Tampere buying snow

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Tampere buying snow

There is nothing like snow laden forests of bare trees: the stark brilliant white against the almost night black trees. The snow outlines forms you never noticed before. A simplification of the world, everything becomes dark or light, lines and shapes, like a map of the tracks and roadways. The eyelets on the birch catch your eye and you suddenly feel all the trees staring. Walking through the streets with the snow piled up in corners. That distinct squeaking crunch of fresh snow underfoot: the air compressing like a song. There is only inside and outside, reverting back to survival instincts of seeking shelter. We arrived from Copenhagen and while we thought that was cold, it was nothing compared to Finland. It was always below zero cold, cold-cold; fresh fluffy snow sparkling fiercely or white icy winds that made it challenging for us to venture outside for long. When we landed in Helsinki it was 4pm and already completely dark. The streets were slippery and we trekked gingerly in our hiking boots and witnessed a fair number of falls. We may never have come to Finland in the heart of winter on our own accord but for the generous invitation of our friend Lin. We trudged through the park for about an hour, passing families out sledding and walking dogs. There was fresh snow glittering everywhere, even trimming the Sibelius Monument and the metal pipes glinting in the light. Families were out with their kids sledding down the hills. We wanted to check out the Regatta , a popular little cafe shack by the water, but it was too busy at the time. The tall rounded rust colored chapel contrasts boldly against the rest of the open square and heavy wooden doors seal it from the outside. We tried our best to dry our boots on the mats before entering, but they still insist on squeaking when we step into the bright cocoon. The wooden shell is of a lighter more natural color inside and the interior could very well be a modern gallery space if not for the rows of unmistakable pews. We settle onto one of the benches and allow the quiet hush to envelop us. Nestled out in the woods, the trees laden with snow as thick as a wall and the silence becomes dense. The snow was so deep it made an extra crunchy sound; every footstep across the porch seemed deafening! There we partake in a typical Finnish lunch: a full spread of caprese salad, baked salmon, baked potato wedges fries, and a divine carrot and sweet potato puree soup drizzled with olive oil. Dessert followed with a yogurt mixed with berries and a kiisseli , a bright and refreshing finish. Tucked in with a dreamy view of the frozen lake, we relaxed and talked about the differences in the cultures of Finland compared to the States; sharing memories and theories. Our very first experience of the popular winter sport we now consider it an extreme sport sauna was at the cabin; an ideal and luxurious introduction. The beautiful warm glow of the wooden room, sizzling rocks on the electric sauna, and the charming ubiquitous water bucket. She dips the ladle full and pours the water over the rocks: a hiss and the instant vaporization sends steam rushing to the ceiling and the eyes cannot keep up but you can feel the heat spreading across the ceiling and falling upon you with a surprising heft. Just as I was beginning to feel overwhelmed by the heat, she declared it was time, so we mustered up our courage and made our way to the porch door. The snow stung as if all of my skin caught on fire! Oh, but the moment you sit back in the sauna and feel the echoing tingles of the snow melting away: it completely changed the feeling in the sauna when we went back in. It was the perfect way to cap off our night and the first experience of sauna. The Seitseminen National Park stretched like an endless untouched carpet of snow, trees lining the edges, melding into the gray dusky sky. We blindly followed Tomas and Lin, turning surprising curves along the unseen path; our crunching boots were the only signs of energy out in the quiet fields of white. Snow crystalized on the branches and yet those sprawling mounds of soft fresh snow, everything felt so pristine and delicate, so delicate that some impish part of me was tempted to plow through it all. Break the stillness, test the form! There was something so spectacular about being on in the wintry wilderness and experiencing this magical element of snow: natural, pure, harsh, cold, soft, round, sparkling, sharp, opaque, clear. We hiked to a campfire where I attempted to chop wood for the first time, there were a number of failed attempts: the key is clearing the way and then letting gravity do the work. Tomas builds the fire in a nest shape, attempts to light some paper and twigs, but when it fails he pulls out his secret weapon: lighter fluid. Huddling around it we cook sausages, eat sandwiches and drink our hot cocoa. After our lunch, we pack up the little camp and head back out. We trudge through almost knee deep snow, single file as I pull up the rear. I try not to fall behind as I snap photos with my phone, but I cannot capture the feeling correctly. All I can hear is the crunching of our footsteps and my breathing. I try to remember to also look up and not just at my feet but I fear falling although the snow is so inviting. How far down? Is there a wrong step I might take? We hiked past a swamp and the sudden openness after all the trees is breathtaking. Further along and we reach the old trees, you can actually see the spiral in the trunk as it grew. As our journey comes to an end, we visit the historical farm village area, the faded reds and yellows add to the rustic charm. We spot some tiny tracks and follow them into the old barn, where an old machine sits idle. A single bird flits past us to a nearby bush and drinks some of the snow, its bright yellow striking in the muted scene. With that picturesque moment we wrap up our winter hike and head back home. After a long day of winter hiking, sauna is the perfect way to recover. This time we were taken to a public sauna, Kaupinojan Sauna. We went a couple hours before closing and it was packed! We split up girls and guys and go through the locker rooms to change and rinse off. We grab some sitting boards and file into the sauna. Just as we reach the door I feel it. The air is rejuvenating, but as we step towards the stairs into the lake I have second thoughts. The