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15 Best Places to Visit in Finland, From the Sauna Capital of the World to Santa Claus Village

From national parks and beautiful lakes to modern cities and the home of Santa Claus, these are the best places to visit in Finland.

Visit Finland

If you’re planning a trip to Finland, there’s a good chance seeing the northern lights is at the top of your list. During the winter months, Lapland, the country’s northernmost region, is known as one of the best places in the world to view the famed natural light display. Amazing as the experience may be, though, spotting the aurora borealis is just one of the many reasons to visit this Nordic country. 

Adventurous travelers and those who prefer fresh air to indoor activities will feel right at home in Finland. Nicknamed the “Land of a Thousand Lakes,” the country has around 188,000 lakes, giving way to activities like ice fishing, swimming, paddleboarding, and cruising. Finland is also covered in lush forests and vast wilderness; in fact, there are 41 national parks, all of which showcase the diversity of Finnish landscapes, flora, and fauna. Spending time in the great outdoors is crucial to understanding Finland and what makes it so special — so be sure to save time in your itinerary for a trip to Lake Päijänne or Nuuksio National Park. “The everyday life is rather similar in all the Nordic countries, but I believe Finns appreciate silence and nature even more,” says Riitta Kiukas, CEO of Active Holiday Finland by Skafur-Tour . “One hour in a forest every day keeps us happy.” Other places to search for the secret to Finnish happiness include Helsinki (the country’s capital), Rovaniemi (the home of Santa Claus), and any of the country’s traditional saunas. 

Consider giving yourself at least five to seven days to explore Finland. “Geographically, Finland is big, and distances are long. Therefore, I would recommend reserving a week at the minimum,” says Kiukas. And if you get lost or need help during your travels, don’t be afraid to ask a Finn for assistance. “I think one of the biggest misconceptions about Finland is that people are very reserved and cold. As that may be for some, most are truly nice and warm and willing to go a long way just to help somebody out,” says Eero Vottonen, chef of Palace , a Michelin-starred restaurant in Helsinki. 

Meet the Expert

Riitta Kiukas is the CEO of Active Holiday Finland by Skafur-Tour, a Finnish travel agency offering a number of tours and experiences. 

Eero Vottonen is the award-winning Finnish chef at Palace, a Helsinki restaurant that has earned two Michelin stars. 

Interested in learning more about what this Northern European country has to offer? Read on to discover the 15 best places to visit in Finland, according to locals. 

Related: The Best Times to Visit Finland for Outdoor Adventures, Northern Lights Viewing, and More

fotoVoyager/Getty Images

Not only is Helsinki the capital of Finland, but it’s also the gateway to discovering the rest of the country, particularly for international travelers. Like many European cities, Helsinki mixes history — it was founded in 1550 — with modern art, architecture, and a number of incredible restaurants and cafes. For a culturally rich experience, browse the Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art , Design Museum , and Galerie Forsblom .

Åland Islands

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Around 6,700 islands make up the archipelago of Åland. Chef Vottonen notes its “beautiful scenery with a lot to explore,” particularly in the summertime. The autonomous region is ideal for island-hopping; the islands with permanent residents are connected by ferry. Not sure where to begin? Kiukas suggests Kökar, “a small island with a unique archipelago nature.” “Our clients just love everything there, and many cycle through the Åland Islands,” she says.

Eduardo Cabanas/Getty Images

Rovaniemi is the “Official Hometown of Santa Claus” and the capital of Lapland. Visitors make their way to the city’s Santa Claus Village — where you can meet the man himself — all year round, although it’s most popular during the holiday season. If you come to Rovaniemi in the summer, however, you’ll get to experience the midnight sun, the natural phenomenon where the sun doesn’t set. 

Related: How to Plan the Perfect Trip to Finnish Lapland — Northern Lights and Midnight Sun Included

SilvanBachmann/Getty Images

The sauna is central to Finnish culture, and Tampere holds the title of the “Sauna Capital of the World,” with the most public saunas (55 and counting) in Finland. Chef Vottonen describes his former hometown as having “the easiest and [most] chilled vibe.” Those interested in experiencing a traditional sauna should book a session at Rajaportti , the country’s oldest still-operating public sauna.

Nuuksio National Park

Joao Inacio/Getty Images

“Us Finns usually have a relationship with the wild or forest,” says Chef Vottonen. “Hiking or walking through one of [our] amazing national parks shows you the reason why. [They’re] usually very well maintained and with the possibility to reserve indoor sleeping.” Nuuksio National Park is easy to reach from Helsinki, and overnight travelers can reserve a cozy cabin to sleep in after a day of hiking, swimming, or cycling in the park.

Finmiki Images/Getty Images

The oldest city in Finland and the country’s former capital, Turku should be on every traveler’s radar, particularly if they’re interested in Nordic cuisine. Travel + Leisure journalist Tom Vanderbilt highlighted Smör and the Michelin-starred Kaskis in his guide to Turku , but there are a variety of other restaurants — and things to do — to fill your day in the riverside town. Most notably, there’s the 13th-century Turku Castle, Turku Cathedral, and the open-air Market Square.

Kiukas adds Posio, “the most sustainable village in Finland,” to her list of the country’s best places to visit. Located in Lapland, Posio is great for “individuals and small groups searching for authentic experiences,” she says. The village is also the center of Finnish ceramic culture; Pentik , the world’s northernmost ceramic factory, and the Arctic Ceramic Centre both call Posio home.

Suomenlinna

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You’ll find Suomenlinna , an 18th-century sea fortress and UNESCO World Heritage Site, on a group of islands near Helsinki. Chef Vottonen calls it a “must-visit in the summer,” and recommends travelers have “a picnic, take a dip in the ocean, or enjoy the restaurants.” Those interested in the sea fortress’ history can learn more in the six different on-site museums .

Finnish Lakeland

Finnish Lakeland is the largest lake district in Europe, and there are a variety of towns, villages, and bodies of water to explore in the region. Kiukas recommends starting with Hämeenlinna or Lahti, “southern Finnish towns so close to Helsinki that many travelers just pass by.” “This is where the lake district starts, and you can get a taste of country life — slow down and enjoy silence, lakes, and the nature around you,” she says.

Ranua Wildlife Park

Thomas O'Neill/NurPhoto via Getty Images

If you want to see a polar bear, lynx, arctic foxes, and a large variety of other arctic species, make your way to Ranua Wildlife Park , about an hour’s drive south of Rovaniemi. The animals live in enclosures in the midst of the northern coniferous forest, and the park is open year-round. 

MinttuFin/Getty Images

For a dose of Finnish history, Chef Vottonen recommends visiting Porvoo, the second oldest city in Finland. “[It’s] only a short drive from Helsinki by car,” he says, or travelers can “enjoy the boat ride… and see the beautiful coastline.” The Old Porvoo neighborhood is recognizable for its traditional red-painted wooden houses along the Porvoonjoki River, and its cobbled streets and quaint cafes create a picture-perfect scene for both travelers and locals alike. 

Roberto Moiola/Sysaworld/Getty Images

Winter sports enthusiasts will be interested in visiting Levi, the largest ski resort in Finland. Skiing, snowboarding, dogsledding, winter hiking, and snowshoeing are all available in Levi, and it’s also a great destination for seeing the northern lights. The light show is visible on most clear nights, but you can also take a guided tour to ensure you get the best views.  

Kiukas calls Varkaus a “hidden gem by Lake Saimaa,” and she says there’s a “contrast created by pure lake nature and industrial heritage.” Given its access to the surrounding lakes and canals, it’s a popular destination for those traveling by water. When not exploring the waterways, visitors can stop at the “Museum” of Mechanical Music (with purposeful quotation marks around “museum”), the Taipale Canal Museum , or the Väinölä Art Centre .

Lemmenjoki National Park

Harri Tarvainen/Visit Finland

The largest of Finland’s national parks, Lemmenjoki is known for its natural beauty and its history of gold prospecting. To explore the area, visitors can hike, canoe, or hop aboard a boat on the Lemmenjoki River. Travelers may also get a glimpse of the culture of the Indigenous Sámi people; the park features old housing and hunting grounds. 

Julia Kivela/Visit Finland

Kiukas suggests those traveling to Finland make a stop in Fiskars, an “example of an old industrial village now offering working spaces for artisans and artists.” Billed as a “home of creativity,” the village is the birthplace of Fiskars Corporation, the well-known Finnish company that makes cooking, gardening, and craft products — including the world's first plastic-handled scissors.

Finland Tours & Vacations

With winter skies painted in dancing lights, a capital city steeped in Nordic culture and plenty of chic Scandinavian style, there's much more to this northern gem than snow and saunas.

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Finland at a glance

Capital city.

Helsinki (pop: 631,000)

5.5 million

Finnish, Swedish

(GMT+02:00) Helsinki, Kyiv, Riga, Sofia, Tallinn, Vilnius

CALLING CODE

Electricity.

Type C (European 2-pin) Type F (German 2-pin, side clip earth)

Learn more about Finland

Best time to visit finland.

Finland has pleasant summers, with July being the warmest month (temperatures usually average around 59°F).

Outdoor activities like hiking, mountain biking and fishing are popular during summer and spring.

In Lapland midsummer is also the time of the midnight sun, a phenomenon where the sun barely sets.

Winter runs from November to March and during this time expect plenty of snowfall - perfect for skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing and sledding. With temperatures regularly hitting -4°F, Finland's winters are particularly cold, so pack accordingly if traveling at this time.

Geography and environment

Finland is home to large tracts of forest, a multitude of pure lakes and hundreds of islands, making it one of nature's most blessed landscapes.

The north of Finland (known as Lapland) is characterized by relatively flat terrain, demarcated by long rivers and due to its Arctic location, extreme snowfall and ice can be found, particularly in winter.

Bordering   Sweden ,   Norway   and   Russia , Finland also has long stretches of coastline along the Baltic Sea, the Gulf of Finland and the Gulf of Bothnia.

The coastal areas are home to thousands of rocky islands (which are mostly uninhabited) while the interior of the country is dominated by forests and lakes.

Top 5 culinary delights of Finland

1. karelian pasty.

This traditional, savory pie can be found widely throughout Finland. Featuring a rye crust filled with rice and served with egg and butter, this is a simple yet tasty snack ideal for vegetarians.

Finland is home to some of the world's best fresh produce, and the variety of berries on offer is astounding. Blessed with ideal climatic conditions for berry-growing, visitors can expect to snap up superior tasting, fresh cloudberries, blueberries, strawberries, raspberries and lingonberries, See them offered fresh at markets and shops, served alongside meals in sauces, jams and spreads or baked in delicious pies.

3. Kaalikaaryleet

These baked cabbage rolls are a standard entry on most Finnish restaurant menus. Featuring ground beef, rice, onion and cream wrapped in cabbage rolls and served with cranberry or lingonberry sauce, they may be hard to pronounce but they sure are easy to eat.

4. Graavilohi

Finland has a proud heritage steeped in fishing, so it's no surprise that the quality of seafood is very high. This simple meal of salted salmon doesn't need any dressings or condiments as the pure, natural flavors of the salmon are the main attraction.

These sweet bread treats have numerous varieties, from cinnamon, to almonds and raisins. Typically eaten with a coffee, pulla are an inexpensive cafe snack - a great, budget choice in a notoriously expensive country.

Further reading

Similar destinations.

Sweden or Finland?

Finland travel FAQs

Do i need a covid-19 vaccine to join an intrepid trip.

Trips from 1 January 2023 onwards

From 1 January 2023, Intrepid will no longer require travelers to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 (excluding all Polar trips and select adventure cruises).

However, we continue to strongly recommend that all Intrepid travelers and leaders get vaccinated to protect themselves and others.

Specific proof of testing or vaccination may still be required by your destination or airline. Please ensure you check travel and entry requirements carefully.

Is tipping customary in Finland?

Tipping isn't customary or expected in Finland and is generally left up to the discretion of the customer. If the service in a café or restaurant is exceptional, feel free to leave spare change or a small tip.

What is the internet access like in Finland?

Travelers should be able to access the internet at cyber cafés and Wi-Fi hot spots in Finland's major cities and towns. Remote and rural areas will have less internet availability, so be prepared for this when traveling out of the city.

Can I use my cell phone while in Finland?

As the home of Nokia, cell phone coverage is generally very good in Finland. Travelers should activate global roaming before leaving home.

What are the toilets like in Finland?

Western-style, flushable toilets are the standard in Finland.

What will it cost for a…?

Cup of coffee = 3-4 Euro Bottle of beer = 4-6 Euro Bottle of mid-range wine = 10-12 Euro Basic café lunch = 10-15 Euro Dinner at a mid-range restaurant = 20-30 Euro

Can I drink the water in Finland?

Tap water is considered safe to drink unless otherwise marked.

Are credit cards accepted widely in Finland?

Major credit cards are accepted by most large shops and hotels in Finland. Smaller vendors may not accept credit cards, so carry enough cash to cover small purchases.

What is ATM access like in Finland?

ATMs are commonly found in Finland's cities and urban areas. Remote regions will have less ATM availability, so prepare accordingly before traveling away from cities.

What public holidays are celebrated in Finland?

• 1 Jan New Year's Day
• 6 Jan Epiphany
• 14 Apr Good Friday
• 16 Apr Easter Sunday
• 17 Apr Easter Monday
• 1 May May Day
• 25 May Ascension Day
• 4 Jun Whit Sunday
• 24 Jun Midsummer Day
• 4 Nov All Saints' Day
• 6 Dec Independence Day
• 25 Dec Christmas Day
• 26 Dec 2nd Day of Christmas

Please note these dates are for 2022. For a current list of public holidays in Finland go to:   http://www.worldtravelguide.net/finland/public-holidays

Do I need to purchase travel insurance before traveling?

Absolutely. All passengers traveling with Intrepid are required to purchase travel insurance before the start of their trip. Your travel insurance details will be recorded by your leader on the first day of the trip. Due to the varying nature, availability and cost of health care around the world, travel insurance is very much an essential and necessary part of every journey.

For more information on insurance, please go to: Travel Insurance

How do I stay safe and healthy while traveling?

From Australia?

Go to: Smart Traveller

From Canada?

Go to:  Canada Travel Information

From the UK?

Go to:  UK Foreign Travel Advice

From New Zealand?

Go to:  Safe Travel

From the US?

Go to:  US Department of State

The World Health Organisation also provides useful health information.

Does my trip support The Intrepid Foundation?

Yes, all Intrepid trips support the Intrepid Foundation. Trips to this country directly support our global Intrepid Foundation partners, Eden Reforestation Projects and World Bicycle Relief. Intrepid will double the impact by dollar-matching all post-trip donations made to The Intrepid Foundation.

Eden Reforestation Projects

Eden Reforestation Projects are helping to mitigate climate change by restoring forests worldwide; they also hire locally and create job opportunities within vulnerable communities. Donations from our trips support restoration across planting sites in 10 countries around the globe. Find out more or make a donation World Bicycle Relief

World Bicycle Relief provides people in low-income communities with bicycles to mobilize school kids, health workers, and farmers in far-out areas – giving them access to vital education, healthcare, and income. Donations help provide Buffalo Bicycles – specifically designed to withstand the rugged terrain and harsh environment of rural regions – to those who need them most. Find out more or make a donation

Nomadic Matt's Travel Site

Travel Better, Cheaper, Longer

Finland Travel Guide

Last Updated: August 9, 2023

Due to its out-of-the-way location and the fact that Finland is expensive, many travelers skip visiting the country when they explore Europe .

But this is a mistake.

Finland has a lot to offer and there are plenty of ways to save money here. I think it’s one of the most underrated destinations in Europe — especially if you love the outdoors!

This travel guide to Finland can help you plan your trip, save money, and make the most of your time in this amazing nation.

Table of Contents

• Things to See and Do
• Typical Costs
• Suggested Budget
• Money-Saving Tips
• Where to Stay
• How to Get Around
• How to Stay Safe
• Best Places to Book Your Trip
• Related Blogs on Finland

Click Here for City Guides

Top 5 things to see and do in bath.

1. Explore the Salla Reindeer Park

This park in the Arctic Circle is where you can feed reindeer, pet huskies, take a canoe trip, do some hiking, or try snowshoeing and skiing. There are reindeer competitions (reindeer are an important part of the indigenous culture here), husky sleigh rides, and midnight canoe trips when the sun is out all night. In the winter months you can experience the northern lights as you hike through the forest at night using snowshoes. If hiking isn’t your thing, there are nighttime reindeer sleigh rides for those hoping to see the northern lights. You can try out dogsledding and steer your very own team of huskies too. Admission to the park is 10 EUR (tours have additional costs).

2. See the Northern Lights in Lapland

This is hands-down one of the best things to do in the country. In the northern part of Lapland, you can see the northern lights shining almost every night when the sky is clear, whereas in southern Finland they are only visible 10-20 nights each year. Lapland is within the Arctic Circle so there is essentially 24 hours of darkness each day from November until January. There are plenty of guided tours you can join, though you can also venture out on your own to save money too if you’re on a budget. A three-hour snowmobile tour to see the northern lights costs around 155 EUR per person. September-April is the best time to see them.

3. Visit Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi

This Christmas amusement park is great for anyone traveling with kids. You can meet “Santa,” do snow-shoeing safaris, feed reindeer, and learn about Finnish Christmas traditions through the ages. The adorable village includes Santa’s official office, his Christmas house, the main Santa Claus Post Office, and the house of Mrs. Claus and Santa’s reindeer. Adults can enjoy a variety of dining options ranging from upscale restaurants to fun bars. The Ice Bar is rebuilt each year and is full of snow and ice sculptures. Admission is free and the village is open all year.

4. Explore Helsinki

Historic, small, filled with green space, and set on the Baltic Sea, Helsinki is a scenic city that doesn’t get huge tourist crowds like other European capitals. Visit the six islands that make up Suomenlinna Sea Fortress (which dates to the late 1700s) or get your history fix at the National Museum of Finland. If you’re feeling the need for some relaxation, stop by one of Helsinki’s many saunas. And for a unique experience, book the sauna room on the Skywheel Helsinki Ferris wheel. The city is filled with world-class museums and restaurants and is perfect for a few days of exploring.

5. Stay in an ice hotel or glass igloo at the SnowHotel

Located in Lapland, everything in the SnowHotel is made of ice — including your bed (you get warm furs and sleeping bags, don’t worry)! The hotel is rebuilt each year from snow and ice, so the appearance is constantly changing. It sleeps up to 70 guests, and there are additional glass igloos that make for excellent star gazing. Enjoy sauna experiences, search for the northern lights, and plenty of ice art. There’s also an ice restaurant here too which serves local cuisine on frozen plates. The bar serves tasty craft cocktails in glasses made from ice too. A basic room with a double bed costs 200 EUR per night. You can also stay in smaller glass igloos as well.

Other Things to See and Do in Finland

1. go ice climbing.

Finland is known for its impressive ice formations, including frozen waterfalls and tall ice walls inside deep canyons or valleys. Companies like Bliss Adventure can outfit you with the right gear and introduce you to ice climbing in places like Tajukangas Falls and Korouoma Canyon (Korouoma is the most popular place to ice climb in the country). Prices vary but plan to spend around 100 EUR for a short tour. If you’re not afraid of heights and if you’re a bit of a thrill-seeker, try rappelling from the top of the Tajukangas Ice Falls (it’s about 30 meters high).

2. See Pakasaivo Lake

This lake in the north of Finland was once a place where indigenous Sámi worshipped. The 60-meter-deep lake is a meromictic lake, which means the water on the surface and at the bottom never mix (normal lakes mix at least once a year when the water at the surface cools off and becomes denser, causing it to sink). This creates an oxygen-free environment where the contents at the bottom are perfectly preserved. The area is known as the Hell of Lapland as people used to believe there was another realm under the lake. There is also a giant’s kettle here (a deep glacial pothole) that people believed tunneled all the way to hell.

3. Tour the King’s Road

This route is an old postal route running between Bergen, Norway to the former Finnish capital of Turku, and then across Finland to St. Petersburg, Russia. The 330-kilometer (205-mile) trail dates to the 15th century and it follows the southern coast of Finland. It’s accessible all year with well-paved roads and plenty of scenic stops along the way. You’ll take in manor houses, medieval churches, tiny villages, and endless scenic countryside. You can do the entire Finnish route in a day via car, though 2-3 days is better so you can make plenty of stops. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can also cycle the route in around one week.

4. Visit the Lampivaara Amethyst Mine

Lampivaara Hill is known for its amethysts (a type of purple quartz). The amethysts in this region were created 6 million years ago and on a mine tour, you can learn more about this precious mineral and then get a chance to dig around and find your own to take home as a souvenir. The mine is part of Pyhä-Luosto National Park and is located in northern Finland 90 minutes north of Rovaniemi. Tour prices vary from 35-66 EUR per person and include transportation. If you have your own vehicle, you can visit and tour the mine for 19 EUR.

