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Tampere

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Tampere by night
Tampere by night

Tampere (Swedish: Tammerfors) [1] is situated on the shore of lake Näsijärvi, some 170 km north of Helsinki, Finland. Tampere has around 208.000 inhabitants and metro population of over 340.000. Tampere is the biggest inland town in the Nordic region.

[edit] Understand

The city of Tampere lies on an isthmus situated between Lake Näsijärvi, which reaches far to the north, and Lake Pyhäjärvi in the south. The Tammerkoski rapids that run through Tampere connect the two lakes with a fall of 18 metres. In the 7th century population started to gather to this connecting point of two waterways, and in the 18th century people started to understand the importance of the rapids as a way of making hydropower. So it came to be that Tampere was officially founded in the 1st of October in 1779 by Gustav III of Sweden.

During the 19th century Tampere grew rapidly to be an industrial center, and in the latter part of the century the town had almost half of Finland's industrial labour, earning it the nickname Manchester of the North — which still lives on in the city's nickname Manse. Most of the industry was centered around the rapids, with the textile and paper industries particularly important.

During the Finnish Civil War (1918) Tampere was one of the Red (Communist) strongholds, and it was supposed to be the country's next capital. However, in April 1918 the victorious White forces captured the town after a large battle and seized 10,000 prisoners.

In 1927 the first of the factories stopped industrial operations, and city offices later moved into the empty buildings. After 1960 most of the factories started to cease operations, but the buildings were kept. Nowadays central Tampere is characterized by these old red-brick industrial buildings, most of them housing offices, restaurants, and cultural activities.

Among Finns, Tampere has been found to be the most desirable city to move into in several gallups.

[edit] Orientation

Tampere area map
Tampere area map

Tampere city centre has a couple of prominent features:

  • The main street, Hämeenkatu, runs from east to west. At the east end of the street is the railway station and at the west end the Alexander church [2]. Many shops, restaurants and offices are located on the main street. The main street continues to east as Itsenäisyydenkatu and to west as Pirkankatu.
  • The Tammerkoski rapids run from lake Näsijärvi in north to lake Pyhäjärvi in south, via Finlayson historical factory area, by riverside park, TAKO factory and Kehräsaari. It's just over 1 kilometer long. The height difference between the two lakes is 18 meters, but the rapids don't flow freely as there are dams and hydroelectric power stations built on the rapids.
  • The central square, Keskustori, is located right next to the bridge where Hämeenkatu crosses Tammerkoski rapids.
  • The city center continues to the shore of lake Näsijärvi in north and lake Pyhäjärvi in south.
  • Most of the hotels, shops and attractions are located within walking distance from each other.
  • Pyynikki ridge and Pispala are located couple of kilometers west of the city centre.

The city tourist information office [3] is located by the river at Verkatehtaankatu 2 just next to Koskikeskus shopping center and the main street.

[edit] Talk

People in Tampere speak Finnish and English like everybody else in Finland, but knowing a few words of Tampere dialect (Tampereen kiäli) is guaranteed to get you a few laughs. It's easy enough: just greet people with moro (with a trilling 'r'), refer to yourself as mää (pronounciation: /mæ:'/), call them sää (pronounciation: /sæ:'/) and end every sentence with nääs (pronounced /næs'/, like 'nash' in Nashville, except with a prolonged a (cf. "Naaaashville") and a normal 's' instead of 'sh'). A great sentence to practise is 'Mää en kylä enää ikänä alam mitää.' ('Minä en enää jaksa yrittää'(/m'inæ en 'enæ: y'aksa ür'ittæ:/ in plain Finnish) is pronounced: /m'æ: 'en k'ülæ 'enæ: ik'ænæ 'ala mitæ:/. That sentence means: 'I'm too tired to ever try again'.

[edit] Get in

[edit] By plane

Tampere is serviced by Tampere-Pirkkala airport (TMP) [4], which lies 17 km from the city and opened in current location 1979. Flying from Helsinki on Finnair doesn't make much sense in terms of time or money unless you're connecting, but there are direct flights to London (Heathrow), Stockholm and Copenhagen.

More importantly for the budget traveller, Tampere is Ryanair's Finland hub, with service to Riga, London (Stansted), Frankfurt - Hahn, Milan, Dublin and Bremen. Note that Ryanair uses the old terminal, not the new one.

Wingo [5] flies from Tampere to Oulu and to Stockholm, Bromma airport.

Bus services from the airport to Tampere are regular and take about 40 minutes, while taxis take about 20 minutes. Ryanair has its own bus service [6] (€6) and the airport is also served by local bus routes [7]. In addition to regular taxi service, there is also a shared airport taxi service (€12 one-way between Tampere and airport) [8]. The direct bus service betweeen the airport and Helsinki has stopped running.

[edit] By train

Tampere has extensive train links, with lines to Helsinki, Turku, up north to Lapland, east towards Jyväskylä and west to Pori. The trip to/from Helsinki by Pendolino express takes 1 h 26 min and costs €32, while a local train will take 2 h 04 min for the same trip and charge €21. On weekdays, trains to Helsinki run at least about once every hour between early morning and late evening. On weekends, there may be a gap of up to 2 hours between trains. For Finnish students (ISIC not accepted) and children (6-17 years) all train tickets are half price.

If you fly to Helsinki airport and wish to take a train to Tampere, you can take bus 61 [9] or taxi approximtately 5km from Helsinki airport to Tikkurila train station . An intercity train from Tikkurila to Tampere takes about 1 h 30 min. Note that the ticket office at Tikkurila train station is closed at times while the trains are still running (for example, Sunday nights) and that the ticket machines take cash or Finnish credit cards only, although you may be able to purchase a ticket from the conductor on the train using an international credit card. Visa Electron is not accepted in the trains. The train from Tikkurila arrives at the main train station in Tampere.

The Tampere train station, recently renovated to its former subtle Art Deco glory is located right at the city center, at the east end of the main street Hämeenkatu. Most hotels are within walking distance of the station.

[edit] By coach

There is an almost hourly Expressbus coach connection from Helsinki-Vantaa airport to Tampere bus station operated by Paunu, departing from platform 13 in front of the international flights terminal. The service operates round the clock, although there may be a gap of 1 to 2 h between services in the small hours of the night. The trip takes between 2 h and 2 h 30 min depending on whether the service calls in towns on the way. In some cases, there is a change of coach at Keimolanportti but it is well co-ordinated and easy. Ticket cost is €22.50 (round trip €40.50) for adults, €11.30 for students (ISIC not accepted) and children of age 4-16. Children under the age of four travel free.

