Sights in Tampere
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Tampere Cathedral
Intriguing Tampere Cathedral is one of the most notable examples of National Romantic architecture in Finland. It was designed by Lars Sonck and completed in 1907. The famous artist Hugo Simberg was responsible for the frescoes and stained glass; once you’ve seen them you’ll appreciate that they were controversial at the time. A procession of ghostly childlike apostles holds the ‘garland of life’, the garden of death shows graves and plants tended by skeletal figures, while another image shows a wounded angel being stretchered off by two children. There’s a solemn, almost mournful feel about it; the altarpiece, by Magnus Enckell, is a dreamlike Resurrection in similar sty…
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Vakoilumuseo
This popular but off-beat spy museum under the Finlayson centre plays to the budding secret agent in all of us, with a large and well-assembled display of the devices of international espionage, mainly from the Cold War era. As well as histories of famous Finnish and foreign spies, it has numerous Bond-style gadgets and some interactive displays - write your name in invisible ink, tap a telephone call, intercept an email, or measure the microwave emissions of your mobile.
There are folders with English translations, but they are slightly unsatisfying. When it's busy, there are more activities for kids, who can take a suitability test for KGB cadet school.
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Lenin Museum
Admirers of bearded revolutionaries won’t want to miss the small Lenin museum, housed in the Workers’ Hall where Lenin and Stalin first met at a conference in 1905. His life is documented by way of photos and documents; it’s a little dry but it’s fascinating to see, for example, his old school report (a straight-A student) or a threadbare couch that the man slept on. One note, penned shortly before his death in 1924, recommends Comrade Stalin to be ousted from his position as General Secretary. There’s a crazy gift shop where you can buy Lenin pens, badges, T-shirts and other souvenirs of the Soviet era.
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Vakoilumuseo
The offbeat spy museum under the Finlayson centre plays to the budding secret agent in all of us, with a large and well-assembled display of devices of international espionage, mainly from the Cold War era. As well as histories of famous Finnish and foreign spies, it has numerous Bond-style gadgets and some interactive displays – write your name in invisible ink, tap a telephone call, intercept an email or measure the microwave emissions of your mobile. The folders with English translations are slightly unsatisfying though. For a little extra, the kids can take a suitability test for KGB cadet school.
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Vapriikki
Tampere’s premier exhibition space is Vapriikki, a bright, modern glass and steel gallery in the renovated Tampella textile mill. As well as regularly changing exhibitions on anything from bicycles to Buddhism, there’s a permanent display on Tampere’s history from prehistoric times to the present as well as a small but cluttered ice-hockey museum, with memorabilia of the players and teams that star in Finland’s sporting passion. There’s also a museum of shoes – Tampere was known for its footwear industry – and a pleasant cafe.
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Pyynikki Ridge & Observation Tower
Rising between Tampere's two lakes, this ridge is a forested area of walking and cycling trails with fine views on both sides. It rises 85m above the shores of the lake; this is an Everest by Finnish standards and claims to be the highest gravel ridge in the world. There's an old stone observation tower on the ridge, which also has a great café serving Tampere's best doughnuts.
You can easily walk or drive to the tower, or take westbound bus 15 to its terminus and walk back from there along the ridge.
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Tammerkoski Rapids
A walk along the banks of the Tammerkoski rapids gives a good feel for Tampere's industrial past. From the tourist office, cross Hämeenkatu and walk north along the west bank of the river passing another set of man-made rapids before crossing the bridge at the Finlayson Centre and wandering up to the old Tampella mills and Vapriikki Centre. Return along the east bank, past the Sokos Hotel Tammer and through Koskipuisto, a popular riverside park.
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Tallipiha Stable Yards
In the attractive Näsinpuisto park, Tallipiha Stable Yards is a restored collection of 19th-century stable yards and staff cottages that now house artists and craftworkers making handicrafts, chocolates, ceramics and shoes. Traditional Midsummer and Christmas celebrations are held here and you can ride in a horse-drawn carriage or recharge your batteries at the Russian-style Café Vatruska.
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Finlayson Centre
The Finlayson Centre is inside a rejuvenated cotton mill founded by Scot industrialist James Finlayson in the 19th century; it was the first building in the Nordic countries to boast electric lighting, which went on in 1882. Although the massive red brick building remains intact, the interior has now been converted into a modern complex of restaurants, bars, shops, exhibition spaces and a cinema.
