Located in the south of Finland, Tampere is just one place below Helsinki in terms of the country’s most significant urban developments and across all the Nordic countries; it stands as the largest inland city. A population of 200,000 are resident in the city itself and a further 100,000 in the surrounding suburban areas.

As Finnish cities go, Tampere conforms largely to stereotypical characteristics, however it would be doing it an injustice to say it’s just a carbon copy of Helsinki or Turku, as its own collection of sights, attractions and social nuances create an ambience and environment all of its own. Tampere offers most of the major facilities of the country’s capital but is perhaps slightly less formal and big city in its attitude. It’s also a city offering some beautiful scenery on account of its location between lakes Näsijärvi and Pyhäjärvi.

Tampere offers entertainment, sights and attractions for visitors of all backgrounds and is the ideal city for both a family holiday and a weekend of romance or culture with a loved one or friends. The city’s busy calendar of events adds to its appeal as a visitor destination with key happenings such as the Tammerfest and Tampere Floral Festival, drawing visitors in their thousands every year.

The city is highly accessible with its own international airport which provides the gateway for most international visitors. Additionally, there are options for reaching the city by road or rail from neighbouring countries and by a combination of ferry and road/rail from the UK. Once in the city, visitors will find an excellent public transportation system which operates fast and efficient buses and trains with more than reasonable travel costs.

Tampere is well used to receiving visitors and hence has developed a good tourist infrastructure within which is a variety of options for quality accommodation. Among the many hotels and guest houses in the city, visitors will find the likes of Radisson, Best Western, Hilton and Holiday Inn operating quality establishments consistent with their international reputations. Additionally, visitors can get information about accommodation, transportation, attractions and entertainment from the city’s helpful tourist office on Verkatehtaankatu.

The city of Tampere began life in 1775 as a small market village located close to the Tammerkoski River. It was founded by Gustav III of Sweden and only four years later it was awarded status as a township though remained no more than a few square kilometres in size.

With the 19^th century came greater development for Tampere both in terms of its market and its local industry; indeed by the latter half of the century, almost half of the country’s labour was based in Tampere. With the continued growth of industry in the city during the 19^th and 20^th centuries, Tampere was dubbed ‘Manchester of the North’ or ‘Manse’ for short.

Political events played their role in shaping the city during the 20^th century with the famous Red Declaration of 1905 standing out as one of the most significant. This major event occurred on 1 November during the general strike on Keskustori and led to the citizens of Finland receiving universal suffrage and greater freedoms from the Tsar of Russia. In 1918, Finland, now an independent country, was in the throes of a civil war and the city of Tampere played a significant role as a red stronghold under the command of Hugo Salmela. The city was later captured by White forces and some 10,000 Reds were taken prisoner.

Following the Second World War, Tampere’s growth continued and its population swelled accordingly. The local education system improved having a positive effect on citizens of the city and by the 1960’s, there was demand for a university which was answered by the relocation of the School of Social Sciences in 1966 and its subsequent renaming as Tampere University. In the same period, the Tampere University of Technology was also born, the legacy of which is evident today in the city’s prominent status as a centre for technology.

The climate of Tampere leans predominantly towards the cool side with summers seeing mild to warm temperatures and winters seeing exceptionally cold temperatures. The main summer months of July and August see daily highs of around 21/22°C providing pleasantly warm but by no means excessive conditions. Visitors expecting to spend time sightseeing and getting out and about during a Tampere holiday would find this an ideal time to make a trip. It’s worth noting however that these are also the wettest months of the year, so it’s sensible to pack either an umbrella or a waterproof jacket.

With regards to the winter season; only if you are especially hardy and well adjusted to cold temperatures should you consider a holiday in Tampere at this time. Temperatures drop well below freezing with the month of February occasionally seeing as low as -10°C. Snow is common and conditions for sightseeing are deemed far from ideal.