[edit] By car

Tampere can be easily reached by car. The drive from Helsinki takes about 2 h and there is a 2+2 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 new and in excellent condition but is mainly not lit so some care must be exercised when driving in the dark, particularly in the winter when driving conditions can be harsh due to snow and slippery road surface. There are also road connections from Tampere to Turku, Pori, Rauma, Seinäjoki/Vaasa, Jyväskylä and Lahti but these are mostly 1+1 lane regular roads with speed limits between 80 km/h and 100 km/h. Harsh winter conditions may make driving difficult occasionally in the winter, and there is a small risk of collision with deer or elk, particularly just after dusk in the late summer and autumn.

[edit] Get around

[edit] By bus

The city centre of Tampere is small enough to be covered on foot, but an extensive bus network connects the suburbs and the downtown. In the city centre, most of the bus lines pass through Hämeenkatu. All buses stop at or near the central square. Realtime info at most stops in centre. Bus schedules can be found at the internet [10] and there is also a vary convenient journey planner available: enter origin and destination either as address or clicking from a map and the journey planner will show the bus route and schedule, including bus numbers, bus stops and walking distances as well as the route on the map [11]

Single tickets for adults (12 year olds and above) cost €2,50 and children cost €1. Every paying adult can be accompanied for free by one child under the age of 7. Adult with baby in pushchair travels for free. A single ticket includes a 60 minute unlimited transfer ticket. At night time (from midnight until four or five in the morning) there is an extra payment of €2,50 per ticket. The lines running in the night may also use a different route than in the day time. These buses are recognised through an "Y" in addition to the line number, both on the bus and in the timetables. City transportation single tickets are available from all city tariff zone buses.

You can purchase a Tampere Tourist Card [12] for unlimited travel by bus within the Tampere city borders (€6 for the first day, additional days cost €4 for adults; youth and children are €4/€3 and €3/€2 respectively). Purchase the smartcard at the railway or bus station, central square kiosk or city transportation [13] office at Frenckellinaukio 2 B, at the North Eastern side of the central square.

The tickets are also valid in most line-numbered regional bus lines (lines 45-95), if traveled within the city. You'll recognize a city tariff zone bus from the "hailing driver" logo near the right corner of the front of the bus.

If you're traveling outside the city limits (for instance to Helsinki), you have to pay according to the distance of your trip. When travelling longer journeys, you can buy a single ticket by telling your destination (eg. "to Kangasala" or "to Ideapark") to the driver, and if you have co-passengers for which you're also be paying, then say eg. "two adults", or if you want to buy a return ticket (the length of your trip must however be at least 80 km). In case you're entitle to a rebated ticket, such as a child or youth ticket, then also remember to mention that to the driver before you say your destination. Child tickets are sold to 4-11 year olds and youth tickets to 12-16 year olds. Student tickets are not available with international student ID's.

Public transport routes and timetables (throughout Finland): [14]

[edit] By taxi

Taxis in Tampere (and in Finland) are clean, safe, reliable and reasonably priced. The cost of the trip depends on the number of passengers and time of day (day/night). As an example, 1-2 persons traveling in daytime a 5-kilometre trip costs about €10; and a 10 km trip about €16. You can try to hail a passing cab if its roof light is on, but the usual way is to find nearest taxi stand and get a cab from there; or call for a taxi (the number is 10041 from landline, or 01004131 from a mobile phone). Taxis accept major credit cards. Taxis can be slightly difficult to obtain on weekend nights and during Sundays. [15]

[edit] By car

Most major car rental companies have offices in Tampere. Driving in Tampere is rather straightforward but keep in mind that many streets in the city centre are one-way and streetside parking spaces may be difficult to find at certain times of day (there is no shortage of parking spaces in indoor car parks though). However, winter driving conditions could be dangerous for drivers who are not used to slippery roads (usually between November and April, but possibly during other months too). When driving outside city, watch out for wild moose that could wander over the road. Traffic signs are posted to notify the driver of the areas where moose tend to move about. Do take the signs seriously, especially at dawn. There are dedicated buslanes only for buses and taxis in the centre.

[edit][add listing] See

[edit] Museums and Galleries

Vladimir Ilyich strikes a pose
Vladimir Ilyich strikes a pose
  • Amuri Museum of Workers' Housing (Amurin työläismusekortteli), Satakunnankatu 49, ☎ +358 3 5656 6690, [16]. Tue-Sun 10-18. Open in summer only.. Amuri is a block of old houses from the 19th century in which workers used to live. Houses form an almost closed inner court, and share only one kitchen. Adults €5, children (7-16) €1.  edit
  • Finnish Boxing Museum (Suomen nyrkkeilymuseo), Aleksanterinkatu 26 B, ☎ +358 400 830 128 (). Open by prior agreement only. Finnish and international boxing equipment, photographs and other items. Voluntary price.  edit
  • Finnish Labour Museum Werstas (Työväenmuseo Werstas), Väinö Linnan aukio 8, [17]. Tue-Sun 11-18. Lots of different exhibitions to see. Currently on display the history of the Finnish Social Security, Worker's Century and soon to be opened exhibition about the famous Finnish writer Väinö Linna. The fee is also valid for Textile Industry Museum and Steam Engine Museum (the largest Steam Engine ever used on land in Finland). Adults €5, students, pensioners and unemployed €4, children (7-15) €2.  edit
  • Hiekka Art Museum (Hiekan taidemuseo), Pirkankatu 6, ☎ +358 3 212 3973, [18]. Tue 15-18, Wed 15-19, Thu 15-18, Sun 12-15. Home museum of art collector Kustaa Hiekka. Adults €5, students €3.  edit
  • Lenin Museum (Lenin-museo), Hämeenpuisto 28, [19]. Mon-Fri 09-18, Sat Sun 11-16. Tampere's most offbeat attraction and well worth a visit if you have any interest, serious or humorous, in the Soviet revolutionary figure who spent some time in exile in Tampere. Lenin and Stalin met for the first time in this very apartment. Exhibits include a sofa that Lenin slept on and more busts that you can shake a stick at. There is also a wacky but fairly expensive gift shop. €5.  edit
  • Mineral Museum (Tampereen kivimuseo), Hämeenpuisto 20, ☎ +358 3 5656 6046, [20]. Tue-Fri 09-17, Sat-Sun 10-18. Museum of rocks and minerals. Exhibition consists of about 5000 items. Adults €5, children (7-16) and students €1.  edit
  • The Moominvalley of the Tampere Art Museum (Muumilaakso), Hämeenpuisto 20 (In the same building with main library Metso), ☎ +358 3 5656 6578 (), [21]. Tue-Fri 9-17, Sat-Sun 10-18. Museum devoted to the work of Tove Jansson with around 2000 works. Adults €4, children (4-16) and students €1.  edit
  • Rupriikki, Väinö Linnan aukio 13 (Finlayson), ☎ +358 3 5656 6411 (), [22]. Tue-Sun 10-18. Media museum focusing on history and development of mass communications. Adults €5, children (7-16) and students €1.  edit
  • Sara Hildén Art Museum (Sara Hildénin taidemuseo), Särkänniemi, (), [23]. Tue-Sun 11-18. Modern art, both Finnish and foreign.  edit
  • Spy Museum (Vakoilumuseo), Satakunnankatu 18, [24]. Jun-Aug: Mon-Sat 10-18, Sun 11-17. Sep-May: Mon-Sat 12-18, Sun 11-17. Claims to be the first spy museum in the world, exhibiting everything from spy cameras to secret weapons. Admission €7 (adults) / €5.50 (children and students).  edit
  • Tampere Art Museum (Tampereen taidemuseo), Puutarhakatu 34, [25]. Tue-Sun 10-18. Changing exhibitions of Finnish and foreign art. Price varies with exhibitions.  edit
  • Vapriikki, Veturiaukio 4, [26]. Jun-Aug: Mon-Tue, Thu-Sun 10-18, Wed 11-20. Sep-May: Tue, Thu-Sun 10-18, Wed 11-20. Changing exhibitions. Basic exhibitions include history of Pirkanmaa, shoe museum and hockey museum. Adults €7, children (7-16) and students €2, pensioners and unemployed €6. Some exhibitions may cost extra.  edit
  • Art and Craftcenter Verkaranta (Käsi- ja taideteollisuuskeskus Verkaranta), Verkatehtaankatu 2, ☎ +358 3 225 1409 (), [27]. Mon-Fri 10-18, Sat-Sun 11-16 (12-17 in summer). Monthly exhibitions on arts and crafts. €3.  edit

