'''Hameenlinna''' (Swedish: Tavastehus) [http://www.hameenlinna.fi/english/] is a city in Southern Finland.

Get in

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 goes near the city.

By train

As Hameenlinna is situated at the most important railway [http://www.vr.fi] 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 Hameenlinna.

By boat

Yes, there is a waterway between Tampere and Hameenlinna. 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. Finnish Silverline [http://www.finnishsilverline.com/Sivut/english/home.htm] offers cruises, which take 8 hours one way.

Get around

You can get around by car, by bus [http://www.hameenlinja.fi/] or by foot. For driving around, the city center is quite an irritating experience, with it's tight intersections and numerous one-way streets. The services in the city center are withing a few minutes walk, so a car is hardly necessary there. All buses stop at the market square while heading west and at at the bus station (at Palokunnankatu near market square) while heading east.

See

  • '''Hame castle''' [http://www.nba.fi/en/hame_castle] is the main attraction of Hameenlinna. 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.
  • '''Aulanko''' [http://www.aulanko.fi/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1&lang=en] Originally 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.
  • '''Tank museum in Parola''' http://www.panssarikilta.fi/Museo/kehys-e.html Situated some kilometres north from the city center. For those who are interested in military equiment.
  • '''Holy Cross Church''' in Parola, a little north of Hameenlinna. Medieval, gothic church, built mostly of red bricks. Inside there are many paintings and sculptures.
  • '''Ahvenisto ridge''' Beautiful 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.
  • The birthplace of '''Jean Sibelius''' 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 closed for renovation until fall 2007.
  • Do

  • '''Aulanko''' offers various activities. There is a recently built spa, tennis courts and a golf course, riding stables etc.
  • Another golf course, Linnagolf, next to Vanajanlinna
  • Buy

    Eat

    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 7,99?.

  • '''Popino''' [http://www.popino.fi/] 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 tasty dishes with e.g. steaks and fish. Salad and bread are included in price, so a pizza or "dish of the day" with water as drink might cost you 10? or so, but also finer (and more expensive) meals are available. Popino has something for everyone. Raatihuoneenkatu 11, tel. (03) 6532555
  • '''Piparkakkutalo''' [http://www.ravintolapiparkakkutalo.fi/inenglish.htm] "The gingerbread house" is easily recognisable of it's white "scaled" wall. With a beautiful view to the church this is one of the finer places in Hameenlinna. Kirkkorinne 2 (next to the church) tel. +358 3 648 040
  • If you'd fancy a steak in Finland's oldest pub (or so it claims), check '''William's pub''' [http://www.williamspub.net/eng.htm]. The salad bar, included in the price of a steak dish, is quite good. The basic portions with a steak, potatoes and sauce aren't among the biggest or finest available. Rauhankatu 11, tel. (03)656040
  • From one corner of the market square begins the two-block long promenade street (the first block called "Reska" by locals, the another was built quite recently). There you will find '''Tawastia Bank''' [http://www.tawastiabank.fi/] and '''Huviretki''' (a chain restaurant, which operates next to hotel Cumulus).
  • At the corner of Sibeliuksenkatu and Palokunnankatu there is '''Rosso''', a restaurant of a Finnish chain, propably with some Italian influence, selling pizzas and other dishes with reasonable prices. Further on Sibeliuksenkatu there are '''Steak House''', '''Pancho Villa''' (mexican), and finally at the corner of Sibeliukskatu and Hallituskatu, '''Coyote bar & grill''', another chain restaurant with nice looking menu but not exactly cheap prices.
  • 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. '''Georgios''' [http://www.georgios.fi/] serves food from Greece and is also located near market square. Linnankatu 3, tel. (03) 682 8884
  • Drink

    You might not want to go bar-hopping in the suburbs, though it's not necessary, while most of pubs, rock-bars, nightclubs etc. are located around market square area. '''Metropol''' is "number one nightclub" for teens and twenty-somethings. High prices (on weekends 7? for entrance only) and the average users might be the reasons to avoid the place.

    Sleep

  • '''Kylpylahotelli Rantasipi Aulanko''' [http://www.rantasipi.fi/hotelli.cfm?id=rsaul] Old 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 center once in an hour. Aulanko area offers also e.g. accommodation in cottages. [http://www.aulanko.fi/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=12&Itemid=50&lang=en]
  • '''Hotel Cumulus Hameenlinna''' [http://www.cumulus.fi/view.cfm?page=hotel.6] Located in the city centre.
  • '''Hotelli Emilia''' [http://www.kolumbus.fi/hotelli.emilia/in_english.htm] Small hotel right in the centre at the Reska promenade street.
  • Budget

    Mid range

  • '''Sokos Hotel Vaakuna''' [http://www.sokoshotels.fi/english/index.cfm] Possentie 7 tel. +358 (0)20 1234 636
  • Located near the Railway station, at the shore of lake Vanajavesi. Not far from the city center.

    Splurge

  • '''Vanajanlinna''' [http://www.vanajanlinna.fi/portal/english] Vanajanlinnantie 485, FIN-13330 Harviala tel. +358 (0)3 61 020
  • Get out

  • '''Puuhamaa''' [http://www.puuhamaa.fi/eng/] is an amusement park (or maybe more a giant playground) in Tervakoski, about 20 km south of Hameenlinna. 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.