12 days in Rovaniemi & Helsinki Itinerary

An urban center set amongst the great Arctic wilderness, Rovaniemi serves as the capital of Lapland province.

Step off the beaten path and head to SantaPark - the Home Cavern of Santa Claus and Santa Claus Office. Bring the kids along to Santa Claus Village and Duudsonit Activity Park - TornioHaparanda. Step out of Rovaniemi to go to Pyhatunturi and see Pyha-Luosto National Park, which is approximately 1h 35 min away. And it doesn't end there: look for all kinds of wild species at Feelapland, Head underground at Syvasenvaara Fell, admire the sheer force of Auttikongas, and stop by Your Piece Of Finland.

To find more things to do and more tourist information, read our Rovaniemi tour website.

Guadalajara, Mexico to Rovaniemi is an approximately 26-hour flight. Traveling from Guadalajara to Rovaniemi, you'll lose 8 hours due to the time zone difference. Traveling from Guadalajara in December, expect Rovaniemi to be colder, temps between -6°C and -13°C. Cap off your sightseeing on the 21st (Fri) early enough to travel to Helsinki.

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.

Family-friendly places like Room Escape Games and Sea Fortress Suomenlinna will thrill your kids. Discover out-of-the-way places like Heureka and Kansallisgalleria. Get out of town with these interesting Helsinki side-trips: Porvoo Old Town (in Porvoo) and Teijo National Park (in Pernio). Pack the 23rd (Sun) with family-friendly diversions at Linnanmaki Amusement Park. The adventure continues: admire the striking features of Temppeliaukio Church, make a trip to Saatytalo, look for gifts at Taiga Colors, and have some family-friendly fun at True VR.

To find maps, ratings, photos, and more tourist information, you can read our Helsinki day trip planner.

Getting from Rovaniemi to Helsinki by flight takes about 4.5 hours. Other options: take a train; or drive. Plan for somewhat warmer temperatures traveling from Rovaniemi in December, with highs in Helsinki at 3°C and lows at -3°C. You will have some time to spend on the 27th (Thu) before leaving for home.