A Magical Week in Finland

Today you’ll arrive in the Finnish capital of Helsinki. You’ll meet up with your tour guide who will give you a brief overview of the city and recommendations for dinner. You’ll have the afternoon to recover from your long flight and to get acquainted with Helsinki. Celebrate sustainable travel and start in the Helsinki city center. Visit Esplanadi Park and Senate Square. Take a tram to the Design District where you’ll find plenty of activity, awe-inspiring design, and people watching. Find an authentic Finnish restaurant and have a hearty meal before turning in for a good night’s sleep. 

On your first full day in Finland, your tour guide will lead you on a day trip to Porvoo, which is one of the country’s oldest incorporated towns. It has been an vital Finnish trading center throughout the country’s history dating back to the 1300s. You’ll have a chance to explore the cobblestone streets and admire the colorful wooden houses. While in Porvoo, you’ll visit the Porvoon museum and check out the Walter Runeberg sculpture collection. 

You’ll explore Lappeenranta today, a community on the banks of the largest lake in the country. Then, the group will head deeper into the region to Kuopio, where you’ll have the chance to experience a traditional Finnish sauna. This community doesn’t get much sunlight, but that doesn’t keep the locals from having a great time. Visit the town’s marketplace or one of its lively restaurants during your stay. 

Next, you’ll travel further north to Oulu where you’ll stop for the day. It is one of the northernmost cities in the world and has been an important city throughout Finnish history since the 16th century.  In the summer, depending on your trip dates, you might enjoy a short warm period. Any other time of the year, be sure to pack warm layers when visiting this subarctic location. The city has an active arts community, and visitors won’t be hard pressed to find something to do whatever time of year they visit. As long as the night sky is clear, you’ll end your day in Oulu with a breathtaking view of the northern lights. 

You’ll extend your stay in Lapland with a night in Saarishelka. During your stay in this resort village, you will be on the doorstep of some of the most scenic ski, snowshoe and hiking trails in the region. Enjoy the Destination Northernmost Europe exhibit for a film that covers the magnificent flora and fauna of the region, and its wildlife. 

A scenic train ride south will bring you back to Tampere. It is the most populous city in the region and has a rich history. While in town, you’ll visit the acclaimed Tampere Art Museum, the Natural History Museum of Tampere, the Finnish Museum of Games, and an optional excursion to the Finnish Hockey Hall of Fame. Also, be sure to take in the country’s largest sculpture made of glass called Pack Ice / The Mirror of the Sea. A train back to Helsinki will return you to your hotel for the evening. 

Enjoy a traditional Finnish breakfast in Helsinki before saying hyvasti to your guide and the Land of a Thousand Lakes. Your guide will deliver you to the airport where you’ll catch your flight home and warm up a bit from your visit close to the Arctic Circle.