10 Days in Finland - 5 Unique Itinerary Ideas

Itinerary #1: Winter Holiday in Finland's Arctic Circle

This winter holiday itinerary is for active travelers who want to sample a variety of wintry activities like skiing in a national park, going on a reindeer safari, hunting for the northern lights, snowmobiling through the forest, and cross-country skiing through Lapland's backcountry.

On Day 1, head to Pyhä-Luosto, a national park where you can hike, ice climb, snowmobile, or ski. Spend Day 2 at Pyhä Ski Resort's ski school or, for more experienced skiers, the notorious Huttu-Ukko slope. Afterward, chase the northern lights while on a sleigh pulled by a reindeer. Strap on snowshoes on Day 3 and trek to Lampivaara, an amethyst mine. You'll pass through the local villages of the beautiful Inari Lake region on Day 4. At night, you'll have an exciting excursion in a metal sleigh pulled by a snow tank, where you can spot the brilliant green hues of the northern lights from the panoramic windows.

Tour the lakeside village of Inari and visit the Siida Museum's exhibits celebrating Sámi culture before snowmobiling into the wilderness to get the best views of the northern lights on Day 5. On Day 6, tour the snow structures at the Arctic SnowHotel, then visit polar bears, reindeer, and wolves at Ranua Zoo the following day, and in the evening, catch the aurora borealis in this light pollution-free area. Days 8 and 9 bring more wintry adventures, first to Arctic Circle Husky Park on a husky sledding safari and then on a ski experience through the Lapland backcountry wearing handcrafted skis. Learn more

Itinerary #2: Active Finland Summer Adventure: Helsinki, Turku & Rovaniemi

Active travelers who want to take advantage of long summer days provided by the midnight sun will enjoy this Finland summer adventure. The weather—and extended daylight hours—allows you to engage in city bike tours, river cruises, wilderness hikes, and canoeing as you make your way across the country from Helsinki and Turku in the south to Rovaniemi in Lapland's north.

Explore Helsinki, Finland's capital city, on Day 1 of your itinerary by walking down the Mannerheimintie or visiting one of its museums. On Day 2, pedal past attractions like Uspenki Cathedral and Market Square on your guided bike tour. Visit Porkkalanniemi Peninsula on Day 3 and learn about Finland's natural and military history while hiking through the forest. Days 4 and 5 bring you to the coastal city of Turku, where you'll see the medieval Turku Castle and the Old Great Square. You'll also see the St. Olav Waterway and get a taste of the Archipelago Sea on an e-bike tour. 

On Day 6, cruise down the Aura River on a riverboat and board a sleeper train to Rovaniemi, where you'll tour Santa Claus Village and cross the Arctic Circle on Day 7. On a photography tour, you'll also witness the midnight sun phenomenon. Hike through the forest while learning about the subarctic climate and survival in the Finnish wilderness on Day 8. The next day, cruise on the Ounasjoki and Kemijoki Rivers past pastures and wild birds. The following day, float past the plants in the Arktikum Arboretum before paddling beneath the cable of the Lumberjack's Candle Bridge on a guided canoe tour. Learn more

Itinerary #3: Ultimate Arctic Adventure in Finland

This ultimate Arctic adventure is for intrepid travelers who enjoy exploring vast expanses of land, going off the beaten track, and multiday trekking. Discover Lapland's natural beauty through snowshoeing, dogsledding, and snowmobiling across its boreal wilderness, covering two of the country's national parks.

Arriving in Rovaniemi, consider exploring Santa Claus Village, open year-round. The following day, cross snowy landscapes on an electric snowmobile ride. Over the next four days, explore Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park on a snowshoe trek beginning at Ounasjärvi Lake, outside the village of Hetta. You'll pass mountain viewpoints on the way to Pallas Ski Resort, located at the bottom of Laukukero Hill. Enjoy the beautiful winter scenery, a traditional Finnish sauna experience, and stay in cozy cabins over three nights. 

Take a dip in Arctic waters, known as "ice floating," on Day 7 with the help of a waterproof safety suit—an exhilarating experience. On Days 8 and 9, venture out on a sledding safari with Alaskan huskies, where you'll ride around frozen lakes, fells, and spruce forests of Riisitunturi National Park. Learn more

Itinerary #4: Finland Ultimate Christmas Adventure

This ultimate Christmas adventure itinerary is for people who want a festive Christmas getaway. Snowy Lapland will fill you with Christmas wonder after wintry activities like sled rides pulled by huskies, meeting Santa Claus, and partaking in a traditional Finnish Christmas experience. 

On Days 1 and 2, admire the distinctive architectural styles of Helsinki or relax in a traditional Finnish sauna. You'll see the UNESCO-listed fortress island of Suomenlinna and taste fresh Finnish cuisine at Old Market Hall before checking out the fortress' many museums and walking trails. Listen to tales about Christmas in the olden days during a walking tour of Porvoo on Day 3 and hit the slopes at Pyhä Resort on Day 4. Either hone your skills at the in-house ski school or head for Huttu-Ukko, the steepest slope in Finland. Next, learn how to guide huskies on a short dogsledding excursion in Lapland's wilderness.

The following day, you'll snowshoe through the peaceful Pyhä-Luosto and end at Lampivaara, an amethyst mine. Head to Rovaniemi, Santa Claus's home and Lapland's capital, on Day 6. After dark, chase the northern lights. Zip to Santa Claus Village on a snowmobile safari on Day 7 and visit SantaPark, where you can attend Elf School. On Day 8, take a reindeer-pulled sled ride to meet Santa Claus and experience an authentic Finnish sauna. Partake in traditional Finnish Christmas activities, like making cookies and decorating a tree. End with a tour of the Arctic SnowHotel, complete with ice rooms. Learn more 

Itinerary #5: Baltic Capitals: Vilnius, Riga, Tallinn & Helsinki

Travelers who like to pack a lot into their holiday and love city-hopping and exploring historic sites on foot will appreciate this multicountry itinerary. You'll sample the highlights of the Baltic shore capitals of Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and Finland while enjoying guided walking tours and medieval old towns. 

On Day 1, get settled in Vilnius, Lithuania's capital, by admiring the panoramic views atop the Bell Tower of St. John's Church and the Gediminas Castle Tower. The following day, explore the medieval Old Town, checking out the monument at the Hill of Three Crosses and the Church of St. Peter and St. Paul. Tour Trakai Castle on Day 3, where the Grand Dukes resided. Then transfer to Latvia and discover the treasures of Riga on Days 4 and 5, beginning with Baroque Rundāle Palace, Kalnciema Quarter, and St. Peter's Church, and notice landmarks like the House of the Black Heads and Riga Central Market. 

The next three days will bring you adventures in Tallinn, Estonia. Venture up St. Olaf's Church, Europe's tallest building, and check out highlights like the 19th-century Russian Orthodox Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Toompea, and Castle Kadriorg Palace. Next, wear special bog shoes to the countryside's peat-filled wetlands for a bog hike. Next, transfer to Helsinki on the Tallink Silja ferry on Day 9 before learning about Finnish culture, history, and lifestyle on a guided tour, passing sites like the Helsinki Cathedral and Temppeliaukion Church, a unique underground structure carved directly into the rock. Learn more

More Great Finland Itineraries

Looking for more inspiration for your trip to Finland? Check out these other Finland itineraries, with outdoor adventures, cultural trips, and best-of tours to hit the highlights.