Roadtrip to Tampere Region

On a roadtrip you have the freedom to go where ever you want with your own schedule. Get the most out of your visit to Tampere by renting a car while you are here and head for a daytrip to the region. It’s super convenient and you don’t even have to search for a car rental office! Just book your car online from Avis and it will be delivered to your hotel or the Tampere-Pirkkala airport without extra cost. Read more about the delivery service from Avis website.

Find your adventure and enjoy the beautiful views of the Finnish lakeland!

Pssst, we love our nature and highly recommend renting a more ecological e-car. Book your car here and recieve a 10% discount!

Tampere – Lempäälä – Vesilahti – Urjala – Tampere

Head 10 minutes south from Tampere and you’ll end up in Lempäälä. Right beside the motor way you’ll find shopping centre Ideapark. They offer great shopping facilities, restaurants and cafés, but also many activities for families. Check out for example the children’s culture centre PiiPoo and indoor activity park Skidipark. They also have indoor electric carting track! For motor homes and caravans check out caravan park Best Park.

A must-see place in Lempäälä is Vaihmalan hovi manor. This beautiful country manor offers accommodation, shopping and restaurant services in scenic countryside.

Vaihmalan hovi manor is located by the lake and is a great place to stop for a lunch. Photo: Laura Vanzo, Visit Tampere

From Lempäälä drive to Vesilahti, a small countryside town. Here, in the middle of Finnish countryside, you can relax and enjoy the views as well as culture and good food.

Laukko Manor offers enchanting art exhibitions, fantastic park concerts and delicious food. Located in the most beautiful lake district the manor has a long and eventful history, earliest mentionings in history books date to year 1416.

If you’re looking for hidden gems, visit Pizzeria Makasiini in Vesilahti. This lovely restaurant offers delights for your eyes and your stomach. Open Fridays 3pm – 8pm, Saturdays and Sundays from 12 noon to 6pm.

Nuutajärvi Glass Village is located in Urjala municipality. The National Board of Antiquities has listed Nuutajärvi as one of the most important cultural environments nationally. Here you can get to know the fascinating cultural heritage of glassblowing, book your own glassblowing experience or a guided tour around the picturesque factory environment.

Tampere – Sastamala – Nokia – Hämeenkyrö – Ylöjärvi – Tampere

The House of Mr. Clutterbuck in Sastamala is an exciting and active world based on the characters from Mauri Kunnas’s popular children’s books. The house lets visitors immerse themselves in play, regardless of age: playing, dressing up in role-play costumes, colourful sights and sounds.

In Tyrvään Pappila, an old parsonage, you’ll find unique food, art and events by the lake. This summer they have an art exhibition by famous Finnish artist Johanna Oras in the old stone cowhouse of the parsonage.

Make sure to also pop in the Museum of Finnish Book Pukstaavi. Here you can learn about the story of the Finnish book. The cosy Café Pukstaavi and Pukstaavi’s museum shop serve customers during the museum’s opening hours. Their scenic garden also offers things to admire, and it is a nice place to spend time during summer.

In Kommee kurki you can relax and enjoy the Finnish nature. Photo: Laura Vanzo, Visit Tampere

Since there’s so much to see and do in Sastamala, you might like to stay over night. B&B Kommee Kurki provides you and your family a high quality holiday house and also Tentsile accommodation with a natural touch.

From Sastamala drive to Nokia and see the historical Tehdassaari. The industrial buildings of Tehdassaari are full of culture and events and there’s also a lovely café to pop in.

A real hidden gem can be found in Hämeenkyrö. Stop at Frantsila Herb Farm and enjoy lunch, some herbal tea or tasty organic pastries in Kehäkukka café & vegetarian restaurant. The café also has a sundries shop, where you can buy various local produce, as well as all your favorite Frantsila products. During the summer months, you can also enjoy a walk through the café’s herb garden, as well as visit the adjoining handicraft shops run by local artisans.

When you head back to Tampere, stop to see the Tree Mountain in Ylöjärvi. Tree Mountain is an environmental art project designed to increase humanity’s commitment to securing ecological, social and cultural well-being. It includes more than 10,000 pine trees planted according to a mathematical formula which is a combination of the golden section and a pineapple pattern. Each of the trees is dedicated to someone.

Tampere – Valkeakoski – Pälkäne – Kangasala

From Valkeakoski you’ll find plenty of beautiful lake views and also the Visavuori Museum. Visavuori was designed by sculptor Emil Wikström and it became his home and studio. Wikström’s home was typical of Nordic artists’ homes of the time, constructed from logs and featuring many “art nouveau” details. The castle-like studio with its observatory and winter garden was built in two phases between 1903-1912. Almost 100 of Wikström’s works are displayed in the studio.

