City of Ikaalinen

Spa town

The spa tradition in Ikaalisi dates back to the 1800th century. The first spa (1884) was located at the tip of the Kauppalaniemi. The current nationally famous Ikaalinen Spa & Resort was built in the mid-1960s on the opposite shore of the northern market town of Hämylänlahti. The spa with its magnificent surroundings is still one of Finland's most attractive holiday and entertainment centres.

There are 2578 summer cottages in Ikaalisi.

Accordion Center

Finnish Accordionist Association engages in publishing, education and research activities in accordion music and maintains international relations. The institute operates in the Old Market Hall, Hanuritalo, which also houses the offices of the Finnish Accordion Association and the CIA, the international joint body of the field.

Educational center

There are three primary schools in Ikaalinen: Valkean ruusun school, Kilvakkala school and Tevaniemi school. A new school building is currently being built for Ikaalinen comprehensive school (grades 7-9) in connection with Valkean ruusun school. The building will be completed in autumn 2026.

Ikaalisi has a very wide range of secondary education options. The SASKY Education Consortium's IDEA campus is home to the following educational institutions:

• Sasky Ikaalinen Business School
• Sasky Ikaalinen College of Arts and Crafts
• Sasky Ikaalinen High School

The new IDEA campus building was completed in 2020, with modern, adaptable spaces that provide students with an inspiring learning environment. The campus area offers a total of 22 different fields of study and approximately 650 students. Shared, modern spaces and a large number of experts on the same campus increase community spirit and offer new opportunities.

Attractions

Kauppalanniemi offers beautiful views of Lake Kyrösjärvi. The best way to get to know the Old Kauppala area is on a guided walking tour. In Toivolansaari, at the tip of Kauppalanniemi, there is a beach, a fitness track, a camping area and a retirement home. The wooden cross church of Fredrika Sofia was completed in 1801. The Ikaalinen market next to the church is open on Wednesdays. The local history museum on the edge of the market is open on summer Wednesdays.

Hämeenkangas (Vatula–Ulvaanharju, Vatula–Jämi) has a variety of hiking and skiing trails. Some of the trails at Vatula Ski Resort are illuminated. The Pirkka ski route from Niinisalo to Tampere runs through Vatula. Near the historic Hämeenkangasantie, in Vatsiainen, there is a memorial stone to the largest historical coin find in Finland. The Jyllinjoki and the canyon-like Vääräjoki are popular canoeing routes. Good fishing spots can be found, for example, at Kyrösjärvi and Poltinkoski.

Located in the Ikaalinen and Ylöjärvi areas Seitseminen National Park attracts approximately 42,000 visitors annually. The park's primary goal is to preserve the small-scale forest, bog and ridge nature of southern Suomenselkä, but the park is also a top destination for nature tourism in Pirkanmaa. The most popular attractions in Seitseminen are the Kovero crown forest croft and the Multiharju primeval forest. There are several noteworthy attractions on the east and north sides of Kyrösjärvi, including Arasalo castle hill, Luhalahti church, Vahonkoski rapids and the cluster villages of Isoröyhiö, Kallionkiele and Heittola.