🐾 Weekends with your dog: ready-made routes in Helsinki, Turku, Tampere and Oulu

Travelling with your dog in Finland is like a slow-motion version of travelling: more silence, more nature, more fresh air. The cities here have been designed so that you can easily swap architecture for forests, noise for the sound of water, and the city rhythm for long walks.

Here are four ready-made weekend itineraries, each with its own character: maritime Helsinki, cosy Turku, pine-covered Tampere, and windy, free-spirited Oulu.

Helsinki — the sea, large parks and evening light

Helsinki is the perfect city for dogs: lots of embankments, even routes and a large number of dog-friendly cafes.

🗺 1-day route

Kaivopuisto is a spacious green area where you can walk for hours.
Café Regatta — yes, it's touristy, but dogs are really welcome here.
Töölönlahti — a lake circuit that is the perfect way to end the day.

If you still have energy left

Check out Mustikkamaa koiraranta — a beach where dogs can play and swim freely.

Turku — a river, the island of Ruissalo and a dog-friendly city

Turku is less noisy than the capital and is perfect for dogs that don't like crowds.

🗺 Full-day itinerary

Aurajoki is the main route along the river, ideal for warming up.
The old town centre offers a short break with coffee (and water for dogs).
Ruissalo — pine trails, beaches, countryside tranquillity.

Tip

Ruissalo is the best choice for dogs who love the smells of the forest and long side trails.

Tampere — pine trees, lakes and trails that "breathe"

Tampere — a mix of industrial city and living nature. Here, a couple of stops from the centre, there is a real forest.

🗺 The best route for the weekend

Kauppi offers gentle trails where dogs can walk for 5 or 10 kilometres.
The viewpoint is a place to rest and drink water.
Pyynikki Ridge — a bright sandy slope, pine trees, the smell of resin.

Oulu — northern wind, wide beaches and freedom

Oulu is a city of wide open spaces: wide streets, long trails and the incredible Nallikari beach.

🗺 1–2 day route

Nallikari is one of the best places for dogs in all of Finland: a large sandy beach, wind, and space to run.
City trails are a great way to walk 7–12 km without any steep slopes.
Pikisaari is an island where the city dissolves into trees and water.

Table — which route for which dog

A weekend with your dog in Finland means gentle walks: the sea, pine trees, long promenades, forests and islands that you can reach without any stress.

Each of the four cities offers its own rhythm: Helsinki is maritime, Turku is riverine, Tampere is pine-covered, and Oulu is free and windy.

Choose the one that best suits your temperament and your dog's character, and your trip will be honest, quiet and very "Finnish".

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