[edit] Churches

  • Kaleva Church (Kalevan kirkko), Liisanpuisto 1, [28]. Designed by famous architect Reima Pietilä in 1966.  edit
  • Messukylä's Old Church (Messukylän vanha kirkko), Kivikirkontie 2, [29]. The oldest building in Tampere, built during the medieval times.  edit
  • Tampere Cathedral (Tampereen tuomiokirkko), Tuomiokirkonkatu, [30]. Architectocnically significant church designed by architect Lars Sonck. Basils famous frescos, including Haavoittunut enkeli, Kuoleman puutarhat, and Köynnöksenkantajat, are painted by Hugo Simberg.  edit
  • Tampere Parish (Tampereen ortodoksikirkko), Suvantokatu 10, [31]. Tampere Orthodox Church.  edit

[edit] Parks and Islands

  • Duck Park (Sorsapuisto), Yliopistonkatu, [32]. Quite large park around a pond by the 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.  edit
  • Hatanpää Arboretum, Hatanpään puistokuja (About 2km south via Hatanpään valtatie from the city centre, turn to right on Hatanpään puistokuja), [33]. An arboretum (a collection of trees and plants), a rose garden, and park by the lake Pyhäjärvi.  edit
  • Koskipuisto Park, [34]. Newly renovated park by the Tammerkoski rapids in the center of the city. Popular place to have a picnic or a beer on a sunny summer day.  edit
  • Näsi Park (Näsinpuisto), [35]. Nice park by the lake Näsijärvi, created in the early 20th century. Park 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. By the memorial you'll have a great view over the lake Näsijärvi and Särkänniemi Adventure Park.  edit
  • Southern Park (Eteläpuisto), Eteläpuisto (At the southern end of Hämeenpuisto). A park with a fountain. From the park you can walk through the woods to Pyynikin uimaranta, the most popular beach in Tampere.  edit
  • Viikinsaari Island, [36]. On a sunny summer day take a 20 minutes boat trip[37] from Laukontori to Viikinsaari Island. There are swimming shores, playgrounds, gaming fields, fireplace for roasting sausages and such (buy them beforehand) and a restaurant with dance pavilion on the island. Most of the island is a nature reserve. Price for the boat: adults €8, seniors and students €7, and children (4-17) €4.  edit

[edit] Others

  • Pispala. A bridge between lake Näsijärvi and lake Pyhäjärvi. Formerly a working-class neighborhood, the area has gentrified radically and is currently one of the most exclusive neighbourhoods in Tampere. However, you can still get a glimpse of the history at the area as there are lots of original houses left. Along with neighouring Pyynikki it forms an important historical area of Tampere. You can enjoy nature at the Pyynikki park and climb up to Pyynikki tower for nice views over the ridge, lakes and the city and enjoy coffee & famous doughnuts afterwards. In the summer you can also stop by at Pyynikin kesäteatteri by Lake Pyhäjärvi to enjoy open-air theatre and experience the revolving auditorium.  edit
  • Särkänniemi Adventure Park (Särkänniemi), [38]. Adventure park 01-May - 01-Sep, art museum and restaurant throughout the year. Includes a dolphinarium and the landmark Näsinneula tower, topped by the inevitable revolving restaurant. On a summer day the views of the surrounding forests and lakes are quite nice though. Entrance €6, single ride ticket €5, day pass €29 (includes entrance).  edit
  • Tampere city library and Pirkanmaa regional library (Metso), Pirkankatu 2, [39]. Mon-Fri 09.30-20.00, Sat 09.30-15.00. 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 constructional basic idea was 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 - capercaillie. In fact, the library is known under the Finnish name "Metso". Seen from above, the building looks like a bird carrying a shield.  edit
  • Haihara Mansion (Haiharan kartano), [40]. 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.  edit
  • Hervanta. The suburb of Hervanta is located about 10 km south of the city center and can be reached either by taxi or bus lines 13, 20, 23, 30 or 39. It is the location of Tampere University of Technology, Hermia Technology Center and large amount of student housing. Many high-tech companies (for example, Nokia) have offices in Hervanta. What makes Hervanta infamous is the large amount of 1970's concrete residential tower blocks and the social problems it suffered, especially during 1980's. If you happen to be around Hervanta during the semesters of TUT, you might run into a student party somewhere. Thursdays are the most popular days for these.  edit

