1. Discover the early world of espionage at Spy Museum

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Espionage is as old as humanity and can be traced back to the biblical times when the Israelites sent Caleb and Joshua to spy on the city of Jericho. Though the Spy Museum in Tampere has no biblical or religious connotations, it will give you a glimpse into the fun and fascinating world of espionage, especially during the Cold War era. You will find documents, relics, and tools that tell the stories of real-life spies back in the days. Some of the interesting items you will find in this museum include interactive exhibits, a lie detector, and numerous Bond-style spy gadgets. If you so wish, you can choose to take a lie detector test, or even take a suitability test for the dreaded KGB cadet school if you are so much engrossed into the world of spies.

Spy Museum

Address: Satakunnankatu 18, 33210 Tampere, Finland

Website: Spy Museum

Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 10am - 6pm; Sun: 12pm - 6pm

Price: 8 USD

2. Enjoy with the younger ones at Sarkanniemi

Sarkanniemi is not your ordinary amusement park. It is a complex boasting of a holiday’s worth of fun and entertainment. Within this complex, there is a carnival gaming area, an aquarium, a planetarium, and the popular Nasinneula Observation Center. The park is also home to the world’s first Angry Birds-themed land. With these and many other attractions, the park has something for every member of the family, and it is a great spot if you are looking for a wholesome family entertainment experience.

Sarkanniemi

Address: 33230 Tampere, Finland

Website: Sarkanniemi

Price: From 30 USD

3. Check out the stellar views from Pyynikki Observation Tower

Pyynikki Observation Tower has an observation deck standing at 153 meters (502 feet) above the sea level. It is one of the highest points in the city, and one of the best places to have a sweeping aerial view of the entire cityscape, and the neighboring Nordic landscapes. Adjacent to the tower is a forest that is also worth visiting for intimate contact with the peace and serenity of the softwoods.

Pyynikki Observation Tower

Address: Näkötornintie 20, 33230 Tampere, Finland

Website: Pyynikki Observation Tower

Opening hours: 9am - 8pm (daily)

Price: 3 USD

4. Marvel at the well-manicured Hatanpaa Park Arboretum

Hatanpaa Park Arboretum is a refined park known for its easy lakeside perambulations during the summer months. Inside the park, you will be greeted with well-manicured grounds, including tall, old deciduous trees, flower beds of crocuses and a beautiful rose garden that enthuses life during the warm summer months. The park is also home to Hatanpaa Manor – a grand house designed in the stately neoclassical style, with authentic English layout. Enjoy the history at the manor, or stroll the beautiful landscapes, including the shores of the Lake Pyhajarvi, admiring its splendor and the gracious waterfowls that call it home.

Hatanpaa Park Arboretum

Address: Hatanpään puistokuja, 33900 Tampere, Finland

Website: Hatanpaa Park Arboretum

Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)

5. Admire the beautiful frescoes at Tampere Cathedral

The Tampere Cathedral is Lutheran Church constructed in the early 20th century, designed after the Nordic National Romantic Style. The cathedral’s interior features spooky gothic frescoes, and the main attraction in these frescoes is not only in the displayed artistic prowess but also the controversy that surrounds them. The church’s interior has a depiction of a serpent on the roof, which the parishioners believed was wrong because it represented corruption and evil. The parishioners were also not happy with the image of the wounded angel appearing on the church’s paintings. Then there are also the three figures of the Grim Reaper which appear on The Garden of Death, all adding to the controversies in the church. It is a place worth visiting if you love history and controversies.

Tampere Cathedral

Address: Tuomiokirkonkatu, 33100 Tampere, Finland

Opening hours: 11am - 3pm (daily)

Price: 3 USD

6. Drop by Tampere Mineral Museum in Vapriikki

Tampere Mineral Museum is located in the Vapriikki complex, and it stores a huge range of jewelry, rocks, minerals, seashells, and sculptures collected from different parts of the world. Notable items in the museum include several pieces of meteorites, stone carvings, and fossils, including dinosaur eggs believed to be millions of years old. If you are interested in art or natural history, then you have every reason to check out this museum.

