Tampere

Amuri Museum of Workers' Housing

Amurin työläismuseokortteli

Amuri is a block of 19th-century wooden houses turned into an open-air museum that vividly displays how the working-class used to live between 1880s and 1970s. The houses form an almost closed inner court, and there is a nice old-fashioned cafe with seatings both indoors and in the courtyard. Highly recommended for history buffs, but interesting to others as well.

Tue–Sun 10:00–18:00 (summer only)·Adults €6, children (7-16) €1

Aunes Bridge

Aunessilta

The arch bridge from 1899. It crosses the longest inland fjord in the Nordics, also known as Aunessillansalmi.

Church of Alexander

Aleksanterin kirkko

This is a neo-gothic red brick building. Its interior is simple coloured wooden craftswork. It is surrounded by a small park containing a few old grave stones.

Duck Park

Sorsapuisto

Large park around a pond by 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.

Finlayson Church

Finlaysonin kirkko

The church in the Finlayson area was built in 1879 for the factory workers. It is a small church in Gothic revival style with a red brick façade. This is the favourite wedding church in Tampere.

Finlayson historic factory complex

Collection of historic factory buildings gradually extended from a textile mill founded by a Scotsman named James Finlayson in 1820. The oldest building, six-storey high-rise TR1, dates back to 1837. The complex also includes the factory church, now the most popular wedding church in Tampere, stable yards with arts and crafts shops and pony rides, and the owner's mansion with park and a restaurant. The factory buildings have been transformed into shops, restaurants, museums, movie theatres, and office spaces. Well worth visiting for anyone.

Finnish Labour Museum Werstas

Työväenmuseo Werstas

The exhibitions at Werstas offer an overview of the history of the industrial era, worker population and civil society from different perspectives. At Werstas, you can visit the Textile Industry Museum, the Steam Engine Museum and the Labour Museum's changing and permanent exhibitions. The huge steam engine that used to give power to the entire factory complex is the definite high point of Werstas.

Tue–Sun 11:00–18:00·Free

Haihara Mansion

Haiharan kartano

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.

Hatanpää Arboretum

A mansion with an arboretum (a collection of trees and plants), a rose garden and a park by Lake Pyhäjärvi.

Kaleva Church

Kalevan kirkko

Solid concrete modernist church designed by famous architect Reima Pietilä in 1966. It is likely the most important piece of architecture in Tampere. Locals call it "The Silo of Souls" (Sielujen siilo) and from the outside it's not hard to see why, but the stark interior is quite awe-inspiring: very high and big room without pillars, minimalist interior made of bright wood. Some Sundays, community members guide onto the roof, which offers a good view over Tampere, and let one have a nice view from the top into the church room.

Kauppi Observatory

Kaupin tähtitorni

The observatory owned by Tampereen Ursa ry, the association of astronomy enthusiasts.

Koskipuisto Park

Park by the Tammerkoski rapids in the centre of the city. Popular place to have a picnic or a beer on a sunny summer day.

Mannerheim Statue

Mannerheimin patsas

The statue from 1956, sculptured by Evert Porila. It represents General Mannerheim (1867–1951) during the conquest of Tampere in 1918 during the Finnish Civil War.

Market Hall

Built in 1901, the historic market hall is still a beautiful social focal point of the city. Lots of fresh goods, cafes, cheap local eateries and infinite people watching opportunities.

Mon–Fri 08:00–18:00, Sat 08:00–15:00

Messukylä Old Church

Messukylän vanha kirkko

The oldest building in Tampere, built in medieval times with parts dating back to the 1400s. Unheated and thus open only from May to August.

Moomin Museum

Muumimuseo

The only museum in the world devoted to the Tove Jansson characters, with original sketches and drawings.

Tue–Fri 09:00–19:00, Sat Sun 11:00–18:00·Adults €13, children (3–17) €6

Nootti

Lenin Museum

Formerly the Lenin Museum, this is a small and quirky museum that has expanded its scope from covering one of the founding fathers of Soviet communism, who met Stalin for the first time in this building still owned by the Workers Association of Tampere, to the broader story of Finland-Russia relations. Contains a lot of texts, maps and pictures as well as some artefacts. The museum shop is also worth visiting.

Mon–Fri 09:00–18:00, Sat Sun 11:00–16:00·Adults €5, children (7–16) €3

Näsi Park

Näsinpuisto

Nice park by Lake Näsijärvi, created in the early 20th century. 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, which sunk off Tampere in 1929, killing 138 people. By the memorial you'll have a great view over the lake Näsijärvi and Särkänniemi Amusement Park.

Old Church

Vanha Kirkko

The oldest church in Tampere centre is this yellow wooded church built in 1824. Four years later, a bell tower designed by Carl Ludwig Engel was added.

Police Museum

Poliisimuseo

A museum presenting the history of the Finnish police, established in 2004.

Tue–Fri 10:00–16:00, Sat 12:00–17:00·free

Rupriikki

Media museum focusing on the history and development of mass communications. There is also an exhibition on the history of the Internet, and a bunch of cool retro computer and video games in the GameCabinet.

Tue–Sun 10:00–18:00·Adults €5, children (7–16) and students €1

Shot tower

Haulitorni

Old and well-preserved shot tower. Shot towers are nowadays quite rare throughout the world, especially ones that are in good shape. No admittance though.

Southern Park

Eteläpuisto

A park with a fountain. From the park you can walk through the woods to Pyynikin uimaranta, the most popular beach in Tampere.

Spy Museum

Vakoilumuseo

Claims to be the first spy museum in the world, exhibiting everything from world-famous spies to their equipment such as spy cameras and secret weapons – many of which you can try. You can also attempt to fool the classic lie detector.

Jun–Aug: Mon–Sat 10:00–16:00, 11:00–17:00; Sep–May: daily 11:00–17:00·€8 for adults, €6 for children and students

Tampella historic factory complex

Founded in 1844, Tampella is the other major remaining historic factory complex in Tampere. Tampella factories started as iron works, but later were converted into a cotton mill and a textile factory, and finally into a machine shop and a groundwood plant. Operated until 1991, Tampella factories manufactured, among others, water turbines, ships, paper machines, steam engines, trains, artillery and airplane engines. Many of the beautiful original buildings remain and have been converted into theatres, museums and office spaces.

Tampere Cathedral

Tampereen tuomiokirkko

Imposing church in the National Romantic style, designed by architect Lars Sonck and completed in 1907. The interior has a series of famously macabre frescos by Hugo Simberg, including The Wounded Angel (once voted Finland's "national painting") and the Garden of Death.

Tampere City Library

Metso

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 basic idea was a 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, the capercaillie, known in Finnish as metso – now the building's nickname. Seen from above, the building looks like a bird carrying a shield. Houses the Tampere Mineral Museum.

Mon–Fri 09:30–20:00, Sat 09:30–15:00

Tampere Exhibition and Sports Centre

The Tampere Exhibition and Sports Centre (TESC), known locally as "Pirkkahalli", hosts various exhibitions and sports events. Opening hours and entry price depend on the event.

Tampere Mineral Museum

Tampereen kivimuseo

Not quite as boring as you'd think, the museum has plenty of gemstones cut and raw, including a 600-kg chunk of Brazilian amethyst, meteorites and even a couple of dinosaur eggs.

Tue–Fri 09:00–17:00, Sat Sun 10:00–18:00·Adults €4, children (7–16) and students €1

Tampere Orthodox Church

Tampereen ortodoksikirkko

Russian-style onion-domed church dating to 1896, serving Tampere's tiny Orthodox minority.