Parkano

Parkano is a town in Pirkanmaa, Finland. In 2021, it had 6,300 residents. Parkano has various places to visit, nature experiences and events.

Parkano is a traditional industrial town with a history strongly linked to wood processing and the paper industry. Today, the town's industry has diversified, with metal and electronics industries, among others, operating in the area.

Parkano is a traffic hub, lying on national roads 3 (E12) and 23, on regional roads 274 and 332, and on the Finnish main railway line. Road 3 leads from Helsinki via Tampere and Parkano to Vaasa, where E12 merges with the Blue Highway and continues to Mo i Rana in Norway. Road 23 leads from Pori via Parkano, Keuruu and Jyväskylä to Joensuu. Road 274 comes from Karvia and road 332 from Kuru.

Parkano is on the main Finnish railway, between Helsinki and Oulu, at the section Tampere–Seinäjoki. However, the railway station in the centre is on the defunct Pori–Haapamäki line. There is no connection bus for the 7 km from the station on the main line, but buses between Parkano and Kihniö can be used if they happen to combine. Timetables for the trains are available from VR.

• 62.051923.07781 Parkano Railway Station, Uudenasemantie 366 (7 km north-east from the centre). The railway station on the main line.  

There are coaches from Helsinki, Tampere, Seinäjoki, Vaasa, Kankaanpää and Keuruu, the last two on school days only. They stop at the centre. If you are coming from Tampere, there might be a transfer in Ikaalinen. For timetables, see Matkahuolto. A. Lamminmäki has coach connections from many nearby municipalities.

Parkano has service transport. Order by calling ☏ +358 500-233-371.

• 62.009623.02682 Parkano taxi station (Parkanon taksiasema), Parkanontie 64, ☏ +358 3 448-2213.  (updated Jun 2022)
• Taksipalvelu Erkki Kallio, ☏ +358 40 480 1589.  (updated Jun 2024)
• Taksi Haapakoski Oy, ☏ +358 50 016 4806.  (updated Jun 2024)
• Liikennöinti Hannu Turunen, ☏ +358 40 063 8586.  (updated Jun 2024)
• AL-taksit, ☏ +358 50 019 4123.  (updated Jun 2024)
• A. Lamminmäki
• Smartphone apps: Valopilkku, 02 Taksi

• 62.07997123.0580951 The Forest Museum of Parkano (Parkanon metsämuseo), Rännärinmuseotie 112, ☏ +358 44 7865 516. The Forest Museum presents the history of forest work from the rise of the sawmill industry in the 1860s to the mechanization of the 1960s. In the area of the forest museum there is an exhibition hall, a lumberjack, a sauna, a horse stable and forest machines. In addition, in the vicinity of the museum you will find a nature trail, Messukallio, beach, sheds and campfire sites.  (updated Mar 2021)

• 62.01305623.0230562 Parkano church (Parkanon kirkko). Parkano church is a wooden cross church. The church was commissioned in 1805. The church's belfry, made of red granite, was completed in 1889.  

• 61.93333323.4333331 Seitseminen National Park (Seitsemisen kansallispuisto). Seitseminen National Park is a nature reserve in Ylöjärvi's Länsi-Aure and on the borderlands of Ikaalinen. There are marked routes and nature trails. Seitseminen Nature Centre offers accommodation in the immediate vicinity of the national park's outdoor and camping areas. It is about 33 km from the centre of Parkano via Parkano-Kurutie 332. A hiking trail called Paroonin taival runs from Parkano via Aurejärvi to Seitseminen National Park.  

• 62.00490123.0122511 Eurohamsteri, Pahkalantie 1. Discount department store.  (updated Mar 2021)
• Raamikko (Kehystämö-Taideliike-Galleria Raamikko), Parkanontie 41, ☏ +358 40 865 0125. Mon–Fri 10:00–17:00, Sat 10:00–13:00. A framing shop, art supply store and small gallery selling art-related products. 
• JK-Kirppis, Parkanontie 68, ☏ +358 40 968 7660. Mon–Fri 10:00–17:00, Sat 10:00–15:00. A large self-service flea market selling second-hand goods, including furniture. 
• Kuningatar Kirppis, Keskuskatu 6 (in the town centre), ☏ +358 40 561 0393. Mon–Fri 10:00–18:00, Sat–Sun 10:00–16:00. A flea market selling second-hand goods. 

• Market day is traditionally held on Fridays in Parkano. The market is located along the main street in the old town centre.

• 62.02214922.9951271 Lounaskahvila Kokki Katriina, Sepänkatu 9, ☏ +358 40 5120 658, katriina.vaaranurmi@kokkikatriina.fi. Lunch Mon-Fri 10:30-14:00. Traditional Finnish food. Coffee, refreshments, pastries, savory and sweet to enjoy on site or as a take away. €8.50.  (updated Jan 2021)
• 62.00828223.0230282 Parkanon Auto-Grilli, Parkanontie 43. Fast food.  (updated Mar 2021) ^{[dead link]}
• 62.00969523.0248163 Raijanholvi, Parkanontie 53, ☏ +358 40 7270 365, raijanholvi@raijanholvi.fi. Mon-Fri 10:00-15:00.  (updated Jun 2022)
• 62.01004523.024094 Wanha Brankkari, Keskuskatu 1, ☏ +358 207 305 760, info@wanhabrankkari.fi. Mon-Tue 11:00-14:00, Wed-Thu 11:00-19:00, Fri 11:00-00:00, Sat 12:00-00:00.  (updated Jun 2022)

• Hotelli Pesti, Parkanontie 45 (in the town centre), ☏ +358 3 440 40, pesti@hotellipesti.fi. A small hotel with double rooms and family rooms. Breakfast, sauna and parking are included in the room rate. From €89 per room. 
• Parkano Camping (Pahkalanniemi Camping), Urheilukatu 5 (by Kirkkojärvi lake), ☏ +358 400 408 590, info@pahkalanniemi.fi. A lakeside campsite with rental cabins and pitches for caravans, motorhomes and tents.  ^{[dead link]}
• Villa Markkola, Vahojärventie 1386 (in the Vahojärvi area, outside the town centre), ☏ +358 40 775 4889, info@villamarkkola.fi. Comfortable holiday villas in a rural setting. Villa Emma is situated by the Aurejoki river, while Villa Julius is in the Vahojärvi area. 
• SyVilla (Syväniemen mökitupa), Syväniementie 119-47 (by Lake Kovesjärvi, in a rural area), ☏ +358 50 391 2010, info@syvilla.fi. Rural lakeside accommodation in a traditional cottage setting, suitable for groups and gatherings. 
• Kovesjoen Kievari, Koskelantie 3 (in the Kovesjoki countryside, off Highway 23), ☏ +358 400 425 853. Rural accommodation and event facilities in a peaceful countryside setting. 

Vaasa ← Jalasjärvi ←

N  S

→ Ikaalinen → Tampere