Vantaa - Tampere

Tampere has moved far from the hillbilly image of the olden days and now the city caters to hipsters. The international hipster index placed Tampere 26^th on the list when the number of services favored by the young city dwellers was compared to a group of hundred thousand people. And it’s true – Tampere has a quickly developing café, restaurant and design scene. There are only a few hundred meters from the bus station to Aleksanterinkatu, around where the urban culture of Tampere is the most vibrant. Aleksanterinkatu has trendy restaurants and cafés side by side and also a great number of Design on Tampere boutiques are located in these parts of the city.

Black sausage at Tammela and Doughnuts in Pyynikki

Trends aside, Tampere – or Manse as it is  nick named – also values traditions. Streetmarkets are a big part of the urban culture and of all the markets the one in Tammela is the most traditional. At the Tammelantori market you will definitely get to know the Tampere dialect and other regional classics, one of which is black. Nearly every market in Tampere sells the traditional treat of blood and groat sausage called Mustamakkara – translated directly into English as Black Sausage. Trust us, it tastes better than it sounds!

Moro Sky bar in the city center and the Pyynikki observation tower on the Pyynikki ridge offer a great view of the city from a higher perspective. At the Pyynikki observation tower café you’ll also get the best doughnuts in the city, that alone is a good reason to visit.

In Tampere you can get into a sauna at a restaurant

Tampere is also a nice city to get to know with your feet on the ground. You’ll get a great view of the city from different points of view by cycling around the lake Pyhäjärvi. The trip is around 30 kilometers long but a very blissful one. At Pyynikki and Pispala you get to climb steeper hills after which you can reward yourself at the Rajaportin Sauna on the Pispala ridge. The sauna is the oldest public sauna still in use in Finland and the soothing heat is l-o-v-e-l-y! If you wish to dip into a lake to cool off while at a sauna, you can do so at one of the many lakeside saunas, which can be found even in the city center. The Sauna Restaurant Kuuma by the Laukontori market square and boat quay has an excellent location if you want to continue your evening at the close by ship restaurants or bar and restaurant terraces in the city center. As with Tampere in general, the restaurants have a relaxed atmosphere.

If you value city culture, nature, and a relaxed atmosphere above all, Tampere is a great city to visit for a weekend or a longer period of time.