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Viikinsaari Island Nature Trail

—•Hiking Trails

1.3 km

Route

Description

City of Tampere – Viikinsaari Island nature trail+

Description

Viikinsaari Island Nature Trail is a short hiking path on Viikinsaari, a small island in Lake Pyhäjärvi within easy reach of central Tampere. Tampere lies in Pirkanmaa. The trail is about 1.3 km as mapped here; some official descriptions round to about 1.6 km for the same circuit around the Viikinsaari nature reserve. The route was renovated in summer 2025. For ferry times, island services, and the latest trail notes, start with the City of Tampere’s Viikinsaari Island nature trail page. Metsähallitus also lists the same route on Luontoon.fi for nationwide trip planning. You reach the island by boat from Laukontori Harbour; the crossing takes about 20 minutes. Hopealinjat operates the scheduled service; schedules and fares are published on the Viikinsaari site operated by Hopealinjat Oy. The nature trail begins right after the Hopealinjat jetties, follows the shoreline toward the northwest part of the island, then returns through the wooded interior toward the built areas. The trail is marked with yellow paint marks. In addition to this nature trail, there is a separate meditation trail with its own task stations. Maps of the island are available from the information point on the island. The trail is mostly easy walking and largely barrier-free, but the central wooded section can be slightly uneven with tree roots and small ground irregularities. The western part of the island is protected as a nature reserve: about 10.53 hectares have been protected since 1994 for their grove vegetation, and the island is part of the South Häme deciduous forest centre and is unusually lush for Pirkanmaa. Stay on marked routes to limit wear, keep dogs on a leash, and pack out litter. Along the route you pass Pyhäjärven melontareitti - Viikinsaaren rantautumispaikka, the kayak landing point for the Pyhäjärvi paddling route, and Viikinsaaren nuotiopaikka, a campfire spot for day-use visitors. Retkeilyä Satakunnassa describes family-friendly signs along the walk with small tasks for children, plus a separate meditation trail option if you prefer quiet prompts. The same outing notes the island’s beach, restaurant, and other summer services—worth combining with a longer stay on Viikinsaari. The route is not a long wilderness hike: it is a compact introduction to grove and island nature a short ferry ride from the city centre.

Length & route

The hiking route is about 1.3 km as one continuous line. Official descriptions often describe the same circuit as roughly 1.6 km, which is a reasonable rounding difference for the shoreline-and-return layout. The trail is marked with yellow paint marks and follows the shore and then returns through the forested interior.

Getting there

Take the scheduled Hopealinjat boats from Laukontori Harbour in central Tampere to Viikinsaari; the crossing takes about 20 minutes. Schedules, fares, and any seasonal exceptions are published on the Viikinsaari pages maintained by Hopealinjat Oy. The nature trail starts right after the Hopealinjat jetties on the island. If you arrive by kayak, the Pyhäjärvi paddling route uses Pyhäjärven melontareitti - Viikinsaaren rantautumispaikka at the island landing—see our Pyhäjärven melontareitti route for the full lake circuit. Paid parking for mainland visitors is typically sought near Laukontori in the city centre rather than on the island.

Good to know

The ferry is a paid service; walking the trail itself is free municipal outdoor access. Keep pets on a leash and stay on marked paths to protect the reserve. Regional tourism pages also describe Viikinsaari as a summer destination; confirm ferry and restaurant hours with Hopealinjat and the City of Tampere’s Viikinsaari materials.

History

The City of Tampere notes that Viikinsaari has served as a recreation area since the mid-19th century, and that the western 10.53 ha were protected in 1994 for their grove vegetation, within a landscape of long cultural use but still rich deciduous forest.

Managed by

Tampere

Official Maintenance

Trail info

Follow the yellow marks from the jetties along the shore and back through the centre; either direction is possible, but the official description follows the shoreline first then returns through the interior.

Route direction

Yellow paint marks.

Route Signs

Dogs (On Leash)

Dogs

Stroller Friendly

Accessibility

Open / Good Condition

City of Tampere – Viikinsaari Island nature trail

Activities allowed

Hike / Walk

Activity

Terrain & conditions

1.3 km

Distance

Roughly 30–45 minutes at an easy pace with stops to read signs, for a trail of about 1.3 km on island terrain.

Est. Time

Mostly easy forest path and shore; short sections with roots and small uneven ground in the central woodland.

Surface

Single Track

Route Type

Moderate Traffic

Traffic

Partial Shade

Shade

2025

Renovation years

City of Tampere – Viikinsaari Island nature trail

Location

61.48699°N, 23.68658°E

Approximate location

FinlandCountry

PirkanmaaRegion

TampereCity

Hiking TrailsCategory

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Answers to your questions

Our data was researched from Tampere, and other trusted sources, in March 2026. Our route / place GPX data comes from Metsähallitus / Lipas, last updated March 2026. Always check their official website for safety-critical updates.

Finland Pirkanmaa Tampere Hiking TrailsViikinsaari Island Nature Trail