[edit][add listing] Do

  • Cruises, [41]. To Hämeenlinna (a leisurely 8 hours), to Nokia (a 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).  edit
  • Downhill skiing, (), [42]. There are two small skiing hills in Tampere. One is in Hervanta (buses 13, 23 and 30) the other one in Mustavuori (buses 70 and 71), near Kalkku. The longest slope in Hervanta is 350 meters with altitude change of 59 meters. In Mustavuori the numbers are 350 meters and 69 meters accordingly. Both hills offer courses and equipment rental.  edit
  • Fishing, [43]. Fishing enthusiasts are delighted to hear that you can fish at the Tammerkoski rapids that run right through the city center. You need to purchase a fishing permit from a nearby R-kioski (Hatanpään valtatie 2), Tourist office (Verkatehtaankatu 2) or vending machine at the wall of restaurant Rosso. You may catch at most three salmonoids a day (whitefish not included). €4 for 4 hours, €4.50 for full day.  edit
  • Football, [44]. Tampere United football club has won the Finnish championship in 2001, 2006 and 2007.  edit
  • Farm holiday, [45]. A farm holiday is a way to experience Finnish countryside. Farms and cottages are mostly available during summer but there may be exceptions.  edit
  • Hiking around forests. In Finland, everyone has a right of public access to the wilderness provided that you don't cause damage. Roaming the forests is safe, but mosquitoes and horseflies can be an annoyance. Even though there exists potentially dangerous wildlife in Finland (for example, bears), chance of meeting it near urban areas is extremely rare. There is one type of poisonous snake in Finland, the crossed viper (kyy). In Tampere, good hiking grounds with marked paths can be found in the Pyynikki and Kauppi forests.  edit
  • Holiday Club Tampere Spa (Tampereen kylpylä), [46]. 7:30-21:00. 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. Spa from €6 to €14, other services available also..  edit
  • Ice hockey, Keltinkatu 2, [47]. Tampere has two ice hockey teams, Tappara [48] and Ilves [49], which are among the most successful in Finland.  edit
  • Ice swimming. 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 [50], [51] or Rauhaniemen kansankylpylä [52] on Rauhaniementie near hotel Holiday Club Tampere.  edit
  • Ice walk. A popular pastime during sunny midwinter day is to go for an ice walk. In March people walk about a 1km trip to a small island of Siilinkari on lake Näsijärvi and have a picnic. Be aware that it's only safe to walk on well-frozen lake. Only go if you see other people (and not just ice-fishers) doing so.  edit
  • Midnight sun. Even though the Midnight sun doesn't quite reach Tampere (you need to be north of the Arctic Circle for the proper midnight sun), the summer nights are bright. In midsummer, the sun sets for just couple of hours and there is no darkness, only twilight [53]. This is nice for spending mild summer evening outdoors. The downside of this is that during winter months, the day is very short and the night already falls in the afternoon.  edit
  • Rajaportin sauna, Pispalan valtatie 9, ☎ 358 45 136 5557, [54]. Mon, Wed 18-22, Fri 15-21, Sat 14-22. Experience the oldest still-functioning public sauna in Finland. It is in historical Pispala, easily reached with buses 1, 13,18,19, 25 and 26. 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 100-year-old Rajaportin sauna has a stove that is three cubic meters in size and contains over a ton of stones that are heated literally glowing red with burning logs. After simmering for couple of hours, the sauna is ready for the customers. It is widely described to be as one of the best sauna experiences one can have. Adults €5 (Fridays until 17 and Mondays €3), children (7-16) €1.  edit
  • Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra, [55].  edit
  • Terraces. During warm summer days, people enjoy sitting on outdoor terraces of restaurants and have a beer or two. You can see outdoor tables and chairs being set up outside restaurants as soon as the first sunny and warm(ish) spring days arrive.  edit

[edit] Learn

There are two universities in Tampere; the University of Tampere [56], and Tampere University of Technology [57]. The former has about 15,000 students and the latter about 10,000 students. Tampere has also two universities of applied sciences, the TAMK [58] and PIRAMK [59], each of which has some 5,000 students.

City of Tampere runs Adult Education Centre of the City of Tampere [60] that offers rather cheap courses for everyone.

[edit][add listing] Buy

Tampere has lots of shopping opportunities from small specialized shops to malls. Grocery stores in Tampere (and in Finland) are usually quite easy to find. Look for e.g. K-market, S-market, Sale, Siwa, and Valintatalo. Supermarkets (Prisma, Citymarket) are located outside the city centre.

[edit] Department stores

  • Stockmann, Hämeenkatu 4, [61]. Upscale department store right next to the railway station.  edit
  • Sokos, Hämeenkatu 21, [62]. Large department store at the west end of the main street.  edit
  • Anttila, Puutarhakatu 10, [63]. Large department store near Finlayson.  edit

[edit] Malls

  • Koskikeskus, Hatanpään valtatie 1, [64]. Midsize mall at the riverbank, at the foot of Hotel Ilves.  edit
  • Tullintori, Tullikatu 10, [65]. Smallish mall behind railway station, next to Hotel Villa.  edit
  • Ideapark, Ideaparkinkatu 4, Lempäälä, [66]. Largest mall in Lempäälä with a special focus on furniture, interior decoration and clothing. Located along the Tampere-Helsinki motorway, in Lempäälä, but bus/coach connections exist.  edit

[edit] Bookshops

  • Akateeminen kirjakauppa, Hämeenkatu 6, [67]. Best selection of both Finnish and English language books, especially well stocked in non-fiction books and university course books.  edit
  • Suomalainen kirjakauppa, Several outlets, [68]. Two shops in Hämeenkatu and one in Koskikeskus mall. Mostly specialised in Finnish language fiction but offers a small selection of English-language paperbacks.  edit

[edit] Markets

  • Laukontori, South end of Aleksis Kiven katu, [69]. Marketplace at the shore of lake Pyhäjärvi. In addition to market booths, many Pyhäjärvi cruises start from the harbour right next to the market. From Laukontori you have also a good view of a local eccentricity: a fully-functioning cardboard factory at the middle of the city [70]. This is a good reminder of the Tampere's industrial past.  edit
  • Tammelantori, Tammelan puistokatu. Busy marketplace surrounded by rather dull-looking 70's apartment flats. In here you can taste the Tampere specialty, black sausage.  edit

[edit] Other

  • Market Hall (Kauppahalli), Hämeenkatu 19, [71]. Fresh food and other shopping in a historical market hall.  edit
  • Kehräsaari, Next to Laukontori. Restaurants and tourist shopping at the mouth of the rapid between lakes Näsijärvi and Pyhäjärvi. You can walk from Laukontori to Koskikeskus via Kehräsaari.  edit
  • Finlayson, At the north from main square, [72]. Historical cotton factory area, now renovated into area with shopping (Siperia), movie theater multiplex (Plevna), restaurants, night clubs, parks, offices and apartment buildings. The factory, founded by Scottish immigrant James Finlayson in 1820, helped Tampere grow into thriving industrial city. Towards the end of 1800's Finlayson factories grew into "a city inside a city". The renovation was completed in 2001.  edit

[edit][add listing] Eat

This guide uses the following price ranges for a typical meal for one, including soft drink:
Budget Under €10
Mid-range €10-30
Splurge Over €30
Culinary nirvana Tampere style: mustamakkara, puolukkahillo, maito, and donitsi
Culinary nirvana Tampere style: mustamakkara, puolukkahillo, maito, and donitsi

Tampere is (in)famous for its black sausage (mustamakkara), a sausage made of blood. The most authentic (and cheapest) 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" (kaks euroa) will get you a nice hefty chunk. You can also try a doughnut (donitsi) with a cup of coffee. Note that both markets close by 2PM and are closed Sundays too.