5. Explore Raanua Wildlife Park

This is the northernmost nature reserve in the world and a fun place to visit with kids. There are over 50 different animal species here, including the only polar bears in Finland as well as lynx, wolves, and brown bears. Because it’s a predominantly outdoor park, you’re able to see the animals in a much more natural habitat than most zoos. There is no artificial lighting or indoor enclosures so you need to bring your own flashlight if visiting later in the day during the winter (when the sun sets early). Admission is 23.50 EUR.

6. See the Old Church of Sodankylä

Located in Lapland, this church is Finland’s best-preserved wooden church. The steeple-less church was built from timber in 1689 and was commissioned by King Charles XI of Sweden, who paid for it. The exterior and interior are incredibly well-preserved, with a dark timber interior and exterior that resembles more of a log cabin than a traditional European church. In the summer, religious services and weddings are often held here. Admission is free but be sure to dress respectfully.

7. Learn Finnish cultural history

The ethnographic Museum of Local History in Kemijärvi showcases what life was like in rural Finland at the turn of the 20th century. The main building is home to a traditional farmhouse and living quarters, maid’s chamber, daughter-in-law’s chamber, and living room so show you exactly what life was like for the Finnish working class. In addition to the house, the grounds include a granary, a workshop, a smoke sauna, a barn, and a stable that you can wander and explore. Admission is 10 EUR.

8. Go hiking

There are almost 40 national parks in Finland, each with hiking trails and camping sites. In the winter, they make for great places to cross-country ski or go snowshoeing. Nuuksio National Park is only 45 minutes from Helsinki and is filled with calm lakes, green forests, and rocky trails. Archipelago National Park, in Southwestern Finland, has more islands than any archipelago in the world. With its calm islets and colorful villages, canoeing or kayaking this park is a must. If you want to get off the beaten path, be sure to visit Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park in the north, where you can hike and stay in traditional villages. Additionally, wild camping is free in all the national parks as Finland has ‘freedom to roam’ laws ( Jokamiehen Oikeudet ) that enable you to wild camp in national parks if you are quiet and respectful.

9. Explore the Harbor Islands

There are over 330 islands that make up the Helsinki city archipelago. Suomenlinna is the easiest to reach with regular municipal ferries (you can take a ferry directly from Market Square). Vallisaari and Kuninkaansaari are two other islands worth visiting, as they used to be military bases closed off to the public (during the Viking era, Vallisaari was used as an outpost that would light a fire whenever a Viking raid was coming so people could prepare). The islands have since been reclaimed by nature and turned into parks dotted with abandoned fortifications. You can explore on your own or take a guided tour; there are a ton to choose from, with most lasting 1-2 hours and costs around 25 EUR.

10. Compete in the Air Guitar World Championship

Held every year at the Oulu Music Video Festival, this competition started out as a joke in 1996 but has evolved into a major festival that attracts thousands. If you happen to be in Oulu in the month of August, be sure to check out this quirky competition. Anyone can enter with just a 35 EUR entry fee. Even if you don’t want to compete you should definitely attend if you can — it’s one of the most unique festivals in the world!

11. Wander the Seurasaari Open-Air Museum

Located north of Helsinki on Seurasaari Island, the Seurasaari Open-Air Museum allows you to get up close to numerous traditional Finnish buildings. They aren’t replicas either; the buildings were collected from all over the country and physically moved here. There are houses, cottages, outbuildings, a windmill, and more. Opened in 1909, guided tours are available daily during the summer. Admission is 10 EUR

12. Go skiing

Levi is Finland’s most beloved ski resort located in Lapland (it’s the location of the Alpine World Cup Race). There are 43 slopes here for all abilities and over 200 kilometers (124 miles) of trails for cross-country skiing. There’s even a dedicated area for snowboarders, plus dogsledding and a reindeer park. A one-day pass costs 49 EUR. Pyhä-Luosto National Park, Saariselkä, Kuusamo, and Jyväskylä are other excellent places to ski too.

13. See Turun Linna (Turku Castle)

Turun Linna (Turku Castle) is located in Turku on the Aura River. The castle dates back to the 1200s and is one of the oldest buildings in the country. It helped defend the region from Russia during the Middle Ages, though much of the castle was destroyed during World War II and later rebuilt. Inside are two large dungeons as well as ornate banquet halls that are often used for municipal events. Tours take place all summer (June to August) and admission is 12 EUR.

14. Learn about the Sámi

The Sámi are the only indigenous people in the EU. Their language and culture are endangered, and so they’re governed by an autonomous government in Inari (Finland’s largest municipality). They’re famously known for their reindeer herding, which is at the core of their culture. Visit communities in Inari, Enontekiö, and Utsjoki to see Sámi culture up close. In Inari, don’t miss the Siida indoor and outdoor museum where you’ll learn about culture, art, and nature through interactive exhibits. But if you want to really spend time with the Sámi, come in spring when most of the Sami markets, concerts, and dances take place all over Northern Lapland. VisitLapland.com has a comprehensive list of activities and tours for getting to know the Sami people, including a visit to a traditional reindeer farm.

Finland Travel Costs

Finland has “freedom to roam” laws that enable free wild camping all around the country for those with a tent. If you’d prefer to stay in a campground with amenities, expect to pay 14-18 EUR for a basic tent plot for two people without electricity.

Budget hotel prices – A budget hotel with a private bathroom starts at 80-120 EUR during the peak summer season. In the off-season, budget rooms start at 65 EUR.

On Airbnb, private rooms start at 40 EUR (though they average double that). If you’re looking for an entire home or apartment, expect to pay at least 75 EUR, though prices usually average over 100 EUR. Book early for the best deals.

Food – Finnish cuisine leans heavily on fish, meat (specifically pork), and hearty vegetables like potatoes. Reindeer is commonly eaten as well as wild game like deer and moose. Smoked salmon and smoked or pickled herring are also popular dishes. Like their Scandinavian neighbors, Finns also enjoy dark bread and cheeses, usually as part of an open-faced sandwich (these are the go-to breakfast choice).

Overall, food in Finland is expensive. Your average casual restaurant charges around 13 EUR for a meal while fast food (think McDonald’s) is 9 EUR. For a three-course meal with table service, expect to pay at least 40-80 EUR.

Pizza costs around 8-10 EUR for a large while Thai or Chinese food costs 10-15 EUR for a main dish. If you want to splash out while in Helsinki, I suggest Ravintola Aino for good Finnish food (try the reindeer). Dishes cost between 50-62 EUR but are incredibly tasty!

Beer costs 7 EUR while a latte/cappuccino is 4 EUR. Bottled water is 1.70 EUR.

If you plan on cooking your own food, groceries cost between 50-65 EUR per week for basic staples like vegetables, bread, pasta, and some fish or meat.

Backpacking Finland Suggested Budgets

On a backpacking budget of 70 EUR per day, you can stay in a hostel dorm, cook all your meals, limit your drinking, take public transportation to get around, and do free activities like visiting the free museums, hitting the beach, and relaxing in the parks. If you plan on drinking, add 10-15 EUR to your daily budget.

On a mid-range budget of 140 EUR, you can stay in a private hostel room or Airbnb, eat out for some meals, have a couple of drinks, take the occasional taxi, and do more paid activities like visiting museums, skiing, or taking a guided tour of Suomenlinna Fortress.

On a “luxury” budget of 290 EUR or more per day, you can stay in a hotel, eat out for all your meals, drink as much as you want, rent a car to explore, and do whatever activities you want. This is just the ground floor for luxury though. The sky is the limit!

You can use the chart below to get some idea of how much you need to budget daily, depending on your travel style. Keep in mind these are daily averages — some days you’ll spend more, some days you’ll spend less (you might spend less every day). We just want to give you a general idea of how to make your budget. Prices are in EUR.

Finland Travel Guide: Money-Saving Tips

Finland isn’t cheap. Everything here is expensive due to high taxes and lots of imports. Fortunately, there are ways to save money if you know where to look. Here are my best money-saving tips for Finland:

• Drink the tap water – The tap water here is some of the cleanest in the world and will save you from buying new water bottles all the time (and it cuts down waste too)! LifeStraw makes a reusable bottle with a built-in filter so you can always ensure your water is clean and safe.
• Stay with a local for free – Couchsurfing connects you with a local who can host you for free. You may have to sleep on a couch, but you’ll get to make a new friend and get tons of insider information about the country.
• Grocery shop – Buy basic staples like bread, meat, and cheese for breakfast or for a quick lunch on the go. It’s not glamorous, but by cooking your own meals you’ll save a ton of money, enabling you to eventually splurge on some great dinners.
• Take a free tour – Green Cap Tours offer daily free walking tours around Helsinki. You get to see the main sights while interacting with an expert guide who can answer all your questions. Just be sure to tip at the end!
• Get a Helsinki Card – There’s a lot to see in the city and paying 10-15 EUR per attraction adds up. This tourism card grants you free admission to the main sights (as well as access to the hop-on/hop-off bus) for 50 EUR (for a 24-hour pass). You can also get a 48-hour pass for 63 EUR or a 72-hour pass for 74 EUR. It includes discounts on some restaurants as well. For an additional charge, you can add free public transit as well.
• Rideshare – If you want to save money on transportation around the country, there are numerous apps like Kyydit and Carpool World that can help. They’ll allow you to connect with drivers looking for extra passengers. While it isn’t free, it might be cheaper (and more convenient) than taking a bus or train.
• Hitchhike – Hitchhiking isn’t super common here, however, it’s definitely possible and quite safe. Just use common sense and check Hitchwiki for specific tips and advice.

Where to Stay in Finland

Hostels can be found in a few of the larger cities around the country. Here are my recommended places to stay throughout the country:

• Hostel Diana Park (Helsinki)
• Eurohostel Helsinki (Helsinki)
• Dream Hostel Tampere (Tampere)
• Wherever Boutique Hostel (Rovaniemi)
• Laivahostel S/S Bore (Turku)

How to Get Around Finland

Public transportation – Helsinki is the only city in Finland with a tram and metro system, though other cities and towns have public bus networks. They usually depart every 10-15 minutes with one-way tickets starting at 2.80 EUR.

Bus – Buses are the main form of intercity travel in Finland. A bus from Helsinki to Turku takes 2-2.5 hours and costs 10-15 EUR while the two-hour journey to Tampere is around 8 EUR. You can even take the bus from Helsinki to Rovaniemi (Lapland) for 54 EUR (it’s a 13-hour ride).

Matkahuolto is the main bus company. Use matkahuolto.fi/en to plan your journey. OnniBus is another intercity bus service. Prices are pretty consistent with Matkahuolto but fares can be up to 50% off if you book in advance rather than at the last minute.

Train – Trains are an excellent way to get around Finland and you rarely need to make a reservation ahead of time (you can book online at vr.fi). Trains are slightly more expensive than the bus but they are much more comfortable. Helsinki to Turku costs about 21 EUR for the two-hour trip, while Helsinki to Tampere starts from 20 EUR (and it’s also around two hours).

If you wait until the last minute, you can often find “saver deals” listed on the website (typically the night before). For example, at the time of writing this, last-minute fares for both the routes mentioned above are less than 9 EUR. So, generally, you can get them around 50% off the normal price if you’re flexible.

Bicycle – Finland is incredibly bike-friendly. All cities have bike lanes and there are endless paths with very few hills. There’s a bicycle rental service in almost every town, with prices starting from 15 EUR per day. You can often get discounts for multi-day or weekly rentals. For example, Bicyclean Helsinki has city bikes from 19 EUR per day while a week’s rental is 80 EUR.

Flying – Finnair is the main domestic airline in Finland, with fares between most destinations costing less than 100 EUR when booked in advance. Expect to pay double that for last-minute flights. You can pretty much fly anywhere in the country in around 90 minutes or less.

Flights from Helsinki to nearby Stockholm, Sweden or Oslo, Norway are also quite affordable, costing around 75 EUR (one way) when booked early.

Car rental – Cars can be rented for as little as 25 EUR per day for a multi-day rental. Drivers must be at least 20, have had their license for at least one year, and have an International Driving Permit (IDP). For the best car rental prices, use Discover Cars .

When to Go to Finland

The best time to visit Finland is largely based on what you want to do. If you want to experience Lapland at its peak awesomeness, come in December or January. Lapland is a wintery dream world in December due to the holiday decorations, Christmas markets, and the northern lights. Keep in mind it gets extremely cold in Finland during this time, no matter where you are in the country. The average daily temperature in the winter is -8°C (17°F).

Spring and autumn are the shoulder seasons and temperatures are still low. The average daily high in April is 2°C (37°F), while in October it’s 5°C (41°F). Both seasons are beautiful, though. In spring, everything is in full bloom; in autumn, the fall colors come out.

Summer is full of activities all around Finland, especially in Helsinki. With longer days (in summer, the sun won’t set until after 10:30pm) and warmer temperatures, Finnish people love enjoying the change in season. Parks and beaches are full and there are festivals all the time. The country is very lively. The average high in the south of the country is 15°C (64-72°F), however, so you’ll still want to pack warm clothes if you plan to visit Lapland, as temps up there will be cooler.

How to Stay Safe in Finland

Finland is super safe and the risk of violent crime here is incredibly low. Pick-pocketing can occur in Helsinki on public transpiration and at busy bus and train stations but even that is rare. Simply leave your valuables at home and be mindful of your surroundings while you’re out and about. Do that and you should be perfectly fine.

Be careful when using ATMs as credit card skimming is on the rise when using outdoor ATMs.

Scams here are rare, but, if you’re worried about getting ripped off, you can read about common travel scams to avoid on this blog post .

Solo female travelers should generally feel safe here. However, the standard precautions apply (never leave your drink unattended at the bar, never walk home alone intoxicated, etc.). You can read specific tips on one of the many solo female travel blogs on the web.

If you rent a car, don’t leave any valuables in it at night. Break-ins are rare, but it’s always better to be safe than sorry!

Your biggest concern in most areas is actually moose. Be careful when driving!

If you experience an emergency, dial 112 for assistance.

Always trust your gut instinct. Make copies of your personal documents, including your passport and ID. Forward your itinerary along to loved ones so they’ll know where you are.

The most important piece of advice I can offer is to purchase good travel insurance. Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. You can use the widget below to find the policy right for you:

Finland Travel Guide: The Best Booking Resources

These are my favorite companies to use when I travel. They consistently have the best deals, offer world-class customer service and great value, and overall, are better than their competitors. They are the companies I use the most and are always the starting point in my search for travel deals.

• Skyscanner – Skyscanner is my favorite flight search engine. They search small websites and budget airlines that larger search sites tend to miss. They are hands down the number one place to start.
• Hostelworld – This is the best hostel accommodation site out there with the largest inventory, best search interface, and widest availability.
• Booking.com – The best all around booking site that constantly provides the cheapest and lowest rates. They have the widest selection of budget accommodation. In all my tests, they’ve always had the cheapest rates out of all the booking websites.
• HostelPass – This new card gives you up to 20% off hostels throughout Europe. It’s a great way to save money. They’re constantly adding new hostels too. I’ve always wanted something like this and glad it finallt exists.
• Get Your Guide – Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace for tours and excursions. They have tons of tour options available in cities all around the world, including everything from cooking classes, walking tours, street art lessons, and more!
• The Man in Seat 61 – This website is the ultimate guide to train travel anywhere in the world. They have the most comprehensive information on routes, times, prices, and train conditions. If you are planning a long train journey or some epic train trip, consult this site.
• Rome2Rio – This website allows you to see how to get from point A to point B the best and cheapest way possible. It will give you all the bus, train, plane, or boat routes that can get you there as well as how much they cost.
• FlixBus – Flixbus has routes between 20 European countries with prices starting as low 5 EUR! Their buses include WiFi, electrical outlets, a free checked bag.
• SafetyWing – Safety Wing offers convenient and affordable plans tailored to digital nomads and long-term travelers. They have cheap monthly plans, great customer service, and an easy-to-use claims process that makes it perfect for those on the road.
• LifeStraw – My go-to company for reusable water bottles with built-in filters so you can ensure your drinking water is always clean and safe.
• Unbound Merino – They make lightweight, durable, easy-to-clean travel clothing.
• Top Travel Credit Cards – Points are the best way to cut down travel expenses. Here’s my favorite point earning credit cards so you can get free travel!

Finland Travel Guide: Related Articles

Want more info? Check out all the articles I’ve written on backpacking/traveling Finland and continue planning your trip:

The 5 Best Hostels in Helsinki

The 21 Best Things to See and Do in Helsinki

How to Spend Three Days in Helsinki

Get my best stuff sent straight to you, pin it on pinterest.

• Where To Stay
• Transportation
• Booking Resources
• Related Blogs

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Glittering Open Skies

What did Finland have in store for Tour Manager Kristen?

Have you ever wanted to lead a team of huskies through the snow? Listen to our Tour Manager Kristen recount her sled dog adventure in Finland, and find out how her furry new friends made sure her snowy trip through the forests of Lapland was one she’d never forget.

Destination Must-See's

The best way to see this city on the Baltic Sea is with a local guide. Hip Helsinki is on the cutting edge of fashion and has a flourishing culinary scene. At the same time, it also has a rich history and amazing architecture that still shines through its modern edge. You’ll find touches of art nouveau and neoclassical and an array of intriguing museums.

Senate Square

Explore the heart of Helsinki – Senate Square. It is home to the oldest stone building in the city and is dominated by four impressive neoclassical buildings including its impressive cathedral. Fun fact: every day at 5:49 a modern version of the European Glockenspiel plays and you can hear it make its way around the square, from one building to the next. Today, it is one of the city’s main tourist attractions and host to an array of special events.

Lapland Region

Discover the northern region of Finland, the vast and peaceful Lapland – only 3% of the country’s total population resides here. The winter is simply magical, and it is the perfect place to go in search of the northern lights, witness reindeer roaming free and meet Santa Claus. Spend 3 nights in this enchanting land of endless open land, big skies, fresh air and welcoming people.

The Northern Lights of Finland

Venture out into the dark to see the magical but elusive northern lights. This natural phenomenon is the product of collisions between electrically charged particles from the sun that enter the earth's atmosphere; the results are spectacular! Streaks of colorful light appear across the sky. This light show is truly dazzling and worth the pursuit.

Destination Must-Do's

Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort

Located at nearly the most northern tip of Europe, you’ll find this luxurious resort surrounded by wilderness. Visitors can take advantage of its many amenities and stay in a variety of unique accommodations including cozy log cabins and glass igloos, giving guests an unobstructed view of the night sky. Set away from the lights and activity of the main resort are rows of glass igloos that look like something out of a sci-fi movie. Enjoy a magical night at this igloo hotel. Gaze at the night sky and wait for the northern lights to reveal themselves.

Husky Safari

Visit a local husky farm to meet these cute canines. You will soon find out just how much they love their jobs! Become acquainted with these friendly dogs, the commands and the equipment before embarking on a snow-covered adventure. With you as their leader, be whisked through the wilderness by these eager dogs that love to run.

Reindeer Safari

Set out for remote areas of Kakslauttanen on a relaxing reindeer safari that takes you deep into nature with local reindeer herders. Take some time to chat with the local Sami people on your one-of-a-kind adventure on a sleigh led by Finnish reindeer!

Santa's Home

Feel like a kid again as you travel deep into the forest to visit Santa’s home. Just as you have always imagined, a giant red chalet covered with snow and adorned with white lights appears atop a hill as you make your way along a long wooden walkway to the front door, where you will be greeted by Santa himself!

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The Perfect 5 to 7 Days in Finland Itinerary (Winter or Summer)

Last Updated on January 31, 2024

by Olivia Ellis

Disclaimer: This article contains affiliate links. That means if you click a link and make a purchase, we may make a small commission. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. For more information, see our privacy policy.

Planning a perfect 5 to 7 days in Finland itinerary is a great experience if you’re searching for a European destination off the beaten path from traditional tourist-heavy routes. In unique proximity to Scandinavia, Russia, and the Baltics, Finland is saturated with rich history and culture and “the happiest people” in the world.

From cosmopolitan and sustainable Helsinki to the country’s oldest city, Turku, Finland is a country waiting to be explored with open arms. This itinerary will help you plan an ideal trip to Finland, exploring both cities and nature while discovering unique corners in between.

Table of Contents

How Many Days in Finland?

Many potential visitors wonder how many days to spend in Finland in order to do this beautiful Nordic nation justice.

