie, known in Finnish as metso – now the building's nickname. Seen from above, the building looks like a bird carrying a shield. Houses the Tampere Mineral Museum.
Meetings, concerts, functions, exhibitions.
Founded in 1844, Tampella is the other major remaining historic factory complex in Tampere. Tampella factories started as iron works, but later were converted into a cotton mill and a textile factory, and finally into a machine shop and a groundwood plant. Operated until 1991, Tampella factories manufactured, among others, water turbines, ships, paper machines, steam engines, trains, artillery and airplane engines. Many of the beautiful original buildings remain and have been converted into theatres, museums and office spaces.
The Pyynikki observation tower is on top of the world's largest esker over 150 meters (500 feet) above sea level, offering a wonderful view spanning over two lakes and the entire city of Tampere. The beautiful Pyynikki esker surrounding the tower was selected as nationally valuable landscape attraction in 1993. The current over 80-year-old tower is 26 meters (85 feet) tall, and at top there are scenic levels indoors and out in the open air. The top can be accessed by both elevator and stairs, and the entrance fee is €1 for children from 4 to 15 years and €2 for anyone older. Even if the height of the tower wouldn't feel spectacular, considering its location at the top of the Pyynikki esker in the middle of Tampere it is obvious that the view from the top is clear and magnificent in every direction!
The Tampere Exhibition and Sports Centre (TESC), known locally as "Pirkkahalli", hosts various exhibitions and sports events. Opening hours and entry price depend on the event.
Have you heard about Tampere's own "Stonehenge", made of wood? Yes, that really exists.
You can fish at the Tammerkoski rapids that run right through the city centre. You must purchase a fishing permit from a nearby R-kioski (Hatanpään valtatie 2), tourist office (Verkatehtaankatu 2) or a vending machine at the wall of restaurant Rosso. You may catch at most three salmonoids a day, whitefish not included.
A comfy way to get acquainted with the city's attractions and neighbourhoods in less than two hours. Departs from the railway station at 11 during summer months. Tickets are sold in at the tourist office in the railway station.
An arcade hall including pinball machines and video games.
Iso-Vilusen skeittipuisto
A high-quality skatepark with BMX and trial biking courses.
The second largest amusement park of Finland, after Linnanmäki in Helsinki. Rides are open between May and September, and other attractions year round. The park includes a modern art museum ("Sara Hildén Art Museum"), a children's zoo with mainly domestic animals, a planetarium, an aquarium and the landmark 168-metre Näsinneula observation tower, topped by a revolving viewing deck and a fine dining restaurant serving high quality Finnish cuisine. On a clear day, the views of the surrounding forests, lakes, ridges and the city are awesome.
The best of the classics and new works. One of the largest symphonic orchestras in the Nordic countries plays in Tampere Hall.
On a sunny summer day, take a 20-minute boat trip here from Laukontori (few blocks south of the central square). There are beaches for swimming, playgrounds for kids, places for barbecuing (buy food beforehand, there is no store on the island) and a restaurant with a dance pavilion on the island. However, most of the island is a nature reserve, and there is a short nature trail around the island.
Artsy movies are shown in their original language.
1653 seats divided into ten halls. The largest room has 495 seats a 136 m2 screen. All halls have been made to meet the latest quality standards. Plevna shows mainstream movies in their original language with subtitles.
Cruises to Hämeenlinna (a leisurely 8 hours), to Nokia (a neighbouring town, not the company) or just on the lake are popular in the summer. There are many regular boat routes on both lakes (Näsijärvi and Pyhäjärvi).
Restaurant ship Tampere makes lunch and dinner cruises on lake Pyhäjärvi. Departs from Laukontori harbor.
There are two small skiing hills in Tampere. One is in Hervanta (buses 13, 23 and 30 eastbound). The longest slope in Hervanta is 350 meters with altitude change of 59 meters. The other hill is in Mustavuori (buses 70 and 71 westbound), near Kalkku. The longest slope in Mustavuori is 350 meters with altitude change of 69 meters. Both hills offer courses and equipment rental.
In Finland, everyone has a right of public access to the wilderness provided that you don't cause damage. In Tampere, good hiking/jogging/cycling/skiing grounds with marked paths can be found in the Pyynikki and Kauppi forests. In Hervanta, there's a popular 4-km loop trail around lake Suolijärvi (take bus number 30 to get there).
