15 days in Helsinki & Lapland Itinerary

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.

Do some cultural sightseeing at Sea Fortress Suomenlinna and Helsinki Cathedral. Discover out-of-the-way places like Seurasaari Island and Open-Air Museum and Natural History Museum (Luonnontieteellinen Museo). Get out of town with these interesting Helsinki side-trips: Nuuksio National Park (in Espoo), Raseborg (Hagen - Ramsholmen - Hogholmen & Ekenas Museum) and Hvittrask (in Kirkkonummi). There's much more to do: explore the world behind art at Kansallisgalleria, look for all kinds of wild species at Laajalahti Nature Reserve, and take in the spiritual surroundings of Rock Church.

To find maps, traveler tips, ratings, and tourist information, use the Helsinki trip planning tool .

Auckland, New Zealand to Helsinki is an approximately 27-hour flight. You can also do a combination of flight and train; or do a combination of flight and ferry. You'll gain 10 hours traveling from Auckland to Helsinki due to the time zone difference. Prepare for much colder weather when traveling from Auckland in November: high temperatures in Helsinki hover around 5°C and lows are around 0°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 4th (Mon) to allow enough time to travel to Inari.

Inari is Finland's largest, most sparsely populated municipality, with four official languages, more than any other in the country. Start off your visit on the 5th (Tue): get into the urban bustle at The Sami Cultural Centre Sajos, surround yourself with nature on a nature and wildlife tour, then examine the collection at Siida, and finally take in the architecture and atmosphere at Pielpajarvi Wilderness Church. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the next day: explore and take pictures at Inari Reindeerfarm, then admire all the interesting features of Tuula's Reindeer, then take in the pleasant sights at Otsamo Fell, and finally take in the architecture and atmosphere at Saint Tryphon Pechenga Orthodox Church.

To find where to stay, photos, traveler tips, and other tourist information, read our Inari online day trip planner .

You can fly from Helsinki to Inari in 4 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or do a combination of train and bus. In November, Inari is slightly colder than Helsinki - with highs of -3°C and lows of -10°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 6th (Wed) early enough to travel to Tankavaara.

Start off your visit on the 7th (Thu): see the interesting displays at Gold Prospector Museum.

To see traveler tips, where to stay, other places to visit, and more tourist information, you can read our Tankavaara driving holiday planner .

You can drive from Inari to Tankavaara in 1.5 hours. In November, daily temperatures in Tankavaara can reach -3°C, while at night they dip to -10°C. On the 7th (Thu), you'll have the morning to explore before heading off to Muonio.

Muonio is a municipality of Finland.The town is located in far northern Finland above the Arctic Circle on the country's western border, within the area of the former Lappi province. Kick off your visit on the 8th (Fri): contemplate the long history of Keimioniemi Fishing Cabins, then see the interesting displays at Muonion Kotiseutumuseo, then look for all kinds of wild species at Torassieppi Reindeer Farm & Cottages, and finally don't miss a visit to Pyhakero. On the 9th (Sat), you'll have a packed day of sightseeing: get outside with Seven Fells Up, look for gifts at Akaslompolo Sportshop, and then tour the pleasant surroundings at Yllas Ski Resort.

You can plan Muonio trip in no time by asking Inspirock to help create your itinerary.

Drive from Tankavaara to Muonio in 3.5 hours. November in Muonio sees daily highs of -5°C and lows of -13°C at night. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 9th (Sat) early enough to drive to Kittila.

Kittilä is a municipality of Finland and a popular holiday resort.It is located in northern Finland north of the Arctic Circle within the Lapland region. On the 10th (Sun), make a trip to Giewont Husky Adventures, have some family-friendly fun at G2 Ice Karting Levi, then surround yourself with nature on a nature and wildlife tour, then explore the world behind art at Museum of Fine Arts Einari Junttila, and finally examine the collection at The Sarestoniemi Museum.

For reviews, traveler tips, more things to do, and tourist information, refer to the Kittila trip builder site .

Traveling by car from Muonio to Kittila takes 1.5 hours. In November, daily temperatures in Kittila can reach -3°C, while at night they dip to -11°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 10th (Sun) so you can travel to Pyhatunturi.

Start off your visit on the 11th (Mon): look for all kinds of wild species at Wildlife Areas, identify plant and animal life at Kopara Reindeer Park, and then explore and take pictures at Amethyst Mine Lapland.

To see where to stay, other places to visit, traveler tips, and tourist information, read our Pyhatunturi tour planner.

Getting from Kittila to Pyhatunturi by car takes about 2 hours. In November, plan for daily highs up to -3°C, and evening lows to -9°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 11th (Mon) early enough to drive to Rovaniemi.

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

On the 12th (Tue), stroll the grounds of German Soldier s Cemetery, catch some excitement at Feelapland, get engrossed in the history at Arktikum, then snap pictures at Lumberjack's Candle Bridge, and finally get engrossed in the history at Rovaniemi Local History Museum. On the 13th (Wed), you'll have a packed day of sightseeing: admire the sheer force of Auttikongas, Head underground at Syvasenvaara Fell, then examine the collection at Santa's House of Snowmobiles, and finally look for gifts at LAURI.

To see more things to do, ratings, where to stay, and tourist information, use the Rovaniemi planner .

Traveling by car from Pyhatunturi to Rovaniemi takes 2 hours. In November, daytime highs in Rovaniemi are -2°C, while nighttime lows are -7°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 13th (Wed) early enough to travel back home.