Finland is one of the largest countries in Europe, and with that being considered, there’s a great amount to visit. With that being said, I recommend a minimum of 5 days in Finland; this way you can visit and wander around Helsinki, but also manage to get to another city/town or two. 

On top of that, I believe that the ideal length of time to spend in Finland is around 1 week. With 7 full days in Finland, you’ll experience all that you can in 5 days, but also be able to go beyond.

You’ll truly be able to do the country justice, explore a few different regions of the country and go beyond major cities to further off regions, such as Finnish Lapland to perhaps visit a reindeer farm, go dog sledding or see the Northern Lights.

Getting To & Around Finland 

Getting to finland.

Regarding this particular itinerary, the best and most convenient option will be to first fly into the capital city of Helsinki.

Helsinki Vantaa Airport is the fourth largest Nordic airport by passenger numbers and has frequent routes year-round connecting Finland mainly to Europe but also intercontinental.

Due to the large airport and frequent flights, the Finnish capital is also typically a fairly affordable destination to fly into. You can get from the Helsinki airport to the city center by bus, train or private transfer.

Another unique option for those visiting Finland from neighboring Tallinn, Estonia or Stockholm, Sweden , is to reach Finland by ferry.

There are frequent ferry routes to/from each city and depending on your chosen journey, they can also be more affordable than flight transportation. You can browse ferry schedules here.

Getting Around Finland

When organising your transportation plans for getting around Finland, it’s important to keep in mind the time of year. This itinerary is best suited for the winter months, so unless you’re someone with at least some experience driving in wintery/snowy conditions, I’d recommend against driving.

For those that will be driving, the country is well-prepared for winter weather with cars equipped with the right winter tires so you don’t need to worry about anything out of the ordinary.

If you decide to opt-in to rent a car, I’d suggest only renting it for the time in Rovaniemi. Like most European and Nordic cities in particular, you’ll have an excellent public transportation system at hand to get around with and no necessity to rent a car whilst in the capital city. You can browse Rentalcars.com to compare prices on car hire.

Helsinki is also an incredibly walkable city, with most sights and points of interest in close distance, you’ll find it a joy to walk around the pleasant capital Finnish city. 

Furthermore, the other destinations outside of Rovaniemi are easily accessible to Helsinki by bus and train. The last two days of the itinerary are in Finnish Lapland and with such a long drive from southern/central Finland (~10 hours), it would take a day out of your trip to drive.

Rovaniemi is the most “wild” part of the itinerary and having a car would be an advantage (especially if you’re determined to spot the Northern Lights), but it isn’t completely necessary. There are several car rental companies in Rovaniemi, both in the city and at the airport if you’re keen to drive during your time in Lapland. 

5 to 7-Day Finland Itinerary

Regardless of how long you have, you’ll find spending time in Finland to be a Nordic treasure. If you have 5 days, you’ll get to know Finland through its capital city, Helsinki, along with other authentic towns and major cities.

For those continuing onwards to a 7-day itinerary, you’ll make your way north to the wild Arctic Lapland region and its capital city of Rovaniemi where you can enjoy either incredible winter activities or, in the summer months, basque in the midnight sun. 

Day 1 – Arrive in Helsinki

The first 3 nights of this itinerary are spent in the capital city of Helsinki. Once arriving, you’ll likely first notice the beautiful and diverse architecture and styles painting the capital city.

The city is a unique blend of Finnish, Swedish, and Russian architecture – reflecting the deep history and heritage not just of Helsinki but also of Finland itself. 

Helsinki is a fairly small and compact city, which makes it convenient to see most of the main sights during day 1 of your time in Finland. Begin at the Senate Square in the center of the city (Kruununhaka neighborhood) to marvel at the stunning white Helsinki Cathedral along with the National Library of Finland. 

A short walk brings you to one of the most unique churches you’ll probably ever visit, the Temppeliaukio Church. Built within a solid rock, the church is a must-visit in Helsinki and for that reason, it’s one of the most popular attractions in Helsinki. 

For a taste of some of the best Finnish cuisine in the city along with affordable options, make sure to visit Helsinki Market Square & Old Market Hall. The market square is particularly special if you’re visiting Helsinki during the winter , where you’ll find a joyful Christmas market full of independent stands and vendors.

The Old Market Hall is the oldest market in Finland as well as the perfect spot to enjoy a traditional meal.

Where to Stay in Helsinki

Bob W Kluuvi – This hotel is perfect for mid-range visitors. They have a great, central location for exploring the city along with plenty of great rooms to choose from and breakfast available in the mornings.

Hotel Mestari – This luxury hotel is perfect for those looking for a plush stay in the Finnish capital. They have a number of wonderful rooms to choose from, great amenities for guests to enjoy and a fantastic location for seeing all Helsinki has to offer.

The Yard Hostel – Those visiting Finland on a budget will love this cool hostel in the center of Helsinki. They have both private rooms and dorms to choose from along with good self-catering facilities and common areas.

Not quite what you’re looking for? Click here to browse more Helsinki hotels!

Day 2 –  Helsinki

After a wonderful first day exploring Helsinki and getting acquainted with Finland, a great way to continue your trip is by making a day trip to the Suomenlinna Fortress. This sea fortress also happens to be a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Suomenlinna Fortress is situated on a group of 8 islands off of Helsinki and demonstrates key elements of Finnish history and independence from both Sweden and Russia. 

Suomenlinna is easily reached by a short 15-minute ferry ride (tickets are included within the Helsinki transport system) from Helsinki Market Square. 

Finland has a wonderful fashion scene, with both local and high-street shops with a big influence on sustainability. Pohjoisesplanadi, the main shopping street in the heart of Helsinki is about a kilometer long and is the perfect place to take a look at Finnish trends and maybe find a souvenir to bring home. 

Day 3 – Porvoo

On day 3, I suggested making a day trip to the nearby middle-aged town of Porvoo . Porvoo is best reached from Helsinki by bus, with just around an hour’s journey. I recommend booking with Omnibus, as buses are frequent (around every 10 minutes) and the system is reliable. Schedules can be found here. You can also book a guided tour .

Porvoo is a lovely little town giving a completely different feel to Finland than big-city Helsinki. The town is the second oldest in Finland and wandering through the old streets can’t be any more idyllic; especially in the snow during a Finland winter itinerary.

I recommend warming up with a hot chocolate at Petris Chocolate in the town center before heading back to Helsinki.

Day 4 – Turku

After spending 3 nights in Helsinki, make your way to the charming Finnish archipelago city of Turku. Turku is easily reached by train from Helsinki in just under 2 hours and train schedules and booking can be found here . 

The city of Turku was founded almost 800 years ago and is a unique must-visit on any visit to Finland. With the Aura River meeting the archipelago as the centerpiece for Turku, you’ll find the city to be an exciting destination full of soul and history as it was once Finland’s capital city before Helsinki. 

Stop by the 13th-century Turku Castle to get a better insight into Finnish Heritage in its oldest town as well as the Turku Cathedral, which also happens to be the seat of the Archbishop of Finland. 

If you’re visiting in the summer, a great way to enjoy Finland’s bountiful nature is to take a ferry to the Turku Archipelago. Spending the day in the long daylight is best spent wandering the trails, taking a dip in the water, and discovering the archipelago’s 40,000 tiny islands by bicycle. 

For a meal with a nice ambiance, the riverside area has wonderful restaurants with gorgeous views no matter the time of the year that you visit.

Where to Stay in Turku

Centro Hotel Turku – This hotel in central Turku is an excellent choice for those after a mid-range option in this Finnish city. They have myriad great rooms to choose from and a lovely breakfast available in the mornings.

Solo Sokos Hotel Turun Seurahuone – Located in the center of Turku, this hotel is a great choice for those who want something a bit more high-end while visiting Finland. They have a range of rooms to choose from, fantastic amenities and an on-site restaurant/bar.

Forenom Aparthotel Turku – This aparthotel is great for those who want their own flat but don’t want to sacrifice the convenience of a traditional hotel. There are a range of apartments on offer and they also have a great, central location.

Not quite what you’re looking for? Click here to browse more Turku hotels!

Day 5 – Tampere

On your 5th day in Finland, a quick hour-and-a-half train from Turku will bring you on a day trip to the quirky city of Tampere. Tampere is the second biggest city in Finland with a lot to offer but is regularly missed by tourists, making it a great destination for any trip to Finland off the beaten path.

Tampere is the sauna capital of Finland, with over 50 public Finnish saunas waiting for you to relax and rejuvenate in the Finnish style. If you’re looking to tick visiting Finland’s oldest sauna off of your travel list, head to Rajaportti Sauna to experience a sauna heated by wood in the most traditional method.

The city is full of unique and exciting museums such as the Moomin Museum, the quintessential destination for any lover of the Moomin cartoon world. Another great museum option in Tampere for a particular perspective on Finnish culture and social history is Werstas – The Finnish Labour Museum

During your time in Tampere, make sure not to miss the largest Market Hall in all of the Nordics , Tampere Market Hall. This is the perfect destination to sample quintessential Finnish delicacies in a pleasant spot with friendly locals and authentic Finnish food.

If you’re spending just 5 days on you trip, this is the last day of your Finland trip. There is an airport in Tampere with a handful of European connections, making it a convenient ending if you can leave from Tampere. Otherwise, take the train back to Helsinki to continue onward.

For those continuing onward to the city of Rovaniemi in Lapland, the best transportation options from Tampere are to either return to Helsinki to fly to Rovaniemi or take an overnight train/bus from Tampere. 

Day 6 – Rovaniemi, Lapland

The last two days of your Finland travel itinerary will be spent in Finland’s largest region, enchanting and magical Lapland.

While also an ideal destination for the summer months because of the incredible nature and lush boreal forests of the northern Finnish region, it’s hard to find any travel destination more perfect in winter than Lapland. 

When planning accommodation, the costs of Lapland nature-surrounded hotels are much higher than in the center of Rovaniemi, it enhances the fairytale Lapland experience if you can afford the cost. 

The city of Rovaniemi is quite small in comparison to most other Nordic and Finnish cities, but it feels like an entirely different world in itself. To learn more about Arctic and Lappish culture, science, and history, head to the Arktikum Museum for a perfect taster to educate you for the rest of your time in Lapland. 

Rovaniemi is the main hub for most activities in the area and they’re plentiful. Whether you’re interested in taking a cosy reindeer sleigh ride in the Arctic forest or an Aurora Borealis expedition with a cup of hot chocolate, there’s something for everyone.

The majority of tour and activity groups leave from Rovaniemi with pick-up from surrounding hotels, making it an effortless trip if you decide not to rent a car to explore Rovaniemi, Lapland. 

If you’re visiting Lapland and following this itinerary in the summertime, it’s a completely different atmosphere but still incredibly special in its own right. From long days spent exploring Lapland’s wildly deep nature and forests to midnight-sun bonfire nights, summer in Lapland is truly special as well.

Where to Stay in Rovaniemi

Arctic Light Hotel – This modern hotel in Rovaniemi, this is a great base for exploring Lapland. There are several chic rooms to choose from, an airport shuttle, free parking and a superb breakfast.

Santa’s Igloos Arctic Circle – The perfect arctic escape, the glass igloos located outside of Rovaniemi are excellent for a unique visit. They have several different pods on offer, a great restaurant, room service and other amenities.

Hostel Cafe Koti – A good budget option in Rovaniemi, this hip hostel has both dorms and private rooms, a bar and cafe on site, a sauna and good self-catering facilities.

Not quite what you’re looking for? Click here to browse more Rovaniemi hotels!

Day 7 – Santa Claus Village

One of the most popular attractions when visiting Rovaniemi, Lapland is the magnificent world of Santa Claus Village.

Santa Claus Village is just about a 10-minute drive (or 20-minute bus ride) outside of Rovaniemi city center and is a must-visit magical stop while in Rovaniemi, for both adults and children. You can also take a guided tour  from Rovaniemi.

The village is a large wonderland, full of activities from ice skating and sledding to visits at the husky park and postcards and a meeting with Santa at Santa’s workshop. You’ll find conveniently placed fire pits throughout the village and the village’s forest area to warm up if you decide to walk among the snow-dressed Arctic trees.

The official boundaries of the Arctic Circle run through Santa’s Village and even though it’s just a line, it’s truly thrilling to pass back and forth through the Arctic Circle! 

Food options are plentiful in the village no matter your budget or preferences; from cafeteria-style food to classic Lappish food (I recommend the open-fire cooked salmon!) in a traditional hut. 

With so much joy and winter wonderland from just around every corner, it’s easy to spend a long day at Santa’s Village. It’s also safe to say that there’s no better send-off from a trip to Finland than heading to the snowy paradise of your childhood dreams. 

If you’re visiting in the winter, you may be able to find a return flight from Rovaniemi depending on the city, but otherwise, return to Helsinki to wrap up a marvelous week in Finland.

Have More Time?

In the case that you are drawn to the Lapland region and would like to explore further, I highly suggest heading further north to experience the region on a deeper level in the resort town of Levi.

In Levi, you can hit the slopes and ski on Finland’s biggest ski slopes, search further for the Northern Lights with a higher chance of seeing them, and find yourself in further bewilderment by Finland’s stunning natural beauty. 

On top of that, if you want to continue your trip and are looking to go beyond Finland, Swedish Lapland is just over the border with more outdoor adventures waiting for you.

Finnish Lapland is a lot more “developed” and touristy in comparison with Swedish Lapland, so if you’re interested in experiencing more of a local experience in Lapland, Swedish Lapland is a great way to continue your trip. 

A Finland trip undoubtedly has something for all kinds of travelers, whether you’re a city-seeker or someone happiest among nature. With this Finland itinerary, you’ll see all aspects of Finland, giving the perfect representation of this dynamically beautiful, and kind country. 

Are you planning a trip to Finland? Have any questions about this itinerary? Let us know in the comments!

Related Posts:

The Essential Guide to Visiting Helsinki in Winter

The Perfect 2 to 3 Days in Helsinki Itinerary

A Guide to Visiting Finnish Lapland in Winter

About Olivia Ellis

Olivia is a writer for The World Was Here First. Originally from Michigan, USA, she is currently living in Athens, Greece exploring Europe and filmmaking. When she’s not travelling or writing, Olivia can be found cooking delicious new recipes from around the world, reading, and spending time outdoors.

Hi, Olivia: Thank you so much for sharing! It does make my coming Finland travel plan clearly. I am wondering how about Levi in Summer, and do you have any suggestions about summer in Rovaniemi?

With many thanks Sherry

Love the very informative initinery. Will certainly follow it. Planning to go in November 2023. Bravo!

Very very informative, thanks Olivia

Very very helpful review. We hope to have a family trip to Finland and these suggestions were terrific.

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ROAD TRIP IDEAS & HIKING INSPIRATION FOR OUTDOORSY TRAVELERS

Finland Road Trip Itinerary – Things to See in Finland in 2 Weeks

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2 Weeks Finland Itinerary

For a trip covering the whole of Finland, you will need at least two weeks. It is the minimum amount of time to cover such a huge country. The north-south extent of the country is 1100 km. This itinerary covers most of the best cities  and several spectacular natural landmarks and national parks . If you prefer to spend an extended time in Lapland, read this itinerary for a detailed Finland trip.

So let’s get back to one of the most stunning road trips we ever had!

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Finland Road Trip Itinerary and Map

If you are planning a trip to Finland, you came to a good place. Here you will find the most popular cities, best national parks, and some hidden gems that need to be on your self-drive itinerary.

Two weeks in Finland is enough to see most of the top sights, but one week in Finland lets you explore part of this route. You can focus either on the northern or the southern part. For extra tips, other practical advice, read our Finland Travel Guide .

Road Trip Finland

The easiest and cheapest way to explore Finland is by car. Rent your car from the airport directly to save time and money.

Car rentals are available in most Finnish airports. We recommend the following:   Hertz  | SiXT | Europcar

Let’s start your Finland self-drive tour!

Travel Resources

There is nothing better than a relaxed holiday. To ensure your rest, make sure you reserve and book your accommodation and transportation in advance of your trip.

• Don’t forget to insure yourself during your travels: SafetyWing . Check out their policies HERE . It also covers several virus-related expenses.
• Look for the best prices on flight tickets, hotels, and car rentals: Expedia
• Car rental: SIXt
• Accommodation: Booking.com , Agoda or Hostelworld if you travel on a budget. Don’t forget that you can search for Apartments also on Booking.
• Activities: GetYourGuide
• Opinions on hotels and restaurants: TripAdvisor
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1-2. Days: 2 Days Helsinki

Your trip to Finland will very likely start in Helsinki, the capital of Finland. It is a rather small city and easy to cover the best sights in 2 days. It’s a perfect starting point for your trip to Finland.

The 13 Best Hotels in Helsinki, Finland, For Every Budget

1. Day in Helsinki:

The Esplanadi park (Esplanadinpuisto) is a popular starting point as the tourist information is also located there (corner of Pohjoisesplanadi and Unioninkatu). Follow the park towards the sea and turn north along Unioninkatu to reach the Senate Square (Senaatintori) at the eastern end of the park . The Lutheran Cathedral will be just in front of you. Then follow Aleksanterinkatu to the east turn south to Mariankatu. After one block, you will see the Eastern Orthodox Uspenski Cathedral .

Then follow Pohjoisesplanadi street to reach Market Square (Kauppatori) . The best time to visit is during opening hours. During the afternoon, head (or take a tram) to the Church in the Rock (Temppeliaukion kirkko) , as the name suggests, it’s a church indeed in a rock! The Sibelius Monument (and Organ) is nearby, and so does my personal favorite. A small cafe with the free tram museum is just a couple of minutes’ walk from here. If you fancy a drink from the top of a tower, visit Hotel Torni and its bar on the top floor to have a panoramic view of Helsinki. For the night, stay in one of the best hotels in Helsinki .

2. Day in Helsinki:

You can’t leave Helsinki without checking the Suomenlinna fortress . Go to Market Square (Kauppatori) to find the ferry to the island. Helsinki public transport tickets are also valid for the ferry. The islands have pricey restaurants and cafes, but a picnic is also a good choice in good weather. In the afternoon, visit the newly opened public sauna, the Löyly , to make your experience full.

We also enjoyed visiting the abandoned villas of Helsinki . If you are up to an adventure, it’s a nice program in a green area for the summer.

Don’t forget to read our guide to unique and must-see places in Helsinki . 🙂

3. Day: Day Trip to Porvoo

Porvoo is a small town an hour away from Helsinki. You can reach it by public bus too (10-15€).

Porvoo is the second oldest town in Finland and is well-known for its historic Old Town and colorful riverside warehouses. The 15th-century Cathedral and the 18th century Town Hall are just a few of the decorative buildings you will see. The colorful warehouses were built to protect fruits, wines, coffee, tobacco, wood, spices, and other goods shipped along the river. They were painted with red ochre in the 18th century to honor a visit by Swedish King Gustav. Porvoo also gave a home to Finland’s national poet, Johan Ludvig Runeberg , whose home is a little museum today.

Spend the night in Helsinki.

4-5. Days: 2 Days in Turku & the Archipelago

Drive to Turku in the morning (2 hours). Turku is the oldest city in Finland (founded in the 13th century) and used to be a capital for a shorter time during the 19th century.

The best time to visit the city is during the summer, but the cultural sights are worth a brief visit during the winter.

Must-see places in Turku in one day

• Turku Castle Archangel Michael’s Church ( Mikaelin Kirkko)
• Aboa Vetus & Ars Nova Turku Main Library (Turun Kaupunginkirjasto),
• Turku Cathedral (Turun Tuomiokirkko)
• Luostarinmäki Handicrafts Museum
• Panimoravintola Koulu
• Turku Art Museum (Turun Taidemuseo)

On your second day, take a boat trip (summertime!) to the Archipelago and head to Tampere in the evening.

6. Day: Tampere

Tampere’s cultural and architectural heritage is based on the city’s industrial past as it was the center of heavy industry.

The city has a unique geographical location too. Tampere lies on a narrow isthmus between Lake Näsijärvi, which reaches far to the north, and Lake Pyhäjärvi in the south. Moreover, there are 200 lakes and ponds in Tampere!

Must-See in Tampere

• Tammerkoski rapids (currently runs in a canal) and several hydroelectric dams in the downtown
• Beautiful historic buildings dating back to the late 19th century in the Downtown area: the  Finlayson historic factory complex  ( north side of the downtown, west side of Tammerkoski rapids ) and the  Tampella historic factory complex  (n orth side of downtown, east side of Tammerkoski rapids )
• Pyynikki ridge , the 85-meter-high narrow isthmus between the two lakes
• Pyynikki observation tower
• Nekala  area is famous for its old wooden houses and cultural landscape
• Tampere City Library  ( Metso )

7. Day: Jyväskylä

Drive to Jyväskylä. It’s currently a popular university city and well-known for the famous architect  Alvar Aalto’s work. Several famous buildings are connected to his name, such as the Town Theater ( kaupunginteatteri ), some buildings in the university’s main campus, and the Alvar Aalto Museum .

