The most wonderful summer markets in Finland

Summer markets are usually busiest in the morning when market sellers are present. Take the morning train, spend a mini break in the city or head to the market square in the evening. Regardless of the city, the marketplace is often only a short walk from the railway station, close to other activities in the city centre. If you want to travel from the station to the market square and other destinations in the city by local transport or taxi, check out the last mile connections and train passenger benefits here.

Kuopio Market Place – kalakukko fish pie and the jovial atmosphere of Savo

When visiting Kuopio, you can't miss Kuopio Market Place, one of the busiest markets in Finland. In Kuopio Market Place, which is called the “centre of the world”, you can enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of Savo over a cup of coffee, eat berries, tour the stalls and shop in the Kuopio Market Hall on the edge of the market.

Kuopio is famous for its kalakukko fish pie, which is why you should head to the marketplace for the legendary sales trolley of Hanna Partanen's kalakukko fish pie bakery. The kalakukko fish pie is a traditional Finnish dish, which has fish and pork belly baked inside a rye batter shell. In the city centre, you can spend a summer day shopping, walking around flea markets and enjoying the peace and quiet. It is also worth paying attention to the stunning Renaissance Revival style Kuopio City Hall located on the edge of the market.

It is easy to travel to Kuopio by train. Kuopio Market Place is only approximately half a kilometre from the railway station. It is easy to get there on foot, but you can also travel by local bus or taxi if necessary.

Savonlinna Market Square – lörtsy pastries and the landscape of Saimaa

At Savonlinna Market Square, located at the Savonlinna harbour, you can enjoy a market square coffee while watching the steamships passing by. At the market square, you can buy handicrafts and local delicacies, from bakery products to fresh berries and smoked vendace. At Bistro Waahto next to the market square, you can also sip on the products of local small breweries. Don't forget to try out the local speciality, lörtsy pastries, at Savonlinna Market Square. Lörtsy is a flat and closed pie filled with meat or jam. Do you want your lörtsy with a savoury or sweet filling?

You can easily reach Savonlinna Market Square by train, as the railway station is located right next to the market square and the harbour. Buy a ticket to Savonlinna railway station and walk to the market square located just a few hundred metres from the station.

Market squares in Lappeenranta – delicious vety and atomi meat pies

In Lappeenranta, you can enjoy the summer atmosphere at two market squares. At the market square in the city centre, you can spend the day enjoying refreshments at cafés and walking around Lappeenranta Market Hall. There is also a monthly market and a wide range of different events at the Market Square in the summer.

At the Harbour Square, you can enjoy the market square atmosphere as well as visit the nearby fortress area and spend time at the harbour’s restaurant ships. There are also concerts at the Harbour Square in the summer. When you’re hungry, it’s a good idea to try out the local delicacies, vety and atomi meat pies. Vety is a meat pie that contains boiled ham or smoked ham and egg, and atomi contains either one.

You can easily get to the market squares in Lappeenranta from Lappeenranta railway station. The station is located approximately one kilometre from the Market Square and two kilometres from the Harbour Square. First, travel on foot or by city bike to the Market Square and continue straight to the harbour.

Helsinki market squares – local atmosphere, market halls and summer flea markets

You can immerse yourself in local life at Helsinki’s market squares in different parts of the city. Every market square has its own atmosphere. Which one of Helsinki's market squares would you visit first?

The Market Square in the South Harbour of Helsinki is the most famous and international marketplace in Helsinki and a destination for many tourists visiting the city. At the busy Market Square, you can enjoy traditional Finnish dishes and buy souvenirs and handicrafts. From the Market Square, you can also easily get to the Helsinki islands by ferry, go to Esplanadi Park for a picnic or go shopping in the city centre. You can easily reach the Market Square by public transport or taxi or on foot from Helsinki Central Railway Station.

The Hakaniemi square is a favourite of many locals, and on summer mornings, Helsinki residents like to have breakfast in Hakaniemi. Hakaniemi Market Hall is also located at the Hakaniemi square, and there are many interesting brick-and-mortar stores and flea markets near the square. If you’re in the city on a summer Sunday, you can head to the outdoor flea market in Dallapé park, just over a kilometre away, after having a market square coffee. You can get to Hakaniemi square quickly from Helsinki Central Railway Station by getting on the metro and getting off at Hakaniemi.

Hietalahti Market Square is a great place to have something to eat and browse the flea market. From the restaurants of Hietalahti Market Hall located at the Market Square, you can grab a meal and enjoy it in the sunshine. Hietalahti Market Square is known for its outdoor flea market, which is a great place to visit on summer weekends and find vintage treasures. You can reach Hietalahti Market Square by public transport or taxi or on foot from Helsinki Central Railway Station.

