Now that a new year has begun, you might be considering a fresh bucket-list city for 2024 — perhaps a destination that’s lesser known but offers striking winter landscapes, welcoming locals, memorable cuisine and exceptional safety. Could that city be Tampere in Finland?
Known as the Sauna Capital of the World, Tampere boasts the highest concentration of public saunas in Finland. Sauna culture here stretches back generations and includes Rajaportti Sauna in the Pispala district — the oldest public sauna still in operation. Pispala is a charming neighborhood perched between two lakes and lies just twenty minutes from Tampere’s city center.
© Laura Vanzo – Visit Tampere
In 2020, Finland’s sauna culture was inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. While saunas exist around the world, in Tampere they are woven deeply into daily life and social tradition. The city and surrounding area feature roughly 60 public saunas that preserve this tradition and contribute to the wellbeing of residents and visitors alike.
Beyond public saunas, many hotels and restaurants offer stylish private or rooftop saunas. Some notable examples include Restaurant Periscope’s rooftop sauna and Laawu Rooftop Terrace & Sauna at Lapland Hotels Arena, located in the entertainment district around Nokia Arena. Several hotels even include saunas in guest rooms. Still, Tampere’s appeal extends well beyond its saunas.
© Laura Vanzo – Visit Tampere
The city offers a thriving café and bar scene where you can sample local specialties. Try the region’s famous sweet donuts paired with a warm cup of glögi, a gently spiced mulled wine that helps fend off the cold.
Tampere’s Festival of Light illuminates the city during autumn and winter, transforming streets and public spaces with vibrant projections and light art — a welcome addition to the shorter, darker days. Outdoor winter activities are plentiful: cross-country skiing, ice skating, brisk walks through snow-covered forests and, for the adventurous, winter swimming in outdoor pools or lakes.
© Laura Vanzo – Visit Tampere
Museums in Tampere cover a wide and sometimes unexpected range of interests. You can visit the Hockey Hall of Fame, the National Police Museum, the Finnish Postal Museum, the Spy Museum and the Finnish Museum of Games, among others. Nearby, Serlachius Museum Gösta houses an impressive art collection and even features an art sauna for a uniquely local cultural experience.
Tampere Market Hall, the largest market hall in the Nordic countries, is an excellent spot to taste regional produce and specialties. Stalls offer fresh fish, meats, cheeses, seasonal vegetables and baked goods, while cafés inside the hall serve hot meals and drinks — perfect for warming up after exploring the city.
Whether you arrive for the saunas, the culinary scene, cultural attractions or outdoor winter activities, Tampere offers a compact, friendly and safe destination that makes an excellent choice for a 2024 city break.