The stone tower
1929 — both lakes and the city.
Maria Morri from Tampere, Finland — CC BY-SA 2.0 · kallerna — CC BY-SA 4.0 · kallerna — CC BY-SA 4.0 · kallerna — CC BY-SA 4.0
The world's highest gravel ridge: Pyynikki is a pine forest on a 160-metre glacial esker between Tampere's two lakes, a nature reserve directly west of the centre whose trails are walked among trees and shores in an hour — and at its crest a stone observation tower of 1929 climbed for a token euro to a gallery over both lakes, the city and the forests. The true legend sits at the tower's foot: its café has baked Finland's most famous "munkki" doughnuts (fried cinnamon rings) since the 1940s, and the queue for them is part of the ritual — a warm doughnut, coffee and a view. In summer the Pyynikki Summer Theatre with the world's first revolving auditorium stages plays on the lakeshore. Half an hour's walk west from the centre or a short bus, and Tampere's best free outing for every age.
1929 — both lakes and the city.
A warm cinnamon doughnut worth the queue.
The world's first revolving auditorium, in summer.
Näkötornintie 20, Tampere
The Tampere Workers' HallTampere's Workers' Hall is a building of 1900 on the Hämeenpuisto boulevard, put14 minutes walk4.4
HämeenpuistoA wide tree-lined avenue cutting through central Tampere from north to south, th15 minutes walk4.2
Sara Hildén Art MuseumModern art on a lakeshore: the Sara Hildén Art Museum (1979) is a low concrete-a16 minutes walk4.5
Näsinneula TowerThe tallest observation tower in the Nordic countries: Näsinneula, "the Näsi nee16 minutes walk4.6
Särkänniemi Amusement ParkFinland's largest amusement park and its most varied: Särkänniemi on a peninsula17 minutes walk4.4A ridge of gravel and sand left by a melting glacier ten thousand years ago; Pyynikki is the world's highest, with pines growing on its sand.