The Water Tower  ( Vesilinna ) is a building on top of the ridge ( Harju ) that acts as an observation tower, restaurant, and Natural History Museum and dispensing water to the town. You will have a great view of the city and its lakes from the top.

Near Jyvaskyla, the  Leivonmäki National Park is a family-friendly place.  The trails between the lakes and mires are easy, and there was even one accessible (wheelchair friendly) trail we could explore by stroller.

8. Day: Driving and a Stop in Kuopio (Version A)

You spend the day driving from Jyväskylä to Joensuu (3.5-4 hours) via Kuopio. The Old Town Center and the  Puijo Panorama Tower  are worth checking out. A couple of times a year (also in summer!), ski jumping competitions are organized in Puijo.

After the brief visit and stretching your legs, head to Joensuu in the afternoon.

8. Day: Driving and a Stop in Savonlinna (Version B)

How about visiting the most northern medieval castle in Europe?  Olavinlinna, the  St. Olaf’s Castle is worth a bit longer driving. Instead of Kuopio, drive to Savonlinna to the east and walk around Finland’s best-preserved castle and some of the little museums.

The total driving time for the day is about 4.5-5 hours.

9.Day: Joensuu & Koli National Park

In Joensuu, the Carelicum Museum offers an insight into the region’s history, culture, and life. You can also take a short walk in the center: the town hall and the old wooden buildings are the most interesting sites around. During summer, make sure you check out the Bunker Museum in Marjala.

In the afternoon, head to Koli National Park and explore the countrywide famous landscape during a short hike to Ukko Koli’s peak. If you want to stay longer in North Karelia, read our guide for the best sights .

10. Day: Driving to North and Ranua Wildlife Park (Version A)

Early morning start driving to the north. You will have about 5-6 hours of a drive ahead of you before you reach Ranua. Visit the Arctic Zoo and head to Rovaniemi for the night.

10. Day: Visit Oulu (Version B)

This bronze police statue is the symbol of Oulu. It is surrounded by well-preserved wooden buildings and the picturesque Market Hall (on the right). The city is full of green areas that pleasant, especially during spring to fall.

If you have more time, you can visit  Hailuoto Island or the Koitelinkoski Rapids at Kiiminki as well.

In winter, make sure you stop by the ice castle in Kemi  on your way from Oulu to Rovaniemi.

11-12. Days: Rovaniemi, Lapland

1. Day in Rovaniemi:

The next stop on your road tri pin Finland is Rovaniemi, the city of Santa Claus 🙂 On your first day, spend most of your time in Santa Claus Village (or with smaller kids in SantaPark ), visit a husky farm, and ride a snowmobile.

2. Day in Rovaniemi:

Visit the Arktikum Museum  and explore the city center. Check out the Lordi’s square and the Lumberjack’s Candle Bridge ( Jätkänkynttilä ). If you would like to know more about Rovaniemi’s other activities, check out our city guide (winter edition)  or (summer edition) !

Read our guide to the best hotels  or the most spectacular glass igloos in the area!

12-13. Days: Levi and/or Pallas-Ylläs National Park

Levi is a short drive away (in the Lappish scale) from Rovaniemi. About 1-1.5 hours. Skiing, ice fishing, and more skiing. Levi is a popular destination for Finns during the winter season. We had our best snowmobile adventure in Levi !

Winter hiking and snowshoeing are also a must-try. Pallastunturi is a better location, but Levi offers trips too. The never-ending snowy fells (tunturit) in the national park have a variety of trails for cross-country skiing or snowshoeing. The National Park has two skiing centers for snowboarding and downhill skiing. Choose based on your preference.  Here are some ideas for winter activities.

Make sure you don’t miss out on the snow village near Kittilä in your drive during the winter. We got married there 😉

In summer, visit the top of Levi fell , and then drive to the national park to look for reindeer in the wild and have a hike or walk based on your fitness. Levi is very quiet during the summer.

14. Day: Ivalo and Return by Flight to Helsinki

Drive up to the north of Lapland to enjoy your last day, learning more about the Sami culture. Visit the Siida, the Sámi Museum, in Inari, and Northern Lapland Nature Centre and later fly back to Helsinki. In winter, you can try most of the winter activities offered in Rovaniemi or Levi.

Road Trip in Lapland

If you have extra time or prefer nature over the southern cities, check out our Lapland road trip itinerary for other places to visit in the north! It is the best location to observe the mesmerizing northern lights in Finland .

Finland Itinerary with Kids

We love traveling in Finland with our family. We went on our first weekend-trip when our son was only 2 months old, and we keep exploring it. Finland is an easy country to travel to with kids . If you have a baby, you will find useful the changing rooms and feeding rooms. We prefer traveling by car, but long-distance trains have children with a little playground to entertain the little ones. There are also many attractions aimed at families: enough mentioning Santa Claus and Angry Birds .

Some places that you must visit with kids:

• Ranua Wildlife Park
• Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi
• Some of the Angry Birds Puisto (Playgrounds) – in most cities have them!
• Moomin Valley in Naantali

In wintertime, make sure you dress your kids and yourselves warm enough. Check our tips on what to wear in winter .

Car Seat for Kids

Remember to rent a car seat or booster for children under 135 cm height. It’s compulsory in Finland.

Driving and Speed Limits in Finland in Winter

You have to prepare for around half a year of snow, and driving conditions can be challenging from time to time. Most cars have studded tires and engine heaters. Also, in winter, the speed limits are lower to ensure bigger safety.

When is the Best Time to Visit Finland

There is no simple answer to which is the best time to travel to Finland. Winter is nonetheless the most popular (yet the coldest) time of the year to visit Finland. Driving conditions can be hard due to the amount of snow, and the days are rather short (or non-existent in the north). It is still possible to visit cultural sights and hunt for northern lights . February and March, and sometimes even April in Lapland, still count as winter in Finland, and those months we can highly recommend for winter road trips if you are eager to see (or hike across) snowy landscapes.

Spring and summer, however, are charming for road trips. The days are long, bright, and warm(er), and after April, the amount of snow is minimal even in Lapland. In late June, the midsummer celebrations (in Finnish Juhannus) are an interesting event all across Finland. If you can, make sure you include those dates into your itinerary.

For more inspiration, check our other Finland travel blog posts out!

About the Author

Katalin Katalin is a Lapland-based outdoor enthusiast who loves hiking, road-tripping, and traveling with her family. She spends her free time far away from civilization in one of the national parks around the world, explores off-the-beaten-path places, or hops on a road trip with her kids in an RV. Read more about her adventures and the blog .

4 thoughts on “Finland Road Trip Itinerary – Things to See in Finland in 2 Weeks”

2 pax. Coming from Singapore. estimated dates 6th June 2020 to 17th June Helsinki start and finish Compact car 3/4 star hotel ensuite Want to cover as much as possible so stay in one place two days Could you provide estimate cost for above leaving out airfares, lunch and dinners

You should count around 150€ per day at least. 3-4 star hotels: 80-150€ per night Car, fuel, and parking: around 50€ per day (but it really depends on driving distances)

Really nice blog and beautiful pictures would love to visit that places once.

I am planning to go to Finland this year. I will remember your guide 🙂

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Finland Guided Tours 2024/2025

With a wealth of hiking and skiing trails, stunning Islands, awe-inspiring architecture, and well-preserved national parks, a Finland guided tour is one of the best ways to enjoy this amazing Scandinavian country. Delve deeper into Finland’s history, and gain a greater understanding of its people and their way of life with an experienced guide by your side. A guided tour also allows you to experience a range of activities that are difficult to arrange on your own, like dog-sledding through snow-covered forests, ice-fishing and finding the perfect spot to see the Northern Lights. When you take a guided trip to Finland , you will be safe in the knowledge that you will get to see and experience the best that the country has to offer. Choose from our curated list of guided tours to Finland below and embark on an unforgettable adventure.

• Best Time To Visit Finland

48 guided tours in Finland

• Starts Basecamp Oulanka, Finland
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Finnish Wilderness Week

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• View More Jan 1, 2019 Jan 2, 2019 Jan 3, 2019

• Starts Helsinki, Finland
• Ends Rovaniemi, Finland

Finnish Lapland in Winter

• Tour Type Small Group Tour
• Activities Local culture & Natural landmarks sightseeing Local culture , Natural landmarks sightseeing , Cultural, religious and historic sites , Northern lights tours & Honeymoon 'data-more-tripid='10301'>+3 more
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Finnish Winter Adventure Family Holiday

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• Age Range 9-95 yrs
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Snowshoeing in Finland

• Activities Northern lights tours & Winter adventure
• Jan 12 Only 8 seats left
• Jan 26 Only 8 seats left

• Starts Kuhmo, Finland
• Ends Kuhmo, Finland

Christmas in Finland - 6 Days

• Activities Festivals and events & Snowmobiling Festivals and events , Snowmobiling , Food tours & Dog sledding 'data-more-tripid='16140'>+2 more
• Accommodation Hotel
• Age Range 18-80 yrs
• Dec 22 10+ seats left

• Starts Rovaniemi, Finland

Finland Wilderness Discovery - 5 Days

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• Accommodation Hut & Resort
• Transport Bus
• Brochure Price: US$ 2,545
• Special Deal (20%): - US$ 509
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• Nov 01 Only 6 seats left
• Nov 02 10+ seats left

• Starts Oslo, Norway
• Ends Helsinki, Finland

Scandinavia Explorer

• Activities Countryside and village visits & Cultural, religious and historic sites Countryside and village visits , Cultural, religious and historic sites , Museum and gallery visits & Natural landmarks sightseeing 'data-more-tripid='3059'>+2 more
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Baltic Experience

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• Brochure Price: US$ 3,180
• Special Deal (25%): - US$ 795
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• May 04 Only 7 seats left
• May 11 Only 9 seats left

New Year's in Finland - 7 Days

• Activities Festivals and events & Snowmobiling Festivals and events , Snowmobiling , Skiing and Snowboarding & Dog sledding 'data-more-tripid='16050'>+2 more
• Accommodation Hotel & Resort
• Dec 27 10+ seats left

• Starts Vilnius, Lithuania

Baltic Adventure

• Activities Photography tours & Cultural, religious and historic sites Photography tours , Cultural, religious and historic sites , Local culture & Natural landmarks sightseeing 'data-more-tripid='5016'>+2 more
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• Jun 16 10+ seats left
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• Starts Copenhagen, Denmark

Essential Scandinavia and Helsinki

• Trip customizable
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• Transport Coach, Ferry & Boat
• Age Range 8-95 yrs
• Apr 20 10+ seats left
• Apr 27 10+ seats left

• Starts Akaslompolo, Finland
• Ends Akaslompolo, Finland

Cross-Country Skiing in Lapland

• Activities Winter adventure & Skiing and Snowboarding
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Complete Scandinavia

• Activities Sightseeing Tours & Cultural, religious and historic sites Sightseeing Tours , Cultural, religious and historic sites , Museum and gallery visits , Active and outdoor & Art and architecture 'data-more-tripid='5520'>+3 more
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• Ends Oslo, Norway

Northern Lights of Scandinavia

• Activities Adventure
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• Age Range 5-99 yrs
• Brochure Price: US$ 5,386
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• Oct 09 10+ seats left
• Oct 23 Only 8 seats left

Going to Finland? Chat with a local travel specialist in Finland who can help personalize your own escorted trip to Finland.

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Finding the Universe

Travel tales, photography and a dash of humor

The Ultimate 7 Day Finland Itinerary for Winter

Last updated: March 8, 2024 . Written by Laurence Norah - 22 Comments

If you’re looking for the perfect winter wonderland destination, look no further than Finland.

We’ve had some incredible trips to Finland in winter. It was the first place I saw the Northern Lights , the snowy landscapes are spectacular, and there are loads of fantastic winter activities to choose from.

Finland is a fairly big country though, so you might be wondering how best to spend your time here when visiting in winter. Well, wonder no more. With our detailed 1 week Finland itinerary we’ve got you covered.

This itinerary will have you visiting many of the highlights of Finland, including Finnish Lapland and the capital city of Helsinki. It will take you deep into the Arctic Circle, give you the chance to sleep in a glass igloo, and even have you meeting Santa himself.

We’ve also put this itinerary together to offer you flexible transport options. Whilst we generally prefer to hire a car and self-drive, we appreciate not everyone will be comfortable driving in Finland in winter. So this itinerary can be done with or without a car.

In terms of time, we’ve put this guide together for around a week in Finland. We think this is a good length of time to visit Finland in winter.

Of course, you can visit for as long or short a time as you want, but if you are hoping to experience phenomenon like the Northern Lights, giving yourself a bit of extra time will significantly increase the chances of experiencing them.

Ok, that’s enough preamble. Let’s take a look at our detailed day by day itinerary for visiting Finland in winter.

Finland Itinerary for Winter

This itinerary covers a range of activities and sights in Finland. Obviously everyone’s interests will vary, so do please adjust it to suit your personal preferences.

Also, don’t forget that it can be very cold in Finland in winter, with temperatures likely to be well below freezing throughout your visit. We have a detailed guide to what to pack for Finland in winter , which we recommend taking a look at so you are prepared for your trip.

Day 1: Helsinki

We recommend that you spend your first couple of days in Helsinki, the capital city of Finland. There’s a huge amount to do in the city, which has a great many museums, restaurants, a historical sea fortress, and other attractions.

On your first day in Helsinki, we’d suggest getting acquainted with the city center and visiting some of the attractions. The city center of Helsinki is fairly compact, and you can get pretty much anywhere with public transportation and walking.

A great starting point is the Helsinki City Museum . Here, you will learn all about the history and development of the city. It’s free, and open every day.

Just near to the city museum is Helsinki Cathedral . This large white building is one of the more recognizable landmarks of Helsinki. It’s spectacular to view from the outside, but you can also go inside too of course. It’s open every day, and free to visit.

If you want a more in-depth overview of the history, culture and people of Finland, then we can recommend a visit to the National Museum of Finland . This covers a huge time period, from prehistoric times to the present day, and is an excellent way to learn a lot about the whole country. It’s open Tuesday – Sundays, and there’s an entry fee.

We could go on listing museums in Helsinki, as the city has a huge number to choose from, catering for almost every interest. From design , to contemporary art , to photography , to architecture , there’s really an incredible choice. There’s even a museum about hotels !

You won’t have time to visit all of these of course, but we can definitely recommend visiting a few during your time in the city. There are lots of choices, so you can just choose a few that appeal to you.

If you do plan on visiting a number of the museums or other attractions in Helsinki, consider investing in either a museum card or the Helsinki Card (buy the latter here ).

These cover a range of attractions, and the Helsinki card also includes transport around the city, which will save you walking around in the cold. The Helsinki card can be great value for money – see our full review of the Helsinki card to see if it’s worth investing in for your trip.

Of course, there’s also more to do in Helsinki than visit museums. We can suggest taking some time to go Christmas shopping (even if it’s after Christmas, you can stock up for the next one!).

If you do visit in December before Christmas, then you will also definitely want to check out the Helsinki Christmas market and try some traditional Christmas foods and drinks. These include Glögi (a type of mulled wine) and star-shaped Christmas pastries.

Kankurin Tupa would be our recommended destination for Christmas shopping in Helsinki. This is a department store which specialises in Finnish items, and has a whole section dedicated to Christmas.

We can also recommend getting coffee and cake at one of Finland’s best known cafes, Ekberg 1852 . This has been in Helsinki since, you guessed it, 1852, and they have an excellent selection of Finnish delicacies which obviously include baked goods.

Finally, find somewhere for a delicious evening meal, and retire, having gotten your first day of sight-seeing in Finland under your belt.

Where to Stay in Helsinki

We have stayed at a number of accommodation options in Helsinki, including apartment rentals and hotels.

Some options we suggest you take a look at include:

• Hostel Diana Park
• Hellsten Helsinki Senate
• Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel
• Hotel Katajanokka .

You can also see listings for Helsinki on Vrbo here .

Day 2: Helsinki

For your second day in Helsinki our suggestion is to head out to the Suomenlinna Sea Fortress .

This is a UNESCO world heritage site, and in our opinion is a must-do attraction when visiting Helsinki.

There is a huge amount to see and do on the island, and you could easily spend from half a day to a full day here, depending on what you want to see and do.

First, you can explore the six islands that the fortress spans on foot, admiring the impressive fortress construction. As you’re visiting in winter, you will of course want to wrap up warmly and have good footwear. Be wary of icy ground which can make for slippery conditions.

There are also five museums on the island, although not all of these are open year-round. The ones that are open in winter are the Suomenlinna Museum and the Military Museum. I would definitely encourage you to visit the former at least, as this details the history of the fortress and the island.

Both of these museums have an entry fee, and they are also both included on the  Helsinki Card . Holders of this card also get ferry transport to and from Suomenlinna Fortress, which otherwise costs €5. Ferries run every day, and you can see the schedule here .

After Suomenlinna Fortress, you might still have time to fit in a few more sights. Some other attractions in Helsinki we would suggest which are near the ferry point from the island include the Helsinki Skywheel for great views across the city, Uspenski Cathedral and the Old Market Hall for food.

Finally, a really popular activity that you must try while you are in Finland is to take a sauna. This is one of the most traditional Finnish experiences you can have.

There are a few options when it comes having a sauna in Finland. Most hotels and even some apartments will come with a sauna, which will often be the easiest way. There are also public saunas in Helsinki.

You can also take a tour which includes a sauna. From Helsinki for example, take a look at this tour , which includes a traditional smoke sauna and the chance to do a cold icy plunge – if you’re feeling brave!

And that wraps up your second day in Finland and your last day in Helsinki. If you’d like some more ideas for what to do in the city, see our guide to things to do in Helsinki , which has many more ideas.

How to Get to Rovaniemi from Helsinki

Your next destination is Rovaniemi. You have a few options for getting from Helsinki to Rovaniemi. The fastest option will be to fly. There are a number of airlines offering flights from Helsinki to Rovaniemi, with the flight time being around an hour. Flights are relatively inexpensive and there are multiple departures a day.

If you fly, you can either depart on the evening of day 2 or early in the morning of day 3. You can check flight times and prices, and  book online here .

You can also take the overnight sleeper train from Helsinki to Rovaniemi. This route is known as the Santa Claus Express, and the journey takes around 12 hours. If you choose to do this, you will need to leave on the evening on day 2. You can see timetables and book this train online  here .

It’s also possible to take a bus from Helsinki to Rovaniemi. This takes around 13 hours. Just note that taking the bus will eat up quite a bit of your day so is the least time efficient option. Check bus times and prices, and book tickets here .

You can also drive to Helsinki to Rovaniemi. This is around a 9.5 hour drive of 500 miles / 800km. Again, this is a long journey and we’d advise against this as well as it will be a tiring journey that will use up your holiday. However, if you want to do this, you can compare car rental prices across a range of suppliers on Rentalcars.com here or on Discover Cars here .

If you are planning your own trip and booking your own transport, our recommendation for getting from Helsinki to Rovaniemi would be to either fly or take the overnight train.

If you’d rather not have to worry about planning your own transport, you might also consider taking a guided tour. These will generally cover your transport and accommodation as well as some meals and activities, leaving you to focus on just enjoying yourself.

There are a few tours we suggest that have similar itineraries and activities to our itinerary, and include Helsinki, Rovaniemi and the Arctic Circle. Note that most tours from Helsinki use the overnight train service, and focus on activities in and around Rovaniemi.

• this 6 day tour which includes Helsinki and Rovaniemi, and a number of activities
• this 5 day tour which includes Helsinki and Rovaniemi
• this 7 day tour which also includes Helsinki and Rovaniemi

If you take one of these tours, they will arrange all your transport and connections for you during your trip, which is definitely an option to think about.

Day 3: Rovaniemi

Welcome to Lapland! Rovaniemi sits right on the edge of the Arctic Circle, the most northerly of the lines of latitude. Above this line you can experience the Midnight Sun in summer, as well as days in winter when the sun never rises at all!

Rovaniemi makes an excellent base for a wide range of winter activities in Finland . These includes Northern Lights viewing, ice karting, snowmobiling, husky sledding, reindeer sledding, sleeping in a snow hotel, ice fishing – the list goes on!

For this itinerary, which I’ve put together on the basis that you don’t need a car, the plan is to base yourself in Rovaniemi for three days and to do a number of winter activities from the city. There are also several attractions in and around Rovaniemi to visit.

