Living in Tampere [City of Tampere]

The Tampere city region is the second fastest growing area in Finland. We could be biased but we think that Tampere is a very attractive and affordable place to live in. Whether you are moving here as a student, working or with your family, Tampere offers different kinds of activities and recreations for all!

Finland has 4 unique seasons

Winter season starts around December and last till February. The temperature is usually below 0 deg C and could drop to as low as -20 deg C, so be prepared to wear at least a warm winter jacket, a hat and gloves, a scarf and warm winter shoes. The key to keep warm is to wear several layers of clothing in cold weather, i.e long johns and warm long-sleeved top underneath your pants and sweater. It is often dark in the winter because the sun rises late in the morning and sets early in the afternoon, so it is advisable to wear a reflective bracelet or clothing when walking outside.

Spring season begins around March to May. The spring weather is often cool, but warmer than in winter. In spring, nature changes a lot. The snow melts and nature become green as plants and trees grow leaves. During this time, a lot of pollen will be in the air, you can purchase anti-histamines from the pharmacy if you are allergic to pollen.

Summer season is filled with lights and brightness. Evenings and nights are bright in Tampere during the summer, as the sun sets late and rises early. The summer months are usually between June to August. Most people have a hard time sleeping during the bright nights, so you can get black-out curtains or eye-mask, if needed.

Autumn season starts around end of August till November. Many leaves of plants and trees, which are green in the summer, turn yellow, orange and red. In the time of autumn colours, nature is beautiful and colorful. The weather is cool and often rainy and windy. The Finnish autumn is darker because the sun sets earlier than in the summer.

Remember to take a home insurance

Are you looking for a house in Tampere? Tampere offers homes for different life situations and there is a wide variety of housing options from both public and private markets. Properties near the city center are more expensive than in the suburb area, outside the city. Find more information at Are you looking for a home? | www.tampere.fi.

Whether you are buying or renting, it is recommended to take a home insurance. Home insurance covers, for example, damage to your furniture and other articles. When renting a property, landlords usually require that you secure a home insurance. You should ask for a quote from several insurance companies before buying.

Housing

InfoFinland website provides excellent source of general information on housing, such as information on deposits, rental agreements and how to rent or buy a property.

Temporary accommodation
For those arriving in Tampere and haven’t found a place to stay yet or you are planning to buy a property, which may take awhile, here are a few options that provides accommodation without minimum lease period.

For students who have not gotten an accommodation from POAS or TOAS yet, or you are an exchange student, please contact the student union for assistance at Tilapäismajoitus | Opiskelijan Tampere ry.

Permanent accommodation
The Housing Market Place Asuntotori (located in Puutarhakatu 8, Tampere) is a great way to find out about rental and right-of-occupancy properties in Tampere. You will also find information about housing for students and the elderly.

Here is a list of rental housing agencies that can also provide services in English:

If you are a student, you could apply for student housing. In Tampere, they are handled by:

POAS (only for students below 30 years old)

TOAS (for students of all ages)

Living in your own property is very popular in Finland and home ownership is a viable option for non-Finns as well. The prices of privately-owned homes are still reasonable, especially if you are ready to live in the suburb. Buying a home is often cheaper than renting a home in the long-term.

Almost all the real-estate agencies selling properties can be found online. You can contact the real estate agent or broker directly to ask for more information. In Finland, agents and brokers are required to provide you with all relevant information related to the deal.

Buying your own place is generally a major investment. Banks and other financing institutions grant loans to private individuals for purchasing apartments or properties. If you are interested in purchasing an apartment or a property using a loan, always contact your bank first.

When you buy a home, you either purchase a housing share (asunto-osake) or real estate (kiinteistö). Housing shares are homes in either blocks of flats or terraced houses. These houses are owned by housing companies, or housing cooperatives. When you buy a detached house, you buy real estate. Real estate usually comprises a detached house and the related plot.

Need more information about buying a home? You can find all the info here in infofinland.fi.

Online banking is the most common form of banking in Finland, so remember to request for online banking credentials when opening an account. All the banks offer services in Finnish and Swedish. There are 3 banks which offer services in English: Nordea, OP and Danske Bank. In general, you need to make an appointment with the bank to open an account. It usually takes about 2-5 weeks, from making an appointment to opening a bank account.

For more information about opening a bank account, please click to Everyday life in Finland (infofinland.fi).

For EU/EEA citizens, minimum documentations needed

For non-EU citizens, minimum documentations needed

Finland has affordable public health services for everyone who has a permanent address registered in the country. In addition, employers may also offer occupational health services for their employees. Alternatively, you can also use private health services at your own expenses.

Before moving to Tampere, it might be a good idea to procure health insurance from your home country for the first months of your stay since it might take a while before you are covered by the Finnish social security and entitled to the Finnish low cost health system and Kela benefits.

All permanent residents are allocated to a health center based on their home address. During the day, patients in need of urgent care are primarily treated at the health centers in their respective areas. In the evening and at weekends, health centers are closed and urgent illnesses and injuries are handled by the emergency clinic of First Aid Unit Acuta. Acuta treats Tampere residents who have suddenly fallen ill or been injured and require immediate or urgent care.

