The Top Things to Do in Tampere, Finland
This was our second time in Finland and it just further solidified it as one of our favorite countries in the world! You might not have heard of Tampere before, but it’s one of the biggest cities in Finland and is known as the Sauna Capital of the World. It’s located between some of the many lakes in country and is nearby the forest as well. We had the best time exploring Tampere and since it’s only a less than 2 hour train ride from Helsinki, we definitely think you should add it to your Finland itinerary.
How to get to Tampere
As we said above, Tampere is less than a two hour train ride from Helsinki. The train is very easy to use and since Finland is huge on sustainability, we definitely recommend taking the train if you can. You can also drive to Tampere as well if you want more freedom to explore, and for that you can rent a car easily.
Where to Stay in Tampere
We stayed at the Courtyard Marriott Tampere and thought it was in a great location. It was quiet and a few blocks away from the main street of the city. It’s also located directly next to the Moomin Museum, so if you plan on visiting there on your trip, this hotel would be a great option.
You can find other Tampere accommodations here on Expedia!
Best things to do in Tampere
Tampere Market Hall
Tahlo Ventures
Moomin Museum
Tallipiha Stable Yards
Rajaportin Sauna
Pyynikki Nature Trail
Pyynikki Observation Tower
Visit the Tampere Market Hall - a historic indoor Market Hall that dates back to 1901! Inside you can find local shops, produce, bakeries, and cafes.
Explore the Tallipiha Stable Yards - located in Old Tampere, the old stable yards have been converted to craft shops, cafes, & more.
Check out the Finlayson store - one of the most well-known Finnish brands! Finlayson is famous for it’s Scandinavian home products and textiles. Also, the Finlayson building was established in the 1820s and is one of the oldest buildings in the city.
Tour the Moomin Museum - Moomin is one of the most famous characters in all of Finland. You can find Moomins all over the country but they originally began as a book series, and then transformed into cartoons & movies. Moomin was created by Finnish artist Tove Jansson, and the museum houses some of her original Moomin illustrations as well as other Moomin-related works. If you are a fan of the Moomins, then you will love it here!
Take a trip to the Pyynikinharju forest - Tampere is nearby to some beautiful Finnish forests. The forest is a big part of Finnish culture and the locals have a saying “the forest is for everyone” as there is no private forest lands in the country. We visited Pyynikinharju, explored the Pyynikki nature trail, and got to check out the views from the Pyynikki Observation Tower. The cafe below also makes amazing coffee & donuts.
Go to the oldest public sauna in Finland, Rajaportin - the Rajaportti Sauna is the oldest continuously operating public sauna in Finland. The sauna is located in the area of Pispala, and its roots date back to 1906. Sauna is also a huge part of Finnish culture, most Finns sauna every single day. And Finnish sauna is a place where the locals say that everyone is equal. Here you will have a very authentic Finnish sauna experience and learn the health and wellness benefits of sauna as well.
Have dinner atop the Näsinneula Observation Tower - here you can get a birds eye view of the city of Tampere as well as the lakes that surround it. The restaurant in the tower serves traditional Finnish cuisine and rotates while you eat so everyone can see the amazing views.
Visit Serlachius in Mänttä - Serlachius is a art & culture center that showcases the amazing artwork from the Serlachius collection.
End your trip at Tahlo Ventures - the most amazing and relaxing place to watch the sunset and sauna! Tahlo Ventures is located on Lake Näsijärvi. Tahlo is an inclusive property on the lake equipped with a hot tub and sauna. We had the most amazing time here and thought it was the perfect way to end our trip.
Find other tours & activities to do in Tampere here on Expedia!
Where to Eat & Drink in Tampere
Olympia Kortteli
Restaurant Näsinneula
Olympia Kortteli
Tampere Market Hall
Tallipihan Suklaapuoti - local chocolate shop
Sauna Restaurant Kuuma
Restaurant Näsinneula
Restaurant Gösta
The LGBTQ+ Scene in Tampere
As a lesbian couple, we felt extremely safe and comfortable in Tampere. There isn’t necessarily tons of rainbow flags, but the people of Finland are so inclusive and welcoming. Visit Tampere is part of Finland’s We Speak Gay community. The members of the community are committed to LGBTQIA inclusion and communication and want to embrace diversity in Finland. Almost all of the businesses we visited on this trip we also part of the We Speak Gay network as well.
If you want to see everything we got up to in Tampere, including our first time flying business class with Finnair, then you’ll have to check out our Tampere YouTube vlog! We’ll leave it linked below:
Thank you to Visit Finland for bringing us on this trip! As always, all opinions are honest and our own. Some links on this post are affiliate links of which we receive a small commission, but the price is the same for you.