A popular pastime during sunny midwinter day is to go for an ice walk. In March people walk the kilometre to the small island of Siilinkari on lake Näsijärvi and have a picnic. This is only safe when the lake is well-frozen. Only go if you see other people doing so; ice-fishers don't count, they go as soon as the ice settles.
In the winter, when the lake Näsijärvi has thick-enough ice, a company called Hiking Travel HIT maintains a free tour skating track on the lake. The main track goes along the shore from Kaupinoja to Onkiniemi. The Siilinkari Cafe (in the middle of the lake) serves skaters and walkers alike. There is also an Eastbound track from Kaupinoja and a Northbound route from Siilinkari. Hiking Travel HIT rents all the needed equipment from their equipment rental located in Kaupinoja. Follow their website/Facebook for the up-to-date info on the track and its maintenance.
Tampere has two ice hockey teams, Tappara and Ilves, which are among the most successful in Finland and, naturally, enemies to one another. Hockey culture is big in Tampere, and the city can be even considered the hockey capital of Finland. This culture and sportsmanlike rivalry can be seen, heard and felt when visiting Tampere during the hockey season. Both teams share the newly-built, luxurious Nokia Arena as their home ice. It is a modern, 15,000-seat multipurpose arena (12 700 for hockey), serving as a stage for both local and international ice hockey and concerts. The arena also includes a first-class hotel. The regular season runs from September to mid-March, with playoffs in April. Games and schedules found from the team's websites as well as the Liiga website. Be on the lookout for the matchup between the two, as the teams fight for "The dominion over Tampere" ("Tampereen herruus"). Since it is a local derby, the atmosphere is unmatched, and the new premises offer great experiences to both the regular viewer and the unexperienced.
Motor sports centre and racing track.
A sports centre that offers physical entertainment for both adults and children. Includes e.g. trampoline park, gym, bicycle rental and other group exercise.
An indoor skatepark (skateboarding) in one of the buildings of a former pulp mill.
The high-quality golf course has a beautiful environment and lovely atmosphere. The season starts around April and ends in late October.
Vihiojan frisbeepuisto
The oldest discgolf course of the Pirkanmaa region since 1994.
Tampereen kylpylä
A spa hotel, about 1 km from the city centre, built into an old cotton mill situated next to a marina. The large spa department offers swimming pools, jacuzzis, a children's pool, saunas, a steam room, and spa treatments also for day visitors.
During winter, you can combine sauna with ice swimming: drill a hole into the ice cover of a lake and hop in! The water under the ice stays at constant temperature of +4°C, and is very refreshing. You can try ice swimming at Kaupinojan sauna or Rauhaniemen kansankylpylä on Rauhaniementie near hotel Holiday Club Tampere.
A public sauna.
The oldest still-functioning public sauna in Finland. In old days, people who didn't have a sauna of their own went to a public sauna to clean up. In addition to seeing a piece of history, you can experience one of the best quality saunas in the world: the stove is 3 m³ in size and contains over a ton of stones that are heated literally glowing red with burning logs. After simmering for a couple of hours, the sauna is ready for the customers, and it doesn't get any bigger or better than this!
Five days and nights of celebrating film art in Tampere! The thematic special programmes include interesting documentaries, animations, experimental films and short fictions alike.
Tampere Biennale introduces the most important phenomena in Finnish contemporary music – today’s leading composers and the latest compositions.
Tampere Kuplii Comics Festival is a five-day comics festival merryment – bringing together comics makers and enthusiasts from around Finland. The festival hosts exhibitions, sales tables, talk shows, Cosplay-competition and comics signings.
Mukamas Theatre has organised the international puppet theatre festival in 1999, and since 2000, every two years. It is the biggest international puppetry festival in Finland and it has established its position as an important developer of Finnish puppet theatre.
Enjoy spectacular concerts by the world’s greatest guitarists at Tampere Guitar Festival. During the annual festival week there are various concerts, international master classes, and a guitar camp.
International folk dancing festival Pispala Schottische gathers together folk dancers and players from all over the world. International and domestic folklore-groups perform in various parts of the city.
The Triennal offers a view to contemporary arts in the Tampere region every three years. The cardinal exhibition venues are TR1, Mältinranta Art Center, the Finnish Labour Museum Werstas and Gallery Saskia but the exhibition also stretches to the Lenin museum, Hiekka Art Museum, Housing Fair of Vuores, Mediatunnel and various city landscape.
A Tampere city festival for everyone. The Festival tent of Central Square and clubs all over the city central present more than 30 events, half of which are free if charge!
The biggest city festival in Finland. 80 000 people gather annually to see bands and musical shows in more than 20 different stages in downtown area.