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Vapriikki Museum Centre
The Vapriikki Museum Centre is Tampere's premier exhibition space, in a renovated Tampella mill factory building. As well as changing exhibitions throughout the year, you'll also find the Finnish Hockey Hall of Fame, a small display dedicated to Finland's winter passion, with photos, jerseys, sticks and pucks galore. Pride of place goes to the 1995 World Champions trophy.
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Muumilaakso
Explore the creation of Tove Jansson’s enduringly popular Moomins in the Moomin Valley museum in the basement of the public library building. It contains original drawings and elaborate models depicting stories from Moomin Valley (English explanations available), computer displays, toys and other memorabilia. Naturally, there’s a gift shop.
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Heinolan Lintutarhat
Right by the bus station, Heinolan Lintutarhat is a bird zoo with many Finnish species, all injured creatures rescued from the wild, as well as exotic varieties. The owls are particularly impressive, but some of the parrots look ragged to say the least. You can see some of the birds outside opening hours, a nice way to wait for your bus.
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Labour Museum
The Labour Museum is dedicated to the history of working and of workers’ movements, with a variety of changing exhibitions covering social history and labour industries. There’s particularly good coverage of the steam engine, with the highlight of one of the enormous wheels that powered up the Finlayson factory in the 19th century.
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Sara Hildén Art Museum
The Särkänniemi amusement park contains the Sara Hildén art museum, which has a collection of international and Finnish modern art and sculpture amassed by Sara Hildén, a local businessperson and art collector. The space is normally devoted to excellent exhibitions showcasing particular artists. There are good views from the cafe.
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Amurin Työläismuseokortteli
An entire block of 19th-century wooden houses, including 32 apartments, a bakery, a shoemaker, two general shops and a cafe is preserved in the Amuri Museum of Workers’ Housing. It’s one of the most realistic house-museums in Finland – many homes look as if the tenant has left just moments ago to go shopping.
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Amuri Museum of Workers' Housing
An entire block of 19th-century wooden houses, including 32 apartments, a bakery, a shoemaker, two general shops and a café is preserved in the Amuri Museum of Workers' Housing. It's one of the most realistic home museums in Finland - many homes look as if the tenant had left just moments ago to go shopping.
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Museum of Dolls & Costumes
This fascinating museum at Hatanpää Manor, south of the city, has more than 4000 dolls on display. The oldest and rarest date from the 12th century. There are also temporary exhibitions on various doll-related themes. Hatanpää Manor house is surrounded by the large Arboretum Park.
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Näsinneula Observation Tower
The 168m-high Näsinneula Observation Tower is in the Särkänniemi amusement park. This is the tallest such tower in these northern lands and it alone is worth the visit, with spectacular views of the city and surrounding lakes. There’s a revolving restaurant near the top.
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Moominvalley
In the basement of the public library, Moominvalley is a whimsical exhibition based on the children's books of Tove Jansson. It features original drawings and tableaux models from the world of Moomintrolls - a Finnish cultural phenomenon. Kids and fans of Moominworld will love it.
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Sara Hilden Taidemuseo
In the Särkänniemi amusement park, adults may want to visit the Sara Hilden Taidemuseo , which is included in the park ticket. It displays changing exhibitions of modern and Finnish art and sculpture from the 4500-strong collection of the Sara Hilden Foundation.
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Aquarium
The aquarium inside the Särkänniemi amusement park has limited information in English and isn’t especially memorable, with the Finnish fish (including some rare sturgeon relatives) more interesting than the colourful hobby-tank favourites.
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Pyynikki Ridge Observation Tower
This stone observation tower is on the ridge, and has a cafe at the bottom serving Tampere’s best doughnuts. You can easily walk to the tower, or take westbound bus 15 to its terminus and walk back from there along the ridge.
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Näsinneula Observation Tower
At 168m Näsinneula Observation Tower is the tallest such tower in these Northern lands and it is worth the visit, with spectacular views of the city and its surrounding lakes. There's a revolving restaurant near the top.
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Hiekan Taidemuseo
The collection of Kustaa Hiekka (1855–1937), a wealthy industrialist, is contained in the Hiekka museum. There are paintings, furniture and fine old gold and silver items in the impressive building.
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Kivimuseo
Adjacent to the Moomin museum is the small mineral museum, with a huge array of delicate, spectacular crystal formations and vivid colours, as well as fossils that include dinosaur eggs.
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