Car & Van Hire - Hameenlinna

Hame Castle is the city's top attraction. This medieval castle is one of the best structures of its kind in Scandinavia and now functions as a museum that offers guided tours in English. On the castle grounds, there's a large lakeside park with walking trails, picnic tables, and play areas for children.

A short walk from Hame Castle will take you to downtown Hameenlinna, framed by Market Square and Hameenlinna's Church. In this area, you can visit the City Museum, a complex containing three different museums devoted to local history, one of which is the childhood home of the renowned composer Jean Sibelius. A short walk across the bridge gets you to Hameenlinna's Art Museum and Verkatehdas cultural centre, which is a venue for concerts and trade fairs.

If you've arranged a car hire in Hameenlinna or Tampere, don't miss a trip to Iitala Design Village, located a 20-minute drive from the city centre. Here, you can learn the process of glassblowing at a famous glass factory, take some designer pieces home and explore a variety of artisan shops. The area is also home to a Design Museum and is a good option if visiting with children, thanks to the presence of the Kultasuklaa chocolate factory.

With your own wheels, you have access to Hameenlinna's top natural attractions. There are more than 300 lakes in the surrounding area, some of which are easily accessible from the city, as is the case of Lake Vanajavesi in Aulanko Nature Preserve. A 10-minute drive takes you to dreamy forest landscapes that have inspired Finnish artists for centuries. The area is excellent for hiking, horse riding, cycling, swimming in the summer and skiing in the winter.

Other natural heritage sites worth exploring include the Iloranta forest. You can also try a traditional Finnish sauna experience, explore the Japanese gardens near Hakkola, and discover the private nature reserve in Honkalanranta. All these attractions are family-friendly.

Despite its relatively small size, Hameenlinna offers a great variety of eateries, including restaurants serving international cuisine, food venues, buffet-style restaurants and cafes specialising in Finnish gastronomy. You'll find most eateries in the streets around Sibelius Childhood Home.

For shopping, your options include the independent stores along Raatihuoneenkatu Street
and modern shopping centres like Goodman and Tavastila, both in the city centre.

Hammeenlinna's historical heritage is celebrated every year during the city's medieval festival (August). Other events worth mentioning include Hame Challenger, an international buhurt tournament also held in August, the Christmas Fair held at Hame Castle (December), and Hameenlinna City Marathon (July). In addition, Kantola Event Park hosts concerts throughout the year.

Driving in Hameenlinna is straightforward, as drivers tend to be considerate and respect traffic rules. The majority of potential hazards are weather related. Although major roads are regularly ploughed, between 1 November and 31 March, all vehicles must be fitted with winter tyres, and these must have a minimum tread depth of 3 mm. The agency that provides your car or van hire in Hameenlinna will ensure your car has the right tyres if you visit during the winter.

At this time of the year, plan your route in advance and double-check road and weather conditions before getting in your car. It's a good idea to plan for frequent stops, so keep in mind the location of petrol stations, roadside cafes and rest areas. To be on the safe side, ask locals about the safest route to your destination before setting off instead of relying on GPS or online maps since the information they provide isn't always accurate in real time.

Please note that your car's roof, lights and windows must be clear of snow, as failing to do so can constitute a hazard and is against traffic laws.

When you drive in the lake region around Hameenlinna, keep an eye on road signs indicating the presence of wildlife, as elk and deer are often on the roads, especially around sunrise and sunset. Pedestrians and cyclists may also be on the road, as the majority of rural roads don't have a hard shoulder.

To get from Tampere Airport to Hameenlinna, you'll have to drive on Highway 3. On this and other motorways, the maximum speed limit is 120 km/h, although it may be lower in poor weather conditions. On other roads, speed limits are 80 km/h unless driving past built-up areas, where it's down to 50 km/h. Traffic surveillance is mostly automated, and violations incur fines that can reach hundreds of euros. Fines for drunk driving are income-based, and driving while under the influence can also lead to a driving ban.