This itinerary will of course also work perfectly well with a car. I’ve visited Rovaniemi in winter with and without a car on my two visits. If you plan to rent a car, you can arrange to pick up a rental car either at the airport or in the town center once you arrive. The only consideration if you do hire a car is to ensure that your accommodation includes free parking.

Now, on with the itinerary. Note that many of the museums and attractions in Rovaniemi are not open every day, with Monday being a popular day for them to close. So depending on your timings you might want to juggle this itinerary around a little bit.

First, I’m going to suggest you head to the Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi. This is around a 10-minute drive outside the city. If you’re arriving from the airport, it’s between the airport and Rovaniemi, so makes for a logical first stop if you arrive in the morning.

You can get to Santa Claus Village by driving, taking the   S anta’s Express bus , a local bus, or by taxi.

There’s a lot to do at the Santa Claus village, and it’s a great place to check off a few of your winter activities. First though, you’re going to want to actually meet the man himself.

Yep, as the name suggests, the Santa Claus village is actually home to Santa Claus himself. He lives here year round with his elves, planning for the big day, and sorting and reading all the mail he receives.

It’s free to visit Santa, although if you want a photo or video with him there’s a fee for that.

As well as visiting Santa, you can also visit Santa’s post office. A fun thing you can do here is mail a Christmas card that will be kept and posted at Christmas time. So even if you visit Rovaniemi in January, you can get all your Christmas cards mailed!

Beyond Santa, there’s plenty more to see and do at Santa’s Village. You can take a photo of you standing on the Arctic Circle marker, and can also arrange other activities such as a reindeer sled ride, a husky ride, or a snowmobile ride.

Of these, we’d suggest that a husky ride would be a great option. Bear Hill husky is our favourite husky operator in this region, and I actually took a two day husky safari with them. They operate a number of tours with pickup from Santa’s village, including this one .

You can also book an experience like this which includes your visit to Santa Claus and a snowmobile ride to a reindeer farm.

You can also do a longer 7 hour tour if you want a more complete experience.

Assuming you take the shorter tour, our suggestion for the rest of your day is to visit Rovaniemi and familiarise yourself with the town. There’s plenty to do here. We’d particularly recommend a visit to Arktikum .

This museum and science center is perfect for learning all about the people, history and culture of the area. There are a number of permanent exhibits here, with the content on life in the arctic being my favourite.

Once you have explored some of the highlights of Rovaniemi, you will likely want to have your evening meal.

If you’re still feeling adventurous, we can highly recommend scheduling some time to try and spot the Northern Lights. You can do this yourself by finding somewhere away from the city lights. If you don’t have a car, the area by Arktikum is a popular spot.

Alternatively, you can take a dedicated Northern Lights tour. Some of these also include other activities like snowmobiling or a traditional Finnish sauna. These are a good option because the Northern Lights are definitely not guaranteed, so doing another activity will ensure you are occupied and having fun, with seeing the Northern Lights as a bonus!

Some options to consider for seeing the Northern Lights from Rovaniemi are:

• This 5 hour tour where you look for the Northern Lights whilst having a traditional firewood sauna experience
• This photography-focused Northern Lights tour
• There are lots more Northern Lights tours from Rovaniemi to choose from, which you can see here .

If you want to get photos of the Northern Lights, you will need to read up a little in advance as they can be quite challenging to photograph. I have a complete guide to how to photograph the Northern Lights , which I can definitely suggest you take a look at so you are prepared.

I also recommend you download an app for your smartphone that will notify you of aurora activity. I have tried a few of these, and have settled on My Aurora Forecast Pro.

I have found it to be the most reliable app that doesn’t drain my phone battery, but has always reliably alerted me to aurora activity. This is available for both Android  and  iOS , and is available in both free (ad-supported) and paid versions.

We think that’s enough for your third day in Finland! Of course, you can schedule a Northern Lights tour for any of your days in Rovaniemi, but we recommend popping out every evening if you can to at least try and see them yourself, as they can be fickle. If you have a car, driving a little out of the city will afford you the best viewing experience.

Where to Stay in Rovaniemi

You’re obviously going to need somewhere to stay for your time in Rovaniemi. We’ve tried a few different accommodation options, and have shortlisted the following as our favourites.

• Hostel Cafe Koti – a well rated hostel with a good restaurant on site
• Guesthouse Borealis – convenient for the train station and great value
• Santa’s Hotel Santa Claus – centrally located well rated 3* hotel
• Arctic Light Hotel – boutique hotel in the centre of Rovaniemi
• Arctic Treehouse Hotel – unique accommodation just outside Santa Claus village

We can also recommend checking out the options for Rovaniemi on Vrbo here .

Day 4: Rovaniemi

We’re going to suggest a full day trip today out of Rovaniemi and down to the town of Kemi on the coast.

Here, you’re going to take a truly unique trip – a ride on an icebreaker boat!

Launched in 1961, the Sampo is a genuine icebreaker built for serious arctic conditions. She had a long and distinguished career in the Gulf of Bothnia, where for thirty years she kept the shipping lanes clear of ice.

In 1987, the town of Kemi bought the Sampo, and since 1988 she has been operating as a tourist attraction from the town port.

This was one of the most fun experiences that I had in Finland in winter. Riding an ice breaker across a frozen sea is a really amazing adventure that is quite unique. The sound of the breaking as the ship ploughs through it is incredible, and I could have just watched the ice breaking and the bow and the frozen sea stretching off to the horizon all day.

However, there’s more to a trip on the Sampo than just watching the ship do her thing. You can also don a full dry suit, and go for a swim in the frozen sea! The ship creates a hole in the ice, and the passengers then take it in turns to don full dry suits and bob around.

This was a lot of fun, although it was definitely less like swimming and more like floating. During this time, it was also possible to take a walk on the snow covered ice, which was also a unique experience.

All in all, I can highly recommend the trip on the Sampo icebreaker. The ship is also very comfortable, and there’s a restaurant on board. Depending on the ticket you choose, there’s an option which includes a buffet meal on board as well.

It’s worth checking the dates and times for the icebreaker well in advance of your trip as it doesn’t sail every day, so if this is something you want to do you will need to plan your trip around it. It also often sells out in advance. You can see times and prices here .

If you are driving, it’s around 90 minutes each way from Rovaniemi to Kemi. If you want to travel by train you can take the train from Rovaniemi to Kemi, and select shuttle pick-up from the Kemi train station to the harbor.

Or you can book a day tour which includes your round-trip transport directly from Rovaniemi to the ice breaker.

Day 5: Rovaniemi

For your last full day in Rovaniemi I’m going to suggest you have a full day of winter activities. After all, you came to Finland in winter to have a winter adventure!

There’s no shortage of choice when it comes to winter adventures, so I’ll just provide some options and let you decide what you might enjoy the most. Some of these activities are shorter, so you could do more than one if you wanted, whilst others are full day trips.

Hiking / Snowshoeing

One of the best way to experience winter in Finland is to get out into the countryside and take a walk!

Of course, walking in snow can be a bit challenging, as we tend to sink in. The solution? Snowshoes! These are large and wide devices which clip onto your shoes, and spread your weight out on the snow. This lets you walk without sinking in.

If you want to explore on your own, you can either buy a pair of snowshoes or rent them.

Another option is to take a tour. For example, this tour has you snowshoeing through the snow covered forests near Rovaniemi, before trying your hand at another popular Finnish winter activity – ice fishing!

There are some other great hiking tours you can take from Rovaniemi. I’d particularly recommend going hiking in the Korouoma National Park. This is found 160km from Rovaniemi, so will take a couple of hours to drive to. However, in winter the park is famed for its frozen waterfalls, of which there 14.

The best way to see these is to take a hike in the park. You can either drive yourself, or you can take a tour from Rovaniemi which should include an experienced guide and the correct outerwear and footwear.

We’d recommend either this half day hike or this full day hike .

Ice Fishing

A really popular activity amongst Finnish people in winter is ice fishing. This sport has you drilling a hole into the ice on a frozen lake or river, and then using special ice fishing equipment to try and catch a fish.

We have tried ice fishing a few times, and to be honest, we have never caught a fish.

That said, other people on the tours we’ve taken have caught fish, as has our guide, so it is definitely possible!

Even though we’ve never caught a fish, we’ve always had a lot of fun ice fishing. It’s a wonderful way to get out into the outdoors, and most tours include some kind of food or at least hot drinks cooked over a fire.

The best way to go ice fishing is definitely to take a tour. Whilst you could hire your own equipment and go yourself, it is definitely a lot safer to accompany a local expert when heading out onto frozen lakes and rivers!

There are a number of ice fishing tours that depart from Rovaniemi, including the following.

• A 2.5 hour tour which focuses on ice fishing – great if you just want to get an idea of what it’s all about without committing to a longer trip.
• This 4 hour tour includes both snowshoeing and ice fishing
• A 7 hour full day tour that includes ice fishing, a traditional Finnish sauna experience as well as a BBQ lunch – which will include your fish if you catch any!

You can also pair up an ice fishing experience with snowmobiling. For example, this is a 5 hour snowmobile and ice fishing day, whilst this is a half day tour with snowmobiling and ice fishing .

Snowmobiling

I love snowmobiling, and every time we’ve visited Finland I’ve done my best to go snowmobiling at least once.

Snowmobiling is, in my opinion, a huge amount of fun. It’s also a great activity to pair with other activities, such as watching the Northern Lights or going ice fishing. You use the snowmobile to get to where you are going, do the activity, and then ride the snowmobile back.

Of course, you can also have a “pure” snowmobiling experience too, where you just ride the vehicle.

Snowmobiles are nearly all for two people, so when you go on a snowmobile tour there will usually always be one person driving, and one person as the passenger. On all the tours I’ve been on the guides have always ensured that people swap so both can have the experience of driving if they want. Additionally, it’s usually possible to pay a supplement to ride on your own if you prefer.

If you are visiting Finland with children, you should be aware that most snowmobiles can’t be operated by children under 15 years of age.

Some children can ride as passengers, but this isn’t universal, so you will want to check the tour details and contact the company to be sure before booking. For example, this is a family friendly snowmobile tour.

Some snowmobiling tours from Rovaniemi to consider include the following.

• This tour which just has you snowmobiling and is a good way to get a feel for riding these machines.
• This half day tour which includes snowmobiling, a visit to a reindeer farm, and a husky and reindeer sled ride. If you want to experience a number of activities in one tour, this is a great option.
• This half day tour which includes snowmobiling, ice fishing, campfire, and lunch.
• This evening snowmobile tour to see the Northern Lights which also includes a traditional Lappish BBQ. This tour is family friendly, and would make a great evening out after doing other activities in the daytime. Plus you might catch the Northern Lights!

Hopefully this gives you plenty of ideas for the types of snowmobiling tours you can do from Rovaniemi.

Husky Sledding

If you prefer your snow transport to be bit more traditional but still lots of fun, then husky sledding is likely going to be something you’ll enjoy a great deal.

As the name suggests, husky sledding involves a team of huskies, and a sled. Huskies are a special breed of dog which are well adapted to long periods of intense activity as well as cold conditions. Put more simply, they love running in the snow.

Husky sledding has you harnessing a team of husky dogs to a sled. There are usually between six and eight dogs, and each sled will generally have a driver and a passenger. The driver will stand at the back of the sled to steer and brake, whilst the passenger relaxes and enjoys the view.

Husky sledding is a really popular activity when visiting Finland in winter, and one we highly recommend. I’ve written a whole post outlining my experience dog sledding in Lapland , which you should find useful.

Like most of the other activities on our list, there are lots of operators running husky sledding tours in Rovaniemi. We recommend and have used Bear Hill Husky, they really care about their dogs, and they have a range of sledding experience to suit everyone. Some examples to consider are as follows.

• The offer shorter tours which usually include 45 minutes of actual dog sledding over a 2.5 hour visit. As well as the sledding, you also get the opportunity to learn about and meet the dogs – and get plenty of photos. For example, see this morning tour .
• If you want a more immersive and complete experience, they also offer a longer full day tour which includes around seven hours of husky sledding as you cover a distance of 30-40km. This also includes a campfire lunch, hot juice, and cookies.

We think one of these options would be great for anyone looking for a wonderful husky sledding experience in Lapland.

Visiting an Amethyst mine

The final option we have on our list of things you could do on your last day in Rovaniemi is to visit an Amethyst mine .

There’s one working amethyst mine in Finland, and it’s found on the top of a hill in the Pyha-Luosto National Park .

This national park is home to the remnants of a mountain chain which is over two billion years old. It’s a popular place for a range of outdoor activities, including snowshoeing, hiking and skiing.

However, it’s the amethyst mine that I think you should visit. This is found in Lampivaara, and here you can learn all about amethyst mining, as well as having a go at mining for amethyst yourself!

If you have your own vehicle it’s around a 90 minute ride from Rovaniemi to Lampivaara. Here, there’s a tracked vehicle which ferries people up to the top of the mountain to visit the mine. This experience needs to be booked in advance, which you can do here .

Of course, there’s lots more to do be in Rovaniemi and surrounds beyond everything we’ve listed here, which is why we think it makes for a great base to explore. For more inspiration, see our guide to things to do in Rovaniemi .

Days 6 & 7: Head North

From Rovaniemi, my suggestion is to head further north into Lapland. This will give you even more chances to see the Northern Lights, as well as stay at some really unique and more remote locations.

You’ll also have more chances to do lots of winter activities including dog sledding, ice fishing, ice karting, seeing Santa, staying in ice hotels, spending time in a Finnish sauna, snowmobiling, and skiing.

As always, you have choices for where you decide to go! Here are our three suggested options for you to choose from, depending on your interests. Of course, if you are driving yourself, you can visit more than one of these options.

The first option you have is to head north to Saariselka. This is found 250km / 155mi north of the arctic circle, making this an excellent place to see the Northern Lights.

You can reach Saariselka by car or public bus from Rovaniemi. There’s also Ivalo airport , 25km to the north of the city, which has services to Helsinki and other European destinations.

When we visited Saariselka, we stayed in the Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort . This is one of the most popular places to stay in a glass igloo in Finland, and was where the concept of glass igloos first originated.

I stayed in a glass igloo at Kakslauttanen, and it was a night I will never forget.

Naturally there’s more to Kakslauttanen than glass igloos. The resort has a wide range of accommodation options, depending on what you are interested in. I can definitely recommend staying in a glass igloo for one night on your trip just for the experience. There’s also a range of winter activities available here.

You can see our full review of Kakslauttanen here .

Where to stay in Saariselka

Whilst we very much enjoyed our stay at Kakslauttanen, it’s not the only option in Saariselka. You might consider one of the following options:

• Wilderness Hotel Muotka & Igloos – A well reviewed and popular option with cottages featuring glass domed ceilings and a private sauna
• Log House Kuukkeli – if you’d prefer to stay in a more traditional property, this guesthouse is built in the traditional log cabin style and offers great value accommodation
• Northern Lights Village – features glass roofed cabins with private bathrooms and its own reindeer paddock.
• Saariselkä Kuukkeli Inn – a well reviewed more budget oriented option. Rooms have free-wifi, and shared bathrooms

During your time visiting Saariselka you’ll find plenty to do to keep you occupied. If there are any winter activities you want to take part in, you can of course do them, including snowmobiling, ice fishing, husky sledding, snowshoeing and more. Naturally, you’ll also want to spend time searching for the Northern Lights!

Most accommodation providers will be able to arrange these activities for you directly.

Another popular area you can visit from Saariselka, either as a day trip or overnight, is Inari. This is a little further north,  and is in fact home to Finland’s northernmost holiday resort.

This is a very sparsely populated region, and is a focal point of the Sámi culture. You can learn about this culture and people at Siida , home to the Sámi Museum and the Northern Lapland Nature Centre. This is open throughout the winter on every day except Monday, and there’s a fee to visit.

Another option is to visit the Kittilä region. This is a particularly good option if you enjoy skiing or snowboarding, as it’s home to Levi , Finland’s largest ski resort.

So if you want to get some skiing or snowboarding in on your trip to Finland, this would be the best place to do just that.

There’s lots more to do in the Kittilä area than skiing though.

The area is popular for a range of winter activities, with hiking and cross-country skiing in Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park being a popular option. You can also go snowshoeing, ice fishing , ice karting, husky sledding and snowmobiling of course!

In Lanio, you’ll find the Lapland Hotels SnowVillage . This village is made every year from thousands of tonnes of ice and snow, and features a hotel, restaurant, bar, and even a chapel. There are also log cabins on site. You can stay here overnight or just visit for the day. The theme varies each year, with 2018-19 having a Game of Thrones focus.

Another excellent attraction that we enjoyed visiting in Kittilä was Samiland . This is found at Levi Summit, which you can reach by taking a lift from the ski resort.

Samiland features an indoor and outdoor exhibit space dedicated to the Sami people, and covers the history, culture and mythology of the people, as well as their traditional building and mythology. There’s a small entry fee which is well worth it.

You can reach Kittilä by car or bus from Rovaniemi. The distance is 150km / 93mi. Kittilä airport serves Kittila/Levi, with flights from Helsinki and a number of destinations across Europe.

Where to stay in Kittilä

There are a range of accommodation options in Kittilä. Some options to consider are as follows.

• Design Hotel Levi – perfect for those of you wanting to be able to ski from your door, this hotel is found right at the foot of the Levi resort ski lifts
• Lapland Hotels SnowVillage – if you want to live out your dream of sleeping in a snow hotel while in Finland, this is the place to come!
• Hotel Kittilä – 15 minutes from the Levi Ski resort, this is a great value option
• Guesthouse Golden Goose – found in the centre of Kittilä village, this is a well rated guesthouse with an on-site sauna
• Levi Northern Lights Huts – found on an old reindeer farm, this is the place to stay in Levi if you want the glass roof experience

Wherever you choose to go from Rovaniemi, we think that spending your last couple of days deep inside the arctic circle, chasing the Northern Lights and taking part in more winter activities, would be the perfect way to end your trip in Finland.

Then, you can return to Rovaniemi, drop off your hire car if you have one, and fly home. Alternatively, there are flights available from Kittilä or Ivalo airports.

That’s it for our winter itinerary of Finland! Now we want to share some practical advice to help you plan your trip.

Map of 7 Day Finland Winter Itinerary

To help you visualise this itinerary we’ve put together a map, which you can also see on Google Maps here .

Finland Itinerary Overview

Here’s an overview of this itinerary for quick reference:

• Day 1: Helsinki – Helsinki City Museum, Helsinki Cathedral, National Museum of Finland
• Day 2: Helsinki – Suomenlinna Sea Fortress, Helsinki Skywheel, Uspenski Cathedral, Old Market Hall
• Day 3: Rovaniemi – Santa Claus Village, Husky Tour, Arktikum
• Day 4: Rovaniemi – Day trip on Sampo ice breaker, Northern Lights
• Day 5: Rovaniemi – Snowshoeing, ice fishing, snowmobiling, husky sledding, amethyst mine
• Day 6 & 7: North Finland – Saariselka, Kittilä

How to Get Around Finland in Winter

You might be wondering what the best way to get around Finland in winter is.

Well, you have a number of options.

For longer distances, such as the trip between Helsinki and Rovaniemi, we would recommend either taking the train or flying.

Flying will be the fastest option, and is likely to be the cheapest as well if you book well in advance. You can check flight times and prices, and  book online here . For the train, you can see timetables and book online here .

For shorter distances, such as exploring around Rovaniemi and getting between the sights on our itinerary, you have a couple of options.

First, you can rent a car and drive. We prefer to self-drive when we travel where possible as it gives us more flexibility with what we stop to see, where we go and when we leave.

Car rental in Finland is comparable to other parts of Europe. In winter, cars will come with studded tyres, and the roads are well maintained.

If you want to drive in Finland using this itinerary, we’d recommend hiring a car in Rovaniemi for pickup from the airport. You can compare car rental prices and book online here .

Of course, we appreciate that driving in the extreme winter conditions that Finland experiences is not going to be for everyone. With this in mind we have set this itinerary up so you don’t have to drive if you don’t want to.

By combining public transport and a variety of tours which include transport, you can absolutely experience Finland in winter without needing to hire a car or worry about driving.

Tours of Finland in Winter

If you love the sound of the trip I’ve put together, but don’t like the thought of planning it all out, booking activities, hotels and transport, then you might consider taking a tour instead.

There are of many tour options to consider, which we have summarised as follow.

• this selection of tours which includes a number of options in Lapland

Hopefully one of these works out for you if you choose to take a tour of Finland in winter.

