New York has Central Park, but how many cities can boast about having a central forest? One of the Tampere city centre neighbourhoods, Pyynikki, is home to a gorgeous pine tree forest on top of a ridge. In the forest there is an illuminated jogging trail that becomes a skiing trail in the winter, and the view from the high cliffs will take your breath away.

The residents of Pyynikki are fortunate in many ways: not only is the Central Square just a few blocks away, they have Tampere’s only outdoor minigolf course and in the area near Hotel Rosendahl by Lake Pyhäjärvi is also a stunning beach that is the place to be on hot summer days. The Pyynikki summer theatre has decades of traditions: audiences have filled its revolving auditorium summer after summer, witnessing performances of countless classics and contemporary comedies. To round off a day of culture or sporting activities, why not pop into the cafe of the old granite Pyynikki observation tower to enjoy a cup of freshly ground coffee and a delicious doughnut!