Tampere Flamenco festival is the largest and oldest flamenco festival of the Nordic countries.
The Floral Festival decorates the downtown with a huge amount of flowers. There are also a lot of free events and performances. A "Tampere floral girl of the year" is chosen at the festival. The event culminates in a samba parade by the local samba school União da Roseira. Almost all of the festival events are entirely free of charge. There might be some minor charges to some events, such as to go on a Ferris wheel.
Tampere Theatre Festival is one of the top festivals in Europe, thanks to the fresh and influential programme it offers. The repertoire consists of the Main Programme, Programme Tent, Club Festival Encorebaana, OFF Tampere, The Great Nocturnal Happening and numerous seminars and workshops.
Big urban music festival that brings a wide variety of rappers and hip hop artists.
Circus Ruska Festival is the oldest contemporary circus festival in Finland. Five circus tents will be anchored in Southern Park. The festival brings together new contemporary circus acts, where the circus techniques go hand in hand with new expression methods.
June. Heavy metal festival in Southern Park. Started in 2014 following the bankruptcy of Sauna Open Air festival.
International cross-cultural tango festival designed to recall the roots and starting points of tango art, as well as to create space for the new expressions of other types of urban folk music.
Monsters of Pop is a three-day festival concentrating on indie-music.
The aim of Lost In Music is to showcase a cornucopia of new and rising pop-, rock-, indie and metal bands, hiphop and world music – not forgetting the more experimental side.
Every year the international programme of Tampere Jazz Happening gathers together top names of international jazz and pioneers of the future.
The goal of the festival is to offer a high-quality international theatre festival open to all. The performances at the event are mainly by young people aged 13–20.
A samba show to celebrate November, held by the local samba school União da Roseira. The event also includes the selection of Roseira's new passista dancer for next year's carnivals, voted by the audience. Held on a Saturday in late November.
Community cafe of Tesoma, serving soups and salads at lunchtime.
Only lunch. Lunch includes salad, bread, food, dessert and coffee or tea.
Ordinary Finnish home cooked food for lunch.
Affordable lunch including salad and dessert.
Simple home cooking for lunch only. Prices include salad buffet, bread, drinks, coffee and dessert.
Hospital staff restaurant, also open to outsiders.
Hatanpää Hospital staff canteen.
Light lunch. You can also read the daily newspaper in the café.
Lunch includes salad, main course, bread, drink and coffee. Lunch also includes a vegetarian option.
There is more to this small roadside grill than meets the eye. Cheap but edible food (and beer) is served all day every day, but the grill's real charm lies in its rugged atmosphere. The grill is visited by both locals and people driving the E12 highway so it's a great place to meet people from all walks of life.
Excellent vegetarian lunch restaurant just outside the centre. While not an actual Indian restaurant, the food is seasoned in Indian style.
Fine dining restaurant "Hella ja Huone" hosts a tiny fast food place that serves coffee, salads and tasty subway sandwiches. Early hours and the location in the train station make it a great place to grab a breakfast sub to a train when heading out of town.
A lunch restaurant.
A grill kiosk.
A local favourite serving meatballs (hence the name "Meatball bar") and sausages by the pound! Be sure to have their famous creamy pepper sauce on the side. It's a treat.
This restaurant is concentrated mainly on hot chicken wings. Although the restaurant itself is in central Tampere, it delivers its famous hot sauces to other restaurants in Finland too. The dishes range from 6 wings all the way to 100 wings. There are seven different kinds of sauce available: mild, medium, hot, X-hot, XX-hot, kamikaze and Vampyree Wing (medium hotness, smoked garlic). The "hot" kind is usually enough to satisfy the need for hot sauce, the sauces above that are scorching hot and for die-hard enthusiasts only.
Get the freshest possible black sausage straight from the Tapola factory's oven at their "black sausage bar".
Italian restaurant.
The name means "two rooms and a kitchen", and the establishment indeed consists of two rooms, one of which functions as an Italian-style restaurant, the other as a pub.
Les Quatre Saisons
Authentic French food. This delightful lunch bar-restaurant is one of the best kept culinary secrets in Tampere. Affordable and delicious, topped with a unique market hall atmosphere. Easily the best lunch offers in town.
Greek neighbourhood restaurant. Very cosy atmosphere and friendly staff.
Spanish restaurant catering to carnivores and vegetarians. Serves also more exotic courses such as Rocky Mountain oysters, horse, gnu, and kangaroo.