Tampere Mineral Museum in Vapriikki

Address: Alaverstaanraitti 5, 33101 Tampere, Finland

Opening hours: Tue - Sun: 10am - 6pm (closed on Mon)

7. Explore modern art and sculptures at Sara Hilden Art Museum

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At the Sara Hilden Art Museum, you will find a collection of both Finnish and international modern art and sculptures collection by Sara Hilden for nearly a century – between 1905 and 1993. Sara Hilden was a celebrated local business person and a collector who has left behind an incredible collection of various pieces of art. The museum is also known to host various exhibitions, and if you will be lucky to find one in progress, then you will have a chance to appreciate the diversity in art and culture in this part of the world.

Sara Hilden Art Museum

Address: Laiturikatu 13, 33230 Tampere, Finland

Website: Sara Hilden Art Museum

Opening hours: Tue - Sun: 10am - 6pm (closed on Mon)

Price: 14 USD

8. Learn about the origin of the USSR at Lenin Museum

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You will be amazed to learn that it was in the Lenin Museum – a former Tampere Worker’s Hall, that Lenin and Stalin first met, and agreed to allow Finland’s independence, while at the same making plans for the formation of the Soviet Union. The museum is rich in history, featuring history books, kitschy objects, USSR literature, and life-sized replicas of the Georgian monster and Lenin.

Lenin Museum

Address: Hämeenpuisto 28, 33200 Tampere, Finland

Website: Lenin Museum

Opening hours: Tue - Sun: 11am - 5pm (closed on Mon)

Price: 9 USD

9. Climb up Nasinneula Observation Tower for a fantastic view

Nasinneula Observation Tower stands at 168 meters (551 feet) above the sea level, making it the tallest observation tower in Scandinavia. The structure was constructed in 1971 and modeled after Seattle’s Space Needle. From the tower’s observation deck, you will be treated to the pretty views of Nasi Park, the lakes, the cityscape and the rich dark green woodlands in the neighboring regions. In addition to enjoying the views, and the thrill of the high-speed elevator ride to the top, you will have the pleasure of enjoying a meal in a revolving restaurant one story below the observation deck.

Nasinneula Observation Tower

Address: Laiturikatu 1, 33230 Tampere, Finland

Website: Nasinneula Observation Tower

Opening hours: Tue - Sat: 11am - 11:30pm; Sun: 11am - 8:30pm (closed on Mon)

Price: 11 USD

10. Celebrate Finland’s favorite franchise at Moomin Museum

Moomin Museum is dedicated to the Moomins – an animated character created by Tove Johnson, and which has grown to become part and parcel of the pop culture, not just in Finland, but also across the globe. It is the world’s only Moomin Museum, and it boasts an incredible collection of interactive displays, illustrations, and a lot more. If you are looking for an attraction that is entirely Finnish, then you should prioritize a visit to this museum where you will find more than 2000 Moomin items.

Moomin Museum

Address: Yliopistonkatu 55, 33100 Tampere, Finland

Website: Moomin Museum

Opening hours: Tue - Wed: 9am - 5pm; Thu - Fri: 9am - 7pm; Sat - Sun: 10am - 5pm (closed on Mon)

Price: 10 USD

11. Discover more about industrial history at Finlayson Factory Area

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Finlay Factory Area provides incredible insights into the industrial history of Tampere and Finland. The area features a factory, cottages and a dining area constructed by Wilhelm Von Nottbeck for his workers who couldn’t afford a place to eat or sleep. In addition to providing food and shelter for the factory workers, he also built a church and two schools for their children. A visit to the factory area will give you a glimpse of the life of a typical worker back in the days, and you will also appreciate how Wilhelm was mindful of the people who worked for him.

