Marvelous Tampere

Why did you choose to go to Tampere, Finland?

Finland was one of the destinations that interested me most. For me, the decision was between Turku and Tampere. I was told that both cities had a good student life, but Tampere was prettier.

How long does the grant last? How much money do you receive?

They've given me a total of about €3,500 for 4 months (they haven't really given it to me yet, but this is what I'm supposed to receive).

What is student life like in Tampere?

Fantastic! The town is lively and there's usually nights out planned each week... and if not, there's always parties going on in the halls of residence!

Would you recommend the city and the University of Tampere to other students?

100%. Tampere is a beautiful city, neither too big nor too small, it's perfect for Erasmus students and it always has a great atmosphere.

As for the uni, I went to Tamk, but as I was a nursing student I only went on placements... so I didn't really get to enjoy much of what the university had to offer.

How is the country's food?

Being from Spain, I missed Spanish food, but Finnish food isn't bad. You have to try the traditional black sausages (a strange sort of blood sausage), reindeer (very expensive, but very tasty), munkkis (a kind of donut), salmon... Generally, the supermarkets there have almost everything you could want (except sunflower seeds).

Did you have trouble finding accommodation in Tampere?

Not at all, TOAS provided the accommodation very quickly and it's only 10 minutes from Tampere city centre by bus.

How much does it cost to live in Tampere?

To be honest, Finland isn't as expensive as you might think. A meal at the university is 2.6 euros, accommodation isn't usually very expensive, I paid quite a bit (222 euros) compared to some of my friends.

I would say I spent about €400 per month on "important" things... the problem is alcohol, which is quite expensive. A SMALL bottle of Jagger from the Alko (a traditional shop which sells alcohol) is about 10 euros. I made do with that and cheap beers from some of the parties :)

How was the language? Did you go to any course at the University?

Finnish isn't impossible, but you have to spend a lot of time on it. I did a course at the University and between that and the practices I was doing at the hospital I picked up the very basics.

Most people speak English or at least understand it, although they tend to feel a bit shy about speaking it.

What is the cheapest way to get to Tampere from your city?

I took a flight from Malaga to Tampere with Ryanair, which flies in the summer. I got it quite cheap, it was less than 100 euros.

On the way back I had to take the ExpressBus from Tampere to Helsinki, and from there a flight to Malaga, since Ryanair doesn't fly during the winter. Still, it cost about the same as the trip out there.

What places would you recommend to party in Tampere?

Without a doubt, Miami. My best nights out were there. They usually organise student nights out every week, and some days you can get a beer and a shot for € 1!

Roska is also a very good option, it isn't like any places I'm used to, but it's worth it!

And eating out in Tampere? Can you give us your favourite places?

You have to go to the market next to Sokos, you can eat traditional Finnish food for a good price (I recommend the salmon). This was definitely my favourite place.

Napoli, a pizzeria very close to the main street, is also very good.

And what is it like as a cultural visit?

Tampere is tiny, and it doesn't really have a lot to see in terms of monuments. There are some museums, and the centre is beautiful, but in my opinion Tampere stands out for its nature (as does all of Finland).

Pynnikki is one of Tampere's most beautiful places. It's a tower with pretty views where you can try the famous munkkis. I recommend the beach nearby, if your here during the summer you can bathe there!

The lakes of Hervanta are also beautiful, Lake Lapinkaari...

Any advice you want to give to future students in Tampere?

Tampere stands out for its lively atmosphere, so enjoy every minute of being in the city and with the people, travel as much as possible (LAPONIA!) and make the most of everything, your time as an Erasmus student will fly!

As for the time, it's not as bad as they say :) :)

It's worth it!