A chicken-food restaurant.
American-themed burger joint. Serving sizes range from mid-size meals to towering behemoth burgers.
The oldest neighbourhood restaurant in Tampere. Known for its large breaded pork escalope, or Coussican vinkkari.
A restaurant specializing in pasta and steaks, also serving kebabs, pizza and burgers.
Beautifully located restaurant at the mansion of Finlayson factory complex.
Offers Nordic beers and a few Nordic style dishes. Friendly staff, may be a bit crowded on Friday and Saturday nights.
Moody gastropub serving super tasty Belgian food. Astounding selection of mostly Belgian beers, French ciders, wines and cigars. Friendly and competent staff.
A fine dining restaurant in its most basic form, with an excellent setting for a company lunch or private functions. Traditional Finnish pork sauce, the restaurant's specialty, is served on Wednesdays.
Hot chicken wings and other deep-fried dishes. Local favourite, prepare for a queue.
A kebab pizzeria.
A bistro restaurant in the countryside.
Japanese restaurant and tea house founded and owned by Marjo Seki, who lived 20 years in Japan as a teacher and interpreter. Maruseki had the first tea house in Finland, and you can experience real Japanese dinner kneeling in front of a kotatsu-table wearing a kimono.
An excellent Indian curry restaurant. A popular buffet lunch on weekdays.
Mexican restaurant. Tasty dishes and stylish Mexican decor, but a bit pricey.
The restaurant with full of relaxed atmosphere, and on the pub side you can experience exciting sports moments and enjoy the day in the company of friends.
A restaurant with a bright and modern space. Especially specialized in organizing various corporate and private events, from meetings to evening parties.
The oldest and most loved pizzeria in Tampere. Pizzas vary from ordinary to exotic (for example, ostrich meat, or Finlandia vodka with fried game)
A Georgian restaurant serving authentic food.
Saunaravintola Kuuma
A New-Nordic-styled restaurant, including saunas.
A restaurant themed after the early 20th-century American prohibition era. The menu is very meat-oriented, but there are fish and vegetarian options available. The entire menu concentrates mostly on thick, greasy diner food. The restaurant is famous for its chicken wings, and the biggest option available consists of no less than 200 wings. There are four different choices of sauce – mild, medium, hot, or extra hot. Try the mobster sandwiches – there's a chicken, bacon and fish option available, each with vegetables and spices, served with French fries. This is usually the last restaurant open in the Finlayson factory building.
The first Thai restaurant in Tampere. Stylish Thai decor, extremely friendly staff and good food.
Viking-themed restaurant completed with a dragon-ship salad bar, stuffed animals, costumed waiters and long wooden tables – not subtle but plenty of fun. Dishes all bear Norse-sounding names and feature big steaks and game choices. Signature dishes are shared platters served on a shield, or enormous vegetable or meat kebabs in a sword.
Real artisan pizza in the centre of Tampere. Known for the delicious sour dough base and quality ingredients. Also good selection of craft beers and wines.
Authentic hand-made sushi and robata-grilled food. Very broad variety of products in a cosy ambience.
Tivoli is themed after Danish culture and serves Danish-style filled sandwiches. Licensed to serve beer, but surprisingly no Danish beers on tap.
Started in fall 2010 but became very popular almost right away. Received the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs badge after only six months. Fixed-price menu updated frequently - during the first seven months of operation, the menu was updated a hundred times. Reservation is usually needed on Friday and Saturday. Excellent price/quality ratio.
A modern Finnish restaurant in a beautiful historic building. They also serve a vegetarian menu and a small supper at €18.
Fancy, experimenting and surprising French-Scandinavian fusion cuisine next to Duck Park.
Local ingredients turn into fancy but still comfortably laid-back dishes at the bottom level of Hotel Ilves.
Revolving restaurant atop the sightseeing tower. It's expensive, but they specialize in Finnish ingredients and the results are above average.
Restaurant C
An excellent restaurant that values great ingredients, uses a lot of local, seasonal ingredients, and is well known for its wine list. Awarded with the Finnish Restaurant of the Year award in 2011.
A steak restaurant opened up by American-Finnish Stefan Richter, an American Top Chef finalist who owns a couple of restaurants in Santa Monica. Serves also Wagyu beef steaks.
In the basement of a beautiful 19th-century building is this very attractive red-brick restaurant. Menu consists of classic French with a Scandinavian twist.
Cosy atmosphere in a historic wooden building which is part of Amuri museum of workers' housing. They serve Tampere specialities and homemade bread to go with the brew.
