8-Day Tour of Helsinki's and Rovaniemi's Highlights
Highlights
Zagreb, Split, Dubrovnik, Rovaniemi
Locations Covered
Zagreb, Split, Dubrovnik, Rovaniemi
nature, cultural, sightseeing
Private Tour
8 Days
Medium
English
Description
Explore the capital city of Helsinki to see various attractions such as the Senate Square, Lutheran Cathedral, and an open-air museum known as Squirrel Island. Embark on a three-hour hunt in search of the luminescent Northern Lights from Rovaniemi, meet Santa Claus at the Santa Claus village and enjoy a reindeer ride at the Reindeer Farm.
Itinerary
-
Day 1: Arrival in Helsinki
- Arrive in Helsinki, get privately transferred and check in to the hotel.
- Take the day at ease and get acquainted with the weather and surroundings.
- Take a walk in the city and rest overnight.
-
Day 2: Helsinki
- Have breakfast and enjoy a free day to explore the city by yourself. Meet your hosts, try some local food and drinks, go shopping, pursue your interest or just rest.
Option/suggestion: Visit Tallinn, Estonia. Take a day trip to Estonia’s capital, Tallinn. Tallinn lies across the Gulf of Finland from Helsinki. It is an easy day trip by ferry for those keen to experience its medieval charms. Book a return trip in advance to secure your preferred crossing and save transport worries on the ground. Then, cruise across the Gulf and explore the city, especially Tallinn’s UNESCO listed Old Town, museums, shops, and restaurants.
-
Day 3: Helsinki - Rovaniemi (Lapland)
- Have Breakfast and start your city tour (3h) with a guide in a vehicle.
- Helsinki is one of the most modern and culturally progressive cities globally and is famous for its design and architecture. Take full advantage of this opportunity to discover beautiful Helsinki. You will have the chance to visit: the Senate Square and Lutheran Cathedral, the elegant Uspenski Cathedral, the famous fish market, the monuments to Havis Amanda and composer Jan Sibelius, the famous church in the Temppeliaukio rock, and much more.
- You will also visit Seurasaari (known as “Squirrel island”), an open-air museum located on a beautiful green island just a few kilometres from the heart of Helsinki. The island is an oasis in the middle of the city. The museum, open in summer, displays the traditional Finnish way of life with its cottages, farmhouses, and manors from the past four centuries brought here from all over Finland. The tame birds and squirrels provide a warm welcome to all visitors. The museum has 85 different buildings that tell about the lives and folk traditions of the local people in times past.
- Take your bags and catch your train to Rovaniemi, and get privately transferred to the train station.
Extra: Entrance ticket to the Rock Church: 3-5 € per person
-
Day 4: Rovaniemi (Aurora Hunt)
- Have breakfast after an overnight ride and morning arrival in Rovaniemi. You will get a private transfer to the hotel. Enjoy your free time.
- In the evening, go for the Aurora hunt: a 3-hour adventure from Rovaniemi ups your chances of witnessing this extraordinary natural phenomenon. Absorb the quiet winter setting and stay warm with a hot drink and sausages sizzled upon a campfire.
- Look for the lights, and if luck is on your side, enjoy an impressive display of the luminescent ribbons as they dance overhead.
Please note that the Northern Lights are natural, and sightings cannot be guaranteed.
-
Day 5: Rovaniemi (Santa Claus Village)
- Have breakfast and see top Rovaniemi attractions on a panoramic tour with a professional guide and travel to the Santa Claus Village (4h).
- You will have the opportunity to meet Santa Claus, send Santa-stamped greetings, visit the elves' workshops and join an Arctic Circle crossing ceremony.
Santa spends his time at Santa Claus Village the whole year round on his life mission: taking care of children and the kindness of grown-ups and spreading the message of love and goodwill of the Christmas Spirit throughout the globe. Rovaniemi is Santa Claus's official Home.
-
Day 6: Rovaniemi - Reindeer Farms
- After breakfast, head to Reindeer Farms, an important part of Lapland’s life and culture.
- Meet the real reindeer herders, who will tell you about their way of life hand by hand with nature. There are many great possibilities for taking photos during the farm tour. You can feed the reindeers with their favourite snacks and have a short sleigh ride (500 meters) pulled by a reindeer along the beautiful forest trails.
- Have warm drinks with a pastry served indoors at the farm while listening to exciting stories about reindeer herding and wilderness life in Lapland. (100 € per person)
-
Day 7: Rovaniemi
- Eat your breakfast and spend a free day exploring the city by yourself.
- Meet your hosts, try some local food and drinks, go shopping, pursue your interest or just rest.
Option/suggestion: Husky farm and safari.
-
Day 8: Departure
- Have your breakfast and spend some free time before transferring to Rovaniemi airport, from where you will take flight(s) to your original destination.
What's Included
What's Excluded
What To Bring
Meeting Point
Cancellation Policy
-
For cancellations within 24 hours before the tour -
Refund of 50% of the tour price.