Tampere Tourist Attractions and Sightseeing

(Tampere, Pirkanmaa, Western Finland, Finland)



View of the city centreFamed for its winter sports at the Hervanta Ski Centre and summer boat trips around the central Mustalahti Harbour, many of the main tourist attractions in Tampere are seasonal and highly suitable for families. Close by are a number of popular beaches on the shores of Lake Pyhäjärvi, which are highly suitable for sunbathing and a quick dip in the water, while for younger children, the attractions within Tampere's acclaimed Moomin Valley Museum (Muumilaakso) have become a true highlight for many.

Perhaps the most popular of all the tourist attractions in Tampere is currently the enormous complex that is the Särkänniemi Adventure Park, otherwise known as the Särkänniemi Experience. Tourists visiting the park are greeted with a total of seven main attractions, which include thrilling roller coasters and fairground rides.


Also popular with Tampere tourists is the park's ever-pleasing Särkänniemen Delfinaario, a dolphinarium containing five friendly bottlenose dolphins that regularly perform in front of captivated crowds of up to 900 people. Do lookout for the underwater creatures within the Särkänniemen Akvaario aquarium, where you will discover rays, turtles and brightly coloured marine fish.

Photo of boat trip on Nasijarvi Lake

Boat Trips and Cruises

With so many lakes scattered around Tampere, many tourists choose to explore the lakes and plentiful Finnish wildlife by enjoying a leisurely cruise. Various packages are available, including cruises on Lake Pyhäjärvi, which are operated by Tammerlaivat and Suomen Hopealinja. Most boats depart from Laukontori harbour, taking in the scenery around Viikinsaari Island and heading towards appealing locations, such as Lempäälä, Sääksmäki and Visavuori. Times vary greatly according to the actual cruise itself.
Open hours: daily, seasonal variations
Admission: charge, discounts for children

Central view

Horse-Drawn Carriages (Vossikka)

Address: Kuninkaankatu 4, Tampere, FI-33200, Finland, FI
Tel: +358 03 223 4311
What better way to tour central Tampere than on a horse-drawn carriage? Available at Tallipiha, which was formerly used as a stable yard for the city's Finlayson factory, these historic carriages date back to the early 1900s and the tours can be tailored to meet the requirements of the passengers if required. Expect to sightsee around both Hämeenpuisto Park and Näsinpuisto Park, or many other locations close by.
Open hours: daily, seasonal variations
Admission: charge

Hervanta Ski Centre

Address: Turtolankatu, Hervanta, Tampere, FI-33710, Finland, FI
Tel: +358 03 318 0123
Snowy weather in the winter is a great excuse to pay a visit to the city's ever-popular Hervanta Ski Centre, which boasts a total of three separate ski slopes of varying difficulty, suiting beginners and the more experienced alike. Skiing and snowboarding equipment is always available for hire, while other attractions can be found dotted around this large suburb, such as the Tampere University of Technology (TUT), which is home to around 12,000 students. There is also a large shopping complex close by.
Open hours: winter months, daily, hours vary
Admission: charge

Photo of the city's beachfront

Beaches

Address: Pyynikin Uimaranta, Pyynikintie 13, Tampere, FI-33230, Finland, FI
Although Tampere is by no means on the coastline of Finland, the city is actually surrounded by many large expanses of water, particularly to the north and the west. Close to Lake Pyhäjärvi and directly south of the Pyynikki ridge, you will find two appealing sandy beaches, where many of the local Finns head during the summer to enjoy a spot of sunbathing and swimming, or a game of volleyball.
Open hours: daily - 24 hours
Admission: free

Mustalahti Harbour

Address: Tampere, FI-33230, Finland, FI
Situated within the very heart of the city and surrounded by waterfront attractions and many gift shops, Mustalahti Harbour can be found on the far southerly side of Lake Näsijärvi and is always popular with tourists, who come here to sail, have a meal at one of the seafood restaurants, or enjoy a cruise around the harbour itself, particularly at the weekends.
Open hours: daily - 24 hours
Admission: free

Picture of the Muumilaakso in the winter

Muumilaakso / Moominvalley (Moomin Valley Museum)

Address: Hämeenpuisto 20, Tampere, FI-33101, Finland, FI
Tel: +358 03 3146 6578
One of the most famous of all the tourist attractions within Tampere, Moomin Valley first opened in the mid-1980s and celebrates the famous stories by Tove Jansson. These popular books were actually translated into almost 40 different languages worldwide, and soon followed by animated children's television shows. The highlight is the rather eye-catching Moomin House, which is five-storeys high and bright blue in colour. Moomin Valley is actually part of the Tampere Art Museum and within the basement of the city's Metso library building.
Open hours: Tuesday to Friday - 09:00 to 17:00 (also on Mondays during the summer), Saturday and Sunday 10:00 to 18:00
Admission: charge, discounts for children

Image of rides at the Sarkanniemi Adventure Park

Särkänniemi Adventure Park (Särkänniemen Elämyspuisto)

Address: Tampereen Särkänniemi Oy, Tampere, FI-33230, Finland, FI
Tel: +358 03 248 8111
A vast and exciting theme park comprising a total of six roller coasters and many additional fast rides, Särkänniemi Adventure Park is also home to a popular aquarium attraction (Särkänniemi Aquarium) with turtles and giant catfish, a dolphinarium (Särkänniemen Delfinaario) with regular bottlenose dolphin shows, an art gallery (Sara Hildén Art Museum), and even a tall observation tower (Näsinneula Tower), which dominates much of the park and come complete with its own planetarium (Särkänniemen Planetaario) - see Tampere Landmarks. The Tornado ride is especially popular with thrillseekers and is an inverted roller coaster, while the Trombi Corkscrew and the Flume Rides are also firm favourites with the thousands of visitors who come here each year. Children will always enjoy the Särkänniemen Lasten Eläintarha, which is a small zoo with many friendly animals, such as rabbits and donkeys, and also features a playground and bouncy castle.
Open hours: April to September, daily - 10:00 to 16:00, extended hours during July and August; October to May, Monday to Friday - 10:00 to 16:00, Saturday and Sunday - 10:00 to 17:00
Admission: charge, discounts for children

Pirkan Kierros (Pirkka Circuit)

Address: Sarvijaakonkatu 32, Tampere, FI-33540, Finland, FI
Tel: +358 03 3126 1450
The Pirkka Circuit is a popular and extremely exciting sporting event spanning some seven months. Thousands of tourists gather each March to watch the cross-country skiing, which covers some 95 km / 60 miles. Summer attractions include cycling (Pirkka Cycling - up to 215 km / 134 miles), rowing (Pirkka Rowing - 35 km / 22 miles) and also an exciting running event (Pirkka Jog - 33 km / 21 miles) each October, followed soon after by an awards ceremony, where medals are presented to those who successfully completed the entire circuit.
Open hours: March to October, seasonal variations; box office, Monday to Friday - 09:30 to 16:30
Admission: free