| | Overview (Source: Frommers) |
172km (107 miles) N of Helsinki, 155km (96 miles) NE of Turku Located on a narrow isthmus between two lakes (Lake Näsijärvi and Lake Pyhäjärvi), Tampere is Finland's second-largest city (pop. 203,000), and is primarily an industrial center; however, it remains one of the cleanest, brightest cities in Scandinavia, and is filled with parks, bodies of water, museums, art galleries, theaters, and statues, including some by Wäinö Aaltonen. A vibrant young city with a university and a growing technology industry, Tampere is the site of one of Scandinavia's major attractions, an outdoor theater (Pyynikki) with a revolving auditorium. Tampere's Swedish name is Tammerfors. Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip. Print RSS a.google:link { font-family: "Verdana", sans-serif; font-size: 11px; color: #0a32af; text-decoration: none; display: block; } a.google:visited { font-family: "Verdana", sans-serif; font-size: 11px; color: #0a32af; text-decoration: none; display: block; } a.google:hover { font-family: "Verdana", sans-serif; font-size: 11px;
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| History (Source: WCities) | Top | Founded in 1779, Tampere is a relatively young city, but it has been proven that the narrow isthmus of Tammerkoski was first inhabited as early as eight thousand years ago. A tool part from that era has been found in Pispala . The first inhabitants, however, could not admire the rapids now flowing through the heart of the city; for them, the present-day city centre was nothing but sea bottom. After the Ice Age, the surface of the ancient sea of Yoldia had settled high up the slopes of Pyynikin Harju . The bedrock under Tampere used to belong to the oldest mountain range in the world, formed more than a billion years ago. At the end of the Middle Ages, a village named aptly as Koski (Rapids) appeared by the flowing waters. The first mill dams were built across the rapids in the 15th century, probably providing the rapids and the future town with their names. In old Swedish, damber meant dam and tamber referred to taming. By the end of the century, the names of the village (Tambere) and the rapids (Tamberkoski) already carried a close resemblance to the present ones. The first plan for a town was presented in the 1640s on the grounds that the location served as a lively market venue, but serious proposals were not put forward until the parliament of 1771-72, when the head of Lempäälä Congregation, Erik Edner, brought up the idea. The rapids, at the time belonging to the estate of Tammerkoski in the municipality of Messukylä, interested Edner especially as a fut
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| How To Get There (Source: WCities) | Top | Getting There: By Air: Tampere-Pirkkala International Airport ( TMP ) ( +358 3 283 5311/ http://www.ilmailulaitos.fi/ ) provides direct service and connections to several destinations from the following airlines: Aeroairlines ( +372 611 0740/ http://www.aeroairlines.com ) Aeroflot ( http://www.aeroflot.org ) Airfinland ( http://www.airfinland.fi ) Blue1 ( +358 20 585 6000/ http://www.blue1.com ) Enimex ( http://www.enimex.ee ) Finnair ( +358 3 383 5333/ http://www.finnair.fi ) Futura ( http://www.futura-aer.com ) Golden Air ( http://www.goldenair.fi ) BLUE 1 ( +358 2 038 6000/ http://www.blue1.fi ) SAS ( +358 3 383 5566/ http://www.sas.fi ) Skyways ( http://skyways.se ) Soder Aviation Oy ( +358 3 3122 1600/ http://www.soder.fi ) Spanair ( http://www.spanair.com ) Turkish Airlines ( http://www.turkishairlines.com ) Ryanair ( +358 0200 3900/ http://www.ryanair.com ) Bus 61 ( +358 3 225 4000 ) operates between TMP and the City of Tampere. Taxi services ( +358 3 263 2111/ http://www.taksitampere.fi ) are available at the airport. The ride to the city center of Tampere is about 20 minutes. The Airport Taxi offers door-to-door service. Rental car companies include: Avis ( +358 3 213 4944/ http://www.avis.fi ) Budget Tampere ( +358 3 3399 9400/ http://www.budgettampere.com ) Europcar ( +358 3 214 3880/ http://www.europcar.com
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| What To Do (Source: WCities) | Top | Tampere may seem a bit dormant at a first glance but on these latitudes it is not surprising: The long, dark winters certainly have an effect on the outlook but under the surface the city seethes with possibilities. In downtown for example, there are over 149 restaurants/pubs/bars from which to choose, and without fail people take advantage of this—you could say they have become very skilled in breaking the tedium in these parts. Nightlife Vanha Monttu (Old Hole) , is a good place to indulge in your pioneer spirit. It is definitely one of the easiest and most feasible places to get acquainted with the local atmosphere. It also serves very well as a general introduction to what exactly you are in for. You can forget about success rates here, or the dangers of tempting fate; all you need is time. If you want to pick up the pace, leave the locals with their odd ways behind and join another set of oddities but this time as a certified member of the crowd, you can follow the trail over the bridge and enter the world of Paapan Kapakka —a live jazz pub that defies any descriptions that can be provided here. This peculiar establishment is packed to brim every night with energy, sounds and interesting people—it can get quite cramped in there at times but that is part of the attraction. In case this is still too lame for you, moving further East until the Tampereen Rautatieasema is recommendable. At the station you will find a place called Ale Pub Pikajuna , an establi
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