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A few hours outdoors
You don’t always need to set aside a whole day to enjoy nature. Tampere has plenty of nature spots where you can quickly leave the hustle and bustle of the city behind and explore forests, lakes and rocky landscapes. A shorter outing is also easy to fit into a city break.
Check out these three tips below for a few hours of hassle-free exploring in Tampere.
1. Nature trails
Tampere has plenty of nature trails to explore across the city, perfect for a short escape into nature. Head to the lakeside and marsh scenery of Tohloppi, explore Viikinsaari Island, go birdwatching at Lake Iidesjärvi or wander along the forest trails of Niihama.
2. Explore the local nature by tram
Many of Tampere’s nature spots are easy to reach without a car. Hop on a tram and head to the scenic Pyynikki ridge, explore the extensive trail network in Kauppi, or discover the forests and lakes around Hervanta, including Lake Hervantajärvi and Lake Suolijärvi.
3. Enjoy a picnic by the campfire
You can also combine a few-hour hike with a snack break by the campfire. In Tampere, there are campfire sites and lean-to shelters close to the city and in more wooded hiking areas.
Day hikes in Tampere and the surrounding area
If you have a whole day to spend outdoors, Tampere and the surrounding region offer plenty of options. Pack some snacks and head out for a day hike through forests, along lakeshores or amid the stunning landscapes of nearby national parks. Check out our tips for a day hike below.
The destinations are listed in order of their distance from Tampere city centre.
Kintulammi Hiking and Nature Reserve
Kintulammi Hiking and Nature Reserve is located in northern Tampere, about a 35-minute drive from the city centre. The area has around 18 kilometres of marked trails, with several circular routes to choose from for hikes of different lengths.
Along the trails, you’ll find several lean-to shelters, campfire sites and other rest areas. Kirkkokivi lean-to shelter is one of the main rest spots in the area and can be reached from the P1 car park via an accessible path of around 300 metres.
Ritajärvi Nature Reserve
Ritajärvi Nature Reserve in Sastamala offers peaceful lake and forest scenery about an hour’s drive from Tampere city centre. Choose from three marked trails ranging from around 2 to 5 kilometres, or combine them into an approximately 8-kilometre loop around all three lakes.
The moderately challenging trails lead through old forests and past three small, secluded lakes. Rocky terrain and large boulders give the landscape its distinctive character.
Seitseminen National Park
Located in Ylöjärvi and Ikaalinen, Seitseminen National Park is about an hour’s drive from Tampere city centre. Around 60 kilometres of marked trails offer plenty of ways to explore the park’s old-growth forests, peaceful mires and scenic ridges. There are options for everything from shorter outings to full-day hikes and longer treks.
Shelters, campfire sites and overnight facilities are available along the routes. Saari-Soljanen also has an accessible trail and facilities.
Laipanmaa Hiking Area
Laipanmaa Hiking Area, located in Kangasala and Pälkäne, is about an hour’s drive from Tampere city centre. The area has around 30 kilometres of marked trails, with options ranging from shorter walks to longer day hikes.
The trails take you through a varied landscape of managed forests, mires, small forest lakes and rocky outcrops. The terrain is mostly easy to navigate, although some sections are more challenging.
Pukala Recreational Forest
Just over an hour’s drive from Tampere city centre, Pukala Recreational Forest in Orivesi is particularly well suited for day hikes. The trails can also be combined for an overnight adventure. Lean-to shelters and campfire sites can be found along the trails.
At the heart of the area lies the clear-water Lake Pukala, surrounded by forests, rocky hills and small forest lakes. The varied terrain and beautiful lakeside views make Pukala an excellent destination for exploring the outdoors.
Helvetinjärvi National Park
Head about 1.5 hours from Tampere city centre to Ruovesi and the rugged landscape of Helvetinjärvi National Park. Around 40 kilometres of marked trails lead through forests, along lakeshores and across rocky terrain.
Helvetinkolu, one of the park’s best-known sights, can be reached via the “Helvetistä itään” circular trail. Some sections are challenging due to steep climbs and significant elevation changes.
Isojärvi National Park
Isojärvi National Park, located in Kuhmoinen, is about a 1.5-hour drive from Tampere city centre. The park has several circular trails of varying lengths, which can also be combined into a longer hike of around 20 kilometres.
Isojärvi’s trails take you through forests and lakeside views, with traces of the area’s logging history and beaver activity along the way. The terrain is rocky in places, and elevation changes make some sections challenging. The park also has easier and accessible trail sections.
Psst! If you’re in Tampere, it’s also worth heading out on a day trip beyond the borders of Tampere region.
Within a two-hour drive, you’ll find, for example:
Overnight trips and longer hikes
Birgitta Trail
The Birgitta Trail is an approximately 50-kilometre circular hiking route through the forests and lakeside scenery of Lempäälä. Suitable for both day hikes and overnight trips, the trail can be explored in its entirety or in shorter sections.
There are plenty of campfire sites and rest spots along the way, as well as lean-to shelters and huts for overnight stays. Much of the trail passes through privately owned managed forests, so forestry work may occasionally affect the landscape and trail conditions.
Kaarinanpolku Hiking Trail
Kaarinanpolku Hiking Trail is an approximately 60-kilometre hiking route across Kangasala, connecting with the Birgitta Trail in the south. It can be explored as a longer hike or in shorter sections suitable for day hikes.
The landscape varies from forests, wetlands and nature reserves to more urban surroundings with services nearby. For an even longer adventure, Kaarinanpolku Trail can be combined with the Birgitta Trail for a multi-day hike.
Pirkan Taival
Pirkan Taival is an extensive hiking network covering around 300 kilometres, making it ideal for longer and multi-day hikes. The network consists of several interconnected routes, allowing you to choose anything from shorter sections to a longer journey through the Tampere region.
Around 30 lean-to shelters and campfire sites can be found along the way. Pirkan Taival also forms part of the E6 European long distance path.
Spend a night in a national park
The national parks near Tampere are also great destinations for overnight hikes. In Seitseminen and Isojärvi National Parks, you can combine hiking with an overnight stay and spend more time exploring the surrounding nature. Beyond the national parks, Pukala Recreational Forest is another option for an overnight trip.
Psst! Are you interested in cycling? You can also explore the Tampere region’s scenery from the saddle of a bike.
The Lake Trails offers cycling routes of varying lengths through the beautiful lakes, forests and countryside of the Tampere region. You can cycle the routes in their entirety or combine your journey with train and boat connections.
