Hämeenlinna
Hämeenlinna (Swedish: Tavastehus) is a city in Southern Finland.
Get in
By car
Exactly 100 km north from Helsinki with the motorway 3 E12. The nearest major city (and airport) is Tampere, about 75 km to the north. Road number 10 from Turku to Lahti also passes near the city.
By train
As Hämeenlinna is situated at the most important railway of Western Finland it's well connected with Helsinki and Tampere as well as cities further north, like Vaasa, Oulu and Rovaniemi.
By bus
Buses from Helsinki to Tampere stop at Hämeenlinna.
By boat
Yes, there is a waterway between Tampere and Hämeenlinna. At summer it can be the most enjoyable way to travel, while the views at the lake Vanajavesi are at their best. The trip can be quite long though. Finnish Silverline offers cruises, which take 8 hours one way.
Get around
You can get around by car, by bus or by foot. For driving around, the city center is quite an irritating experience, with its tight intersections and numerous one-way streets. The services in the city center are within a few minutes walk, so a car is hardly necessary there. All buses stop at the market square while heading west and at the bus station (at Palokunnankatu near market square) while heading east.
Hämeenlinna has a good system of public transport. You can ride from one part of the city to another with a single ticket of €2.90, kids €1.4. Kauppatori is the center of Hämeenlinna's public transport system, but be aware that many bus lines go in both directions from Kauppatori. You can use interactive route planner [1] to find bus routes.
See
- 1 Häme castle (Hämeen linna). The symbol and main attraction of Hämeenlinna. A medieval red brick castle, which now serves as a museum and a venue for some events. Guided tours are available. There are also couple of other museums (e.g. prison museum) next to the castle. Between the castle and city centre there is a large park area Linnanpuisto, where the annual Wanaja Festival is held at summer.
- 2 Parola Tank Museum (Parolan panssarimuseo), Hattulantie 334, ☏ +358 3 1814 4524. Situated some kilometres north from the city center. For those who are interested in military equipment.
- 3 Holy Cross Church (Pyhän Ristin Kirkko) (in Hattula, a little north of Hämeenlinna.). Medieval Gothic church, built mostly of red bricks. Inside there are many paintings and sculptures.
- 4 The birthplace of Jean Sibelius, Hallituskatu 11. The birthplace of the famous 19th and early 20th century composer is now a museum, telling about the composer's childhood, at Hallituskatu 11. The old wooden house is conserved between bigger modern buildings. The museum is open after renovation.
Do
- 1 Ahvenisto. Beautiful ridge area in western side of the city. Beach of the lake Ahvenisto, "Appara" is a popular place for hanging out, especially in the summer. The swimming arena, in which some swimming competitions of 1952 olympics took part, isn't in use though. In the ridge area there are also e.g. paths for jogging or skiing and a racing track which is a nuisance among locals and a synonym for Ahvenisto for others, while many motor sport events are held there.
- 2 Aulanko. Originally a natural park with great sights, equipped in late 18's and early 19's with an observation tower, other buildings of stone, artificial ponds and rare plant species. Today the area offers also plenty of services, including accommodation in the famous hotel and various outdoor activities.
- 3 Linnagolf, Vanajanlinnantie 485. Another golf course, Linnagolf, next to Vanajanlinna.
Buy
- 1 Kauppakeskus Goodman, Kaivokatu 7. A large mall opened in late 2014. It features an Anttila department store plus smaller stores and eateries. Architectonically the mall is a bit unusual as it's built on the top of the Helsinki-Tampere freeway, with the road passing under the mall in a tunnel.
Eat
Budget
There aren't many regional specialities available, if one doesn't count hotsi, a local version of hot dog, which is sold in grill kiosks. For cheap meal (€10 or less for one person, even as low as €5 in the lunchtime) you can always find some fast food. In city centre you can hardly miss a pizza/kebab place. There are also Subway, McDonalds, and Hesburger outlets. Golden Rax pizzabuffet offers it's megabuffet for €7,99.
