Ultimate One Week in Finland Itinerary: Helsinki, Lapland and More

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With just a little sliver of Norway and sea separating it from the North Pole, Finland is one of the northernmost countries you could visit in the world. It is often called the land of thousands of lakes due to the abundance of small or bigger lakes scattered across the land.

Unlike some of the countries in Western Europe, Finland is fairly sparsely populated, and contains a culture and history influenced by its long associations with Sweden and Russia. Also, the only indigenous people of the European Union, the Sámi people, inhabit northern parts of Finland, Sweden, Norway, and Russia.

At the same time, Finland, independent since 1917, has developed its unique flare and culture in the modern times. Today, it is one of Europe’s leaders in technology, education, and democracy. Due to its vast wilderness areas and deep roots of nature-bound cultural traditions, Finland also has a special natural charm and mysticism that enchants many visitors.

In this ultimate one-week in Finland itinerary we present some of the cultural and natural highlights when visiting Finland. We recommend buses and trains for getting around, but, of course, you could rent a car.

One week isn’t long for visiting this rather large country. You could easily spend weeks visiting the various parts of Finland – the islands, Lapland, the Lakeland, or eastern Finland. Still, this itinerary gets you acquainted with Finland – and hopefully entices you to come visit this northern land again.

When to visit Finland

Spring, summer, autumn

Finland’s summer is short but sweet. While the spring advances and the snows melt, the increase in warmth, light, and moisture contribute to a fast growth of green plants and profusive blossoming of wild flowers.

Finnish people are generally more out and about during the summer than the winter, enjoying the various things one can do in Finnish nature such as hiking, fishing, horse riding, and swimming. It is also the time to visit friends and make road trips.

Midsummer is a special festival in Finland, celebrated with nice food, drinks, sauna, and often a bonfire. Meanwhile, autumn brings with it a mosquito-less existence and beautiful colors in nature, albeit also more darkness and rains.

Winter

Winter in Finland is long and fairly dark, with sun being only an occasional guest. Snow does make for a lot of fun, though – and only the imagination is your limit when it comes to winter activities.

Some of the best things to do in Finland in winter are going cross country skiing, or downhill skiing; going sledding, or perhaps for a husky sled ride; going to the sauna and rolling in the snow or dipping in icy water afterwards; or making snow angels. It is also a great time to visit places such as museums, movie theatres, design shops, or Christmas markets.

Or, to curl up by a fire in a wooden cabin with a candle, a book, and some Finnish sweets such as salmiakki or liquorice to hand.

One Week in Finland

Days 1-2: Helsinki

If you’re just spending one week in Finland, we recommend taking two days for exploring Finland’s capital Helsinki. Helsinki is home to fascinating cultural and architectural destinations, fabulous design stores, and lovely islands with different things to do and see.

During your visit in Helsinki, we recommend visiting the city’s harbor with a vibrant market place and two of Helsinki’s most picturesque cathedrals nearby, as well as Helsinki’s gorgeous Esplanadi. This is a park and a shopping district with design stores such as Marimekko or The Moomin Shop.

It is also beautiful to visit Suomenlinna Sea Fortress on one of the islands off the coast of Helsinki, or Korkeasaari Zoo, on another island. You can reach both by a ferry from the market place.There are also fantastic museums in Helsinki where you can see art or artefacts depicting Finland’s natural and cultural history.

Read more: The Right Way to Spend One Day in Helsinki

Local tip: If you have time, I highly recommend taking a bus (about an hour’s drive) to the medieval town of Porvoo.

It is one of the oldest towns in Finland with predominantly wooden buildings, and it is a truly quaint little place to see, summer or winter. The wooden, red buildings by Porvoo River are an iconic sight. They used to be used for storing merchandise and goods, but nowadays they host lovely restaurants and B&Bs.

Day 3: Visit Finland’s former capital city, Turku

On day 3, your next destination could be the oldest city in Finland, Turku, just two hours from Helsinki and also on the coast. Turku is home to some truly amazing historical landmarks. Turku’s central Cathedral is a beautiful building with an impressive front yard, and Turku Castle, straight out of the medieval times, is formidable.

Turku is centred around Aura River, and it is lovely to stroll along the river viewing shops, river boats, parks, and old buildings. There are some wonderful lunch and dinner places in Turku. If you have time and energy, we recommend visiting Ruissalo island, a recreational area just off the coast of Turku with beautiful old villas and biodiverse nature.

Local tip: Remember that Finland is the land of sauna. Depending on where you stay overnight, there is a good chance there is a sauna on the premises or somewhere nearby, so it is worth enquiring from your chosen establishments.

Most hotels and B&Bs have saunas, and many AirBnB locations do, too. You’ll want to do this Finnish experience at least a few times during your visit – it is a deeply entrenched part of Finnish culture, but also just wonderfully purifying and relaxing.

Day 4: The center of Finland’s Lakeland – Jyväskylä

During your one week in Finland itinerary, you simply must visit central Finland, known as Finland’s lakeland. From Turku, the journey is only two hours by bus or train) to central Finland’s capital Jyväskylä. It is a fairly small university city with a vibrant cultural scene, interesting history, and of course, beautiful nature to explore. The surrounding area also has fascinating sights to see, such as Petäjävesi Old Church.

