Tampere city centre draws record 36.4 million visits in 2025 as service use rises

Tampere's commercial city centre drew 36.4 million visits in 2025, a 4% rise from the year before. Of those visits, 63% involved using services — up three percentage points from 2024 — with Fridays and the end of the year the busiest times.

These findings come from the City Centre Vitality Index, which uses mobile phone location data covering the commercial core and the wider City Centre Development Programme area. Strategic urban development director Tero Tenhunen said the increase is welcome, pointing out that major construction and traffic changes have not reduced how many people live in or visit the centre.

Commercial mapping points to an improving retail and hospitality scene. Tampere added 12 cafés and restaurants in the past year — 34 more than three years ago — and the centre of activity now sits near Hatanpää highway by Verkaranta.

Projects such as the Rantaväylä tunnel, P-Hämppi underground parking and the tram have improved access, while venues from Nokia Arena and Tammela Stadium to Ratina shopping centre and new waterfront trails have drawn visitors. The city says it will continue developing the Station District, Viinikanlahti, Sori and Särkänniemi under its Five-Star City Centre programme.