Tampere, obviously, doesn't compete with Helsinki in the number of attractions, but there's still enough to keep you busy here for at least 2 days.
The Lake District's Greatest Adventure Park
Särkänniemi is set on 10 hectares (25 acres), meaning there's a lot to see and do here. One and a half kilometers (1 mile) west of the city, it sits on a headland jutting out into Lake Näsijärvi. After entering the park, we suggest, for orientation purposes, you mount the Näsinneula Observation Tower, which at 168m (551 ft.) is the highest in Finland, offering one of the area's best panoramic views.
The chief artistic treasure of the adventure park is the Sara Hildén Taidemuseo, a striking avant-garde piece of architecture that competes with the paintings it showcases inside. The Sara Hildén Foundation owns the greatest modern art collection outside Helsinki, with works by such international artists as Léger, Giacometti, Paul Klee, Picasso, and Miró. Near the observation tower, the museum also presents a changing array of international works. The foundation was established in 1962 by the world-class art collector Sara Hildén, whose collection focuses mainly on postwar art. The museum stands in beautiful lakeside surroundings, and some of its sculpture is displayed on the shores of Lake Näsijärvi next to the museum. You can enjoy views of the water at an on-site cafe.
At the Dolphinarium, the dolphins give five daily performances, while at the nearby Children's Zoo, kids on a common playground can mingle with tamed domestic animals and take pony treks or rides in donkey-pulled carriages. The Aquarium houses some 2,000 creatures of the sea from 200 different species, as well as a seal pool, with feeding times daily at 11am and 4pm. On the ground floor of the Aquarium, you can see a tank with mangrove trees and rainbow-hued fish. At the Planetarium, there's a 25-minute show (in both English and Finnish) daily at noon and 2pm.
Of course, local families come here for the amusement park, which features nearly three dozen carnival-like rides, of which the Tornado Super Roller-Coaster is the most popular. Most rides cost 6€ ($9.60) each.
A 5€ ($8) admission includes entrance to the Adventure Park, the Sara Hildén Taidemuseo, the Observation Tower, and the Children's Zoo. Attractions such as the Dolphinarium, Aquarium, and Planetarium cost 6€ ($9.60) each.
To get to Särkänniemi, take bus no. 4 from the train station. The park (tel. 0207/130-212; www.sarkanniemi.fi) is open in summer Sunday to Friday noon to 9pm and Saturday noon to 10pm, with off-season hours adjusted monthly.
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.
