Experience Tampere

Sights and Activities



Photo: City of Tampere


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

The main tourist attractions in wintery Tampere are the landmark Näsinneula tower, topped by a revolving restaurant, Tampere Cathedral with its iconic artwork by the symbolist painter Hugo Simberg, the Moomin Valley Exhibition (temporarily housed at the Tampere Art Museum), Tampere Market Hall, the historical Pyynikki and Pispala districts, Pyynikki nature conservation area and Pyynikki Observation Tower. Also worth a visit is the 88 meters tall Hotel Torni Tampere with its sky bar.

There are a few residential buildings designed by the famed architect Alvar Aalto in Kaleva and Nekala districts. Other architectural sights include Tampere City Library Metso (1986) and Kaleva Church (1966) designed by Raili and Reima Pietilä, Finlayson and Tampella industrial heritage areas, the historical buildings along Tammerkoski rapids and Keskustori (Central Square) and the Medieval Messukylä Church. Good places to spot contemporary architecture include Ratinanranta, Tampella and Vuores.

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

Finnish sauna will be a memorable experience for any visitor. There are several public saunas in Tampere, among them Rajaportin sauna in Pispala, Kaupinojan sauna in Kauppi and Rauhaniemen kansankylpylä in Rauhaniemi. For a more luxurious experience, there is the spa hotel Holiday Club Tampereen Kylpylä in Lapinniemi. Another good option is the indoor Pyynikki Swimming Pool with its stylish 1950s design.

Tampere city center offers great shopping opportunities, among them Stockmann and Sokos department stores, Koskikeskus shopping center and numerous designer shops. Other places to check out include Lielahti retail district in Western Tampere, Partola retail district in Pirkkala and Ideapark shopping center in Lempäälä with the adjoining Funpark indoor amusement park. For more information about shopping in Tampere, see the links below.

During the Women’s Floorball World Championships, there will be several Christmas events in Tampere, the largest ones of which are the Christmas markets at Keskustori and Tallipiha and children’s Koiramäki Christmas village in Särkänniemi. Finland’s Independence Day will be celebrated with a spectacular fireworks show in the city center on December 6.

Useful links:

Tampere Event Calendar

Tampere Tourist Information

Eat.fi Restaurant Guide

Tampere at Wikitravel

Tampere at TripAdvisor

Tampere at VirtualTourist

Design on Tampere

Tampere Museums

City of Tampere