Finlayson Factory Area

Address: Finlaysoninkatu, 33210 Tampere, Finland

Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)

Price: Free

12. Get a glimpse of worker life at Museum of Workers’ Housing

A visit to the Museum of Workers’ Housing will show what the life of a normal worker was during Tampere’s industrial boom. The museum covers an entire city block, including a total of five residential buildings with each representing the various stages of the city’s industrial development. You will learn nearly all aspects of a typical industrial worker’s life, including how they lived, how they celebrated weddings and birthdays, and even how they spent their spare time among other aspects of their lives.

Museum of Workers’ Housing

Address: Kirstinkuja 4, 00510 Helsinki, Finland

Website: Museum of Workers’ Housing

Opening hours: Wed - Sun: 11am - 5pm (closed on Mon & Tue)

13. Cherish your leisure time at Flowpark Varala

Flowpark is a dream come true for every hiking enthusiast visiting Tampere. The park is family-friendly, with nearly eight hiking trails of varying difficulties. It is quiet, peaceful and full of the green, towering softwoods, where birds and crickets sing melodious tunes as if to entertain you during your hike. Whether you need a challenging physical activity, or you just want to get lost in the beauty of nature through a leisure stroll, this is one of the best places where you will get an enjoyable experience.

Flowpark Varala

Address: Varalankatu 36, 33240 Tampere, Finland

Website: Flowpark Varala

Opening hours: Wed - Sun: 12pm - 6pm (closed Mon & Tue)

Price: Free

14. Pop in at the Finnish Hockey Hall of Fame

Finnish Hockey Hall of Fame is located within the Vapriikki museum complex and it is where you find detailed documentation, complete with thousands of exhibits, about the history of ice hockey in the country. Though ice hockey was introduced in the 1920s in Finland, it was not until the 1960s that it became a major sport following the construction of the first indoor arena in 1965. Since then, Finland has won everything there is to be won in ice hockey in every imaginable global competition. At the museum, you will learn about the chronology of the sport, including the equipment, as well as the evolution of its training over the years.

Finnish Hockey Hall of Fame

Address: Alaverstaanraitti 5, 33100 Tampere, Finland

Opening hours: Tue - Sun: 10am - 6pm (closed on Mon)

Price: 2 USD

15. Swing by The Finnish Labour Museum Werstas

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The Finnish Labour Museum has exhibitions on the labor and social history industries of Tampere and Finland in general. What you find here is a reconstruction of various historical Finnish workplaces, a shop and printing press for the textile industry, and a hall with a gigantic steam engine that was used to power the Finlayson factory during the industrial boom.

The Finnish Labour Museum Werstas

Address: Väinö Linnan aukio 8, 33210 Tampere, Finland

Website: The Finnish Labour Museum Werstas

Opening hours: Tue - Sun: 11am - 6pm (closed on Mon)

Price: Free

16. Sample Scandinavian culinary delights at Viikinkiravintola Harald

Great service and delicious food await you at Viikinkiravintola Harald. The restaurant is themed after the Vikings, with the décor, waiters uniform and the music all speaking one language – Viking. Though the meals are a bit touristy, they have a decent selection of Scandinavian delights as well, and you will also enjoy the large portions that they serve.

Viikinkiravintola Harald

Address: Hämeenkatu 23, 33200 Tampere, Finland

Website: Viikinkiravintola Harald

Opening hours: Mon - Wed: 11am - 11pm; Thu - Fri: 11am - 12am; Sat:12pm - 12am; Sun: 3pm - 10pm

17. Experience Tampere nightlife at Viihdemaailma Ilona

If you would love to sample the nightlife in Tampere and learn how the Nordic nightlife varies from the rest of the regions, then a good place to visit is the Viihdemaailma Illona night club. It is one of the most diverse night clubs in the city, and it offers everything that a sane adult may need for a good night out. One door will lead you to four different bars and a restaurant. Whether you prefer karaoke, live music, soothing Saana drinks, or you prefer to indulge in authentic Nordic delicacies with great tunes playing in the background, this is where you get it all. All the establishments feature top-class players in their respective industries, hence, you are assured of nothing but a great night out.