Rapola rigde in Valkeakoski is a great place to get close to nature. There are two different trails to take and the trails are approximately 1,6 and 6 kilometres in length and start in the stable yard of Voipaala Art Centre. The area around the ridge has guided paths to learn more about all the fascinating things in Rapola’s prehistoric cultural heritage.

Next stop, Pälkäne! Pälkäne’s landscape is dominated by water. In fact, a quarter of the municipality’s area is lakes. The best way to see the beautiful lake views is to climb up to the Syrjänharju water tower. The tower is about 150 meters high.

If you enjoy beautiful gardens, make sure to visit Arboretum Frick in Kangasala. This amazing garden was created over the years by the Fricks, who now have open their garden to the public. It’s a private 3 hectare park with a versatile variety of trees, bushes and flowers. The park has lovely paths to follow and enjoy the calm scenaries in the subtle forest garden. The café serves pastries made with the seasons fruits. Arboretum Frick is open on Thursdays and Sundays from 12 noon to 4pm until 13th of August.

On the Vehoniemi ridge you can find The car museum Vehoniemi. The museum and the café are open daily from 10am to 7pm and on Fridays to 10pm (if the weather is good). No entrance fee. The museum hosts a wide range of old cars and other vehicles. The exhibition is always changing and accessible for all!

Tampere – Mänttä-Vilppula – Tampere

Serlachius museums are a breath-taking combination of art, culture and nature. Photo: Discovering Finland

Serlachius Museums have a wide selection of art in their 2 museums, Gustaf and Gösta. This summer you can enjoy exhibitions by Lorna Simpson, Pirjetta Brander and Elena Näsänen. The permanent exhibition hosts paintings from Hugo Simberg, Albert Edelfelt, Akseli Gallen-Kallela, Ellen Thesleff and Emil Wikström as well as a number of Helene Schjerfbeck paintings. In between enjoying the art, profit the high quality restaurant Gösta. If you visit on Tuesday or Tuesday or Wednesday in July, take along your swimming suit and test the amazing Art Sauna.

Rapukartano welcomes all visitors to stay, eat or try different activities like church boat rowing or wild berry picking! In Rapukartano you can feast on game, such as elk, reindeer, bear and fish, accompanied with wild mushrooms, vegetables and berries. And naturally the crayfish!

Mänttä Art Festival is the largest summer exhibition of Finnish contemporary art. The award-winning festival is a destination regarded highly by art professionals and much loved by the general public. The festival is on from 11th of Jun to 31 of August.

More road trip tips!

Orivesi

Do you want to experience someting completely bonkers yet facinating? Welcome to Ponimaa (Ponyland). This old school building is hosting a collection of rooster whistles in the most colourful interior and a wide selection of animals in the yard for you to pet. There are ponies, goats etc.

In Orivesi you can find unique summer cafés like Amorinranta, Summercafé Pakari and Taiston talo. There is also a good selection of art, theatre, giftshops, dance halls and music to enjoy during the summer! Visit for exsample Art Exhibition Purnu, Rönni open air dance hall,  or Suvi Desing happening in July 16th and 17th in Purnu.

Ylöjärvi

Want to try cable wakeboarding, beach volley, paint ball, hiking, biking, sauna by the lake or frisbee golf? All this and more is available at Peltomäki Resort! There’s also glamping, camping, caravan area and cabins for rent.

For a hike in the beautiful nature with old forest lakes and marshes Seitseminen National park is an excellent choice.

Nokia

Get your golf clubs ready! One of the biggest golf courses in Tampere region, Nokia River Golf awaits! While you’re in Nokia, why not enjoy the spa of Eden, Scandic Eden Nokia.

Ikaalinen

The Luomajärven hevoskievari Inn offers memorable experiences for anyone who appreciates rustic romance, good food, rural atmosphere and relaxation, horse riding and cart rides, a quality time, sports and activity, nature and amazing wilderness tracks. Have you ever stayes the night in a lean-to or a tree-tent? Here you can experience both!

Parkano

Lauhanvuori – Hämeenkangas UNESCO Global Geopark offers an opportunity to calm down or get activated. Calm down by the pulsating springs or unwind with the charm of speed while cycling on the needle paths of the spacious pine forests. Many of the destinations are also suitable for kids.

Tampere Region offers also plenty of festivals during the summer! See the selection on Tampere Region Festivals -page!

Book your car from this link and start planning your roadtrip to Tampere region!