Tasty doughnuts baked on location. Arnolds is a chain restaurant with locations in all Finnish cities, so it might not be an unforgettable experience, but the doughnuts are good....
Family-owned Tampere institution has 90 years of experience in the fine art of confectionery. The view to a parking lot is not something to remember, but instead you can rest your eyes on the decor from the good old times. Try some of the traditional Finnish sweet pastries or cakes.
Quirky cafe bar with interesting decor including antique sofas and weird paintings all over the walls. Europa is hugely popular hangout among artsy students and foreigners both early and later in the evening.
A café that offers savory and sweet treats with coffee, as well as a delicious lunch service. It is also possible to rent the café premises for private events.
A cute, medium-sized café with a good selection of tea. The name translates into "Cafe Poem" and probably has something to do with the heaps of (mostly) poetry books laying around which form an essential part of the decoration. The café also features a small, changing art exhibition.
A central location within Kauppahalli market hall provides ample opportunities for people watching in moody surroundings.
A café near the Kalevankangas Cemetery.
Serves sugar-coated donuts praised best in town by locals. The observation tower is only 26 meters high, but since it is on top of Pyynikki ridge, it offers a surprisingly good view of Tampere and the surrounding lakes. It costs two euros to climb up the observation tower.
Finland's first board game café. Coffee, delicacies and board games.
Teahouse.
Teahouse.
A café near the shores of Lake Näsijärvi.
Cosy cafe in the smallest stone building in Tampere. The name means "Waffle Cafe" and that's what you'll get, in both sweet and savoury versions.
Absolutely the cheapest cafe in Tampere. Specialty coffees (Latte, Cappuccino etc.) start from 1.9€. More of a take-out themed spot connected to a location of the dollar store chain Normal. Only a couple of seats and no latte art for your travel photos, but the perfect spot to satisfy your urgent need of caffeine, costing next to nothing.
Erotic Bar Big Tits
An erotic restaurant bar operating since 1998, whose repertoire includes striptease and private shows.
English pub with good selection of bitters, gins and bar food. They also show sports events on screens.
Pub full of fun and beer with the Oktoberfest and After Ski spirit.
Spanish tapas bar in Tampere. Also a noteworthy selection of Spanish beers and ciders.
A pub that also serves pizza, wings and other grilled delicacies to fill your stomach.
Irish pub near the railway station. Many staff members and owners are Irish.
A British-style pub near the Tulli Business Park. Several British beers on tap and a selection of British pub food. Board games also available.
Quaint and easy-going beer house that has an old office theme. A good selection of beers and malts.
A British-style pub in the centre of Tampere, only about a block or two from the railway station. A wide variety of beers and ciders from the local Tampere brewery Plevna on tap, plus various others beers and ciders from all around the world in bottles. A good choice to try various beers and ciders if you're in a hurry to visit Tampere.
Plevna Brewery Pub & Restaurant is a true Tampere institution in an 135-year-old weaving hall, which saw the first electric light bulbs in Nordic countries in 1882. The pub is named after a Balkan town where men from Finlayson cotton mills fought alongside Russian troops in the Russo-Turkish War. They serve hearty traditional meals accompanied with their own delicious microbrews, with more sausages and sauerkraut than you can shake a mug at. Try, for example, the arguably best Finnish beer, Siperia Imperial Stout, with hearty mustamakkara blood sausage.
Teerenpeli offers a variety of home-brewed and imported beers and Finnish style ciders. A good selection of malts.
Stylish wine bar with light Italian fare and views to the Orthodox church.
Large night club for a more mature crowd. Classics and Finnish hits.
Quite popular hotel night club. Music mostly from top hits to club. Classy, you have to dress up a bit to blend in.
A bar/night club in the old customs house built in 1901. Live music presented often.
One of Finland's most prominent underground music clubs with a punk spirit. Beautifully located on top of Pispala ridge. Features gigs of various genres, usually from Wednesday to Saturday.
Disco, clubs, and live music in a student union building from the early 20th century. Type and age of the crowd depends heavily on the program. Frequented mostly by students.
Small well-run place, very central, with dorms and hotel rooms.
Budget apartment hotel near Tammelan tori.
Simple basic hotel in Hervanta, near Tampere University of Technology.
A budget hotel convenient for motorists.
Evening Star
Four apartments in alpine-style lodge. Mainly does long term lets but may have availability for single nights. They also have one apartment in the centre on Satamakatu.