As of 1 January 2023, the wellbeing services county of Pirkanmaa will be responsible for all public social welfare and healthcare services for Pirkanmaa residents, including Tampere and Orivesi. Information on public social welfare and healthcare services is available on the website of the wellbeing services county of Pirkanmaa, pirha.fi.

For emergency anywhere in Finland, call 112.

More information on the services organized by the City of Tampere can be found at Health and wellbeing | www.tampere.fi.

Insurance

In summary, Kela, the Finnish Social Insurance institution covers those who live in Finland on a permanent basis and those who work in Finland. If you move to Finland on a permanent basis (more than 90 days), you can usually receive Kela benefits starting from the date of your move to Finland. If you are eligible, Kela can cover your medical and other social security benefits. To find out more about your eligibility based on your status, refer to Quick guide when you move to Finland | Kela.

If you have a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), you do not need to take out other insurance. By presenting the European Health Insurance Card, you can prove your right to necessary medical treatment in Finland. Your card must be valid for the duration of your stay in Finland. Under EU legislation, you can access health care at the same cost and under the same conditions as people living permanently in Finland. With the card, you can get medical treatment if you become suddenly ill or have an accident. You can also get medical treatment if you have a chronic illness that requires medical attention. The card also gives access to necessary treatment during pregnancy and childbirth.

The European Health Insurance Card is recognized within the public health care services as well as by private doctors and hospitals that have signed a health insurance agreement. For more information, refer to European Health Insurance Card - European Commission.

As a student, you must personally cover the costs if you become ill in Finland. In order to get a residence permit, you must take out private insurance that will cover your medical and drug expenses. The insurance you need depends on the duration of your studies in Finland. If you have a Kela card, a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or a UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC), you do not need to take out insurance. The card must be valid even after you have moved to Finland.

Students enrolled in a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree who study in Tampere can use the services provided by the Finnish Student Health Service (FSHS). The FSHS offers university students mental and oral health services and well-being support. You can find the Student Health Services in Tampere at Kalevantie 3, 33100 Tampere. More information can be found at Tampere - FSHS (yths.fi).

Make sure you pay the fees to the student union when you enroll at university. The student card is proof that you have access to student healthcare.

Exchange students and PhD students need to rely on the public healthcare services.

Other than Kela, there are also other types of private insurance you may need to take when living in Finland. Depending on your status, these could include home insurance and motor liability insurance as well as voluntary insurance such as car insurance, private health insurance, accident insurance, life insurance and travel insurance.

Medical insurance: We recommend that you secure medical insurance for you and your family that is eligible for claims in Finland, as the process to approve social and health benefit which allows you access to the public healthcare will take weeks or months, depending on the queue at the time of application.
Home insurance: Home insurance is very common and landlords generally require that the tenants purchase home insurance. When buying property, it is also advisable to purchase as it covers protection for both the home and its movable items, such as furnitures, phones, appliances etc. The cost of the insurance depends on the size of the home, how valuable are the movable items and how extensive you want to cover it.
Motor vehicle Insurance: If you own a motor vehicle of any kind in Finland, it is mandatory to purchase a motor liability insurance (liikennevakuutus). This mandatory insurance covers damage and injury to a 3rd party in an accident. Other voluntary insurance can be purchased to increase the coverage. If you plan to bring your car from an EU country, you can drive it for up to 90 days in Finland, after which you must register the vehicle in Finland and pay tax and insurance. For more info, please visit here.

These insurance companies offer info and services in English:

Insurance companies which offer services in Finnish and Swedish:

Getting Around

In Tampere city center, everything is within a walking distance. However, if you feel the need to get around with four wheels.... or two wheels, there are plenty of options.

Bicycles

Cycling is the nicest way to get to know the city, or simply to get from one place to another. In Tampere, cycling lanes and services are constantly being developed to make bicycles the best option to move around.

See cycling maps and bicycle rental

Scooters

Scooters are the latest form of moving around the city on two wheels. You can rent the scooter for example via Voi, Ryde, Lime or Tier’s app. Download the app of your choosing from your Apple App Store or Google Play.

Voi Scooters

Buses and Trams

You can purchase a travel card and choose what type of fare to load. Traveling by bus or tram in the city of Tampere is free of charge for parents with a stroller. There are also different types of discounts and fares. You can buy or load your fare online via nella.tampere.fi.

See maps, discounts and fares

Driving license

If you are planning to drive in Finland for more than 6 months or have a permanent address here in Finland, you need to convert your driving license to a Finnish driving license. The procedures depend on the type of license and issuing country.

Find out more

Unsure what, where and when to take the bus or tram? You can plan your schedule via reittiopas.tampere.fi or download Reittiopas Tampere app to your phone.

Want to learn Finnish?

Here you can find a list of websites where you can search for courses and places for studying Finnish in the Tampere city region.

Learning Finnish

Living in Tampere

Finland has 4 unique seasons

Remember to take a home insurance

Housing

Renting a property

Buying a property

Banking

Healthcare

Insurance

Finnish Social Security & Benefits (Kela)

European Health Insurance

Health Insurance for Students