You can see more tour options for Finland on TourRadar here , they list tours from a wide range of operators at various price points, so you can find the one you want. We have used TourRadar to book tours in destinations around the world and always had a good experience.

Further Reading for Visiting Finland in Winter

And that’s it for our one week winter itinerary for Finland. We hope it’s given you lots of ideas to help you plan your trip. Before you head off and start booking your adventure, we did just want to share with you some more resources we’ve put together on our time in Finland, to help you with your planning.

• We have a guide to things to do in Rovaniemi , to give you more inspiration for what to do in the town
• We have a comprehensive guide to all our favourite winter activities in Finland
• Finland is very cold in winter, and the key to a good trip is to pack appropriately! To help you out, we have put together a detailed guide to what to pack for Finland in winter
• If you’re looking for more destinations to visit in Finland, see our guides to visiting Porvoo , visiting Oulu and visiting Rauma
• Helsinki is the capital city of Finland, and one we definitely recommend you spend some time. See our guide to things to do in Helsinki , a suggested 1 day Helsinki itinerary , and our review of the Helsinki card to help you plan your time here
• Another of our favourite winter locations in Finland is Iso Syote. See our guide to visiting Iso Syote here .
• Want to try some unique accommodation? See our review of this famous glass igloo hotel in Finland
• It’s not all about winter – Finland is an awesome summer destination too! See our guide to visiting Finland in summer
• Finally, if you’re looking for a guidebook, you might checkout the Lonely Planet guide to Finland or the Insight Guide to Finland

And that’s it for our 7 day itinerary for Finland in winter. As always, we are happy to answer your questions – just pop them in the comments section below and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.

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There are 22 comments on this post

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Cyndi Puah says

8th March 2024 at 3:22 pm

may i know itinerary and the cost of the package

Laurence Norah says

8th March 2024 at 3:52 pm

The itinerary is laid out in the guide above, and it’s designed for people to follow themselves, it’s not a guided experience. If you’d like a guided tour of Finland, I can recommend checking out the options on TourRadar for Finland here , they have lots of tours at different prices from many operators, so you can choose one that suits your needs.

Have a great time in Finland!

19th June 2023 at 3:36 pm

Do you have any suggestions on extending this to Northern Norway. Perhaps a 10-14 day trip?

19th June 2023 at 4:13 pm

You absolutely could extend this trip to Northern Norway and that would make for a wonderful adventure. However as we’ve only visited southern Norway, we don’t have any specific advice for you. We hope you have a great trip though!

17th December 2022 at 2:10 pm

hi, thanks for the detailed blog. do you have any contacts for local private driver that we can engaged to bring us around or see northern lights?

18th December 2022 at 11:51 am

We don’t have any personal contacts for drivers, however, there are plenty of operators who can drive you to see the northern lights. Here is a list of some examples. So this is definitely a service you can book! If you wanted a longer tour, over multiple days, I’d suggest checking on sites like Viator or TourRadar to see what is available.

Pearlyn says

29th September 2022 at 6:00 am

Hi Laurence, this is really a great post that summarises what I need ! I’m planning to head to rovaniemi and lapland for 8 days ,would you recommend signing up tours from websites like nordic visitor etc? Do you have a recommended tour that covers both rovaniemi and lapland ? if the transport is included then that will really make it a lot more fuss free Thank you !

1st October 2022 at 5:47 pm

Hi Pearlyn!

Thanks very much! So I’ve not used Nordic Visitor before but I am aware of them and they get good reviews I believe, so that should be fine. What I would suggest is taking a look at the Finland tours on TourRadar here – they list tours from most of the companies who run tours, and you can filter by duration and price. So that should help you narrow down your options. For example, a tour like this might be an option, but there are quite a few to choose from 🙂

Have a great trip!

Shelly says

30th August 2022 at 1:56 am

Hi, So I’m really interested in the ice breaker tour but if I go in Dec. would the tour be mostly be in the dark? Would we be able to see the ice and things around us?

30th August 2022 at 11:14 am

Great question. So daylight hours in December are definitely limited. A great website is this one , where you can plug in a location and it will show you the sunrise and sunset times, as well as the dawk/dusk times (civil twilight).

For December it shows that you are looking at sunrise between 10am and 10.45 (depending on when in December), and sunset between 2.17pm and 2.50pm. Dawn and dusk add just under two hours to that, so it won’t be totally dark, but it will be definitely be darker.

So yes, you should be able to see the ice around you, and you will also get either a sunrise or sunset from the boat, depending on which cruise you take.

Let me know if you have any more questions!

Shelly Mcintosh says

30th August 2022 at 12:19 pm

Thank you so much! In your opinion what is the best time to go? What gives me the best chance to see the northern lights and also do all the wonderful winter activities. I was planning a trip in Nov but I see the ice breaker doesn’t start till dec and I see Dec has Limited daylight. By the way this was by far the best blog I have come across! So useful and informative.

30th August 2022 at 1:01 pm

My pleasure Shelly, and thanks! So we have visited Finland in December and the days are definitely quite short, especially in the northern areas. My favourite time is February, there is more guarantee of snow, the days are already a lot longer and there is still a good chance of seeing the northern lights. My best Northern lights experience was actually in February. So if that’s an option that would be my preference.

Have a wonderful trip, and feel free to ask any more questions as you plan!

20th April 2022 at 2:57 pm

Hi Laurence and Jessica,

This is amazing blog I have never come across. It’s so detailed and to the extend you’d brought me into Finland while reading. Phenomenal!

I am planning to make a December family trip with 3 children from age 11 to 15. Your itinerary definitely suit to my plan. I am wondering how easy of the public transportation like bus from point to point as you’ve mentioned? It’s unlike other EU countries where we can get train easily.

20th April 2022 at 4:36 pm

Thanks very much, we’re glad you found it helpful 🙂 So the public transport is pretty easy to use in Finland. You will just want to check schedules for where you plan on going. If you are following this itinerary, then the easiest option is to take the train (or fly) from Helsinki to Rovaniemi. If you plan on going further north, you’ll need to take a bus. We’ve taken a few long distance buses in Finland and they have all been fine. Let me know if you have any more questions!

Samir Patrawala says

12th October 2021 at 1:20 am

Dear Laurence,

I am Sameer from Explorus Travel, India. Just read your detailed itinerary for Finland in Winter. It’s a kind of encyclopaedia for me. Amazing!

I have a question: Most of the photos on this page are clicked in daylight (they are bright, sunny pics). But what I read is that Sun almost doesn’t rise at all in Dec / Jan in Rovaniemi. So how can one get an opportunity to click such sunny and bright photos in absence of sun light / day light? Isn’t the stay experience in Dec boring and dull in absence of light? I mean how much can one enjoy darkness without good photos? Or are your photos clicked during those two hours when there’s little day light?

Many thanks in advance.

Kind regards

12th October 2021 at 10:53 am

Great to hear from you! So these photos are from a few different visits, some in January and some in February. The experience of how much light there is will vary depending on where you are in Finland. In Rovaniemi, the darkest day of the year is the 22nd December, where there’s only 2.5 hours of sunlight. However, there is still sunlight. If you visit in mid-February, you get 8.5 hours between sunrise and sunset. So there is plenty of light. I would generally suggest not visiting over the very darkest days in December, but it quickly changes and the days get longer if you visit in February or even late January.

Hope this helps!

Sameer Patrawala says

12th October 2021 at 11:35 am

Thank you so much for your prompt and satisfactory response.

Would you recommend Northern Norway for Northern Lights in December last week or Rovaniemi Finland? I am asking in terms of maximum available day-light.

Kind regards Sameer Patrawala Explorus

12th October 2021 at 12:25 pm

My pleasure 🙂

So Northern Norway is way inside the Arctic Circle. In the last week of December, or in December at all in fact, you won’t get any sunlight. You can see sunrise and sunset times for a place like Tromso in Northern Norway here: https://www.timeanddate.com/sun/norway/tromso?month=12&year=2021

Rovaniemi is on the edge of the Arctic circle, which is why you don’t get the permanent darkness. If you are looking for the northern lights, then usually the further north you go the better your chances. However, I have seen incredible displays from southern Finland too, so it’s all just a question of luck really. If you want some sunlight though, northern Norway in December might not be the best option!

Trizzy says

26th September 2021 at 6:50 am

Hi Laurence and Jessica, First off, amazing and detailed itinerary! This is the type of blog I love to read when researching- keep it up! 🙂 Also, would you say early November is a good time to visit Finland and see the northern lights?

Many thanks again!

26th September 2021 at 10:36 am

Thank you very much Trizzy! So yes, November would be a fine month to see the northern lights. The only thing to bear in mind is that there might not be snow everywhere in early November (this changes each year of course), so if you wanted snowy landscapes as well as the northern lights, it’s something to keep in mind. Of course, there could also be lots of snow! But it’s not guaranteed.

I hope this helps!

Jessica says

9th April 2020 at 5:27 pm

I am following your travel blog for a while now. Love your content and photos. I am actually planing to visit Finland later this year as soon as this quarantine is over and I have one question. Do you recommend visiting smaller cities in Finland? For example this town Sastamala – I have friend there and don’t know what to expect as it is small town and there isn’t as much information online.

9th April 2020 at 6:50 pm

Hi Jessica!

Thanks very much. So the smaller cities in Finland are worth visiting, we have been to places like Oulu, Rauma and so on. There is usually something of interest in each town or city, and if you have a friend there they should be able to give you some advice as to what there is to do and see 🙂 So I would check with them and see what they say!

have a great trip when you get to go, and stay well!

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The 9 Best Finland Tours For Unforgettable Adventures That Are Achievable & Affordable!

Posted on Last updated: March 27, 2024

Categories Tours , Europe , Finland

Expert travel storyteller Jordan Adkins, founder of InspiredByMaps.com, brings a decade of adventures across 101 countries and 450+ UNESCO sites into rich, off-the-beaten-path narratives, melding ecological expertise with genuine, seasoned travel insights. His full bio can be found here.

Finland is the happiest country in the world, at least according to the World Happiness Report. But you don’t need anyone to tell you that when you’re wrapped up in warm layers, sitting by a campfire – or sleeping in a glass igloo – gazing upward, spellbound by the sky ablaze in ethereal light. 

The Aurora borealis or Northern Lights is on many travelers’ bucket lists not only because it is a natural spectacle of epic proportions, but also because it can be elusive. The universe has to, quite literally, conspire for this dazzling sky show to appear, which is why it can only be seen in certain places at certain times of the year under very specific conditions. It’s truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience worth planning for.

And because you’ll want it to be perfect, you would want to work with industry experts who know when and where to take you to increase your chances of seeing the spectacular light show. You just might miss it by one night and not get another chance for a long time. Because it’s a rare natural phenomenon, the Northern Lights are best experienced under the care and guidance of experienced tour providers. 

On the ground, Finland lures active adventurers into its myriad playgrounds, whether blanketed in thick powdery snow, dotted with inlets and islands, or blessed with hundreds of placid emerald lakes. Whizz past wintry forests while riding a wooden sled powered by a motor or pulled by pack animals. 

Ride on a wooden sled pulled by reindeer through snowcapped woodlands and breathe in the crisp winter air. Soak up the stillness of a wintry world that seems to be at the very ends of the earth, and let that dancing curtain of eerie green glow speak to you at a primal level. Maybe then you’ll understand why the Finns are one of the happiest peoples on Earth (and science backs them up).

Let experts on the ground arrange these expeditions for you and take the hassle out of packing gear. You won’t need to bring skis or snowshoes or bicycles as they can be supplied onsite by well-equipped tour operators. All you need to pack is your personal effects and travel documents. And, of course, a yearning for adventure.

Below the Arctic Circle, Finland beckons with vast waters stretching east to the Russian border in a region known as Lakeland. Well-connected to Helsinki by rail, Lappeenranta is the gateway to cruises on Lake Saimaa, the country’s largest. Enjoy a dinner cruise as the ship navigates narrow channels, quiet beach coves, forested islands and boreal woodlands.

To the southwest lies the jagged coast of Finland extending into the Baltic Sea. It is strewn with inlets and islands linked by ferry service. At its heart lies Turku, once the Finnish capital, now a thriving university town with a trove of historical riches. Gear up with a helmet and fill your panniers. The gravel roads and narrow lanes beg slow travel.

And then there’s Helsinki and the capital region, with hints of Scandinavian influence in its design aesthetic, and obvious Russian influence in its Neoclassical brick buildings. It has kept its heritage well-preserved in dozens of museums and UNESCO sites.

Helsinki is well connected internationally, but so are Turku and Rovaniemi. So where to? Let these tours help you decide where to go. Wherever you end up, you’ll likely find a sauna to soak in.

Page Contents

Finland Northern Lights Tour

Small-group helsinki and south karelia, aurora borealis & glass igloo, finland family adventure – 5 days, off the trails – snowshoeing tour, finland – arctic adventure with northern lights & glass igloo , the northern lights of finland, finnish wilderness week, agate travel.

Location: Lapland

Itinerary: Saariselka

Group Size: 4

Age Range: 2 to 80

Physical Activity:  

Operator: Agate Travel

Length: 4 Days

What to Expect

Short, small-group taster tour that combines Aurora hunting with sleigh rides and Sami cultural immersion.

• Northern Lights
• Sleigh ride
• Snowmobile safari
• Glass Igloo

What the Experience is Like

Zip through the wintry landscape on a snowmobile safari to meet a Sami host on a reindeer farm. Learn about reindeer farming, sledding and their traditional way of life. Hop on a night bus to chase the Auroras and witness, by the campfire, how they magically light up the sky if the conditions are right.

(Would you like to learn more about the Sami, Lapland’s indigenous people? Sign up for this 4-day Aurora-hunting tour and get it straight right from a reindeer farmer’s mouth.)

Continue on to Muotka Wilderness for a husky safari and a range of other optional activities like snowshoeing and snowmobiling. Spend a warm night under a glass igloo, with the enchanting auroras dancing overhead. Explore Muotka at your own pace before transferring to Ivalo Airport.

Inclusions are three nights in a standard hotel, including an Aurora glass cabin, with three breakfasts. 

This tour is run by Agate Travel who’s been in the business for 25 years providing guided tour service, and flights and train booking. They focus on offering tailor-made tours to ensure their clients realize their dream holidays regardless of budget, group size or travel style.

In a nutshell

More than just an Aurora-hunting trip, this 4-Day Finland Northern Lights Tour combines cultural interaction and active holidays in one short and nifty package.

Click Tours

Location: Lakeland

Itinerary: Helsinki – Lappeenranta

Group Size: 15

Age Range: 4 to 99

Physical Activity:  Low to Medium

Operator: Click Tours

Length: 5 Days

Fully guided, small group taster tour of Helsinki and the Lakeland region in eastern Finland. 

• Helsinki highlights
• Dinner Cruise 
• Rail journey

Discover the headline attractions of the Finnish capital – Senate Square, Church-on-the-Rock, and Sibelius Monument – on arrival and on the second day of your tour. Arrange an optional ferry trip to the Suomenlinna Fortress to see this 18th-century fortification up close.

(Do you love rail journeys? And maybe a dinner cruise? This 5-day tour package from Helsinki to Lake Saimaa hits both.)

Board a train bound for Lappeenranta to explore this lakeside town, gateway to Lake Saimaa and the Saimaa Canal. Hop on board a ship to enjoy a dinner cruise. Before boarding the afternoon train back to Helsinki, explore the local museum exhibiting the history of the (Russian) border region and fill up with slow-cooked Karelian meat stew of beef, pork and lamb.

Enjoy centrally located 4-star hotel accommodation with 4 buffet breakfasts. Economy-class express train tickets are included. Operated in English and German in Helsinki.

This small group tour is run by Click Tours and offers an exhaustive menu of tour packages and tailor-made trips that suit all travel types, age groups and group sizes so anyone can “travel.discover.enjoy.”

This 5-Day Small Group Helsinki and South Karelia tour hits headline attractions to whet your appetite for more.

V.O.S – Vision of Scandinavia

Itinerary: Rovaniemi

Group Size: 30

Age Range: 12 to 80

Physical Activity:  Medium

Operator: Vision of Scandinavia DMC

This partially guided explorer tour into the capital of Lapland brings you to Santa’s doorstep and under a glass dome for a chance to see the Northern Lights.

• Husky sleigh ride
• Santa meet and greet

Cross the Arctic Circle, meet and greet Santa Claus in his hometown, and saddle up for a reindeer sleigh ride. Visit a husky farm, go on a short husky safari led by a musher, and see elk, Arctic fox, wolverines and bears in their wilderness environment in Ranua.

Round out the tour with free time in Rovaniemi to learn about the Sami, indigenous people of Lapland. Explore the town at your own pace and sleep in the warmth of a glass igloo with the enchanting Northern Lights overhead.

(Book this 5-day Rovaniemi tour with an overnight stay in a glass igloo if you want the beguiling Aurora borealis to put you to sleep.)

Standard hotel and heated glass igloo accommodation are included. Breakfasts are daily, with one farewell dinner.

This big-group tour is run by Vision of Scandinavia, a Copenhagen-based destination management company (DMC) with 25 years of experience providing tours to individuals and groups, with an eye for customized and luxury packages.

So maybe you want the Northern Lights to come to you instead of you chasing them? Then this 5-Day Aurora Borealis & Glass Igloo tour would be perfect for you.

On The Go Tours

Itinerary: Kittila

Age Range: 5 to 99

Physical Activity: Medium to Active

Operator: On The Go Tours

A short fully-guided Arctic adventure packed with sleigh rides for the whole family to enjoy.

• Husky sledding
• Reindeer sledding
• Aurora hunting

Transfer to hotel in Yllasjarvi on arrival at Kittila Airport. Head outside tonight and scout the skies for the ethereal Northern Lights. After learning the basics of husky sledding, take turns in the driving position as you follow the guide through snow-covered forests and tracks.

Sit behind a caravan of reindeer and zoom through forests heavy with snow after meeting the animals on a farm. Venture out on an optional snowmobile safari through the Arctic wilderness in your free time. Enjoy well-earned hot drinks after the rides.

Enjoy 4 nights’ accommodation at a 3-star hotel with four breakfasts (vegan/vegetarian options available).

Award-winning On The Go tours specializes in offering group tours to the most popular sites and destinations where passengers enjoy authentic experiences. On The Go, Tours guarantees departures on group tours when minimum passenger numbers are met.

Take the kids on this Finland Family Adventure – for 5 Days and they will come away with memorable animal encounters and have lots of fun with you.

Itinerary: Hossa National Park

Group Size: 12

Age Range: 14 to 75

Physical Activity:  Active to Adventurous

Operator: Upitrek

Length: 7 Days

Small group, weeklong snowshoeing trek from one wilderness cabin to another, encountering sites of historical and archaeological importance along the way.

• Stay in wilderness cabins
• Lots of picnics around an open fire
• Ancient rock paintings
• Places of historic significance

Settle in at your lakeshore accommodation in the heart of Hossa National Park, which will be your base for the first three nights. Learn the necessary snowshoeing skills and start venturing out. Warm up in the lakeside sauna and if you can brave it, take a dip in the icy waters. 

Venture into Colour Rock to see the 4000-year-old rock paintings. Proceed on snowshoe to the next wilderness cabin until you reach the last cabin, which will house you until the end of the trek. Trek through snow-laden birch, pine and spruce forests, along ridges and on frozen lakes. Enjoy a picnic lunch by an open fire as you go along.

Head back to the Hossa National Park visitor center to soothe aching muscles in the sauna and enjoy a well-deserved farewell dinner. Leave for Kuusamo airport after breakfast.

(Does trekking on icy wilderness appeal to you? This week-long tour in Lapland’s taiga lets you experience nature at its purest.)

Expect to share accommodation in 2-4 person and dormitory-type log cabins. Meals include 6 breakfasts, 5 lunches (4 outdoor), 5 dinners and snacks on arrival night. Vegetarian food is available on request. Five evening saunas and 3 ice swimming are included in the package. Sleeping bags, mummy liners, bed linen and bath towels are supplied on some nights. 

Upitrek specializes in offering un-motorized small-group activity holidays in the Kainuu area of Eastern Finland. These include summer and winter multi-activities, snowshoeing treks, hikes, cross-country skiing and husky sledding. Their snowshoeing treks are guaranteed departures.

If you’d like to experience the Arctic wilderness on foot on a weeklong journey from hut to hut with plenty of picnics and saunas in between, book this 7-Day Off The Trails – Snowshoeing tour for a Lapland adventure you will long remember.

Bucket List Group Travel

Itinerary: Rovaniemi – Luosto – Inari

Age Range: 18 to 60

Physical Activity:  Active 

Operator: Bucket List Group Travel

Partially guided Aurora hunting tour with a good measure of active diversions, wildlife (and Santa Claus) encounters and sleigh rides along the way.