group begins to head down the stairs, so I obligingly follow, planning to jump in and out as quickly as I possibly can. I receive some knowing laughs, and so we attempt another round and head back into the sauna. This time, we sit out in the lobby space a little while before going into the lake. Tomas advises a calmer state of mind helps you bear the two extremes better. We hydrate and chat, surrounded by lobster red bodies, everyone except Carl who just stayed brown. I am able to fully dunk my body though on the second try. By the time we left the sauna, the temperatures read C, the water was 2. Food markets are one of our favorite things to visit around the world, like Mercado San Miguel in Madrid , the Time Out Market in Lisbon , Torvehallerne in Copenhagen , so we were a bit bummed that the Hakaniemi Market was closed for renovations at the time. Some Finnish specialties to try, most of which you can just pick up from a local grocery store or cafe:. Some other delicious foods we had that were not Finnish traditions were the Fazer cranberry walnut bread we picked up from Prisma , kebabs and the falafel pizza from Evins , and the inventive vegan friendly dishes like turmeric coconut soup from Muusa. Browse our photos for inspiration or read on for more things to know before going to Finland and other logistical information or jump down to the details on all the places we recommended. The cozy apartment had a great vibe with lots of plants but that also did mean some small bugs. The heater is on all the way up for the plants, but that was fine with us. There was a full kitchen and we made use of it, just downstairs there are a handful of Asian supermarkets. Our first night there was a shoveler on the roof getting rid of the snow at 6am, which woke us up but that was only once. In Tampere we stayed with a friend in the Kaleva neighborhood, which was just east of city center and easy to get to. The latter half of January in Finland was always below zero and deep in snow. We had a few light snowy days but also plenty of sunny clear days. During the winter, Finland sees very short hours of daylight, but on the other hand, sunrises and sunsets are easier to catch, though they also go by quickly. Keep your plans flexible as traveling in winter season can be unpredictable! Finnish and Swedish are the main languages and most signs will be written in those languages, though many Finnish speak English. Due to the cold, local produce consists mostly of potatoes, mushrooms and a great variety of berries, such as cloud berry. We were told to return during the spring or fall when one could forage for mushrooms or berries. At the time of our visit, the Hakaniemi Food Hall in Helsinki was closed for renovations. Impressively we found that there were still plenty of bikers in the middle of January in both Helsinki and Tampere. We preferred to stick to the buses while in Tampere and the metro while in Helsinki. You can save the most on public transportation in Finland by buying in advanced online or the iOS apps, minimally at ticket machines. If you wait to purchase your fare on the bus it will be the most expensive and is cash only. Ticket machines are only available in metro stations not at bus stations. You can either take a bus or train between Helsinki and Tampere, the trip duration is not that different depending on traffic. Keep in mind that the weather can affect both modes. The biggest factor will depend on whether the bus stations or metro stations are closer to your final destinations. Other than that, the prices for either will vary depending on when you book. We took Onnibus from Helsinki to Tampere but took the train back to Helsinki airport, as it was cheaper that way. When taking the bus, make sure you arrive well before departure time as they are strict about leaving on time: we arrived on the dot and the bus was already closing the door and getting ready to depart and we got a bit of a scolding. Our train back to Helsinki was delayed by 2 hours due to a track problem and we had just it to the airport in time to board our plane but we missed our check in baggage slot , so one way or the other is no guarantee especially during the winter months. Tipping in Finland is not expected, but appreciated. Service is already included in their pricing. Our friend informed us that the restaurant-ing culture is still developing in Finland as most Finnish tend to cook their own meals. We found restaurant food to be unremarkable and fairly expensive, and happily cooked in though grocery shopping was also expensive. We cooked almost all our meals in, shopping at the Asian supermarkets nearby. We used the subway a couple times and used both the train and the bus depending on ticket prices to travel to and from Tampere. As we stayed with a friend, we were able to save on accommodations and simply spent on food. Helsinki Cathedral Helsingin tuomiokirkko , fazer. Try a pastry with your coffee here! Fazer Cafe , fazer. Taiyaki Go , facebook. Not a good filling to pancake ratio. Do not recommend. Old Market Hall Vanha kauppahalli , vanhakauppahalli. Jiahe Asian Market , jiahe. Hakaniemi Market Hakaniemen tori , hel. Kamppi Center Kampin Keskus , kamppi. Ravintola Konnichiwa , konnichiwa. Kamppi Chapel Kampin kappeli also known as the Chapel of Silence , kampinkappeli. It goes without saying, no noise is allowed inside. Muusa , olympiakortteli. They use locally sourced ingredients and offer beautifully crafted vegan options. Kotipizza , kotipizza. Evins , evin. Seitseminen National Park , nationalparks. Prisma , prisma. Try the Fazer Cashew Karpalo Ciabatta from the bread section and the Friggs brand chia and salt rice crackers. Kaupinojan Sauna , talviuimarit. Very popular sauna all the way until closing time! Your email address will not be published. Skip to content. Plan Your Own Adventure photo gallery. Winter hiking in Seitseminen National Park. Cutting wood for the campfire, Winter hiking in Seitseminen National Park. Laskiaispulla, Fazer Cafe, Helsinki. Want to give AirBnB a try? Port near the Kauppatori Ferry terminal. Leave a Reply Cancel reply Your email address will not be published. Please reload the page. We use cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Read More Cookie settings Accept Reject. Close Privacy Overview This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. 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The Ultimate Expat Guide to Living in Tampere

