Sastamala is a municipality in Pirkanmaa, Finland. Its main centres are on the banks of the Kokemäenjoki River in Western Finland, some 50 km to the west of Tampere.

Understand

Onkiniemenkatu in Vammala, an administrative centre of Sastamala

Sastamala has a population of 24,000 (2020) and consists of several former municipalities. Vammala centre is the biggest town, with nearly half of the population, but other centres remain: Pehula and Kiikka of Äetsä, Uotsola of Mouhijärvi, Palviala of Karkku and Kiikkoinen of Kiikkoinen.

Get in

By train

Vammala railway station

1 Vammala and 2 Karkku have railway stations. Timetables are available from VR. Tampere–Vammala takes about 45 minutes by InterCity train, Tampere–Karkku a little less.

By bus

Coaches between Tampere and Huittinen and between Tampere and Pori travel through Sastamala. For timetables, see Matkahuolto.

Get around

By bus

Local traffic operates in the centre of Vammala from Monday to Friday.

From all over Sastamala, you can take a dial-a-ride (Kylien palveluliikenne) to the municipal centre Vammala and back one or two days a week. Service traffic operates on an request basis. The ride is ordered by calling the driver in your area by 16:00 on the previous working day. The exact route and schedule are determined by orders. The driver charges in cash according to the length of the trip.

Online timetables are available for both.

Moovit route planner includes Sastamala local transport.

By taxi

• 3 Sastamalan Taksiasema, Puistokatu 11, ☏ +358 200 38200. (updated Feb 2022)
• Smartphone apps: Valopilkku, 02 Taksi

See

• 1 Ellivuori, Ellivuorentie 131, ☏ +358 3 519-22 (sales), sales@ellivuori.fi. Resort with activities, mostly for groups, including trips in the nature (fat bike, canoe etc.), outdoor escape room, mini golf, climbing routes and a sport lounge. Also a restaurant and lodging: hotel, cabins, apartments, and a caravan site. Hotel double €110. 
• Herra Hakkaraisen talo, Marttilankatu 10, ☏ +358 44-770-3102. Playing house based on a children's book series. €9. 
• 2 Pirunvuori (on the Salonsaari island of Rautavesi, Karkku; parking at the Ellivuori hotel, where you can get a map; the main trails are marked, 1 km to the top). Remains of an ancient volcano, raising 93 m above the adjacent lake. The area on its top is a nature reserve. On its rocky western slope there are caves, the biggest of which is called Pirunluola, "devil's cave". A cave tunnel is claimed to lead from there to the cellar of the Laukko mansion (in Vesilahti). 
  • Stone Castle of Pirunvuori (Pirunvuoren kivilinna), ☏ +358 400-229-142 (Sastamala tourist office), +358-50-304-0485 (guides). By agreement with local guide or at opening hours. Jun Aug: Sa Su 11:00–17:00; Jul daily 11:00–17:00. Atelier of the painter Emil Danielsson (1882–1967), open to the public since 1976. Exhibitions. If you book a guide, they will also tell about the surroundings. 2-hr guiding €120. 
• 3 St Olaf's Church in Tyrvää (Tyrvään Pyhän Olavin Kirkko), Kallialan kirkkotie 50, Vammala. The old church in Tyrvää was built in the early 16th century. The end decorations and other features connect it to the church group in Satakunta. On September 21, 1997, a fire completely destroyed the precious interior of the church from the 17th to the 17th century. Reconstruction began quickly after the fire. The church was commissioned in August 2003. 
• 4 Kiviniitty Domestic Zoo (Kiviniityn Kotieläinpuisto), Iirolantie 108. Cows, sheep, pigs, rams, goats, donkeys, ponies, chickens, turkeys, llamas, ostriches, rabbits and guinea pigs. Animals may be groomed and fed dandelion leaves and hay. You can always ride a pony at 13:00 for a small fee. Pedal cars and electric ATVs can be driven regardless of the time of day. It is also possible to jump on bouncy castles and trampolines. €12. (updated Jan 2021)
• 5 Taaben Farmi, Ritvaniementie 7, ☏ +358 40-592-3403, riikka@taabenfarmi.fi. The farm has domestic animals, old houses and a rural way of life. (updated May 2021)
• 6 Ekojärvi Domestic Zoo (Ekojärven Kotieläinpiha), Ekojärventie 192. (updated Jun 2021)
• 7 Marshal's Saloon Coach (Marskin Salonkivaunu), Pirkanmaantie 1057 (along the Highway 12 (Pirkanmaantie)). In museum use during the summer. What makes the wagon world-famous is the meeting between Marshal C. G. E. Mannerheim and Nazi Leader Adolf Hitler, who visited Finland, on June 4, 1942. Mannerheim's birthday lunch included President Risto Ryti, Prime Minister Jukka Rangell and German Marshal Wilhelm Keitel. At that time, the wagon was not located in Sastamala, but was parked in the yard of the Kaukopää factories in Imatra during the festive reception. (updated Feb 2022)
• 8 Keikyä Suspension Bridge (Keikyän riippusilta), Myllytie 33, Keikyä. A 228-metres long suspension bridge across the Kokemäki River (Kokemäenjoki). (updated Feb 2022)
• 9 Liekosaari. An island on the lake Liekovesi. (updated Feb 2022)
• 10 Pirulanvuori observation tower, Laviantie 600, ☏ +358 400-236-932, suodenniemi@lions.fi. (updated Oct 2022)