• Chasing the Northern Lights
• Arctic wildlife
• Amethyst mine
• Meet and greet Santa Claus
• Reindeer sleigh ride
• Snowshoeing and snow castle

Enjoy a welcome dinner by the campfire before going out to chase auroras. See Arctic animals in their natural environment. Soak in a traditional sauna and brave swimming in the ice. Buckle up on a snowmobile to chase Auroras while enjoying BBQ by the campfire.

(Do you love to hunt for something elusive? Go on and spend six nights in Lapland chasing Auroras in this weeklong Arctic adventure.)

Daytimes are spent digging up for your own amethyst at a mine, visiting museums to learn about Lapland and the native Sami, meeting with Santa Claus at his hometown, and seeing reindeer in their farms. Expect snowshoeing excursions into the Arctic forest and sleigh rides.

Night times are mostly spent chasing the Northern Lights. A visit to a snow castle caps off your Lapland adventure.

Accommodation for 5 nights is in a forest cottage, glass igloo or 4-star hotel with 6 breakfasts (vegetarian/vegan food options available on request). Winter clothes are supplied.

Like what it says on the label, Bucket List Group Travel offers several travel themes designed around bucket list interests. Their group tours are usually small and solo-travel friendly, which means no mandatory single supplements on most of their trips. 

If Aurora hunting is at the top of your bucket list and you also want to enjoy winter activities on the side, this 7-Day Finland – Arctic Adventure with Northern Lights & Glass Igloo tour is for you.

Location: Helsinki – Lapland

Itinerary: Helsinki – Kakslauttanen

Group Size: 44

Physical Activity:  Active

Operator: Collette

Length: 8 Days

Big group, the weeklong nightly pursuit of the Northern Lights with active daytime diversions like safaris and sleigh rides, and in-depth cultural interactions. Fully guided.

• Nightly Aurora-hunting
• Safaris and sleigh rides
• Santa Claus meet and greet

Explore Helsinki at your own pace on Day 2 after an overnight flight and meet new friends during the welcome dinner. Discover the capital city highlights on Day 3 with a local guide. Fly to Ivalo (included) for a trek toward Inari in pursuit of the Northern Lights. Meet and greet Santa Claus at his home. Saddle up for a reindeer safari through the Arctic wilderness to hunt for auroras. 

Lead a team of huskies on a safari after learning the necessary skills. Sleep in warmth under a glass igloo with the Northern Lights flaming overhead. Fly back to Helsinki for an afternoon of free time before regrouping for a farewell dinner downtown.

(Want to increase your odds of seeing the Northern Lights? Nightly outings on this 8-Day Northern Lights of Finland might just do the trick.)

Expect six nights’ accommodation in a 4-star and a 5-star hotel with six breakfasts and five dinners. A covid-19 vaccination certificate printed on paper is required for international travelers to join the tours.

Collette is a multi-awarded family-owned travel company headquartered in the United States with 100 years of experience in the travel industry. Given its lengthy existence, it offers an exhaustive list of land tours, river cruises, rail journeys and more for all types of travelers of any group size or age.

Sign up for this 8-Day Northern Lights of Finland tour for a nightly search of the Northern Lights with sleigh rides, cultural immersion, and a touch of luxury.

Exodus Travels

Itinerary: Rovaniemi – Oulanka National Park

Group Size: 16

Age Range: 16 to 99

Operator: Exodus Travels

Daily expeditions to the surrounding trails on snowshoes, skis, and husky sleds.

• Winter sports
• Lots of saunas

Settle in at Basecamp in the heart of Oulanka National Park in northeastern Finland. Learn the basics of cross-country skiing, wilderness survival, and quinzee-making.

Explore the snow-laden wilderness trails, glide through fresh powder, or chase the Northern Lights on skis, snowshoes and husky sleds. Soak in a sauna in your free time. Enjoy a farewell dinner before flying back to Rovaniemi.

(Can’t decide which winter sport suits you best? Go out and try your hand at several this Finnish Wilderness Week .)

Twin-room sharing, sometimes with a member of a different Exodus tour. Seven breakfasts, five lunches and seven evening meals will be served using locally sourced ingredients that may include the wild game. Vegan and vegetarian options are available. All specialist and Arctic winter equipment and clothing are provided.

National Geographic’s pick for Best Tour Operator of 2021, Exodus Travels specializes in offering activity and adventure holidays, which they began 45 years ago. As they are pioneers in this type of travel, Exodus champions travel that is eco-friendly and beneficial to local communities.

In a nutshell, if you’d like to get away from it all but still want to have full meals and warm shelter, this Finnish Wilderness Week package is perfect for you.

If none of these tours work for you in Finland, please do not worry. There is a wide variety of tour options in the country, and we are confident that there will be something that fits your needs and interests.

Take a look at all the group tours in Finland now , which you can sort by private or group, maximum sizing, budget, dates and much (much more). The team at TourRadar is also always more than happy to answer any questions, provide further information or assist in any way in finding the perfect tour for you.

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The Best Time to Visit Finland

By Condé Nast Traveller

The best time to visit Finland can vary because every season in the Nordic country brings a different kind of charm. If you're seeking sunlight, the sun barely sets in the summers, whereas winters are your best bet at catching a glimpse of the northern lights dancing in the skies. In autumn, Finland is bathed in shades of crimson and gold, and the springtime is temperate and green. The best time to visit Finland depends on what lighting excites you the most: 24/7 daylight , or the neon green aurora borealis against the night skies? Here’s a quick guide to the best time to visit Finland.

• What is the best time to visit Finland? • What is the best time to visit Finland for the northern lights? • What is the best time to visit Finland for snow? • Temperature in Finland throughout the year • Plan your trip

What is the best time to visit Finland?

The best time to visit Finland is in the summer, between June to August , when the temperature ranges between 53°F and 73°C. The days are unusually long in the summer, with 20 to 22 hours of sunlight a day. Museums, castles , and other tourist attractions are open for longer during this time of the year, allowing you to explore long after the usual opening hours. Since winters last for nearly seven months in Finland, summer is also the best time to explore Finland’s 40 national parks and many nature hikes. This is also the season for festivals in Finland; for example. the 10-day Naantali Music Festival , which features classical music artists from around the world, takes place in June.

Shoulder season in Finland spans from April to May, which is to say: springtime. The temperatures usually hover between 32°F and 50°F. There are fewer crowds and nightly rates at hotels take a dip. Speaking of shoulder season, visit Finland in autumn, between September to November, when the temperature fluctuates between 41°F and 59°F, and the country's trees are plentiful shades of yellow and crimson. As it goes with shoulder season, hotels and airfare tend to be cheaper, and there are fewer tourists.

Winter in Finland, which is from December to March, is not for the faint of heart, with temperatures ranging between 14°F and 41°F and sunlight present only three to four hours a day. But this might also the most rewarding time to visit Finland because winter is northern lights season.

What is the best time to visit Finland for the northern lights?

Finland is one of the best countries in Europe where you can chase the northern lights. The northern lights are visible all year round, but they are seen only once the sun sets. Since there's minimal nighttime during the summer in Finland, the best time to spot the aurora borealis is during the winter season, from December to March, when days are actually just nights.

The northern lights are easiest to spot when you’re away from the cities. The secret recipe for a great sighting is clear skies, low light pollution, and long winter nights. If you’re lucky, you may spot the aurora in Helsinki itself, but your best bet is to head north to Lapland, Kemi, Rovaniemi, Muonio, Ivalo, Kakslauttanen, Levi, or Saariselkä.

What is the best time to visit Finland for snow?

Even if you don’t get lucky with the northern lights, the good thing about visiting from December to March is that there are plenty of winter activities to do while you're in Finland. November marks the beginning of the snow season in Finland. Stay in an ice igloo; go skiing or dog sledging; race rally cars through the Arctic; and visit Santa Claus’ home in Rovaniemi.

How many days do I need for a trip to Finland?

The number of days totally depends on your itinerary. If you wish to just explore the capital of Helsinki and places close by, a four- or five-day trip is sufficient. However, if you wish to see Lapland and more, plan a 10-day trip.

A version of this article originally appeared in Condé Nast Traveller India .

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• Ice Trekking

Kalevala Ski Tour

Lapland: A Winter Adventure

Finland's eastern wilderness

Finnish Winter Adventure Family Holiday

New Year in the Arctic Circle

• In-depth Cultural

Christmas Magic in Santa's Hometown

Cross-Country Skiing in Lapland

Aurora Borealis & Glass Igloo

Our tour was excellent. Our guide, Alain, was exceptional. He handled a group that spoke 4 different languages with ease and made sure everyone was informed.the accommodations and planned activities were great. My only negative recommend would be having to check out of our hotel in Rovaniemi at noon and not leaving for the glass igloo until 1700. That’s a lot of dead time in a small town. A later check out, a planned activity, or an earlier arrival at the igloos would have worked better.

Lapland 7 days in Santa Claus Town on the Arctic Circle!

Tolle Erlebnisse, tolle Gegend, super Wetter, schöne Ausflüge, Verpflegung okay, Hotel schlecht

Lapland - 10 Days Adventure in Winter Wonderland

All the guides are amazing.

• Intl. Flights Included

Finland Bucket List: Winter Adventure in Lapland

• Flights included
• €50 deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

Rovaniemi Winter Experience

Overall the tour was good. we paid to update our room as we wanted a view of the river. The hotel was very good, meals were excellent. We booked an ENGLISH speaking tour. Aurora our guide did speak english but because there were 34 of the 36 people in our group did not. there were 18 spanish and 17 french speaking only! So had no opportunity to converse with others on our tour. At times we felt left out and lonely. we were very disappointed with this aspect of the tour. Especially when it came to instructions with snow mobile, didn't get to hear any english, so my confidence was low and ended up stopping after a short while , and not driving snow mobile, but got in sleigh pulled by Instructor. The husky and reindeer rides were fantastic , the highlight of our trip. The farms were interesting and well kept. The 5 hrs dropped off at Santa Village was too long . we ended up finding our bus and sitting there for an hour or so. Would have nice to be given option of a shorted time. The thermal clothing at Safartica was poor. The items were very used and not at all comfortable. I only ended up using the overalls, and my own boots, balaclava, socks, scarf and mittens. I would not recommend them. Over all we had a great time , but unsure if we would recommend the tour with others.

Holidays in Levi Ski Resort, Finnish Lapland

What people love about ski, snowboard & snow tours in finland.

Transfers were smooth and on time. Staff and Guide were very professional, courteous, friendly, and helpful. Accomodations good and clean. Equiptment was good. (Some of the layer-clothing was well-used.....in O.K. conditon, but COULD be upgraded for the sake of not looking so worn)

We are not normally ones for guided holidays preferring to self explore. However, when this holiday arose we decided to give it a go. A planned holiday in 2021 for our 60th was prevented by COVID. Oh, how we are glad we did. This was the holiday of a lifetime made even better by the unbeatable Alain. From the moment we arrived at our first hotel to helping us checking in at the airport he was a gem. Feels like leaving a friend behind. Trips and tours were exceptional and organised by Alain in such a way to take away any stress or unanswered questions. And how many languages can he speak! In addition trips provided all the time you could want to self explore and discover for yourselves. This has been a dream and full credit to VOS. Already looking at Greenland! Thank you so much

Travel Styles

• 10 Best Ski Tour Operators 2024/2025
• Finland Travel Guide | All You Need to Know

International Versions

• Deutsch: Finnland Ski - & Snowboardreise Rundreisen
• Français: Finlande : Circuits ski, snowboard et neige 2024/2025
• Español: Esquí, Snowboard y Nieve Circuitos en Finlandia
• Nederlands: Ski, snowboard & sneeuw Rondreizen in Finland

This Country Is The Happiest In The World For The 7th Time Now

Finland has been the happiest country in the world for seven years in a row. Discover what makes it so special.

• Finland holds the title as the happiest country in the world, with factors like low corruption and trust contributing to high levels of happiness.
• The beautiful natural landscapes in Finland, along with the work-life balance and emphasis on innovation, make it a desirable place for residents.
• With low crime rates, affordable cost of living, and strong social welfare programs, Finland offers a high quality of life and economic security to its citizens.

When choosing to relocate overseas, considering a happy place where the residents are satisfied with their lives is important, and several factors come into play when evaluating overall happiness, including how safe and free the locals feel.

The United Nations just released the International World Happiness Report , with rankings based on life evaluations. The Gallup World Poll is the main source of information for this report and the six key factors considered were corruption, freedom, healthy life expectancy, social support, generosity, and GDP per capita (wealth).

There are plenty of happy cities in the world , but on average, this is the happiest country and has been for seven years in a row.

12 Friendliest Countries In The World, According To Statistics

Finland is the happiest country in the world, happiness score: 7.741.

Located in Northern Europe, Finland is famous for many things, including breathtaking lakes, breathtaking architecture, and amazing outdoor activities. It is also home to Lepland, which is one of the best places to see the Northern Lights around the world .

The latest UN International Happiness Report named Finland, which scored 7.741 , the happiest country in the world for the seventh time. Other Nordic countries in the top 10 include Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, and Norway. Finland's high happiness score is mostly due to the existence of trust throughout Finnish society , allowing the citizens to feel safe, free, and relaxed.

There is a high level of transparency and accountability in the government, and while it's true that corruption-free countries do not exist, Finland has one of the lowest levels of corruption in the world. It was recently ranked second-least corrupt country with a score of 87/100 by Transparency International . The Finnish are known to look out for and trust one another.

According to the research findings, this sense of freedom enhances the level of productivity as well as the overall well-being of the citizens.

Finland's Proximity To Nature Makes It A Happy Country

The country is incredibly breathtaking and easily accessible.

From snow-capped peaks to gorgeous lakes to lush forests and meadows, Finland has some of the most diverse landscapes, which offer endless opportunities for outdoor recreation and relaxation. The countryside is beautiful and will have any guest's breath taken away, but generally, the locals and travelers, alike, are never far from natural areas, even in urban locations. The proximity to nature also fosters creativity and innovation among the locals.

One of the interesting facts tourists may not know about Finland is the fact that the environment is a significant focus. When exploring the country, you are unlikely to see litter scattered around, especially in natural areas.

Helsinki, the capital of Finland, is one of the most livable cities in Europe , thanks to its notable efforts towards sustainability and eco-friendliness. The city's locals have collectively adopted this lifestyle and work together to take care of their natural areas. While in Helsinki, vacationers can spend time in many of its beautiful churches .

The Work-Life Balance In Finland Makes It The Happiest Country In The World

Juggling work and life is easier, and employees enjoy plenty of paid time off.

When it comes to work, Finland has one of the highest standards, and it's hard to find employees working for more than 50 hours a week. 50% of the employees in the country work 35–40 hours , usually from Mondays to Fridays, leaving them to socialize, relax, and get lost in the country's world-famous natural beauty, over the weekend.

Unlike other countries across the globe, Finland's employees enjoy multiple paid holidays and vacation days.

Helsinki has consistently been ranked the top place to live for work-life balance, thanks to its supportive work environment, favorable policies, and livability.

Finland's Emphasis On Innovation Also Contributes To Its High Happiness Score

The country boasts plenty of start-ups and a strong tech sector, offering multiple job opportunities.

One of the things many people consider when moving abroad is whether there is a favorable business environment. Fortunately, Finland is incredibly stable, and while there are many prosperous countries to live in , its thriving startup ecosystem and vibrant tech sector make it a great option too.

The strong business scene is fueled by the highly educated and tech-savvy professionals in the country, as well as robust investor support.

What Else Makes Finland The World's Happiest Country?

The country has low crime rates, an affordable cost of living, and an incredible social welfare system.

According to Numbeo, Finland has a crime index of 26.20 , which is among the lowest. This means that residents enjoy high neighborhood safety, and people feel safe there. Its Global Law and Order Index rating of 92 also makes it one of the safest countries to visit in 2024 .

Finland's residents enjoy an affordable cost of living, with a single person spending $1,537 per month (including rent) , on average.

Unlike other countries, Finland's government has robust social welfare programs that ensure citizens enjoy world-class healthcare, quality education, and unemployment benefits. This reduces economic insecurity among the people, resulting in a happy population.

The cost of housing varies widely in Finland, but on average, the residents spend about 20% of their income on housing.

There are plenty of reasons Finland has been the happiest country in the world for seven consecutive years, and choosing to relocate there will definitely be a great decision, whether seeking a change of scenery or to live and work.

Finnish-ing touches: all you need to know before your trip to Finland

Apr 24, 2022 • 9 min read

In Finland, the sauna is a way of life – and an essential experience for any visitor © Jonathan Stokes / Lonely Planet

Finland is the kind of place a child with a particularly vivid imagination might dream up, complete with flying reindeer, the real Santa and so much snow.

It’s a place of extremes – of darkness and light, of bitter cold and unfathomable wilderness. And it’s bound to be right up there with your Nordic dream destinations, whether you’ve come to dash through frozen forests by husky-drawn sleigh as the Northern Lights flash overhead in Lapland, or hunker down in a back-of-beyond summer cottage on the shores of a placid lake in the undying light of summer.

If you love saunas, silence and nature, you’ll fit right in. Here are the things to know to help you plan and prepare your trip and stay safe and healthy in Finland. 

Planning your trip to Finland

Consider arriving outside of helsinki.

Helsinki is the country’s principal gateway, though if you’re coming to Finalnd for a non-urban adventure you might consider flying into a regional airport like Rovaniemi (gateway to Lapland and Santa HQ) or Tampere (gateway to the lakes) instead. Once you’re in Finland, public transport is pretty good and efficient, with trains and buses joining the dots between major cities and towns. But if you’re heading into the wilds, you should count on renting a car, as distances are vast. Pack drinks and snacks for the journey as there’s little in the way of services between hubs.

The roads that sweep north to Lapland are often empty, but you’ll need to watch out for reindeer (the Porokello app warns of high-risk reindeer-crash areas) and ice in winter. 

Summers are for primeval pleasures; winters are for festive magic 

Finland is too big for just one bite, so plan carefully and resist the temptation to cram everything into one trip. 

Summer, you say? The Finns would agree: after long, dark, snowbound winters, they embrace the lighter days of summer with a truly biological urgency. June to August is a brilliant period for hiking and camping in wilderness areas like the reindeer-bobbled fells of Urho Kekkonen National Park in Northern Lapland , above the Arctic Circle. It’s also a great time to jump into a kayak to paddle the Lakeland (there are 188,000), waving to seals as you drift from one gorgeous little speck of an island to the next in Åland on the Baltic. 

Summer is when Finns tiptoe away from the world and back to nature in middle-of-nowhere cottages, some of which are totally off the grid. Days are spent in gleefully primeval ways: foraging for berries, swimming in ice-cold lakes, relaxing in saunas and spending nights under a canopy of stars. The climax is Juhannus , or midsummer, in late June, when families come together for picnics and dancing around bonfires. 

September is quiet and glorious in Lapland, with forests turning gold and crimson and reindeer beginning to rut. As snow arrives in October, a hush falls over the land and many sights and hotels close. But winter brings festive sparkle and visits to Santa in the Arctic north. As the days get shorter, you’ll enjoy the full-on Narnia effect, with dogsledding, snowmobiling, skiing and overnight stays in ice hotels . Get lucky in Lapland and you’ll see the Northern Lights come out to play (statistically October, November and March are best).

Keep costs down by eating at markets and camping

Finland isn’t cheap, but there are ways to cut costs and save a few euros. Make lunch your main meal of the day, as many restaurants and cafes serve a good-value all-you-can-eat lunch buffet that includes soups, salads and day specials. Most big towns also have a ​​ kauppahalli (covered market hall), where you can grab picnic fixings (breads, cheeses, deli produce, smoked fish) and graze at one of the stalls or cafes selling snacks.

Camping is an inexpensive way to travel around. Most campsites are excellent, with cabins to rent as well as plenty of space to pitch a tent – but they tend to only open from June to August. If you’re willing to forego the warm shower, you can wild-camp thanks to jokamiehenoikeus (everyman’s right) – a great (if adventurous) option in a country with 41 national parks and almost endless expanses of nature. 

Etiquette in Finland: how to fit in with the locals

Keep things casual .

Even in the heart of Helsinki, you can just tell that the Finns are craving the space and solace of the great outdoors, counting down the minutes and hours until they can give civilization the slip and escape to their mökki (summer cottage). The way they dress reflects their nature-loving spirit: casual, practical, sustainable and well suited to the extremes of the seasons. There’s no need to pack lots of fancy clothes, especially if you’re heading beyond the city (as you most likely are). Pack loose layers, thermals and sturdy walking shoes instead. 

