Lempäälä between hiking trails, canals and culture

Hiking trails, water and culture in Lempäälä

Lempäälä combines lake and forest landscapes with a long circular hiking trail, a water route and cultural discoveries. When planning your trip, it is worth first considering what you want your holiday to focus on: long hikes, experiences on the water, or culture for different age groups. The attractions offer different highlights and give you concrete indications of whether Lempäälä suits the mix you have in mind.

Explore the Birgitta Trail on foot

The Birgitta Trail is an approximately 50-kilometre circular hiking trail through Lempäälä’s lake and forest landscapes. In 2006, it was named Finland’s Hiking Destination of the Year. Its length makes it an option for anyone who wants to include a longer trail in their trip; when planning your own day, be sure to take the full route into account. The trail is accessible by public transport. From Lempäälä railway station, it is about 1.5 kilometres to the Hääkivi rest area, from which the hiking trail is easy to reach. This allows you to factor the journey to the starting point into your plans without losing sight of the circular route’s approximately 50-kilometre length.

Water routes, canal and fishing

The approximately 10-kilometre water route around the central island offers a different perspective on Lempäälä’s waters. It includes the Lempäälä Canal, Herralan Vuolle and Kuokkalankoski. The route is also suitable for beginners, with the exception of the Herralankoski dam. If you are making this route the focus of your trip, this limitation is an important consideration when choosing activities.

The canal is in the centre of Lempäälä. Built between 1867 and 1874, it is 1,275 metres long and connects Lake Pyhäjärvi with Lake Vanajavesi. Cruise ships and pleasure boats use it. The Kuokkalankoski–Herralankoski fishing area offers another way to enjoy the water: it is considered a popular fishing spot at rapids where rainbow trout, whitefish, grayling and eels are stocked. The water route, boat traffic and fishing thus appeal to different interests in the local waterways.

Culture for different interests

In the town centre is Pyhän Birgitan Kirkko, a more than 500-year-old medieval grey stone church built in the early 16th century. Its long history and architecture make it a cultural destination in its own right. The PiiPoo Cultural Centre at Ideapark offers a different way to experience culture and art, with free activities for children and people of all ages. If you are travelling with children or looking for cultural activities for different generations, PiiPoo complements the nature and water experiences with an explicitly intergenerational focus.

Nature, early history and sauna

At Ahtialanjärvi, a birdwatching tower overlooks a lake that has been included in Finland’s Natura 2000 conservation programme as a valuable bird habitat. Anyone interested in birdwatching and nature reserves will find another reason to include Lempäälä’s landscapes in their trip. Pirunlinna, a prehistoric hillfort thought to be approximately 1,000 years old, offers a historical counterpoint. Its age is given as an estimate: Pirunlinna is dated to around a millennium ago.

For a stay focused on warmth and swimming, Lempee Sauna offers a different kind of experience. The sauna and café are on the shore of Lake Pyhäjärvi. Facilities include a heated outdoor pool, a cold-water pool and lake swimming, including ice swimming in winter. A lounge area with café offerings adds to the experience. Together, these destinations give you different ways to choose a holiday apartment in Lempäälä: you can base your accommodation decision on your planned hiking days, your interest in water and nature, or cultural discoveries.

Discover more places

Other destinations within the same broader region: Killinkoski, Metsäkansa, Aitoo, Siuro, Toijala, Ylojarvi, Sastamala and Nokia.

Return to the broader travel overview: Pirkanmaa.