Viihdemaailma Ilona

Address: Verkatehtaankatu 3, 33100 Tampere, Finland

Website: Viihdemaailma Ilona

Opening hours: Tue - Sat: 10pm - 5am (closed on Sun & Mon)

18. Get the shopping experience at Duo Hervanta

Whether you are looking for a souvenir or you just want to pick a few items for your sustenance during your stay in Tampere, you have to check out the shopping experience at Duo Hervanta. This is one of the most preferred shopping centers in the region. And just like most malls, it houses a variety of shops with merchandise from both national and international brands. It also has a decent collection of shops dealing in local wares which will make good souvenirs for your trip.

Duo Hervanta

Address: Pietilänkatu 2, 33720 Tampere, Finland

Website: Duo Hervanta

Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 7am - 10pm; Sat: 8am - 10pm; Sun: 10am - 10pm

19. Savor delicious brunch at Pella’s Café

Pella’s Café is very popular among both the locals and visitors in need of a relaxed place with great food and atmosphere for brunches, especially during the weekends. The café is located at a street corner, and in addition to offering incredible views of the city streets, the café has a delicious assortment of foods, including gluten-free options so that everyone’s needs are well taken care of. Their menus are wide and varied, and it doesn’t matter whether you walk in for lunch, breakfast or dinner - you will be assured of a lot of food to choose from.

Pella’s Café

Address: Hämeenkatu 14, 33100 Tampere, Finland

Website: Pella’s Café

Opening hours: Mon - Thu: 7:30am - 8pm; Fri: 7:30am - 9pm; Sat: 9am - 9pm; Sun: 10:30am - 8pm

20. Appreciate fine arts at The Hiekka Art Museum

The Hiekka Art Museum was founded by Kustaa Hiekka – a highly regarded goldsmith in the Finnish jewelry industry. The museum is housed in a well-kept building, and it contains interesting collections of silverware, antique furniture, and Finnish art, mostly by Kustaa Hiekka during his more than 40 trips across the world. The displays also have information about the original owners of the items, including a brief history of their families. It is a great place to visit if you are a friend of fine arts and gold jewelry.

The Hiekka Art Museum

Address: Pirkankatu 6, 33210 Tampere, Finland

Website: The Hiekka Art Museum

Opening hours: Tue - Thu: 3pm - 6pm; Sun: 12pm - 3pm (closed on Mon, Fri & Sat)

21. Pay a visit to Tampere Art Museum

The Tampere Art Museum appeals to art lovers and anyone who cherishes Moomings and the works of Tuva Jansen. The museum has an incredible collection of Mooming paintings, as well as some of the most revered paintings of Finnish animals, art and culture. Downstairs has a collection of paintings from around the city, while upstairs has works by celebrated Finnish artists such as Helene Schjerfbeck, Hugo Simberg, Alvar Aalto, and Jean Sebelius among others.

Tampere Art Museum

Address: Tampere Art Museum Puutarhakatu 34, 33230 Tampere, Finland

Website: Tampere Art Museum

Opening hours: Tue - Thu: 9am - 5pm; Sat - Sun: 10am - 6pm (closed on Mon)

Price: 3 USD

22. Visit the 100-year old Art Pispala

The art gallery is over a century old, and it houses paintings from different artistic directions gathered from exhibitions and collections across the globe. Displayed within the gallery are works of over 100 artists depicting nearly every imaginable form of art. In addition to admiring the beautiful displays, you are also free to sell or buy great Finnish art from the gallery.

Art Pispala

Address: Pispalan valtatie 13A1, 33250 Tampere, Finland

Website: Art Pispala

Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 10am - 5pm; Sat: 10am - 2pm (closed on Sun)

23. Discover the life of Emil Aaltonen at Emil Aaltonen Museum

Emil Aaltonen was a leading industrialist in the Tampere region, and he is remembered as a demanding employer, and a person who had deep beliefs in fairness. The museum outlines his life, as well as permanent displays of some of his greatest art collections. Additionally, the museum houses exhibit by masters of the older Finnish painting, with the notable names being Albert Edefelt, von Wright-brotherst, Pekka Halonen, Fanny Churberg, and Alexander Laureus among others.