Visiting the Museum of Central Finland is a great way to get acquainted with the cultural and natural history of the area, from the prehistoric times up until the modern day. At the Alvar Aalto Museum next door, you can learn about the life and works of Alvar Aalto, a famous Finnish architect and designer. He also designed the lovely café located at the museum, where you can enjoy a superb lunch.

Jyväskylä’s city center otherwise has some gems to explore. The central church park is lovely to see. Nearby you can visit the Craft Museum with its exhibitions and shop, portraying some of the best Finnish artisanal products and craftmanship.

Harju is a commanding natural feature in Jyväskylä’s landscape – a stone hill left over by the last ice age. On the top you’ll find another museum and a café, and from there you can take in the views of the surrounding area. As to nightlife, there are more options than you think, but if you want a guaranteed good time, go to Vakiopaine for some drinks and live music, or Sohwi for a fantastic dinner and drinks.

Enjoy nature in central Finland

If you’d like to experience Finnish nature the way the Finns do, head to Kanavuori nature trail just a few kilometres outside of Jyväskylä. There you can observe the pines, spruces, birches and other trees that are so characteristic to most of Finnish nature. You can also view the nearby Jyväsjärvi lake, and find some lovely flowers and perhaps forest berries (if you’re visiting in the summer).

Right in the centre of Jyväskylä is another lush paradise, Tourujoki nature trail. This short trail is atmospheric summer or winter, but in the summer it beautifully portrays a verdant grove of deciduous trees.

Day 5: Head to the north

Early on your fifth day, take a bus or a train from Jyväskylä to Oulu. Oulu is a coastal city in northern part of Finland, and a sort of a gateway to Lapland, as well.

While in Oulu, you absolutely must pop into the market hall and the marketplace by the sea, to buy some local crafts and taste some northern delicacies, such as Karelian pies or dried reindeer. The nearby Pikisaari with its old wooden buildings is a sight to see, as are the other islands that are part of Oulu city.

Hailuoto island

If you’d rather spend an afternoon out in nature,, I’d suggest taking the city bus from Oulu center to Hailuoto. This large island off the coast of Oulu is reached by a ferry that runs every half an hour. On the island you can visit the fishermen’s village Marjaniemi, see an old lighthouse , or stroll along a long, sandy beach. I personally think that the loveliest thing to do in Hailuoto is walking in nature.

In Hailuoto, you’ll find a great diversity of habitats, from coastal marshes to pine and mixed forests and wetlands. The Finnish word for Finland, Suomi, actually has the word suo (meaning wetland), in it. This possibly was the reason for the country’s name; back in the day, two thirds of the country used to be covered in wetlands. The amount became less due to intensive converting of wetlands to forests in the decades following the World War.

However, nowadays, both wetlands and boreal forests are valued for their importance for biodiversity and climate change regulation, as well as a source of spiritual enrichment and nutritious foods. Thus, efforts are in place to protect the country’s rich bio-cultural diversity. Hailuoto is one place where this diversity is evident and easily approachable.

Days 6-7: Lapland

Rovaniemi – visit southern Lapland and the village of Santa Claus

From Oulu, we recommend taking a bus or a train to Rovaniemi. Beyond Rovaniemi to the north lies the true wilderness of Finland – the open landscapes, free rivers, and treeless hilltops of Lapland.

However, exploring more of Lapland would take at least a few more extra days, and so, during your one-week visit in Finland, Rovaniemi, the most southern destination in Lapland, also allows you to get a little glimpse into the magic of the Arctic world. Perhaps it will entice you to come back to explore more.

In Rovaniemi, one of the most popular places to visit – and for a good reason – is Santa Claus Village, the official home of Santa Claus. Here you can explore some aspects of this crafty village filled with Christmas elves and Christmas related attractions for free, while an entry fee applies to other attractions.

You can visit Santa’s post office, walk over the Arctic Circle, and go for a snowmobile ride, if visiting in winter. There is also accommodation at Santa Claus Holiday Village, though especially in winter, it gets filled up quickly. Santa Claus Village overall has become rather touristy these days, but it is still a wonderful place to experience a little bit of Lapland and Christmas magic.

Experience and learn about the nature and culture of Lapland

On your other day in Rovaniemi, we recommend visiting Arktikum museum. Here you can learn about the history, culture, and nature of Finland’s Arctic areas. Many travelers find it fascinating to learn about the Sámi people with their reindeer herding traditions, own government, and a unique language.

Another fun thing to do in or around Rovaniemi is a husky sled ride, again a winter activity. In the summer, you might enjoy a walk on one of the nature trails surrounding Rovaniemi city, such as Ounasvaara nature trail.

Of course, I urge you to be on the lookout for northern lights during the darker part of the day. There really is much to see and do in and around Rovaniemi, and also, if you come back to Finland, Rovaniemi is a great base for exploring some other areas of Lapland.

After Rovaniemi, you might take a flight back to Helsinki, or perhaps opt for a night train. From Helsinki you can catch your flight home, or continue on to discover other countries in Scandinavia or elsewhere in Europe.

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