Hämeenlinna’s Museums
Hämeenlinna is a city of museums where you can experience history, art and design. With The Museum Card, you can access eight museum sites in Hämeenlinna, and there are also a number of smaller specialised and local museums. The crown jewel of the Hämeenlinna museum tour is, naturally, Häme Castle.
Häme Castle – a must-see museum in Hämeenlinna
Hämeenlinna’s best-known landmark is the Häme Castle, even the city is named after it (“Hämeen”=Häme’s, “linna”=castle). This medieval castle from the late 13th century tells many interesting stories about the history of Finland and Hämeenlinna. Discover Scandinavia’s most well-preserved stone castle through fascinating exhibitions and guided tours all year round. The castle is one of the main tourist attractions of southern Finland, being the centerpiece of the city and a popular venue for events, including Finland´s biggest renaissance fairs on august.
Birthplace of Sibelius
Did you know that master composer Jean Sibelius (1865–1957) was born and spent his early years in Hämeenlinna? The Birthplace of Sibelius is a globally unique museum, displaying furniture, documents, photographs and small objects that both tell the story of Janne’s boyhood and depict what life in Hämeenlinna was like at the time.
Palander House
Located in an adorable wooden building area right in the heart of the city centre, this regional museum Palander House showcases the life of a bourgeois family in Hämeenlinna a century ago. On guided tours, you can explore the rooms from the grand hall to the kitchen used by the servants.
Skogster Museum
Skogster Museum, also known as Hämeenlinna City Museum, is a treasure trove of Kanta-Häme’s cultural heritage! Learn more about the main exhibition hall’s temporary exhibitions here!
Hämeenlinna Art Museum
Opened in 1952, the art museum’s collection is based on works of art evacuated from the Viipuri art museum during the Second World War. The collection includes more than 8,000 works of art, and it represents an extensive cross-section of Finnish visual arts. Learn more about temporary exhibitions here!
Iittala Glass Museum
Less than half an hour’s drive from the centre of Hämeenlinna is the Iittala Glass Museum, which introduces visitors to the success story and history of Finnish glass design.
The Prison museum
The Prison is the largest prison museum in Finland, and until 1993, the building served as the Hämeenlinna county prison. The Prison museum showcases the history of prisons and prison life. Vankila’s exhibitions present rooms, cells and objects that tell a gruesome story about everyday life in the prison.
Militaria Museum
Militaria Museum offers a wide range of Finnish military history, showcasing the history of artillery, pioneers and communication corps from the Middle Ages to the present day. With three floors and a garden to explore, the whole family will find this museum fascinating.