Mid range
- 1 Popino, Raatihuoneenkatu 11, ☏ +358 3 6532555. Popino is located at Keskustalo, a grim building with a set of stairs, which connect Raatihuoneenkatu (opposite of the church) to Palokunnankatu. Popino serves large, quite special pizzas, but also tasty dishes with e.g. steaks and fish. Salad and bread are included in price, so a pizza or "dish of the day" with water as drink might cost you 10€ or so, but also finer (and more expensive) meals are available. Popino has something for everyone.
- 2 William's pub, Rauhankatu 11, ☏ +358 3 656040. If you'd fancy a steak in Finland's oldest pub (or so it claims), check William's pub. The salad bar, included in the price of a steak dish, is quite good. The basic portions with a steak, potatoes and sauce aren't among the biggest or finest available.
- 3 Georgios, Linnankatu 3, ☏ +358 3 682 8884. Georgios serves food from Greece and is also located near market square.
- From one corner of the market square begins the two-block long promenade street (the first block called "Reska" by locals, the another was built quite recently). There you will find Tawastia Bank and Huviretki.
- 4 Tawastia Bank, Raatihuoneenkatu 10.
- 6 Pancho Villa, Sibeliuksenkatu 11. Mexican restaurant.
- For some ethnic food, other than kebab, you can go to the first blocks of Raatihuoneenkatu (from market square to the church's direction and on) and find couple of Chinese restaurants.
Splurge
- 7 Piparkakkutalo, Kirkkorinne 2 (next to the church), ☏ +358 3 648 040. "The gingerbread house" is easily recognisable of its white "scaled" wall. With a beautiful view to the church this is one of the finer places in Hämeenlinna.
- 8 Rosso, Sibeliuksenkatu 3. A restaurant of a Finnish chain, with some Italian influence, serving slightly upscale pizzas and other Italian dishes.
- 9 Steak House, Sibeliuksenkatu 5.
- 10 Coyote bar & grill, Hallituskatu 20. Another chain restaurant with nice looking menu but not exactly cheap prices.
Drink
You might not want to go bar-hopping in the suburbs, though it's not necessary, as most of pubs, rock-bars, nightclubs etc. are located around market square area.
- 1 Olutravintola Birger, Raatihuoneenkatu 5. Su-Th 4PM-midnight, Fr-Sa 4PM-2AM. A "beer restaurant" where you can choose between 80 different beers. They also serve food. Thursday night is "Tapas night".
Sleep
Budget
- 1 Hotelli Emilia, Raatihuoneenkatu 23. Small hotel right in the centre at the Reska promenade street.
- 2 Hämeen Hostelli, Turuntie 22. Nice budget hostel in Turuntie 1 kilometre away from city center.
Mid range
- 3 Sokos Hotel Vaakuna, Possentie 7, ☏ +358 20 1234 636. Located near the railway station, at the shore of lake Vanajavesi. Not far from the city center.
- 4 Hotelli Cumulus Hämeenlinna, Raatihuoneenkatu 16-18, ☏ +358 3 64 881, fax: +358 3 648 8299, hameenlinna.cumulus@restel.fi.
- 5 Kylpylähotelli Rantasipi Aulanko, Aulangontie 93, ☏ +358 3 658 801, fax: +358 3 682 1922, aulanko.rantasipi@restel.fi. ld fine hotel with recently built spa. In the middle of the Aulanko area, some 5 km away from the city center. Bus lines 2 and 13 leave from here to center once in an hour. Aulanko area offers also e.g. accommodation in cottages.
Splurge
- 6 Vanajanlinna, Vanajanlinnantie 485, ☏ +358 3 61 020, fax: +358 3 610 2210, vanajanlinna@vanajanlinna.fi.
Go next
- 4 Puuhamaa (in Tervakoski, about 20 km south of Hämeenlinna). An amusement park (or maybe rather a giant playground). Much of fun for kids, though everyone must pay the €17 entrance fee, which grants you all the activities: waterpark with steam sauna, boats, racetracks with small cars, and various places for jumping, sliding, climbing and playing. Having a picnic is also possible.
| Routes through Hämeenlinna |
| Vaasa ← Tampere ← | N  S
|
→ Hyvinkää → Helsinki |