Tampere offers a wide range of free time activities. Walking through the city center is indeed one of them.
It definitely might cause your wallet to suffer from anorexia, if you enjoy shopping or searching for hidden treasures in thrift stores. Yet shops are not the most interesting thing you’ll encounter.
You might visit historical parts of the city, museums and historical buildings which somehow perfectly fit the vibe of Tampere. I am not talking about old buildings falling apart, no way, Tampere keeps everything in good condition, some of the old houses are even inhabited by people! Modern architecture stands side by side with wooden houses and churches made of red bricks.
Large red brick buildings are part of the old Finlayson industrial area. The Finlayson factory was founded in 1820 by Scottish industrialist James Finlayson. It was a textile factory and even though most of the factory buildings are not in use anymore, the Finlayson brand still has a huge influence on the city itself. Personally I feel that it is a beautiful part of history.
