After the Finlandia Marathon: Tampere

The Route: Jyväskylä → Tampere → Helsinki Airport Logistics: Direct train of about 1.5 hours, then walking in a compact centre. Tampere works as a first stop on the way south. Marathon Month: September Duration: 1 night

Jyväskylä station ──(about 1.5 hrs, VR)──> Tampere ──(train south)──> Helsinki ──(airport train)──> Helsinki Airport (HEL)

The marathon ends on Saturday in Jyväskylä, and Sunday is the day to ride a train somewhere with museums and a large number of indoor seats. Tampere fits. It sits between two lakes, its centre is a flat grid beside a river of rapids, and the journey from Jyväskylä takes about an hour and a half by train or by bus.

September in Tampere. Early autumn is a good month for the city. The summer visitors have gone, the museums are on their regular timetables and the weather is cool enough for walking without a sweat. Boat trips and summer attractions run to reduced timetables or stop altogether, so do not plan the day around a cruise without checking the schedule.

Getting there

Trains and buses both take about 1.5 hours from Jyväskylä. The VR Matkalla app sells tickets and shows the timetable. Book a seat in advance on a Sunday, when southbound trains are fuller.

Day one: indoor and flat

Start with Vapriikki, a museum complex in the old Tampella factory buildings beside the rapids. It is a level indoor visit with seating and a café, which is the point on the day after a marathon. Check what exhibitions are on in September on the museum's website, since temporary shows change.

The Moomin Museum is the other indoor choice, and it suits a runner travelling with children. It is a fixed collection of Tove Jansson's drawings and models. Tickets and opening hours are on the museum website.

The Pyynikki Observation Tower and Café sits on a ridge above the town and is known for its doughnuts. The hill is steep and the tower is a climb up a staircase, so save it for the second morning, when the legs have had a night's rest, or go and eat a doughnut at the bottom of the stairs. Tourism listings confirm the café and its doughnuts, but opening hours vary by season, so check before you walk up.

Where to stay

The Original Sokos Hotel Ilves is a central choice, and the Scandic Tampere City is another. Both are on the Visit Tampere hotel list. The railway station is in the centre, so a hotel near it keeps luggage and train times simple. Ask about breakfast times and luggage storage when you book.

Day two and onward

Tampere is on the main line south, so you can reach Helsinki by train and continue by rail to the airport. Check the VR timetable for the day of travel. Tampere has an airport of its own, TMP, but the route options and any airport bus should be checked for the date, since the airport bus line that once served it has stopped running.

Getting home