Tampere buying snow

Finns are no strangers to winter living but visitors have lots of questions about travelling to this snowy country of ours. Does it always snow in Finland? How much does it snow in Helsinki? Where can I find the most snow? In this article, we take a look at some of the most frequently asked questions about snow and give you answers. But as a big country — Finland stretches over km north to south — the start of the snow season depends on where in the country you are. In Lapland , which sits mostly above the Arctic Circle, the first snow often falls in September. In , the first snow came in mid-September covering over 20 centimetres in many places, which is a lot for first snow. Usually, the first flurries hit the felltops with full ground cover coming later in the year. In northern parts of the country, snow typically stays permanently on the ground by late-October and lasts until the spring. The closer you are to the coast, the more likely it is for the snow to turn into rain due to the heating effect of the Baltic Sea in late autumn. On average, you'll find more snow the further up north you go. Most of Lapland is covered in snow in the winter months between December and April. You can expect at least centimetres on the ground across the region. Lakeland also gets plenty of snow during these months. The snow cover is typically thickest in the southern and central parts of the country during March, and in northern Finland, in April. It all depends where in the country you are. In Lapland, snow usually covers the ground from early November to late May, so you can go skiing late into the spring. As you head further south, the snow season typically gets shorter. The Lakeland city of Tampere, for example, experiences about six months of snow. The Finnish capital is located on the southern coast of Finland, so it has milder winters compared to Lapland. The warming effect of the Baltic Sea in the autumn delays the first snow fall in Helsinki typically until November or December. On average, the Helsinki snow season lasts for 97 days. You'll often see snow on the ground in March and even in April but the best chance of catching the snow-covered capital is in January or February. This, however, varies from year to year. Planes are sprayed with de-icing spray, while airports are equipped with high-tech sensors that monitor changes to tarmac temperature. The weather is also constantly monitored, and if snow does begin to fall, industrial scale snowploughs and sweepers keep the tarmac clear. We like to call this snow-how. With over a million visitors flying to Finland annually for winter holidays, you can rest assured that flying in Finnish winter is normal and perfectly safe. You sure can! However, we would recommend winter driving for more experienced drivers. Main roads are ploughed frequently during the season but roads can be icy and days are short, especially in January and February, which means you'll often be driving in the dark. All Finnish cars must have winter tyres during the colder months with either friction tyres 'kitkarenkaat' for snowy conditions or stud tyres 'nastarenkaat' for icy conditions. Thus, when you rent a car in Finland, it comes equipped with the right kind of tyres. If you're driving in more rural areas, a four-wheel drive is recommended. The supply of electric rental cars is increasing making e-cars also a great and green! Read more about driving in Finland in our article. From snowboarding and skiing to husky and reindeer rides, there are plenty of exciting sports and outdoor adventures that you can enjoy in the snow. If you're less into sport and more into admiring spectacular views, the long autumn and winter seasons in Finland are made for northern lights fans. For more snow adventure ideas, get inspired by our guide to the best things to do in Finland during winter. Need inspiration for your next winter holiday in Finland? Look no further! We've collected ideas of unique and sustainable snow-related activities below. Places to go Things to do Practical tips. Everything you need to know about snow 3 minute read. Your biggest questions about snow, answered Finns are no strangers to winter living but visitors have lots of questions about travelling to this snowy country of ours. Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow! When does it start snowing in Finland? Snow fall captured in the picturesque wooden town of Porvoo. Koli National Park is a great place to experience winter in Lakeland. How long does the snow season last? The charming Pispala district of Tampere was covered in snow in January How long does the snow season last in Helsinki? Credits: Ants Vahter. Can I fly to Finland when it snows? Can I drive in the snow? What can I do when it snows? Credits : Mikko Huotari. Unique and sustainable snow activities Need inspiration for your next winter holiday in Finland? Epic photos of Finnish winter darkness Discover the magic of Finland's landscapes during Discover Finnish winter on ice Find out about thrilling ice activities for the en Practical tips Check out this list of essential tips and practica Epic northern lights photos from Finland Immerse yourself in the magical northern lights sp Must-visit quirky saunas in Finland Discover the quirkiest saunas across various regio

Tampere buying snow