Hämeenlinna

By car

Exactly 100 km north from Helsinki with the motorway 3 E12. The nearest major city (and airport) is Tampere, about 75 km to the north. Road number 10 from Turku to Lahti also passes near the city.

By train

As Hämeenlinna is situated at the most important railway of Western Finland it's well connected with Helsinki and Tampere as well as cities further north, like Vaasa, Oulu and Rovaniemi.

By bus

Buses from Helsinki to Tampere stop at Hämeenlinna.

By boat

Yes, there is a waterway between Tampere and Hämeenlinna. At summer it can be the most enjoyable way to travel, while the views at the lake Vanajavesi are at their best. The trip can be quite long though. Hopealinjat offers cruises, which take 8 hours one way (see Do below). Guest harbours: Vaakunanranta in the centre () and Virvelinranta a kilometre to the south ().

You can get around by car, by bus or by foot. For driving around, the city center is quite an irritating experience, with its tight intersections and numerous one-way streets. The services in the city center are within a few minutes walk, so a car is hardly necessary there. All buses stop at the market square while heading west and at the bus station (at Palokunnankatu near market square) while heading east.
Hämeenlinna has a good system of public transport. Information of local transport you can find here. You can ride from one part of the city to another with a single ticket of €2.90, kids €1.40. Kauppatori is the center of Hämeenlinna's public transport system, but be aware that many bus lines go in both directions from Kauppatori. You can use Google Transit interactive route planner to find bus routes.

• Häme castle

  phone: +358 295-336-931
  address: Hattulantie 334
  The symbol and main attraction of Hämeenlinna. A medieval red brick castle, which now serves as a museum and a venue for some events. Guided tours are available. There are also couple of other museums (e.g. prison museum) next to the castle. Between the castle and city centre there is a large park area Linnanpuisto, where the annual Wanaja Festival is held at summer.

• Parola Tank Museum

  phone: +358 40-568-1186
  address: Hattulantie 334
  For those interested in military equipment.

• Holy Cross Church

  phone: +358 3 672-3383
  address: Vanhankirkontie 41
  Medieval Gothic church, built mostly of red bricks. Inside there are many paintings and sculptures.

• The birthplace of Jean Sibelius

  address: Hallituskatu 11
  The birthplace of the famous 19th and early 20th century composer is now a museum, telling about the composer's childhood, at Hallituskatu 11. The old wooden house is conserved between bigger modern buildings. The museum is open after renovation.

• AhvenistoBeautiful ridge area in western side of the city. Beach of the lake Ahvenisto, "Appara" is a popular place for hanging out, especially in the summer. The swimming arena, in which some swimming competitions of 1952 olympics took part, isn't in use though. In the ridge area there are also e.g. paths for jogging or skiing and a racing track which is a nuisance among locals and a synonym for Ahvenisto for others, while many motor sport events are held there.

• AulankoOriginally a natural park with great sights, equipped in late 18's and early 19's with an observation tower, other buildings of stone, artificial ponds and rare plant species. Today the area offers also plenty of services, including accommodation in the famous hotel and various outdoor activities.

• Linnagolf

  address: Vanajanlinnantie 485
  Another golf course, Linnagolf, next to Vanajanlinna.

• Lake cruises

  phone: +358 10-422-5600
  Cruises on the lake, 2–3 hours, day, afternoon or evening, or route cruises to Tampere or Visavuori with several stops on the way. Optional lunch or dinner on board. "Pirate" cruises for children (lake cruise with programme and lunch included). Check what cruises are available what day of the week.

Festivals

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• Kauppakeskus Goodman

  address: Kaivokatu 7
  A large mall opened in late 2014. It features an Anttila department store plus smaller stores and eateries. Architectonically the mall is a bit unusual as it's built on the top of the Helsinki-Tampere freeway, with the road passing under the mall in a tunnel.

Budget

There aren't many regional specialities available, if one doesn't count hotsi, a local version of hot dog, which is sold in grill kiosks. For cheap meal (€10 or less for one person, even as low as €5 in the lunchtime) you can always find some fast food. In city centre you can hardly miss a pizza/kebab place. There are also Subway, McDonalds, and Hesburger outlets. Golden Rax pizzabuffet offers it's megabuffet for €8.

Mid-range

• Popino

  phone: +358 3 653-2555
  address: Raatihuoneenkatu 11
  Popino is located at Keskustalo, a grim building with a set of stairs, which connect Raatihuoneenkatu (opposite of the church) to Palokunnankatu. Popino serves large, quite special pizzas, but also e.g. steaks and fish.

• Georgios

  phone: +358 400-676-144
  address: Linnankatu 3
  Georgios serves food from Greece and is also located near market square.

• Huviretki

  address: Raatihuoneenkatu 18
  A chain restaurant, which operates next to hotel Cumulus.

• Pancho Villa

  phone: +358 50-434-1888
  address: Sibeliuksenkatu 11
  Mexican restaurant.
• For some ethnic food, other than kebab, you can go to the first blocks of Raatihuoneenkatu (from market square to the church's direction and on) and find couple of Chinese restaurants.

Splurge

• Piparkakkutalo

  phone: +358 3 648-040
  address: Kirkkorinne 2
  "The gingerbread house" is easily recognisable of its white "scaled" wall. With a beautiful view to the church this is one of the finer places in town.

• Himalaya Kitchen Ravintola

  address: Linnankatu 3
  This restaurant in the centre of town serves the delicious dishes of the Himalayan region with many options for vegetarian and vegans as well.

• Rosso

  address: Sibeliuksenkatu 3
  A restaurant of a Finnish chain, with some Italian influence, serving slightly upscale pizzas and other Italian dishes.

• Steak House

  address: Sibeliuksenkatu 5

• Coyote bar & grill

  address: Hallituskatu 20
  Another chain restaurant with nice looking menu but not exactly cheap prices.

You might not want to go bar-hopping in the suburbs, though it's not necessary, as most of pubs, rock-bars, nightclubs etc. are located around market square area.

• Olutravintola Birger

  address: Raatihuoneenkatu 5
  A "beer restaurant" where you can choose between 80 different beers. They also serve food. Thursday night is "Tapas night".

Budget

• Hotelli Emilia

  phone: +358 3 612-2106
  address: Raatihuoneenkatu 23
  Small hotel right in the centre at the Reska promenade street.

• Hämeen Hostelli

  address: Turuntie 22
  Nice budget hostel in Turuntie 1 kilometre away from city center.

Mid-range

• Sokos Hotel Vaakuna

  phone: +358 20 1234 636
  address: Possentie 7
  Located near the railway station, at the shore of lake Vanajavesi. Not far from the city center.

• Hotelli Cumulus Hämeenlinna

  phone: +358 3 64-881
  address: Raatihuoneenkatu 16-18

• Kylpylähotelli Rantasipi Aulanko

  phone: +358 3 658-801
  address: Aulangontie 93
  ld fine hotel with recently built spa. In the middle of the Aulanko area, some 5 km away from the city center. Bus lines 2 and 13 leave from here to centre once in an hour. Aulanko area offers also e.g. accommodation in cottages.

Splurge

• Vanajanlinna

  phone: +358 3 610-20
  address: Vanajanlinnantie 485

• PuuhamaaAn amusement park (or maybe rather a giant playground). Much of fun for kids, though everyone must pay the €17 entrance fee, which grants you all the activities: waterpark with steam sauna, boats, racetracks with small cars, and various places for jumping, sliding, climbing and playing. Having a picnic is also possible.

• Tampere to north-west
• Forssa to west
• Lahti to east
• Akaa to north-northwest