16 days in Helsinki, Finnish Archipelago & Lakeland 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.

Get in touch with nature at Nuuksio National Park and Korkeasaari Zoo. Seurasaari Island and Open-Air Museum and Rock Church will appeal to history buffs. And it doesn't end there: brush up on your military savvy at Fortress of Suomenlinna, hunt for treasures at Market Square Kauppatori, get a taste of the local shopping with Hakaniemi Market, and relax and rejuvenate at some of the top local wellness centers.

To find ratings, traveler tips, where to stay, and tourist information, read our Helsinki holiday planner.

Singapore, Singapore to Helsinki is an approximately 15.5-hour flight. You can also do a combination of flight and ferry; or do a combination of flight and train. You'll gain 6 hours traveling from Singapore to Helsinki due to the time zone difference. In September, Helsinki is cooler than Singapore - with highs of 19°C and lows of 8°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 22nd (Sun) to allow time to travel to Mariehamn.

Mariehamn is the capital of Åland, an autonomous territory under Finnish sovereignty. Kick off your visit on the 23rd (Mon): examine the collection at Museumship Pommern, brush up on your military savvy at Aland Maritime Museum, then step off the mainland to explore Kobba Klintar, and finally contemplate the long history of Jan Karlsgården Outdoor museum Jan Karlsgården.

To see other places to visit, photos, ratings, and more tourist information, refer to the Mariehamn online travel planner .

Getting from Helsinki to Mariehamn by flight takes about 3 hours. Other options: do a combination of train and flight; or do a combination of train and ferry. In September, plan for daily highs up to 18°C, and evening lows to 9°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 23rd (Mon) to allow time to travel to Hanko.

Hanko is a bilingual port town and municipality on the south coast of Finland, 130km west of Helsinki. Visiting Teijo national park and Bellevue Beach will get you outdoors. Get a sense of the local culture at Turku Castle and Turku Cathedral. Change things up with a short trip to Ispoinen Beach and Sauna in Turku (about 1h 20 min away). There's more to do: hike along Tulliniemi Nature Path and don't miss a visit to Pike's Gut.

To find more things to do, traveler tips, photos, and other tourist information, you can read our Hanko attractions planning site .

The Route module can help you plan travel from Mariehamn to Hanko. In September, daytime highs in Hanko are 18°C, while nighttime lows are 7°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 26th (Thu) to allow enough time to travel to Pori.

Pori is a city and municipality on the west coast of Finland. Start off your visit on the 27th (Fri): pause for some serene contemplation at The Church of the Holy Cross, stop by Ruokapuoti Lumo, then get to know the fascinating history of Old Rauma, and finally stroll through Yyteri Beach. Here are some ideas for day two: pause for some serene contemplation at Central Pori Church (Keski-Porin kirkko), then buy something for everyone on your list at Kauppakeskus Puuvilla, then enjoy the sand and surf at Herrainpaivat Beach, and finally stop by Patakirppis.

To see photos, where to stay, ratings, and more tourist information, refer to the Pori trip maker .

Getting from Hanko to Pori by car takes about 3.5 hours. In September, daily temperatures in Pori can reach 17°C, while at night they dip to 8°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 28th (Sat) to allow time to travel to Kuhmo.

Kuhmo is a town and a municipality in Finland and is located at the south-eastern corner of the Kainuu region. Start off your visit on the 29th (Sun): identify plant and animal life at Wild Taiga and then identify plant and animal life at Boreal Wildlife Centre.

For other places to visit, maps, reviews, and more tourist information, use the Kuhmo trip planner .

Traveling by car from Pori to Kuhmo takes 8 hours. Alternatively, you can fly. Finish your sightseeing early on the 29th (Sun) so you can travel to Savonlinna.

The picturesque town of Savonlinna sits on two islands surrounded by shimmering lakes and lush greenery.

Kick off your visit on the 30th (Mon): pause for some serene contemplation at Savonlinna Cathedral, look for gifts at Taito Shop Savonlinna, pick up some local products at Savonlinna Market Square, then make a trip to Pikkukirkko, then see the interesting displays at Savonlinna Provincial Museum, and finally step into the grandiose world of Olavinlinna Castle.

To find maps, traveler tips, photos, and tourist information, go to the Savonlinna trip planner .

Traveling by car from Kuhmo to Savonlinna takes 5 hours. In September, daily temperatures in Savonlinna can reach 16°C, while at night they dip to 7°C. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 30th (Mon) so you can go by car to Kotka.

Kotka is a city and municipality of Finland.Kotka is located on the coast of the Gulf of Finland at the mouth of Kymi River and it is part of the Kymenlaakso region in southern Finland. On the 1st (Tue), look for all kinds of wild species at Arboretum Mustila and then wander the streets of Stromforsin ruukki. On the 2nd (Wed), you'll have a packed day of sightseeing: look for all kinds of wild species at Riverside Park, then trek along Santalahti Nature Trail, and then step off the mainland to explore Lehman.

To see reviews, photos, other places to visit, and other tourist information, refer to the Kotka itinerary maker website .

Traveling by car from Savonlinna to Kotka takes 3.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a train; or take a bus. In September in Kotka, expect temperatures between 17°C during the day and 9°C at night. Finish your sightseeing early on the 2nd (Wed) so you can travel back home.