Tipping is not customary in Finland. Thus, while being highly appreciated, it is not required. Feel free to tip those you feel deserve it.

[edit] Budget

For inexpensive fast food, you can always visit McDonald's and Subway, or their domestic equivalents Hesburger and Rolls. Finnish pizza franchise Kotipizza has restaurants throughout the city. Ethnic pizza and kebab restaurants can be found throughout the city and are usually even cheaper than international fast food restaurants.

For a lunch during weekdays the best price/quality ratio is offered by the student canteens at the universities [73]

  • Gopal, Ilmarinkatu, ☎ +358 3 253 1002, [74]. Mon-Fri 11-16, Sat 12-16. Vegetarian lunch restaurant. Food seasoned in an Indian manner, not an Indian restaurant though.  edit
  • Katupoika, Aleksanterinkatu 20, ☎ +358 3 2720 201, [75]. Mon-Sat 11-21 (or later). Proudly serving hearty portions of real Tampere food for over thirty years, including black sausage. The mural in the restaurant depicts a view of Pispala, one of Tampere's harju hills. From €9, including salad bar.  edit
  • Kim Long, Itsenäisyydenkatu 2. A rather decent Chinese restaurant just outside the railway station's passage. From €5. €7,9 lunch buffet on weekdays, 9,9 on weekends.  edit
  • Pizzeria Napoli, Aleksanterinkatu 31, ☎ +358 3 223 8887, [76]. Mon-Thu 11-23, Fri 11-24, Sat 12-24, Sun 13-23. The oldest pizzeria in Tampere. Pizzas vary from the ordinary to exotic (for example ostrich meat, or Finlandia vodka with fried game, or habanero) Pizzas from €7 to €12.  edit
  • Gastropub Praha, Itsenäisyydenkatu 11, ☎ +358 3 2612 500, [77]. Mon-Thu 17:00-23:30, Fri 16-24, Sat 12-24, Sun 15-21. From €6 to €10.  edit
  • Veijon Kokkitykki. Located by Tammmelantori square. Traditional style fish food, loved by many.  edit

