Things to see and do Tampere

At the very top of the tower, you'll have a superb panoramic view! After taking the elevator to the top of the 122-meter tower, feel free to climb a little and take the steep stairs to the tower's terrace. From here, the view is unobstructed over Tampere, a highly industrial city seen from above. To reward you for your climb, a café welcomes you on the first floor with hot drinks and delicious doughnuts.

More than just an amusement park, Särkänniemi is in fact a vast area featuring an art museum (with beautiful temporary exhibitions), an observation tower (Näsinneula and its panoramic restaurant), an aquarium, a planetarium and a farm (open only in summer). The park itself offers no fewer than thirty attractions, suitable for young and old alike. A very popular outing for Tampere families!

It is housed in former ceramic factories. There are several permanent exhibitions devoted to innovations, the Tammerkoski waterfalls and the civil war that raged in Tampere in 1918 (the exhibition is not recommended for children under 13). You'll also find the Post Museum, the Toy Museum, the Natural History Museum and the Finnish Hockey Museum, where you can test your aiming skills with the goal simulator. A must-see!

Original idea and very fun museum where you can discover the techniques and other tricks to introduce yourself with the life of a Mata Hari or a James Bond. Discover their methods of phone-tapping and the lie detector, their weapons and pass the test of secret agent (€5 extra)!

A rather intriguing museum located on the second floor (and a half) of a well-built building (with beautiful stained glass windows in the hall). Organized into different sections, it focuses as much on Lenin's history as on that of the USSR in general, with a particular emphasis on its links with Finland. There are numerous historical documents, a small store and original period archives. A special mention for the checkroom, which is well worth a visit. A pleasant visit, if not compulsory!

Tampere, Finland, is the country's most attractive city, according to the Finns! Its secret is its originality and ability to surprise again and again: there's always something new going on! A practical and reasonably-sized city, it's situated between two lakes and offers a wide variety of activities in both the natural and urban environment, and is even perfect for walking! As the sauna capital of the world, you absolutely must try one of the 60 public saunas in the region during your visit.

A relatively small museum in terms of size, but impressive in terms of the breadth of exhibits on display, especially when said exhibits come straight from the mysterious world of espionage! You'll have the opportunity to discover new and unsuspected facets of an opaque world, learn about famous spies and even try to solve some mysteries: cryptography, Morse code and the secret chamber. Please note that photography is not permitted during the tour. Don't forget to ask for the tour booklet in French (a rarity in Finland)!

Completed in 1966 to designs by Reima Pietilä, it's certainly one of the country's most impressive churches. Its fish-inspired exterior initially gives the impression of a large, boring high-rise building. Once inside, however, what a surprise to discover no pillars at all! As for the exceptional acoustics, combined with the incredible luminosity and purity of lines, the result is a great sense of freedom! A benchmark in contemporary sacred architecture, it can accommodate 1,120 worshippers.

Built in 1907 according to the plans of the architect Lars Sonck (1870-1956). It is one of the most representative examples of the Finnish National Romantic style with its grey granite and spectacular open nave. The other frescoes depict twelve naked boys wearing a garland of roses symbolizing the weight of the earthly miseries. On the ceiling, angel wings, the flag bearers of goodness, flutter around an apple snake, symbol of evil. Amazing and quite rare.

The museum presents the living conditions of the workers in the 1880s. You can visit more than thirty dwellings such as the cooperative, the paper mill, the bakery, the shoemaker's workshop, the wood shed and the traditional sauna. After the visit, you can have a drink in the café of the Amurin Helmi Museum (open even in winter) or in the Amurin café where it is possible to have lunch. Guided tours are also available.

A world of tastes and smells opens up to you. Stop to taste the local products, we particularly recommend that you try the speciality of Tampere; the Mustamakkara. This is a black pudding with rye that is eaten with its cranberry jam and accompanied by cold milk. You should find what you are looking for. It is indeed no more and no less than the largest covered market in northern Europe! It's like being in an old movie. An obligatory stopover to make in Tampere as the charm operates here!

A relatively small but charming museum of modern art, the Tampere Museum of Modern Art is housed in a magnificent brick building (the oldest of its kind in the city). On the program: numerous temporary exhibitions featuring national and Scandinavian artists who have won prizes in competitions. Although the works are sometimes a little difficult to grasp, they are well contextualized. There's also a well-stocked store. A worthwhile visit if you're in the area.