On a Mission to a Sustainable Future
Tampere is part of the EU Mission: Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities, and is committed to becoming carbon neutral by 2030, leading the way in smart solutions for climate change mitigation. This commitment is evident in various city plans, such as the Tampere Tourism Strategy, the City of Tampere Climate Roadmap, the Tampere Lake and Nature Tourism Roadmap, and the City of Tampere Biodiversity Programme. Together with Helsinki, the city has established the Urban Climate Leaders in Tourism Network with the aim of accelerating the transition towards climate-resilient tourism. The city is encouraging local businesses to participate in this transition, with the ‘Think Sustainably’ service. This online tool helps companies assess and promote their sustainability goals, and 58 companies in the city already fulfil its sustainability criteria.
Ensuring Access to Nature
Tampere is well connected to its surrounding nature and encourages visitors and locals alike to experience its beautiful landscapes without barriers. Lake and nature tourism is a key theme in Tampere’s tourism strategy, with the first accessible beach opened at Lake Pyhäjärvi in 2024. Equipped with a ramp, handrails and spacious unisex changing rooms, as well as braille signage, the lake is accessible, inclusive and safe for people with mobility, sensory and functional disabilities. Furthermore, Tampere has created four barrier-free nature trails in the area, with guides and route information available online at Outdoorstampere.fi. The Outdoor Express, a shuttle bus service for national parks, guarantees easy access to nature. Operating during the summer season, the Outdoor Express offers connections from Tampere to Seitseminen, Helvetinjärvi, and Isojärvi national parks.
Digitally Enhanced Cultural Experiences
In addition to its natural attractions, Tampere also offers a variety of accessible cultural experiences, including the Culture Routes, which are available on Tampere.Finland app 24/7. These routes include the Tampere Hockey Route, which celebrates the city's rich hockey history, and the 1918 Finnish Civil War Route, which provides insights into the events and locations that were significant during the Civil War. The Tampere 1918 Civil War Museum website enriches the experience with 3D virtual experiences and gamification. The principle of providing opportunities to experience culture for locals and tourists alike also extends to children, with Children’s Cultural Centre Rulla. This colourful and inspiring venue offers child-sized wonders in the heart of Tampere free of charge. Tampere is implementing numerous projects with the goal of fostering a more creative city. In 2021, the city initiated an experience economy development programme, that highlights creativity and access to high-quality culture, incorporating tourism. In collaboration with the University of Tampere, a professorship in experience economy has been established to explore the role and opportunities of creative industries in Finland.