Do

• 1 Lakeside Golf and Country Club, Sastamalantie 1901, Karkku, ☏ +358 35129500, toimisto@lakesidegolf.fi.. Adult €60, student €35, teen €30, child €15. (updated Feb 2022)
• 2 Karkku Beach (Karkun uimaranta), Kaukoniementie 76, Karkku (on the shores of Lake Myllyvuolle). (updated Feb 2022)

Festivals

• Vanhan kirjallisuuden päivät: . The Old Literature Days is a cultural event held in the center of Vammala during the summer. (date needs fixing)

Buy

• 1 K-Citymarket Sastamala, Itsenäisyydentie 66, Vammala (along the Highway 12 (Pirkanmaantie)). M-Sa 07:00-21:00, Su 10:00-20:00. A hypermarket. (updated Feb 2022)
• 2 Häijään Äijä, Kauppakuja 4, Mouhijärvi (along the Highway 11 (Porintie)). A shopping centre in the Häijää village. (updated Feb 2022)

Eat

• 1 King Garden, Puistokatu 15, Vammala, ☏ +358 35143204. (updated Feb 2022)
• 2 Vammalan Saluuna, Puistokatu 16, Vammala, ☏ +358 35112954. (updated Feb 2022)
• 3 Kiskokabinetti, Pirkanmaantie 1057 (along the Highawy 25 (Pirkanmaantie)), ☏ +358 35154180. (updated Feb 2022)
• 4 Restauran Piano (Ravintola Piano), Suodenniementie 17, Suodenniemi, ☏ +358 3517180. (updated Feb 2022)
• 5 Vammalan Seurahuone, Puistokatu 4. (updated Oct 2022)

Drink

Cafés

• 1 Laiturikahvila, Rautavedenkatu 20, Vammala (next to Vammala Market Square), ☏ +358 401680401. Opened for the first time in late 2017, this small but modern hotel offers comfortable accommodation in its six spacious rooms, where business and accommodation are smooth. For those looking for a little luxury, there is also a suite with a sauna, a bathtub and a balcony. Breakfast is served in the Pyymäki Confectionery downstairs, where hotel guests receive personalized service during the café's opening hours. (updated Feb 2022)

Sleep

• 1 Pyynpesä (Putiikkihotelli Pyynpesä), Onkiniemenkatu 6, Vammala (on the shores of Lake Vammaskoski), ☏ +358 35123100. Laiturikahvila (literally "pier café") offers food, coffee, ice cream and refreshments with liquor licenses. In addition to the food and social restaurant, Laiturikahvila is a versatile venue in summer, with the city's sunniest summer terrace. (updated Feb 2022)
• 2 Suodenniemen Laavu, Rantatie, Suodenniemi (on the shores of Lake Kourajärvi). A small accommodation. (updated Feb 2022)

Go next

• Lavia - a rural village in the Satakunta side, near the Suodenniemi village
• Nokia - an industrial town and the birth place of Nokia Group

Routes through Sastamala

Pori ← Kokemäki ←	W  E	→ Nokia → END
Rauma ← Huittinen ←	SW  NE	→ Nokia → Tampere