If you’re looking for a small traditional market square in Helsinki, head to Töölö Market Square in Taka-Töölö. Have a market square coffee, enjoy some fresh peas and visit the flea markets and second-hand shops in Taka-Töölö.

Marketplaces in Tampere – blood sausage and evening flea markets

From Tampere, you can get to as many as three different marketplaces within a kilometre of the railway station. Visit at least the Tammelantori, which is the most popular marketplace in Tampere. At Tammelantori, you will find summer delicacies ranging from fried vendace and grilled meals to fresh berries and pastries. Evening flea markets are also organised at Tammelantori in the summer. If you like blood sausage, you should visit Tapola’s sales trolley. Blood sausage is a traditional and local dish in Tampere.

If you’re in the city centre of Tampere, you should visit Laukontori by the lake shore and enjoy delicious food at traditional marketplace cafés or trendy street food stalls. Or would you go to Laukontori and go to a sauna and swimming in Saunaravintola Kuuma or on a cruise to Viikinsaari and Pyhäjärvi?

The Central Square of Tampere is located a few hundred metres from Laukontori, and it is a particularly busy event venue. The Market Hall is also located next to the Central Square, and there you can eat and visit the shops of small local operators.

The marketplaces of Tampere are located less than a kilometre’s walk from Tampere railway station. If necessary, you can also reach the marketplaces by bus or taxi.

Market squares in Turku – Turku Market Square and the historic Old Great Square

If you’re looking for a summer market atmosphere in Turku, head to Turku Market Square. Would you like to enjoy local food and ice cream or grab a market square coffee? The pavilion buildings on the sides of the Market Square also have popular restaurants and pop-up shops, and it's also a good idea to visit the evening market on summer Wednesdays or the outdoor flea market on summer Sundays. Turku Market Square is located right in the city centre, and you can walk there from Turku railway station in less than 15 minutes.

If you head from Turku Market Square across the Aura River, you will reach the Old Great Square. This historic market square has been one of the most central areas of Turku and an important marketplace from the 1200s to the early 1800s. At the marketplace, you can still sense the history as you admire the Old Town Hall and other buildings. Today, the Old Great Square is a venue for events ranging from outdoor flea markets to fairs. If you are fascinated by the medieval atmosphere, you should head to the Old Great Square during the Medieval Turku event.

Oulu Market Square – harbour atmosphere and the Market Square Policeman

Oulu Market Square is one of the city’s most famous summer destinations, where you can enjoy the seaside atmosphere, a market square coffee and local food. At the Market Square, you’ll find everything from local producers’ delicacies to the flavours of different national cuisines. At Oulu Market Square, you can also spend time in the restaurants and cafés of the red warehouse buildings, walk around the Market Hall and look at the Market Square Policeman statue guarding the market.

You can easily reach Oulu by train to spend a summer day there, and you can walk to the Market Square from Oulu railway station in only 15 minutes.

Salo Market Square - the famous Evening Market

Salo Market Square, which has been selected as Finland’s best market square, is a busy meeting place in the summer and the city’s shared living room, where both Salo residents and tourists like to spend time. Salo Market Square is famous for its Evening Markets, which are held on summer Thursdays in particular and where you can enjoy the market atmosphere and concerts by famous artists. Products are also sold at the Evening Markets in Salo, and there is a children’s flea market and a trunk flea market. Enjoy local products and delicacies at the Market Square, and bring home local handicrafts and seasonal products.

You can easily get to Salo Market Square by walking less than half a kilometre from the railway station to the Market Square.

Hanko's markets – marine scenery and market atmosphere

You can spend an entire summer day in the beautiful Hanko. At Hanko's Market Square, you can enjoy a market square coffee and buy berries for a summer day snack, after which you can explore the city on foot. You can walk to Hanko's Market Square from Hanko railway station in less than 10 minutes.

Hanko's evening market in the Eastern Harbour, which has been organised for more than 40 years, is one of the largest evening markets in Finland. At the market, which is organised on summer Wednesdays, you can enjoy ice cream and crepes, shop and enjoy a summer evening in the harbour restaurants. The Eastern Harbour is approxiamately a kilometre’s walk from Hanko railway station.

You can get to Hanko conveniently on a summer train that runs between Riihimäki and Hanko. Learn more about the train here.

Article's images: Tiina Kilvensalmi/City of Kuopio, Rosa Ruuskanen/Visit Oulu, Olga Javits/Visit Tampere, Julia Kivelä/Visit Finland, Niko Kotiranta/VTA, City of Lappeenranta, City of Savonlinna, Sanna Lammervo/City of Salo, Visit Hanko