Emil Aaltonen Museum

Address: Mariankatu 40, 33200 Tampere, Finland

Website: Emil Aaltonen Museum

Opening hours: Wed: 12pm - 6pm; Sat - Sun: 12pm - 4pm (closed on Mon, Tue, Thu & Fri)

24. Replenish your soul at Soukonvuoren Nature Reserve

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

The reserve is relatively new, having been established in 2011, but it has emerged as one of the best places to spend time outdoors in Tampere. With a total area of 46 hectares (113.6 acres), it is the third-largest nature reserve in the city. It is a haven of fresh nature, with slightly mountainous terrain and an incredible diversity of plants – most of them being deciduous trees. With all the nature and greenery around, the park is ideal for the weary soul in need of ultimate relaxation in a place devoid of all the distractions of modern life.

Soukonvuoren Nature Reserve

Address: 33560 Tampere, Finland

Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)

Price: Free

25. Get pampered at Hampin Kattosauna

Hampin Kattosauna – the crazy rooftop sauna, is one of the places in Tampere worth checking out if you want to take in some steam and release toxins through your skin. But in addition to the sauna part of it, the venue is ideal for organizing private parties or groups of up to 30 people. It is centrally located, and this implies easy access from the city center. It is mainly popular with students, who also enjoy special rates when they come in for their events. Otherwise, for the average traveler, it is a great spot to consider for your pampering needs.

Hampin Kattosauna

Address: Kauppakatu 5, 33210 Tampere, Finland

Website: Hampin Kattosauna

Opening hours: Mon - Thu: 6pm - 1am; Sat: 6pm - 1am (closed on Fri & Sun)

26. Visit Viikinsaari Island for interesting outdoor activities

Viikinsaari Island is located right in the middle of Lake Pyhajarvi and access is through ferries departing from Laukontori. During winter, however, you can simply walk or ski across the lake to the island. The island usually hosts a variety of games, classes, and events, including children, dance lessons and live music at night. You can also go boating or fishing, or rent game equipment from the island’s office and indulge in any sort of fun activity you feel like.

Viikinsaari Island

Address: Tampere 33210, Finland

Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)

Price: Free

27. Go biking at Iso Vilunen BMX Racing Track

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If you are a cyclist and you think of yourself as an adrenalin junkie, then you should not leave Tampere without trying the biking experience at Iso Vilunen BMX Racing Track. This is a popular racing track for all types of bikers and it has never disappointed in delivering a thrilling experience for both the young and old. If you are not a biker, or you don’t love going at great speeds, you can still visit the track as a spectator. It is always full of happy souls eager to enjoy the neck-breaking speeds of the tracks.

Iso Vilunen BMX Racing Track

Address: Vilusen puistokatu 21,Tampere, Finland

28. Tour the famous Tampere Market Hall

No trip to Tampere will be complete without a stop at the famous market hall. The Tampere Market Hall holds the record for being the largest enclosed market hall among all the Nordic countries. The hall was constructed in 1901 and it houses a variety of shops that will give you nearly everything you may need to buy in Tampere. It has high-quality butchers, fishmongers, cheese sellers, vegetable stalls, bakeries, and a variety of stores, vending both locally and internationally sourced goods. Other than the shopping experience you will have at the market hall, a visit is also a chance to sample some of the simple, yet delicious Nordic delicacies prepared in the myriad of the food stalls.

Tampere Market Hall

Address: Hämeenkatu 19, 33200 Tampere, Finland

Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 8am - 6pm (closed on Sun)

Witness the Nordic beauty and culture at Tampere

There is no denying that the Nordic region has a lot to offer to her visitors. It is a region of absolute beauty, with fascinating landscapes, interesting weather phenomena, adaptive cultures, and unique lifestyles. Tampere is not a very popular tourist destination because it is usually overshadowed by Helsinki and other firebrand destinations in the area. However, after going through the list of things to do in Tampere, Finland, above, you realize that it is a destination worthy of a visit just like any other top destination in the country. Make plans for a visit, and you won’t be disappointed by the decision.