If you've exhausted all the usual places for your seasonal city breaks, it's time to escape to somewhere new. How about Tampere? This Finnish gem will delight visitors of all ages.

Sauna Capital of the World, Tampere is home to most public saunas in Finland and the history of the sauna culture in the city goes back to the oldest public sauna still functioning today in Finland: Rajaportti Sauna in the district of Pispala.

Why Tampere is the top destination for an authentic sauna experience

In 2020 the sauna culture from Finland was inscribed on the UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Sauna culture is the first Finnish element on UNESCO's list.  Heating a sauna, the customs and traditions related to sauna bathing, as well as sauna in songs, beliefs, and folklore for example are part of this living intangible cultural heritage. Saunas have existed in other cultures, but in Finland they have become entwined in the national culture. In Tampere, saunas have always been an essential form of relaxation.

Tampere has almost 60 public saunas in the city and the surrounding region preserving the unique Finnish sauna tradition and highlighting its significance as part of the country's customs, culture, and well-being.  This is definitely the place to be if you want to sweat it out!

While saunas hold a special place in Finnish daily life throughout the year, they also play their part during the festivities. As well as being a great way to escape the cold, or enjoy in the summer heat, studies have shown that sauna bathing has a number of health and wellbeing benefits too. Win win!

Besides all the public options, some of the city's hotels and restaurants have stylish saunas too. The sauna is a place to feel peace and relaxation and a key element to Finnish happiness. Did you know Finland has been named the happiest country in the world six times in a row? There are many sauna experiences  to choose from and there's a full list of them here

More fun in Tampere

There's more to Tampere than just saunas though. It is an ideal short break destination for trying somewhere new and discovering the secrets of one of Europe's coolest and unique cities.

Whether you're seeking exciting urban experiences, history, culture, cracking food, or thrilling outdoor adventures, Tampere has it all. It's a destination that captures the essence of what makes the Nordic nations so great.

There's lots of cool things to see and do and visitors will find a dazzling choice of bars, cafes and restaurants to experience local and international flavours. 

Much takes place outdoors and there's a whole lot of fun to be had. Choose from cross country skiing, ice skating, outdoor swimming, canoeing, dreamy walks in scenic forests all year round, or washing off the cobwebs by taking a dip or river floating on the icy waters - that's sure to freshen you up. And… in summer, there's even a sauna boat! What about a roof walk on top of Finlayson?

Museums & Gastronomy

There's no shortage of fun, cultural experiences either. Museums in Tampere are pretty cool too where visitors can explore lots of fascinating stuff. Choose from the Hockey Hall of Fame, the National Police Museum, the Finnish Postal Museum, Spy Museum, the Finnish Museum of Games and many more. There's the chance to relive the adventures of the famous Moomin family at the world's only Moomin Museum! And another special place to visit in the region is the Serlachius Museum which boasts an impressive art collection as well as…you guessed it - an art sauna! An unmissable attraction for anyone wanting to know more about sauna culture combined with nature, art and architecture.

You might be surprised to find that food and drink is big business here too. Tampere has a mouth-watering and eclectic choice of restaurants where foodies can enjoy tasty dishes made from local ingredients.

Tampere Market Hall, the largest market hall in the Nordics, offers a delightful experience with local delicacies, pastries, cheese, fresh fish, vegetables, and more. Cafes within the Market Hall provide the perfect setting to savour these culinary delights. There's also a wide choice of gastropubs, bars, breweries and child-friendly cafes to choose from. Something for everyone really.

Urban experiences, culture and nature all happily coexist in Tampere and you'll soon see why it's the Finns' favourite city. Is Tampere on your wish list yet?

How to get here:

Flights and connections to Tampere are available from a number of European cities. See here for the best routes. Flying to Helsinki is an option. An easy, regular train service runs from Helsinki to Tampere.