A Gasthaus-style inn at affordable prices. The nearest places to eat and drink can be found a few hundred meters away, the hotel's own restaurant is mainly only for private events. Visa, Master Card, Maestro, American Express and Diner's Club accepted.
Camping area for tents, tourer caravans and with cottages, open mid-May to Sept.
Budget hotel with comfortable rooms. Customer can also make reservations on the internet or in the reception. Coriander Bar & Restaurant on the backside of the hotel.
Budget hotel chain on the main street. No reception, they email your door code. Small rooms.
Hostel room with shared toilet, shower and kitchen. Customer service is open M-F 08:00-14:00.
A business hotel, very central for city.
A spa hotel next to a marina, built into an old cotton mill with high rooms.
A boutique hotel with restaurant.
Modern hotel on main street, which has been dug up - some noise from this.
Comfy hotel built into an old grain storehouse.
An atmospheric inn in the peace of the countryside.
In a beautiful lakeside location under Pyynikki ridge. Some rebuilding under way in early 2019.
Tampere's best known hotel, next to the riverside park.
formerly Sokos Hotel Tammer
Historical Art Deco hotel, next to the riverside park.
Good modern hotel with rooftop bar.
Upscale department store right next to the railway station. The top floor sells high quality Finnish glassware and home furniture.
Large department store.
Midsize mall.
Smallish mall. More interesting architecturally than shopping-wise: the mall and surrounding buildings are built in modernist style.
Many clothing stores, some restaurants, two big grocery stores (K-Supermarket, Lidl), a department store etc.
Turtolan kauppakeskus
Kauppahalli
Fresh food and other shopping in a historical market hall built in 1901. It is said to be the second biggest market hall of its kind in the world.
Marketplace at the shore of Lake Pyhäjärvi. In addition to few booths, many cruises depart from the tiny harbour right next to the market. Here you can get a taste of the Tampere speciality, mustamakkara black sausage, look for "Tapola" sign. From Laukontori you have also a good view of one of the last remnants of the city's heavy industrial past: a fully-functioning cardboard factory at the middle of the city.
Busier marketplace surrounded by rather dull-looking 1960s and 70s apartment flats. There's also a booth that sells proper mustamakkara sausage.
Unique arts and crafts products in quaint atmosphere next to Finlayson. Find traditional Finnish handicrafts, design, decorations and handmade chocolate to take home. There's also a café, and frequent events and exhibitions. Kids can take a pony ride around the stables, workshops and boutiques.
Small and genuine art and crafts shops, restaurants, an arthouse cinema, and a souvenir store in a historic factory buildings right next to the rapids.
Small shop filled with culinary delights, both edible and inedible.
Probably the best known Finnish fashion company. By September 2011 there were 84 stores around the world. They are particularly noted for brightly-coloured printed fabrics and simple styles, used both in women's garments and in home furnishings.
While the historic Tampere factory is no more operational, you can still feel their rich heritage of manufacturing quality textiles since 1820 in a factory store on the premises. The place to buy textiles, towels, bed concepts, duvets, pillows and mattresses.
Finnish design, jewellery and home decorations.
Products of domestic craftsmen and small businesses. The old goods store sells vintage style interior items.
Tampere's best selection of books in Finnish and English; especially well stocked with international newspapers, magazines, non-fiction and university course books.
Large furniture store. The best spot in Tampere for ready-to-assemble furnitures, kitchen appliances, decoration, home accessories, and various other goods and home services.
Very large home-electronics store. The best spot in Tampere for electronics, computers, digital cameras, mobile phones, etc.
A flea market.
By train
The train is by far the most convenient means of public transport when travelling to Tampere.
By bus
For coach timetables, see Matkahuolto. There are connections from all directions.
By car
Tampere can be easily reached by car.
Districts
There are only a few neighbourhoods in Tampere that can be considered interesting to most visitors, namely the centre, Pyynikki and Pispala.
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.
By bus
A canonical Finnish gag: people in Tampere must think buses are called nysse, because they say Nysse tulee!" — when they see a bus coming.
By tram
After a few years of construction work, tram services on the red trams started in August 2021. The tram network is a part of Tampere public transport and its ticketing system (See Tampere#By bus).
By train
You're unlikely to use the train within Tampere, but you could ride between Tampere and Lempäälä (to the south), Tesoma and Nokia (to the west) or Orivesi (to the Northeast) for €3–6 (as of Feb 2026).
By taxi
By car
There is no need for a car if you are visiting Tampere only.
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Tampere / Pirkkala · International · TMP
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