Say hello, Finnish style

Kissing on the cheek? No. As a nation that prizes extreme apartness, Finns are a touch more reserved when it comes to greetings. Making eye contact and shaking hands is pretty standard; friends and family tend to hug. “ Hei ” and “ moi ” are two ways to say “hello.” Repeat the latter twice (“ moi moi ”) and it doubles as goodbye. Oh, and remember to be punctual – the Finns always are.

Remember that silence is golden

The old “silence is golden” proverb never rings truer than in Finland. Deep and introspective, the Finns aren’t fans of idle chitchat. Silence here is rarely seen as awkward; if there’s nothing pertinent to say, that’s just fine. You’ll often see friends together in the sauna, silent, perfectly happy in each other’s quiet company. So if a conversation comes to a natural halt, don’t feel as though you have to fill in the gaps with small talk.

And if you’re planning on having a lively chat with your mates in the sauna, think again. In Finland, the sauna demands deep respect – legend even has it that if you behave immodestly, you’ll have to face the fury of the saunatonttu , or sauna elf, who might burn it down in fury.

Give the sauna a whirl – and take it seriously

Stripping naked, roasting in a sauna heated to 175°F (80°C), beating yourself with a circulation-boosting birch whisk (a vasta or vihta ), then diving into an avanto (ice hole): this is a Finn’s idea of fun. Sounds masochistic? This country has 1001 ways to toughen you up and the ritual of the sauna (pronounced “sah-OO-nah” rather than “SAW-nuh”) is just one of them. 

The sauna isn’t a luxury in Finland: it’s a way of life. Marriage, divorce, birth, death, new job: you name the life event and you can bet a sauna is involved. There are around three million saunas in Finland, in a country with a population of just 5.5 million. This is where the Finns socialize, do business, put the world to rights, rest, meditate and cleanse. Learning the art of sauna-going is offers a window into the country’s soul. 

Public saunas are nearly always separated by gender. To sauna like a Finn, shower first, get naked, keep quiet, take a towel to sit on and ladle water onto the stove to produce fragrant löyly (steam), taking care not to splash too freely. You should work up a sweat in around 15 minutes – but remember, it’s not a competition. Take frequent breaks and drink water to rehydrate.

Embrace the outlandish 

This isolated land of extremes has bred a nation of fiercely independent and idiosyncratic people. Squeaky cheese ( leipäjuusto ) you dunk in coffee, salty licorice ( salmiakki ), ice swimming, flying reindeer, Moomins: Finns love things that the rest of the world consider...odd. If you single out any of these quirky institutions for praise, you just might make friends for life here. This passion for the weird and wonderful extends to a crazy line-up of events, with world championships for everything from wife-carrying to air-guitar playing and swamp soccer.

Health and safety in Finland 

Green, clean and conscientious, Finland is incredibly safe. Still, it’s worth bearing a few things in mind to make sure you stay healthy and happy.

Bring the bug spray

Though not exactly a health risk, the swarms of blood-thirsty insects that descend on the country’s north in summer can be a real bugbear. The mosquitoes, sandflies, midges and horse flies are at their most ferocious in July, but all summer long you’ll need to go armed with strong repellent, especially around lakes and in swampy, densely forested areas. In the wilderness, there are plenty of remote huts where you can crash with a mat and sleeping bag, but bringing along your own tent generally offers more protection from the mosquito storms.

Besides repellent, you might want to bring along a mosquito cap or hat and a travel net to cover your bed or your tent flap to keep the pesky biters at bay.

If you encounter any health issues, you’ll be in good hands

Perhaps it’s the air, the crystal-clear water at the turn of a tap, the vast open spaces, the long forest hikes, or the immune system-boosting saunas and ice swims: Finland radiates good health like few other places on earth. And the country has some of the best health care in the world – so if you do get sick you’ll be in the very best hands. As with all the Nordic countries, the level of care is extraordinarily high and doctors and medical staff generally speak excellent English. 

There are specific travel vaccinations to worry about, though you’ll want to make sure you have decent travel insurance all the same, especially if you’re planning on a winter-sports extravaganza in Lapland or straying from the well-trodden-path in the wilds of a national park. 

If you’re a citizen of the EU, European Economic Area (EEA) or UK, you’re entitled to emergency medical treatment with a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC), though you will still have to pay a daily or per-appointment fee as a Finn would. Otherwise, look into whether your country has a reciprocal arrangement for free medical care in Finland. 

Keep an eye out in the wild

Beyond the cities, Finland is a wild, wild place. As with all extreme climates, there are the obvious risks of exposure, hypothermia and frostbite in the Arctic north, and rivers can be prone to flooding when the snow melts. It goes without saying that you should venture out well prepared with the right thermal gear if you are visiting Lapland in winter, when temperatures can plummet to a bitterly cold -22°F (-30°C). Always take a good map and compass, and inform someone of your whereabouts if you’re heading out into one of the vast national parks in the north. 

Predators like brown bears and wolves roam the forested wilds on the Russian border in the country’s east, though they generally mind their own business and pose no real threat.

You might also like: Capital gains: Helsinki on a budget Autumn in Finland: an alternative fall foliage tour Reindeer, bears and elusive seals: Finland’s finest wildlife experiences

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Guide on How to Travel from Helsinki to Lapland

A re you heading to Finland and wondering what the best way to travel from Helsinki to Lapland? Did you know that for most visitors to Finland, these are the two most visited areas? It makes sense as most visitors fly into Helsinki, spend a day or two and then head off into the vast wilderness of Finnish Lapland.

In this guide I will help you in your travel research by providing up to date information on how to travel to/from these regions of Finland, whether its by plane, train or even car. 

One of the biggest factors in your decision about how to get from Helsinki to Lapland will be the amount of time you have and your budget. Below I go through the practical details on the three main transport options, providing the positives and negatives for each so you can make the most informed decision. Let get into it!

What are the airports in Lapland?

As I mentioned there are currently 5 airports in Lapland. Below are the airports with the main locations serviced from them.

Rovaniemi Airport (RVN)

Rovaniemi is the third busiest airport in Finland and is the most popular of the ones in Lapland. Located in the south of Lapland, just near the Arctic Circle, this airport is seen as the gateway to Santa Claus Village. Given the towns popularity, there are several flights a day between Helsinki and Rovaniemi. This is one of the few that also is international airport accepting flights from several major European cities. 

In general, Rovaniemi can feel a quite commercial and crowded, especially during the peak winter season. This airport also serves as the hub for Pyhä  and  Salla which are popular for their natural beauty and skiing, both downhill and cross country. 

Ivalo Airport (IVL)

Two popular destinations with skiers and snowboarders include Inari and Saariselka , which are both serviced by the Ivalo airport. The airport is within 30 minutes of both destinations and is the northernmost airport in Finland.

Kittilä Airport (KTT)

Kittila is one of the main airports in the northernmost region of Finland, and the only other accepting international flights. This airport services the popular ski area of Levi. Levi is a popular spot for families during the festive season, but is smaller and quieter than Rovaniemi. Additionally, the popular Snow Village can be found here.

Our favorite destination serviced by this airport is Muonio which is a laid back destination offering all the popular touristy activities found in Rovaniemi but without the crowds and is excellent for spotting the Northern Lights. 

Kemi Airport (KEM)

Kemi-Tornio Airport is located on the coast of the Bay of Bothnia, serving travelers heading to Southern Lapland. Kemi has slowly become more popular in the tourist circuits for their magnificent Snow Castle that is built there every winter and for the famous Sampo icebreaker cruise. 

Kuusamo Airport (KAO)

Lastly, the Kuusamo Airport serves one of Finland’s major holiday destinations Kuusamo, attracting almost a million tourists annually. Many of these arrive for skiing at nearby ski resorts, especially Ruka Ski Resort , one of the largest in Finland.

RELATED READING

Top Things to Do in Lapland Finland

A Finnish Lapland Winter Escape

Flying from Helsinki to Lapland

Domestic flights from the capital Helsinki to Lapland airports are operated by Finnair. While the flights can be reasonably priced if booked well in advance, domestic flights on Finnair do impose an extra fee for checked luggage. Additionally, the new Finnair carry on limits are quite strict with a maximum of 8 kg for all carry on items combined. This means, that for most travelers,  it makes most sense to upgrade to the main fare price which includes both carry on and checked baggage. Once you upgrade your flight, a round-trip flight will cost a minimum of €200.  Note, if you are looking for cheap flights, sign up for Finnair’s email blast and keep an eye out for flash sales.

That said, this is still the quickest way to travel between Helsinki and Lapland. It can be cost effective if you are a solo traveler and/or traveling with extremely light luggage. However, it can be get expensive if you need to check a bag or are traveling in high season with several people

Traveling by Train from Helsinki to Lapland

Next we will move on to traveling by train from Helsinki to Lapland , which is the second most popular option.

I personally find travelling by train in Finland to be a wonderful experience and the most convenient way to get around the country. The trains are clean and reasonably reliable depending on weather conditions of course. Additionally, it is better for the environment and saves you money on accommodation if you can take an overnight train to travel while you sleep. All long-distance trains in Finland are operated by VR Train. 

Day vs. Night Trains

The most popular train that visitors take to Lapland from Helsinki is the Santa Claus Express train which ends in Rovaniemi. It leaves close to midnight and arrives around 11 a.m. the next morning. If you are traveling with children, this train is great as the sleeper cabins are essentially sold as a two person cabin. Prices for an upstairs private compartment sleeper cabin which includes a private toilet run around 300 Euro one way. The train also has a restaurant car for snacks and meals while on the train. Note, Rovaniemi train tickets for the sleeper cars can sell out quickly, so book well in advance to ensure you have a cabin.

Another popular route is to Kolari, which is the northernmost railway station in Finland. Travel here from Helsinki takes approximately 14 hours. Boarding is around 7:45 p.m. in Helsinki with a 10 a.m. arrival.  Even though it sounds like a long trip, it goes by quite quickly once you get settled in your sleeper cabin, grab some food from the restaurant car and then hit the sack. 

If you are unable to secure a sleeper cabin, you can consider a day train. With free Wifi, power sockets and the ability to walk around, an 8 hour train would actually go quite quickly if you can keep yourself occupied! These tickets run around €75 per ticket during high season. 

Take Your Car on the Train

For readers who live in Europe or have a rental car already booked, they can consider putting the vehicle on the train as well! These trains depart from Pasila Station and can be extremely handy if you have brought your car over from mainland Europe, but don’t want to drive all the way to Lapland. This is not cheap, but is a dobale option to ensure you have more access to explore around Lapland.

Train Stations in Lapland

There are many train stations in Lapland that I can’t list them all, but the main ending/starting point for the major lines include Kolari as the furthest north, Rovaniemi and Kemijarvi in the east. 

Kolari is in the far north of Finland, northeast of Rovaniemi, and very close to the Swedish border. This station is perfect for those traveling to Levi or Muonio. You can reserve a shared taxi or bus from the station to both locations. 

Kemijärvi is located east of Rovaniemi and from here you can easily access Salla and Pyhä.

Overall, I personally feel that if you are traveling with others or even on your own that taking an overnight train to or from Lapland is a great option. Train travel is scenic, cost effective if you have a family or a lot of luggage and you also have the option of taking a vehicle. The negatives are that it does take a long time and there are times that the trains leave late at night making it awkward for families with smaller children. 

Driving from Helsinki to Lapland by Car

For many travelers further afield, this would mean renting a car and needing to return it either in Lapland or back to Helsinki which can be quite an expense.

I am not sure I would recommend this option for many, but if you have your car and you are confident on driving on the right hand side of the road, in snow or inclimate weather, you will most likely be fine.

But you must be aware that this journey is at least 800 kilometers and can take around 10 hours. That said, the journey up to Rovaniemi is along one main road and the views will be stunning for much of the way.

In general, I’d only advise driving to Lapland from Helsinki if you’re touring elsewhere in Finland, have your own vehicle and have at least a couple of weeks here to make it worthwhile and cost-effective.

Important Information for Your Finland Trip

When is the best time to visit finland.

In reality, you can visit Finland at any time of the year as there are a multitude of activities to suit any weather condition. That said, in my opinion, the best time to visit Finland is definitely during the winter months between December and February. This is when you will see the most beautiful winter wonderland landscapes and you have a great chance to see the aurora borealis. Note, it is also the coldest time of the year, so you will need to prepare for that!

What is the best way to get to Finland?

Finnair offers direct flights to Helsinki Airport from all over the world, including from here in Los Angeles. The international flights are on newer Airbus A350 planes which have ample legroom, flight cameras and more. Subscribe to their newsletter for deals and special offers if this is a trip you are looking to plan far in advance. 

If you are in mainland Europe, you can also make your way overland to Tallinn and take the Viking Express over to Helsinki for a very affordable rate. Note, this is also a great day trip idea from Helsinki.

Where do you recommend to stay in Helsinki?

There are so many amazing options to stay in Helsinki. I think where you stay is dependent on what you want out of your visit. During my stay in the city I was leaving on an early morning ferry and arriving late at night from the airport so I chose the Noli Studio Apartments which were cheap, clean and convenient to everywhere I wanted to go. There are several of them located throughout the city, so pay attention to the neighborhood that you wish to be in! 

If you want a little more luxury and don’t mind being a little further out, consider the Clarion Hotel which is a favorite for repeat visitors to the city. 

What are the best things to do in Finland?

There are so many amazing things to do in Finland that I can’t list them all here. But a start would be to check out our top experiences in Lapland that you can find all over the region. Winter activities are some of the best on offer here in Finland.

What do I need to pack for Finland?

Layers is the short answer. The longer answer will depend on what time of year you are visiting. Assuming you visit during the high season of winter, you will need to pack a lot of warm breathable layers such as merino wool . Overall, I would say to focus on layers, good boots that have room for several pairs of socks, good gloves or mittens and a warm hat.

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Finland is happiest country in the world – what do wealth and status rankings really show?

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Finland has been named the world's happiest country for a seventh year in a row. Photo / Visit Finland

Finland steadily ranks as the happiest country in the world. In March 2024 the country was, for the seventh year in a row, ranked as the happiness champion.

The ranking is based on one simple question, using a ladder metaphor, that is asked to people across nearly every country in the world. But my team’s new experimental study suggests that the ladder metaphor makes people think about power and wealth.

Since 2005, the Gallup analytics organisation has worked to measure happiness across the entire planet. The mission is particularly important as more and more governments say they are prioritising the wellbeing of their people.

For example, all OECD countries now measure the happiness of their people, including New Zealand. More than a decade ago, Bhutan declared that the primary goal of their government was “gross national happiness”, not gross domestic product.

The world ranking is based on one simple but powerful question, called the Cantril Ladder:

• Please imagine a ladder with steps numbered from zero at the bottom to 10 at the top. The top of the ladder represents the best possible life for you and the bottom of the ladder represents the worst possible life for you. On which step of the ladder would you say you personally feel you stand at this time?

As you read the question, what does the top of the ladder metaphor make you think of and what does it represent to you? Is it love, money, your family – or something else?

I recently led a group of researchers from Sweden, the US and the UK. We investigated these questions in a study on 1600 UK adults, and published our results in Nature Scientific Reports. We carried out an experiment with five independent groups.

One group was asked what the top of the ladder represented to them. Another group was asked the exact same question, but this time the ladder metaphor, including the picture of the ladder, was removed and the term “ladder” replaced with “scale”.

Our study found the ladder metaphor made people think more of power and wealth and less about family, friends and mental health. When the ladder metaphor was removed, people still thought of money, but more in terms of “financial security” rather than terms like “wealth”, “rich” or “upper class”.

In a third group, people interpreted a question where the ladder metaphor as well as the top vs bottom description in the question were removed. In a fourth and fifth independent group, in addition to the above changes, the phrase “best possible life” was substituted with “happiest possible life” and “most harmonious life”, respectively.

People in the happiness and harmony groups thought less about power and wealth and more about broader forms of wellbeing such as relationships, work-life balance and mental health, compared to the other groups.

People don’t want the top of the ladder

My research team also asked people where they wanted to be on the scale of the different questions. Researchers often assume that people want the best possible life but, to our knowledge, no one had tested this. The results showed that in none of the groups did more than half the participants want a 10, the best possible life. The typical desire was a nine.

Except for the group with the ladder analogy. They typically wanted an eight. The ladder metaphor made people think more of power and wealth at the expense of relationships, mental health and work-life balance – and made people want a lower score.

What does this say about the happiness rankings where Finland are frequently the champions? Well, there is a risk that the ranking is based on a narrow, wealth and power-oriented form of happiness, rather than a broader definition. This does not mean that Finns are unhappy, but the type of happiness they excel at may be power and wealth-focused.

Our study findings raises the question of what type of happiness we want to measure. A person’s idea of happiness can’t be determined by a researcher. That is why researchers must ask people about their concept of happiness.

Research has shown that when people define happiness, they only mention wealth and status to a small degree. It is well established that money relates to wellbeing but the money effect is weaker than many other happiness factors, where good quality social relationships have the strongest effect.

Recent research from the University of Oxford shows happiness actually causes people to be more productive and the most important factor for happiness at work is belongingness. Salary, on the other hand, is believed to be the most important driver for happiness at work, but it turns out to be a much weaker driver of happiness at work than belongingness. This aligns with the general message from the happiness science that relationships are the most important factor for happiness.

What type of happiness do we want to measure?

Previous research has shown that the Cantril Ladder reflects people’s income levels and social status to a larger degree than other wellbeing metrics. The current study adds more evidence that perhaps the simple but powerful question could be supplemented with extra questions in the future, to clarify what people mean by happiness.

Our study was conducted solely in the UK, so of course this research should be performed in other countries too, given the global nature of this topic. However, our results indicate that we aren’t necessarily measuring happiness and wellbeing in a way that is in line with how we actually define those concepts in our lives.

August Nilsson is a PhD Candidante in Organizational Psychology, Lund University

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Finland takes the crown as the happiest country in the world for the seventh consecutive year. 

Today’s annual World Happiness Report ranks self-reported happiness scores for nearly 150,000 people in over 140 countries. Other Nordic countries are onto something and place in the top 10, with Denmark at no. 2, Iceland at no. 3, and Sweden at no. 4. Finland’s culture encourages positive well-being. The country’s ambassador praises the broad trust in institutions, access to nature, and low stress in an announcement about the report hosted by Semafor Wednesday.  

Many residents in Finland were raised to act prosocially, which translates to “wallets being returned if they’re dropped in the street [and] people helping each other day in and day out,” John Helliwell, a founding editor of the World Happiness Report, tells CNN. Moreover, Finland is also keen on cultivating positive workplaces and values work-life balance . 

Serbia (no.37) and Bulgaria (no.81) share the award for most-improved, having significantly climbed in happiness scores over the last decade. However, the United States and Germany dropped out of the top 20 for the first time in the list’s history and placed 23rd and 24th respectively. 

For the first time, the list parsed out well-being evaluations by age. Young people are generally happier than older people, with some exceptions. Denmark is the happiest country for those 60 and older, and Lithuania is the happiest for those under 30. The happiness of those under 30 in the U.S., though, fell dramatically. 

“The relationship between age and happiness is more nuanced than previously understood,” Ilana Ron Levey, Gallup’s managing director, tells Fortune in an email interview.

Levey says that pervasive loneliness may explain the decline in well-being for young people in the U.S. 

“We know that social support and loneliness affect happiness, and different generations have different levels of social connections,” she says. “Factors including school closures during COVID-19, technology use, and quality of friendships may affect the young and the old differently.” 

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• Wealthy Travelers Are Fueling a Surge in Luxury Hotel Prices

New data reveals that resort rates reached peak levels this year.  

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“They want something exclusive . . . and these companies are going to capitalize on it while they can,” Henry Harteveldt, president of Atmosphere Research Group, told CNBC Travel. 

In fact, rates for Accor’s forthcoming La Dolce Vita Orient-Express itinerary climbed 75 percent in just 16 months, the outlet reported. For context, prices for the one-night journey, which kicks off in Italy in spring 2025, jumped from 2,000 euros (or about $2,168) per person to a whopping 3,500 euros per person (about $3,776) as of last month. Similarly, CNBC Travel found that rates for Belmond ’s Venice Simplon-Orient-Express rose to £7,060 ($8,925) in March. 

Even so, affluent individuals aren’t letting costs get in the way of their plans. “The luxury boom continues despite the flatlining economic activity in some major developed markets,” Dave Goodger, managing director at Tourism Economics, told CNBC Travel. “This has come as some travelers have traded up for more luxury experiences. It also reflects the fact that income and wealth levels, including accumulated savings, remain healthy for higher net wealth households.” 

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