13 days in Finland Itinerary

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

Kick off your visit on the 21st (Sat): take in the views from Lumberjack's Candle Bridge, identify plant and animal life at Wildlife Areas, see Santa Claus Office, then find something for the whole family at Santa Claus Village, and finally don't miss a visit to Marttiinin Wanha Tehdas. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the next day: make a trip to Lordi's Square, then take an in-depth tour of Arktikum, and then get in on the family fun at SantaPark.

To see maps, ratings, more things to do, and other tourist information, go to the Rovaniemi journey planner .

Dubai, United Arab Emirates to Rovaniemi is an approximately 14.5-hour flight. You can also do a combination of flight and train; or do a combination of flight and bus. The time zone difference when traveling from Dubai to Rovaniemi is minus 2 hours. Plan for cooler temperatures traveling from Dubai in December, with highs in Rovaniemi at -6°C and lows at -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), enjoy the sand and surf at Ispoinen Beach and Sauna, see the interesting displays at Luostarinmaki Handicrafts Museum, then delve into the distant past at Aboa Vetus & Ars Nova, and finally browse the collection at Turku City Library. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the 24th (Tue): enjoy some diversion at Moomin World, admire the natural beauty at Kultaranta Garden, then explore the galleries of Turku Castle, then let the kids burn off some steam at Adventure Park, and finally contemplate in the serene atmosphere at Turku Cathedral.

To find more things to do, ratings, and other tourist information, go to the Turku trip maker site .

You can do a combination of flight and train from Rovaniemi to Turku in 5.5 hours. Alternatively, you can fly; or drive. Prepare for somewhat warmer weather when traveling from Rovaniemi in December: high temperatures in Turku hover around 1°C and lows are around -4°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 24th (Tue) to allow time to take a train 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 26th (Thu): take in panoramic vistas at Pyynikki Park and Observation Tower, take in the spiritual surroundings of Tampere Cathedral, examine the collection at Vapriikin Museokeskus, then stop by Alko, and finally explore the wide array of goods at City Sokos.

To find reviews, ratings, photos, and other tourist information, refer to the Tampere day trip planning site .

Traveling by train from Turku to Tampere takes 2 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a bus. December in Tampere sees daily highs of 0°C and lows of -6°C at night. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 26th (Thu) to allow time to take a train 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.

Kids will enjoy Linnanmaki Amusement Park and Hietaranta Beach. There's still lots to do: take in the spiritual surroundings of Rock Church, learn about all things military at Fortress of Suomenlinna, explore the world behind art at Kansallisgalleria, and appreciate the history behind Sibelius Monument.

To see ratings, more things to do, reviews, and more tourist information, use the Helsinki driving holiday planning site .

You can take a train from Tampere to Helsinki in 1.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a bus. Traveling from Tampere in December, you will find days in Helsinki are somewhat warmer (3°C), and nights are about the same (-3°C). On the 31st (Tue), wrap the sightseeing up by early afternoon so you can travel back home.