[edit] Mid-range

  • 2h+k, Aleksanterinkatu 33, ☎ +358 3 2131 131, [78]. Mon 12-22, Tue-Thu 12-24, Fri-Sat 12-01, Sun 13-23. Delibar, serves e.g. warm breads From €9 to €13.  edit
  • Aino ja Ilmari, Tammelan puistokatu 27, ☎ +358 3 253 2630. Mon-Fri 11-22, Sat 12-22, Sun 13-18. Main courses from €15 to €27.  edit
  • Amarillo, Hatanpään valtatie 1, ☎ +358 3 5698 6114, [79]. Tex mex restaurant, part of the Amarillo chain. Steaks from €17 to €30.  edit
  • Antika, Väinölänkatu 1, ☎ +358 3 2141 282, [80]. Tue-Fri 11-14 and 16-23, Sat 12-23, Sun 13-20. Excellent Greek restaurant located in Tammela. Very cosy atmosphere and friendly staff. Main courses from €11 to €22.  edit
  • Athur, Lapinniemenranta 12, [81]. Mon-Fri 11-23, Sat 12-23, Sun 12-21. Restaurant at Holiday Club Tampere Spa. From €10 to €23.  edit
  • Bella Roma Siperia, Itäinenkatu 5-7 (Siperia), ☎ +358 3 222 1303 (), [82]. Mon-Tue 11-22, Wed-Thu 11-23, Fri 11-24, Sat 12-24, Sun 13-21. Italian restaurant located in Finlayson's Siperia. Secondi piatti from €15 to €26.  edit
  • Bodega Salud, Tuomiokirkonkatu 19, ☎ +358 3 2334 400 (), [83]. Mon-Fri 11-, Sat 12-, Sun 13-. Famous spanish restaurant, best known for it's meat dishes, but serves suprisingly good vegetarian disces, too. Serves also more exotic courses such as Rocky Mountain oysters, gnu, and kangaroo. Main courses from €16 to €30.  edit
  • Classic American Diner, Itäinen katu 9-13 (Siperia), ☎ +358 3 2604 500 (), [84]. Mon-Wed 11-21, Thu-Fri 11-23, Sat 12-24, Sun 12-22. American style burger restaurant. Burgers from €10 to €35.  edit
  • Coussicca, Nyyrikintie 2, ☎ +358 3 2552 100 (), [85]. Mon-Fri 11-22, Sat-Sun 12-21. The oldest restaurant in Tampere. Known for it's large breaded pork escalope, the Coussican Vinkkari. Main courses from €13 to €25.  edit
  • Coyote bar & Grill, Hämeenkatu 3, ☎ +358 3 2143 911, [86]. Mon-Thu 11-24, Fri 11-01, Sat 12-01, Sun 12-24. Main courses from €15 to €25, menus from €27 to €40.  edit
  • Golden Unicorn, Hallituskatu 3, ☎ +358 3 222 0321, [87]. Mon-Thu 11-22, Fri 11-23, Sat 12-23, Sun 12-22. Chinese restaurant very near Keskustori. Also take-away. From €10 to €19.  edit
  • El Toro, Hämeenkatu 26, ☎ +358 3 2131 755 (), [88]. Mon-Thu 11-23, Fri 11-24, Sat 12-24, Sun 14-22. Steak restaurant. Main courses from €16 to €26.  edit
  • Esperanza Kitchen & Tequileria, Hämeenkatu 10, ☎ +358 3 4474 810 (), [89]. Mon-Thu 11-14 and 17-23, Fri 11-14 and 17-24, Sat 14-24. Spanish-mexican restaurant located under Hämeenkatu. Main courses from €18 to €25.  edit
  • Frankly, Hallituskatu 22, ☎ +358 3 2120 235 (), [90]. Mon-Thu 11-24, Fri 11-01, Sat 12-01, Sun 14-23. Main courses from €16 to €23.  edit
  • Gastropub Tuulensuu, Hämeenpuisto 23, ☎ +358 3 2141 553, [91]. Sun-Fri 17-24, Sat 12-24. Small, moody gastropub serving tasty food. Good selection of foreign beers, ciders, wines and cigars. Friendly and competent staff. Food from €5 to €17.  edit
  • The Grill, Frenckellin aukio, ☎ +358 3 260 3355 (), [92]. Mon-Thu 11-24, Fri 11-01, Sat 12-01, Sun 13-20. Spanish-international cuisine with an emphasis on grilled food. Good price/quality ratio. Main courses from €17 to €35.  edit
  • Gringos Locos, Kehräsaari, ☎ +358 3 2133 700 (), [93]. Mon-Tue 17-22, Wed-Thu 17-23, Fri 17-01, Sat 13-01, Sun 13-22. Tex mex restaurant Cajun grill from €13 to €22.  edit
  • Harald, Hämeenkatu 23, ☎ +358 3 2138 380 (), [94]. Mon-Thu 11-24, Fri 11-01, Sat 12-01, Sun 13-21. Viking restaurant. Main courses from €15 to €27, menus from €27 to €40.  edit
  • Havana Bar & Grill, Hämeenkatu 15, ☎ +358 3 2239 333 (), [95]. Sun-Thu 15-24, Fri 15-03, Sat 12-03. Located by the bank of Tammerkoski. Main courses from €14 to €19.  edit
  • Hook, Kehräsaari 101, ☎ +358 3 2233 284, [96]. Mon-Thu 16-24, Fri 16-01, Sat 14-01, Sun 14-22. Wings restaurant. 12 chicken wings €6.70.  edit
  • Knossos, Hatanpään valtatie 1 (Koskikeskus), ☎ +358 3 2238 898 (), [97]. Mon 11-15, Tue-Thu 11-21, Fri 11-22, Sat 12-22. Greek restaurant. Main courses from €12 to €24.  edit
  • Laterna, Puutarhakatu 11, ☎ +358 3 272 0241 (), [98]. Tue-Thu 17-23, Fri-Sat 17-04. Russian cuisine Main courses from €15 to €23.  edit
  • Lotus Garden, Rongankatu 5. Chinese restaurant near the railway station. Also take-away.  edit
  • Maruseki, Hallituskatu 7, ☎ +358 3 2120 728 (), [99]. Tue-Thu 11-21, Fri 11-22, Sat 11-21. 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. Sushi and warm dishes from €6 to €15.  edit
  • Montree, Hammareninkatu 7, ☎ +358 3 2130 490 (), [100]. Mon-Thu 11-15, Fri 11-18 (reservation required after 17), Sat 18-24 (reservation required). Main courses from €15 to €21.  edit
  • Myllärit, Åkerlundinkatu 4, ☎ +358 3 2722 660 (), [101]. Mon 11-14, Tue-Thu 11-23, Fri 11-24, Sat 12-24. Main courses from €14 to €23.  edit
  • Nanda Devi, Näsilinnankatu 17, ☎ +358 3 2130 935, [102]. Mon-Thu 11-22, Fri-Sat 11-23, Sun 12-22. Indian restaurant. From €12 to €19.  edit
  • Natalie, Hallituskatu 19, ☎ +358 3 223 2040 (), [103]. Tue-Sat 17-24. Slavic restaurant. Main courses from €14 to €20.  edit
  • Old Oliver's, Kuninkaankatu 24, ☎ +358 3 213 4204 (), [104]. Mon-Tue 11-22, Wed-Thu 11-23, Fri-Sat 11-00, Sun 12-22. Food from the grill from €9 to €58.  edit
  • Pancho Villa, Hämeenkatu 23 (branches also at Satakunnankatu 22, Tammelan puistokatu 34), ☎ +358 3 213 1232 (), [105]. Mon-Fri 11-, Sat-Sun 12-. Mexican/tex-mex style restaurant. Good price/quality ratio. Main courses from €8 to €30.  edit
  • Piazza Foodfactory & Bar, Hämeenkatu 1, ☎ +358 3 2446 2207 (), [106]. Mon-Fri 11-24, Sat 12-24, Sun 12-22. Mixed kitchen. Main courses up to €27.  edit
  • Plevna, Itäinenkatu 8, (), [107]. Mon 11-23, Tue-Thu 11-01, Fri-Sat 11-02, Sun 12-23.  edit
  • Ragu's Wok & Grill, Ilmarinkatu 8 (Tammelantori), ☎ +358 3 213 1599, [108]. Mon-Sat 11:00-22:30, Sun 12:00-22:30. Malaysian restaurant. Main courses from €13 to €24. Take away -30%.  edit
  • Ravintolalaiva Tampere. Restaurant ship Tampere makes lunch and dinner cruises on lake Pyhäjärvi. Departs from Laukontori. Lunch €19, dinner €26 including the cruise, food buffet and entertainment.  edit
  • Rosso, Koskipuisto, ☎ +358 3 223 1751 (), [109]. Sun-Thu 11-24, Fri-Sat 11-01. A popular family restaurant, that belongs to the Rosso chain. Food is cheap and restaurants offer good playgrounds and dishes for children. An excellent view to Tammerkoski. Main courses from €10 to €20.  edit
  • Saha, Hatanpään valtatie 1 (Koskikeskus), ☎ +358 3 2134 585, [110]. Main courses from €10 to €45.  edit
  • SpeakEasy, Päämääränkuja 10 (Siperia), ☎ +358 3 2604 777 (). Mon-Thu 11-24, Fri 11-01, Sat 12-01, Sun 12-24. Wings restaurant in two floors. The more "speak easy" like decoration can be found from the cellar. Use the entrance on the alley behind the dining area inside Siperia. 12 chicken wings €7.80.  edit
  • Star & Moonlight, Hatanpään valtatie 1 (Koskikeskus), ☎ +358 3 2140 284. Mon - Fri 11 - 22, Sat - Sun 12 - 22. Small indian restaurant, back side of Koskikeskus. Lunch at 11: - 15:00 every weekdays. Prices between 7.50 € to 8.50 €. 7 € - 18 €.  edit
  • Ströget, Laukontori 10, ☎ +358 3 2226 490 (), [111]. Mon-Fri 10:30-18:00, Sat 11-17. Danish style sandwiches (smørrebrød). From €7 to €17.  edit
  • Swagath, Tuomiokirkonkatu 40, ☎ +358 3 2126 740, [112]. Tue-Thu 11-16, Fri 11-23, Sat 12-23. Indian restaurant. From €12 to €19.  edit
  • Veganissimo, Otavalankatu 10, ☎ +358 3 213 0323, [113]. Mon-Tue 11-20, Wed-Thu 11-22, Fri 11-24, Sat 13-24. Vegetarian restaurant, all dishes suitable for vegans also. À la carte main dishes from €12 to €19.  edit
  • Wistub Alsace, Laukontori 6B, ☎ +358 3 2120 260 (), [114]. Tue-Fri 16-22, Sat 15-22. Hearty Alsatian restaurant in the heart of Tampere. All the traditional Alsatian meals are represented on the menu. Tarte flambée from €12 to €14, other main courses from €18 to €20.  edit

