13 days in Finland Itinerary

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

On the 21st (Sat), see exotic creatures in open habitats at a safari tour, enjoy some diversion at Santa Claus Office, then make a trip to Santa Claus Village, and finally revel in the low prices at Marttiini Store Old Factory. Here are some ideas for day two: make a trip to Lordi's Square, get engrossed in the history at Arktikum, and then get in on the family fun at SantaPark - the Home Cavern of Santa Claus.

To see photos, where to stay, other places to visit, and tourist information, use the Rovaniemi visit planner.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates to Rovaniemi is an approximately 13.5-hour flight. You can also drive. Due to the time zone difference, you'll gain 2 hours traveling from Dubai to Rovaniemi. Expect cooler temperatures when traveling from Dubai in December; daily highs in Rovaniemi reach -6°C and lows reach -13°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 22nd (Sun) so you can travel to Turku.

Sitting at the mouth of the Aura River, Turku is one of Finland's quaintest and most historically rich towns.

On the 23rd (Mon), stroll through Ispoinen Beach and Sauna, see the interesting displays at Luostarinmaen Kasityolaismuseo, then get engrossed in the history at Aboa Vetus & Ars Nova, and finally get lost in a book at Turku City Library. Here are some ideas for day two: have some family-friendly fun at Moomin World, tour the pleasant surroundings at Kultaranta Garden, step into the grandiose world of Turku Castle, then let little ones run wild at Adventure Park, and finally gain insight at Turku Cathedral.

For maps, photos, more things to do, and tourist information, go to the Turku day trip planning tool.

Getting from Rovaniemi to Turku by flight takes about 5 hours. Other options: take a train; or drive. In December, Turku is somewhat warmer than Rovaniemi - with highs of 1°C and lows of -4°C. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 24th (Tue) so you can go by car to Tampere.

Finland's third largest city, Tampere boasts an array of cultural offerings and a lively music scene.

Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the next day: stroll around Pyynikki Park and Observation Tower, take in the spiritual surroundings of Tampereen Tuomiokirkko, examine the collection at Vapriikin Museokeskus, then look for gifts at Alko, and finally explore the wide array of goods at City Sokos.

To find other places to visit, ratings, where to stay, and other tourist information, use the Tampere trip planning site.

Drive from Turku to Tampere in 2 hours. Alternatively, you can take a train; or take a bus. In December, plan for daily highs up to 0°C, and evening lows to -6°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 26th (Thu) to allow enough time to drive 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 Sea Fortress Suomenlinna and Helsinki Cathedral will thrill your kids. Pack the 28th (Sat) with family-friendly diversions at Linnanmaki Amusement Park. There's still lots to do: admire the landmark architecture of Temppeliaukio Church, don't miss a visit to Senate Square, kick back and relax at Hietaranta Beach, and get to know the resident critters at Korkeasaaren Elaintarha.

To find photos, more things to do, where to stay, and other tourist information, refer to the Helsinki day trip website.

Traveling by car from Tampere to Helsinki takes 2 hours. Alternatively, you can take a train; or take a bus. Traveling from Tampere in December, expect nights in Helsinki to be about the same, around -3°C, while days are a bit warmer, around 3°C. On the 31st (Tue), wrap the sightseeing up by early afternoon so you can travel back home.