It's definitively not easy to see Finland from above as it is a relatively flat country, almost without skyscrapers. Luckily, there are a couple of observation towers that offer stunning views. Some towers are well known such as the Olympic stadium tower in Helsinki and others are much less. Also, some are free of charge and other cost a couple of euros. Does the view worth the money? Find out in the following list. Do you know other towers? Feel free to give your tips in the comment box at the end of the article or on the Facebook page of AmazingFinland. Click on the pictures to enlarge.
1. The tallest: Näsinneula Observation tower
Located in the amusement park of Särkänniemi in Tampere, this tower is the tallest in the Nordic countries (168m high) and also the tallest free-standing structure in Finland. Built in 1971, the tower offers by clear weather a 360 degrees view on 20km. The restaurant and the observation platform are situated at 120m above the ground. Two elevators bring the visitors up and down in 27 seconds (max speed of 6m/s). They are the fastest public elevators of Finland. The landscape is composed by the city, lakes, islands and little hills.
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| Stunning view (south) |
Ticket: 5€ (free with the Särkänniemi pass)
Opening hours: 11am - 11:30pm
Time in the tower: unlimited
View: 360 degrees
Quality of the view: 5/5
Worth the money: 5/5
2. The most famous: the Olympic stadium tower
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| The Olympics tower during the light festival LUX Helsinki in January |
Built in 1938 for the Olympic Games for the summer Olympics of 1940 that were postponed to 1952 due to the war, the tower is 72m high and offers a great view over the largest stadium in Finland. Located in Töölö at only 2km from the city center of Helsinki, the visibility can be up to 10km by clear weather. A single elevator brings the visitors up, but the last floor is only accessible by the stairs. The roof is covered but there is no window. It is ideal for taking pictures but very often extremely windy. The tower is open during the whole year, but is closed when events are organized in the stadium. During your visit, don't miss the Sports museum of Finland. There is also a hostel in the stadium.
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| View on Töölönlahti bay, Kaisaniemi and the Cathedral |
Ticket: 5€/2€
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 9am-8pm, Sat-Sun 9am-6pm
Time in the tower: unlimited
View: 360 degrees
Quality of the view: 5/5
Worth the money: 4/5
Suitable for disabled people: no
Address: Olympiastadion, 00250 Helsinki
Website
Address: Olympiastadion, 00250 Helsinki
Website
3. The pioneer: the Puijo's tower
The 72m high tower was built in 1963 on top of the Puijo's hill at approximately 1500m from the city center of Kuopio in Eastern Finland. This tower is the third one built on the hill (1856 and 1906 for the former ones). Surrounded by the the sports center, ski jumps, forests, lakes and islands, the view from this tower can be said as typical from Finland. As for the Näsinneula tower, by clear weather the visibility can be up to 20km. The tower was the first having a revolving restaurant in the Nordic countries. The mayor of Tampere got inspired and it is how Näsinneula was born. The visitors can admire the view behind windows. It is difficult to take 360 degrees pictures due to the reflections and the hand prints. It is the second most expensive tower of the article with a 6€ adult ticket.
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| The ciry center of Kuopio seems far away from the tower. |
Ticket: 6€/4€/3€
Opening hours: Mon-Thu 10am-7pm, Fri 10am-9pm, Sat 11am-9pm, Sun 11am-4pm
Time in the tower: unlimited
View: 360 degrees
Quality of the view: 5/5
Suitable for disabled people: yes
Address: Puijontie 135, 70300 Kuopio
Website
In the heart of Helsinki's amusement park Linnanmäki, visitors can take place for free in the panorama tower built in 1987 for a few minutes. People sit side-by-side in the small structure. Once the doors are closed the plateform get up to 53m and turns on itself. As the tower is located on a hill, the view is even more spectacular over the park, Pasila, Vallila and Kallio. In the background, the famous churches of the city center can be spotted as well as the huge ferries and icebreakers in Katajanokka. The tower is closed by windows that are unfortunately quite dirty. It is difficult to take pictures as there is a bar right on the eyes level and it is not allowed to stand during the "ride".
Worth the money: 5/5
Address: Puijontie 135, 70300 Kuopio
Website
4. The turning: panorama tower of Linnanmäki
In the heart of Helsinki's amusement park Linnanmäki, visitors can take place for free in the panorama tower built in 1987 for a few minutes. People sit side-by-side in the small structure. Once the doors are closed the plateform get up to 53m and turns on itself. As the tower is located on a hill, the view is even more spectacular over the park, Pasila, Vallila and Kallio. In the background, the famous churches of the city center can be spotted as well as the huge ferries and icebreakers in Katajanokka. The tower is closed by windows that are unfortunately quite dirty. It is difficult to take pictures as there is a bar right on the eyes level and it is not allowed to stand during the "ride".
