racetrack
Ahvenisto Race Circuit
A narrow, undulating 2.9km circuit threading through a forested esker ridge in southern Finland, with no run-off and a genuinely old-school character. Also a public recreation area.
48 km · about 55 min drive
EuropeFinlandKanta-Häme
Forssa
Kanta-Häme, Finland · Europe
About Forssa
Forssa sits on the route: 15 minutes from Jokioinen, 50km from Häme Castle.
Forssa is in Kanta-Häme, Finland, with about 16,000 people. You drive on the right here. The nearest town is Jokioinen, about 8 km away.
Forssa is a town and municipality of Finland. It is located almost in the centre of a triangle defined by the three largest major cities in Finland (Helsinki, Turku and Tampere), in the Kanta-Häme region, and which is crossed by Highway 2 between Pori and Helsinki and Highway 10 between Turku and Hämeenlinna. The townRead more
has a population of 16,307 (31 December 2025) and covers an area of 253.38 square kilometres (97.83 sq mi) of which 4.61 km2 (1.78 sq mi) is water. The population density is 65.53 inhabitants per square kilometre (169.7/sq mi). Only a little part of the surface area of Forssa is water, but the river Loimijoki forms an important element in the cityscape, with the city being located at its starting point. Other notable water areas in Forssa include the lake Kaukjärvi and the lake Koijärvi, known as the birthplace of the Green League.
The municipality is unilingually Finnish. However, the name Forssa comes from the Swedish word "fors", meaning rapids.
Forssa is the central locality of the Forssa sub-region. The city is bordered with Jokioinen to the west, Tammela to the east and south and Humppila and Urjala to the north. As well as Forssa, the Forssa sub-region includes Jokioinen, Tammela, Humppila and Ypäjä. Forssa is the smallest of the three cities in Kanta-Häme, with a population of about 16,500, and in terms of population Forssa is the 67th largest municipality in Finland. The population in Forssa has concentrated on the Forssa central conurbation in the southern part of the municipality, which also spreads over to the municipalities of Jokioinen and Tammela. The area of the former municipality of Koijärvi in the northern part of the city is a sparsely populated rural area.
Forssa grew and developed in the 19th century when the textile industry grew. In the 20th century the city barely grew at all between the two World wars. A new growth phase began in the 1960s, sped by construction industry. The population of Forssa was as its highest in the middle 1980s when the city had a bit over 20 thousand inhabitants for two years. The growth of the city since stopped as the industry started diminishing. By 1994 the population had decreased by a few hundred people, but after that the decrease in population grew. By late 2005 Forssa had lost over two thousand people compared to its highest point. In 2008 the population of Forssa increased for the first time since 1993. After 2010 population has again decreased, with the population in 2016 being about 17,300. Today the food industry is a notable employer.
The location of Forssa, in the middle of the triangle formed by the cities of Helsinki, Turku and Tampere, is sometimes seen as ideal, as commute trips to the largest cities in the country are fast. The distance to Helsinki is 110 kilometres, the distance to Tampere is 87 kilometres and the distance to Turku is 88 kilometres.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Forssa?
Within an hour or so of Forssa: Ahvenisto Race Circuit (48 km), Häme Castle (50 km).
Are there any good drives near Forssa?
The nearest famous roads are Hanko and Archipelago Ring Road.
Where is Forssa?
Forssa is in Kanta-Häme, Finland, about 8 km from Jokioinen.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 16,368
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- Finland
- Region
- Kanta-Häme
- Timezone
- Europe/Helsinki
- Coordinates
- 60.8146, 23.6215
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in Finland
Winter tyres mandatory December–February.
Full driving guide for FinlandTags
Worth the detour from Forssa
2 notable places within an hour's drive.
castle
Häme Castle
Red-brick medieval castle in Hämeenlinna beside the Helsinki-Tampere corridor, an easy motorway detour with on-site parking.
50 km · about 60 min drive
Driving roads near Forssa
2 named roads, passes and coastal drives within 150km.
- 76 kmPyynikki Observation TowerStone tower on Finland's highest gravel ridge in Tampere, with views over two lakes and a café known for doughnuts.
When to drive here
May to September
Far northern latitude: short daylight hours outside summer make long drives harder.
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