12 days in Helsinki, Southwest Finland & Lakeland Itinerary
12 days in Helsinki, Southwest Finland & Lakeland Itinerary
Created using Inspirock Finland itinerary planner
Start: Budapest
Fly
1
Helsinki
— 5 nights
Drive
2
Turku
— 2 nights
Drive
3
Tampere
— 1 night
Drive
4
Kouvola
— 3 nights
Drive to Helsinki Vantaa Airport, Fly to Budapest Liszt Ferenc International Airport
End: Budapest
Sat, Aug 8 - Wed, Aug 19
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See full calendar
5
nights
5
nights

Daughter of the Baltic
Finland's largest and most populated metropolis, the maritime town of Helsinki boasts varied architecture, a lively cafe culture, and plethora of picturesque natural delights.Visiting Stand-Up Paddleboarding and Tulliniemi Nature Path will get you outdoors. Your itinerary includes some good beach time at Bellevue Beach and Kallahdenniemi Beach. Step out of Helsinki to go to Inkoo and see Inkoon kirkko, which is approximately 52 minutes away. And it doesn't end there: steep yourself in history at Seurasaari Island and Open-Air Museum, see the interesting displays at Mannerheim Museum, take in the architecture and atmosphere at Helsinki Cathedral, and admire the striking features of Temppeliaukio Church.
To find more things to do, photos, and other tourist information, read our Helsinki journey app.
Budapest, Hungary to Helsinki is an approximately 6-hour flight. You can also drive; or do a combination of train, bus, and ferry. The time zone changes from Central European Standard Time (CET) to Eastern European Standard Time (EET), which is usually a 1 hour difference. Traveling from Budapest in August, expect Helsinki to be slightly colder, temps between 24°C and 13°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 13th (Thu) early enough to drive to Turku.
Things to do in Helsinki
Side Trips
Find places to stay Aug 8 — 13:
Highlights from your trip
2
nights
2
nights

Sitting at the mouth of the Aura River, Turku is one of Finland's quaintest and most historically rich towns.On the 14th (Fri), take in the spiritual surroundings of Turku Cathedral, examine the collection at Luostarinmaen Kasityolaismuseo, then let the kids burn off some steam at Adventure Park, and finally wander the streets of Naantali Old Town. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the 15th (Sat): learn about all things military at Forum Marinum Maritime Centre, then explore the historical opulence of Turku Castle, and then get engrossed in the history at Aboa Vetus & Ars Nova.
To find other places to visit, maps, and other tourist information, you can read our Turku trip planning website.
Traveling by car from Helsinki to Turku takes 2 hours. Alternatively, you can take a train; or fly. In August, daily temperatures in Turku can reach 23°C, while at night they dip to 12°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 15th (Sat) to allow time to drive to Tampere.
Things to do in Turku
Side Trip
Find places to stay Aug 13 — 15:
Highlights from your trip
1
night
1
night

Manchester of the North
Finland's third largest city, Tampere boasts an array of cultural offerings and a lively music scene.On the 16th (Sun), kick back and relax at Riihiniemen Uimaranta, then take in panoramic vistas at Pyynikki Park and Observation Tower, then identify plant and animal life at Hatanpaa Arboretum, and finally contemplate in the serene atmosphere at Tampereen Tuomiokirkko.
For ratings, traveler tips, where to stay, and tourist information, go to the Tampere trip planning app.
Traveling by car from Turku to Tampere takes 2 hours. Alternatively, you can take a train; or take a bus. August in Tampere sees daily highs of 23°C and lows of 11°C at night. Finish your sightseeing early on the 16th (Sun) so you can drive to Kouvola.
Things to do in Tampere
Find places to stay Aug 15 — 16:
Highlights from your trip
3
nights
3
nights

Kouvola is a town and municipality in southeastern Finland. Get in touch with nature at Valkmusa National Park and Lehman. Get some cultural insight at Maritime Centre Vellamo and Kotka Church. Explore the numerous day-trip ideas around Kouvola: Kotka (Aijanniemi Beach, Linden Esplanade, &more).
To find other places to visit, more things to do, ratings, and other tourist information, refer to the Kouvola driving holiday planner.
Getting from Tampere to Kouvola by car takes about 3 hours. Other options: take a train; or take a bus. In August in Kouvola, expect temperatures between 24°C during the day and 13°C at night. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 19th (Wed) early enough to travel back home.
To find other places to visit, more things to do, ratings, and other tourist information, refer to the Kouvola driving holiday planner.
Getting from Tampere to Kouvola by car takes about 3 hours. Other options: take a train; or take a bus. In August in Kouvola, expect temperatures between 24°C during the day and 13°C at night. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 19th (Wed) early enough to travel back home.
Things to do in Kouvola
Side Trips
Find places to stay Aug 16 — 19:
Highlights from your trip
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Southwest Finland travel guide
Southwest Finland, also known in English as Finland Proper is the region in south-western Finland that borders the regions of Satakunta and Tavastia Proper. Its capital and biggest city is Turku with 182,000 inhabitants and metro population of 316,000. Turku was also the most important city in Finland from its establishment around the 13th century until the 1840s.The area comprising the southwest is largely the same as the historical province of Finland Proper, so named because it is the original home of the tribe known as the Finns. 5.7% of population of the region speaks Swedish natively.Origin of the nameThe name of Finland Proper has a historical function. In historic times, in the area of the present southern Finland lived three tribes, which were the Finns, the Tavastians and the Karelians. The southwestern part of the country, the province where the Finns lived, was called simply Finland (Finnish: Suomi). In the 17th century the name began to be used to refer to the whole land and a specified name for the lesser Finland was required. The first notes Fennigia specialiter dicta and Fennigia presse dicta were recorded in Latin in the 1650s and the Swedish Finland för sig sielft and Egenteliga Finland later in the 18th century the modern form Egentliga Finland being in official use at the end of the century. The Finnish term Varsinais-Suomi became established only around the 1850s.
Source