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| The rock church of Kallio is easily recognizable |
Ticket: free ("maksuton" in Finnish)
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 10am-9pm, Sat 1pm-9pm, Sun 1pm-8pm
Time in the tower: about 5 minutes
View: 360 degrees
Quality of the view: 4/5
Suitable for disabled people: yes
5. The oldest: Erottaja fire station tower
Built in 1891, the fire station is the oldest still in use. At only a few minutes of walk from the Esplanade in Helsinki, the tower is unfortunately open to the public only twice a year: on June 12th during the Helsinki Day and in September the day where the Helsinki Open Doors event occurs. The tower is only 42m high but it is sufficient as Helsinki's building are quite low. In order to reach the top, you'll have to climb hundreds of small turning stairs! But the 360 degrees view is worth the effort.
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| View on the Mannerheimintie with the Parliament and the National museum in the background and Stockmann department store on the right of the photo |
Ticket: free
Opening hours: only on June 12th (Helsinki Day) and in September during the Helsinki Open Doors event
Time in the tower: about 15 minutes
View: 360 degrees
Quality of the view: 5/5
Suitable for disabled people: no
Worth the money: 4/5
5. The coolest: Lahti's ski jump
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| Unique site where one's can swim, sunbath and watch ski jumpers training |
In Lahti, the observation terrace is located at the top of the biggest ski jump built in 1972 at 73m above the Salpausselkä hill (212m above the sea level) in the sport center. Open only in summer to the public (wintertime on request), this site is definitively the coolest with a ski museum, restaurant, possibility to swim (and have a sauna indoor), and practice diverse sports. Very often the ski jumpers are training and it is a great opportunity to get familiar with one of the most popular Finnish sports. The visitor can take the lift (on the left) to the top of the hill and then a 3m high elevator in the pillar. The view is amazing over the lake and the city (no windows!), but is only of 180 degrees. The last floor is accessible by narrow stairs. It is the most expensive tower of the article.
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| Gorgeous view on the industrial city of Lahti |
Ticket: 8€ (tower and the lift), 12€ (ski museum + tower + lift)
Opening hours: from June 1st to August 31th, Mon-Fri 10am-5pm, Sat-Sun 11am-5pm
Time in the tower: unlimited
View: 180 degrees
Quality of the view: 4/5
Suitable for disabled people: no
Address: Salpausselänkatu 8, 15111 Lahti
Website
Pyynikki tower is situated at the top of Pyynikiharju at less than 2km from the city center of Tampere. The red brick tower was build in 1929 after the 1888 wooden tower was damaged during the war of 1918. It offers an impressive view over the city and the lakes from its 26m high (180m above the sea level). The main asset of this tower is that it is close to the center and free of charge. Also, there is a café, famous for its doughnuts made on the spot and its special coffee. From May 1st, there is a possibility to purchase ice cream at the stall (closed when it rains!).
AmazingFinland is going to visit this tower on May 30th and will update the text and pictures.
Worth the money: -/5
Address: Salpausselänkatu 8, 15111 Lahti
Website
6. The tastiest: Pyynikki tower
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| Flickr/Ville.fi (CC BY-ND 2.0) |
AmazingFinland is going to visit this tower on May 30th and will update the text and pictures.
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| View on the city and Näsinneula tower. Flickr/Mussels (CC BY-ND 2.0) |
Ticket: 2€
Opening hours: everyday from 9am to 8pm (9pm in summertime)
Time in the tower: unlimited
View: 360 degrees
Quality of the view: -/5
Suitable for disabled people: no
Address: Näkötornintie 20, 33230 Tampere
Website
Built only a year ago (2013), the tower at the Nature Center of Haltia in the national park of Nuuksio seems interesting. On the website, we can read: "The tower is like a bird’s neck, with the head turned to look towards Lake Pitkäjärvi." Very promising. The tower is not very high (maybe 20m) but is at the top of a little hill facing the lake. A spiral staircase (no lift) brings the visitors on a plateform after some good effort. The view is extremely... disappointing. The terrace is facing the ugly roof and the parking lot. Why is it not turned towards the lake? The view from this tower is not worth the effort. The only positive point is that it is free of charge. If you want to have a better view, just go on the balcony of the restaurant.
Worth the money: 1/5
Address: Näkötornintie 20, 33230 Tampere
Website
7. The most disappointing: Haltia tower
Built only a year ago (2013), the tower at the Nature Center of Haltia in the national park of Nuuksio seems interesting. On the website, we can read: "The tower is like a bird’s neck, with the head turned to look towards Lake Pitkäjärvi." Very promising. The tower is not very high (maybe 20m) but is at the top of a little hill facing the lake. A spiral staircase (no lift) brings the visitors on a plateform after some good effort. The view is extremely... disappointing. The terrace is facing the ugly roof and the parking lot. Why is it not turned towards the lake? The view from this tower is not worth the effort. The only positive point is that it is free of charge. If you want to have a better view, just go on the balcony of the restaurant.
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| Probably the ugliest view you can get from a panoramic tower |
Ticket: Free
Opening hours: everyday from 9:30am to 7pm
Time in the tower: unlimited
View: 180 degrees
Quality of the view: 1/5
The second part of the article will present panoramic terraces.
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