[edit] Splurge

  • Astor, Aleksis Kiven katu 26, ☎ +358 3 260 5700 (), [115]. Mon-Thu 11-24, Fri-Sat 11-02, Sun 14-22. European kitchen Main courses from €17 to €25, four course menu €44.  edit
  • Finlaysonin Palatsi, Kuninkaankatu 1, ☎ +358 400 219 530 (), [116]. Tue-Fri 11-24, Sat 12-24. Beutifully located at an old palace. Main courses from €15 to €26.  edit
  • Hella ja huone, Salhojankatu 48, ☎ +358 3 253 2440 (), [117]. Tue-Sat 18-. French cuisine. Main courses €20.50, four course menu €45.  edit
  • Henriks, Satamakatu 7, ☎ +358 3 272 0221 (), [118]. Lunchtime: Mon-Fri 11:00-14:30. Evenings: Mon-Tue 17-22, Wed-Fri 17-24, Sat 13-24. Main courses from €16 to €28, four course menu €49.  edit
  • Hämeensilta, Hämeenkatu 13, ☎ +358 3 212 7207, [119]. Tue-Thu 21-02, Fri-Sat 21-04. A dance & music restaurant in the heart of Tampere. Popular among the 50+ generation. Main courses from €17 to €22.  edit
  • Masuuni, Hatanpään valtatie 1 (Hotel Ilves), ☎ +358 3 5698 6121 (), [120]. Mon-Thu 18-23, Fri 18-24, Sat 17-24. Main courses from €22 to €28, menus from €44 to €50.  edit
  • Näsinneula, Särkänniemi, ☎ +358 20 7130 234, [121]. 11-23.30. A high class restaurant with a beautiful view and excellent menu of Finnish ingredients such as game and berries. Main courses from €20 to €30.  edit
  • Tammer, Satakunnankatu 13, ☎ +358 20 1234 630, [122]. Mon-Sat 11:30-23:30. Main courses from €19 to €26.  edit
  • Tiiliholvi, Kauppakatu 10, ☎ +358 3 2720 231 (), [123]. Mon-Fri 11-15 and 17-24, Sat 13-24. Main courses from €20 to €26.  edit

[edit][add listing] Drink

[edit] Cafes

  • Amurin helmi, Satakunnankatu 49, ☎ +358 3 5656 6634, [124]. Every day from 10 to 17 (during summer from 10 to 18). Cosy athmosphere in an old wooden building which is part of Amuri museum of workers' housing. Tampere specialities and homemade bread.  edit
  • Arnolds, Tullikatu 6 (Tullintori), ☎ +358 3 2234 850, [125]. Mon-Fri 09-20, Sat 10-17. Tasty doughnuts baked on location. There's another outlet at Koskikeskus. Regular coffee from €1.60 to €2.20, doughnuts from €1.70 to €2.30.  edit
  • Mokkamestarit, Kuukuja 8 E, ☎ +358 3 2530 145, [126]. Mon-Fri 10-18, Sat 10-16. Great variety of different coffees sold for home use, roasted and grinded by themselves. Couple of different brands served for drinking on spot, brands changing daily.  edit
  • Pyynikki Observation tower cafe, Näkötornintie, ☎ +358 3 212 3247, [127]. Every day from 09 to 20. Serves donuts appreciated by many. The observation tower is only 26 meters high, but since it is on a ridge, it offers a great view of Tampere and the surrounding lakes. It costs about one euro to climb up the observation tower.  edit
  • Vohvelikahvila, Ojakatu 2, ☎ +358 3 2144 225, [128]. Mon-Sat 09-20, Sun 10-20. Small atmospheric cafe. The name means "Waffle Cafe" and that's what you'll get, in both sweet and savoury versions.  edit

[edit] Pubs and nightclubs

Plenty of competition on beer prices at Hämeenkatu especially during day.

[edit] Pubs

  • O'Connel's, Rautatienkatu 24, ☎ +358 3 222 7032, [129]. Open every day 16-02. Irish pub near the railway station. Many staff members and owners are irish  edit
  • Plevna, Itäinenkatu 8, [130]. A brewery pub and restaurant in a renovated old red-brick textile mill, serving solid German-style fare and a wide range of its own microbrews. Mains from €10 to €20 and a large beer to wash it down €5, for children from €4 to €8.  edit
  • Salhojankadun Pub, Salhojankatu 29, ☎ +358 3 2553 376, [131]. English-style pub a little off the beaten track, but within walking distance of the railway station.  edit
  • Gastropub Tuulensuu, Hämeenpuisto 23, ☎ +358 3 2141 553, [132]. A traditional style pub with an extensive selection (biggest in Tampere) of over one hundred imported Central European and other beers, especially self-imported Belgian brews. Also serves beer snacks and main courses.  edit

[edit] Nightclubs

  • Doris (Dorka), Aleksanterinkatu 20, [133]. Fri-Sat 22-04, Tue-Thu, Sun 23-04. Small but popular night club. Not for the upper crust people.  edit
  • Ilves, Hatanpään valtatie 1 (Hotel Ilves), ☎ +358 20 1234 631, [134]. Wed-Sat 21-04. Quite popular night club. Music mostly from top hits to club.  edit
  • Klubi, Tullikamarinaukio 2, [135]. Mon-Tue 11-22, Wed-Fri 11-04, Sat 15-04. A bar/night club in the old customs house built in 1901. Live music presented often. Price depends on performers.  edit
  • Love Hotel, Hämeenkatu 10, ☎ +358 10 423 3222, [136]. Tue & Sun 23-04, Wed-Sat 22-04. New and quite large night club in the center of the city. Private lounges (€89-150) and karaoke lounges (€150-300) available. Lounge prices include free entrance for 6 or 8 persons and a bottle of champagne.  edit
  • Onnela, Puutarhakatu 21, ☎ +358 20 7759 470, [137]. A popular night club for 20+ generation. Has multiple departments with different music and visual style. Music from heavy rock to latest pop charts.  edit
  • Ruma, Murtokatu, [138]. Popular night club selected the best of the town by City Magazine. Cheap drinks and entrance. Music played is something between rock and pop, often British bands. Personal interior designing.  edit
  • Yo-talo, Kauppakatu 10, (), [139]. Disco, clubs, and live music in a building from the early 20th century. Type and age of the crowd depends heavily on the program.  edit

