This Christmas, I decided to stay close to home. No trips abroad or out of the city, and definitely no holiday plans that involved expensive accommodations. Christmas is peak season, and accommodations are often the biggest expense. For me, it’s just not the best time to travel in Europe. Not only are transportation and accommodation prices sky-high, but many local restaurants and shops close during the holidays. Since I love experiencing vacations like a local, it didn’t make sense to spend a fortune on flights and stays.

Instead, I opted for a short trip to a nearby city, Tampere, which is about an hour or two away from Helsinki by train, depending on the type of train.

Marco Boulangerie

Our first stop was Marco Boulangerie for brunch. Having lived in Ghent before, I’ve missed having proper boulangeries and good bread like the ones you easily find in Belgium, France, and the Netherlands. Even their supermarket bread often has the perfect texture and taste that’s hard to find in Helsinki. The closest I’ve come to that quality here in Helsinki is at Layer, but their prices are incredibly high.

Marco Boulangerie had been on my must-visit list ever since I moved to Finland. I was so excited that I ended up ordering too much! Thankfully, everything lived up to my expectations. Delicious bread and great coffee that made for a perfect pairing.

Moomin Museum

Next up was the Moomin Museum, dedicated to Finland’s iconic cartoon characters. I wasn’t familiar with the Moomins growing up and only discovered them after moving to Finland. Learning about them as an adult has been a unique experience. The museum was enjoyable, especially for a beginner like me, though I imagine it’s even more exciting for lifelong Moomin fans.

Akateeminen Kirjakauppa

I never skip visiting a bookstore on my trips, and Tampere has its own branch of Akateeminen Kirjakauppa (kirjakauppa means bookstore). While it’s much smaller than the one in Helsinki and has fewer English books, browsing a bookstore is never a waste of time.

Museokeskus Vapriikki

This museum complex, true to its name (museo = museum and keskus = center), houses multiple museums in one building. It’s an ideal setup for a cold country like Finland since you can explore many exhibits without braving the freezing weather outside. The complex includes a natural history museum, a hockey hall of fame, a postal museum, and more. My favorite was the Finnish Museum of Games, which features a fantastic collection of retro games that you can play without any extra charge. It’s such a fun and nostalgic way to learn while enjoying yourself.

Finnish Labor Museum

This free museum is well worth a visit. Coming from a country with limited labor rights, learning about Finland’s labor history was eye-opening. It showed me that Finland’s labor rights didn’t appear overnight; they’re the result of a long struggle dating back to the 1800s. This museum offers valuable insights and inspires visitors to advocate for better rights in their own communities.

Lukulaari

The second bookstore on my itinerary was Lukulaari, a secondhand bookstore that truly impressed me. They have a vast collection of books across many genres at reasonable prices. I highly recommend stopping by if you’re in Tampere.

Tampere Christmas Market

Since it was Christmas season, visiting the Christmas market was a must. I enjoyed the Tampere Christmas Market more than Helsinki’s because it was less crowded, allowing for a more relaxed experience. My usual favorite at Christmas markets is a raclette sandwich, but I couldn’t find one in either Helsinki or Tampere. However, I did discover kachapuri as a delightful alternative.

If you have limited time in Tampere, I would recommend making this your top priority place to visit:

• Marco Boulangerie
• The Finnish Museum of Games
• Finnish Labor Museum
• Lukulaari