Pirkanmaa is a province in the Finnish Lakeland.

Regions

•      Greater Tampere – The Tampere metropolitan area is the second largest in Finland. Here we count it to cover Tampere, a few neighbouring towns and the most of its regional lakes.
•      Higher Pirkanmaa – The northern part of the region, which is mostly known for the Helvetinjärvi National Park.
•      North Western Pirkanmaa – The mostly rural region with the towns of Ikaalinen and Parkano.
•      South Western Pirkanmaa – The mostly rural region with the town of Sastamala.
•      Lower Pirkanmaa – The southern part of the region, which mainly focuses on the surroundings of Lake Vanajavesi.

Cities

City of Tampere from Pyynikki Observation Tower

• 1 Akaa
• 2 Ikaalinen
• 3 Kangasala
• 4 Mänttä-Vilppula
• 5 Nokia – where the well-known telecommunications company opened their doors
• 6 Orivesi
• 7 Parkano
• 8 Sastamala
• 9 Tampere
• 10 Valkeakoski
• 11 Virrat
• 12 Ylöjärvi

Municipalities

• 1 Hämeenkyrö
• 2 Juupajoki
• 3 Kihniö
• 4 Kuhmoinen (joined the province in 2021)
• 5 Lempäälä
• 6 Pirkkala
• 7 Punkalaidun
• 8 Pälkäne
• 9 Ruovesi
• 10 Urjala
• 11 Vesilahti

Other destinations

• 1 Helvetinjärvi National Park , Ruovesi
• 2 Isojärvi National Park , Kuhmoinen
• 3 Seitseminen National Park , Ylöjärvi and Ikaalinen

Understand

Old industrial building in Nokia

Pirkanmaa is the south-western end of the Finnish Lakeland, with historically important waterways and many lakes.

The Tampere region is a centre of Finnish industry since the 1800s, thanks to the rivers. There is traditional metal and forest industry, but the region is transforming into a knowledge-based economy.

Get in

Tampere is well connected to the southern, western and northern parts of the country, with roughly hourly buses and trains from Helsinki and Turku. It lies on Highway 4 (E75), the main north–south highway, as well as on the railway from Helsinki to Oulu and Lapland.

To get in from eastern Finland you will in most cases need to transfer in Jyväskylä (train, bus) or Lahti (bus).

Tampere Airport (TMP ^IATA) is Ryanair's destination in Finland and AirBaltic hub so there are a couple of direct flights from odd airports in Europe, in addition to some flights from Scandinavian destinations. If you fly in from abroad, you can fly to Helsinki and continue by bus, train or plane. Turku has some international flights, most of them operated by Wizz Air.

Get around

Trains of VR can be used for some journeys.

Coaches are the main way of getting around, see Matkahuolto.

By taxi

• Taksi Tampere, ☏ +358 100-4131, info@taksitampere.fi. Also bookable by app. Calling centre used by most taxis in Tampere region. Fees about the same as before deregulation. €2.84/call+pvm/mpm (app free); flag-fall M–F 07:00–18:00 €0, other times €8.50; €0.99–1.65/km+€0.99/min for 1–2 to 6+ passengers + waiting time etc.. (updated Dec 2021)
• Smartphone apps: Valopilkku, 02 Taksi, Menevä, Uber

See

Messukylä Old Church from the 16th century, located in Tampere

• Enjoy the view from the ridges near Kangasala.
• The 19th century industrial buildings of Tampere, "Finland's Manchester".
• The Spy museum, Lenin museum and other special museums in Tampere.

Do

• Go on a spa holiday in Ikaalinen or Nokia.
• Watch a local ice hockey derby in Tampere.
• Hike in the "Lake of Hell" - Helvetinjärvi National Park in Ruovesi.
• Taste the infamous blood sausage "mustamakkara" in Tampere.
• Go on a shopping spree in IdeaPark in Lempäälä.

Boating

Many of the larger lakes belong to the Näsijärvi–Ruovesi waterways in the north and the Längelmävesi–Vanajavesi waterways in the south-east, both drained into the Bothnian Sea by the non-navigable Kokemäenjoki. Kuhmoinen in the east borders to Päijänne across the watershed, drained to the Gulf of Finland by the likewise mostly non-navigable Kymijoki.

There are cruises on the largest lakes and along the waterways, such as from Tampere via Ruovesi to Virrat. It should be easy to rent a boat, and there are many places to explore by canoe. While sailing is popular e.g. on Näsijärvi, several canals have bridges of only 5.5 m.

Festivals

• Kirjazz & Blues: Valkeakoski. A jazz & blues festival in Kirjaslampi, Valkeakoski, in early September. (date needs fixing)
• Aitoon Kirkastusjuhlat: Pälkäne. Music festival in for the whole family in Aitoo, Pälkäne, in July. (date needs fixing)
• Työväen musiikkitapahtuma: Valkeakoski. The Workers' Music Festival in Valkeakoski is yearly gathering of the left-leaning folk in late July. (date needs fixing)
• Vanhan kirjallisuuden päivät: Sastamala. The Old Literature Days in Sastamala is a cultural event in the summer. (date needs fixing)

Stay safe

Pirkanmaa is a safe place.