[edit][add listing] Sleep

[edit] Budget

  • Härmälä Camping, Leirintäkatu 8, ☎ +358 3 265 1355, [140]. Camping area about 3km from the city centre. Open only in summer.  edit
  • Homeland Tampere, Kullervonkatu 19 A, ☎ +358 3 3126 0200 (), [141]. Apartment hotel located near Tammelan tori, about 5min walk from the railway station. Single room €74, double room €84.  edit
  • Hostel Sofia, Tuomiokirkonkatu 12 A, ☎ +358 3 2544 020 (), [142]. Hostel located next to Tampere Cathedral. Single room €45, double room €65.  edit
  • Hotel Kauppi, Kalevan puistotie 2, ☎ +358 3 2535 353 (), [143]. A budget hotel/motel about 1 km from the city center, near Kauppi recreation forest. Single room €57/€72, double room €72/€89.  edit
  • Hotelli Iltatähti, Kyläojankatu 16, ☎ +358 3 3151 6262 (), [144]. Has moved from central Tampere to Messukylä which is situated four kilometers away from Tampere downtown. It is specialized in long term accommodation but offers rooms on nightly basis also. Only four rooms. Single room €70, double room €80.  edit
  • Hotelli Haapalinna, Rahtimiehenkatu 3, ☎ +358 3 3453 335 (), [145]. A budget hotel located 4 km from the city center in a residential area, near bus routes. Single room €56/€59, double room €72/€78.  edit
  • Omena Hotel Tampere, Hämeenkatu 28, [146]. The local branch of a budget hotel chain, centrally located on the main street. A self-service hotel (no reception desk). Room for 1-4 persons from €36 (price changes by the date of booking and occupancy rate).  edit
  • Summer Hotel Härmälä, Nuolialantie 48, ☎ +358 3 2651 355 (), [147]. Located on a lakeside location, 4 km from the city center in a residential area, near bus routes. Available only during summer, during wintertime houses students. Located next to the Härmälä camping area. Single room €38/€40, double room €52/€55.  edit

[edit] Mid-range

  • Cumulus Hämeenpuisto, Hämeenpuisto 47, ☎ +358 3 3862 000 (), [148]. Located on a boulevard at a southern part of the city.  edit
  • Cumulus Koskikatu, Koskikatu 5, ☎ +358 3 2424 111 (), [149]. Located in the center of the city next to the riverside park.  edit
  • Cumulus Pinja, Satakunnankatu 10, ☎ +358 3 2415 111 (), [150]. A small hotel, located in the center of the city.  edit
  • Holiday Inn Tampere, Yliopistonkatu 44, ☎ +358 3 2455 111 (), [151]. A business hotel, located right behind the railway station in the city centre.  edit
  • Scandic Tampere City, Hämeenkatu 1, ☎ +358 3 2446 111 (), [152]. Located right across the street from the railway station, on the main street.  edit
  • Sokos Hotel Villa, Sumeliuksenkatu 14, ☎ +358 20 1234 633 (), [153]. Built into an old grain storehouse, located right behind the railway station in the city centre.  edit
  • Holiday Club Tampere, Lapinniemenranta 12, ☎ +358 210 100 000, [154]. A hotel/spa next to a marina, about 1 km from the city center. Built into an old cotton mill with high rooms.  edit
  • Hotelli Victoria, Itsenäisyydenkatu 1, ☎ +358 3 2425 111 (), [155]. Located right behind the railway station in the city centre.  edit

[edit] Splurge

[edit] Contact

Internet cafes are not very common in Finland, and Tampere makes no exception. If you have your own laptop or a smartphone, some places offer free wireless internet (or WLAN as it is mostly called in Finland).

  • Wayne's Coffee, Aleksis Kiven katu 11 (In the small shopping/restaurant centre Siperia). A nice cafe with free WiFi  edit
  • Internet Madi, Tuomiokirkonkatu 36, [159]. Mon-Fri 10-22, Sat-Sun 11-22. Starting from €2 for a half an hour, price includes coffee/tea.  edit

[edit] Stay safe

In general, Finland is a fairly safe country, and Tampere is no exception. On weekend nights, intoxicated people wandering around city streets may be an annoyance, especially on April 30th, the eve of May Day, when it's a common habit to get drunk; and when nice weather has people on the move. Intoxicated Finns tend to be (sometimes over-)friendly and curious towards foreigners, though black people and arabs may sometimes experience racism. Just use your common sense, and steer clear of drunk people looking for a fight. And of course you have to look out for pickpockets in crowded areas.

There are no exceptional crime problems or 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 over 25ºC, in the winter months it can drop to around -30ºC for a day or two. Dressing warmly is a must. If you forget to bring winter clothing, you can always visit local shops for appropiate apparel. Also, watch out for slippery sidewalks in winter.

[edit] In case of Emergency

Ambulance, fire brigade, police: call 112.

Same number is used with both landline and mobile phone. The number works on any mobile phone, whether it is keylocked or not and with or without SIM card. Operators speak Finnish, English and Swedish.

Pharmacy Yliopiston Apteekki located at Hämeenkatu 16, near the main square is open daily from 7AM to 12PM.

[edit] Get out

  • In the unlikely event that the stress of city life gets to you in Tampere, escape for a day of pampering at the spa in Nokia. A day trip to Nokia is a good idea also if you want to familiarize with the founding place of Nokia corporation and the history behind it, even if the company no longer has any actual offices there.
  • Tampere is a good base for visiting Finland if you arrive by Ryanair directly to Tampere: it is quite possible to make day trips by train e.g. to the capital Helsinki, to the historic capital Turku or to the town of Hämeenlinna. Both Turku and Hämeenlinna have small mediaeval castles that can be visited.
  • For the down-hill skiing enthusiast, there are ski stations in Sappee (Pälkäne, 50 km from Tampere) [160] and Himos (Jämsä, 95 km from Tampere) [161].

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