18 days in Helsinki, Ivalo & Utsjoki 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.

Your inner history buff will appreciate Sea Fortress Suomenlinna and Uspenskin Cathedral (Uspenskin Katedraali). Give yourself a bit of retail therapy at Old Market Hall and Hakaniemi Market. Take a break from Helsinki with a short trip to Sibelius Hall in Lahti, about 1h 30 min away. Next up on the itinerary: admire the striking features of Temppeliaukio Church, appreciate the extensive heritage of The Esplanadi Park, look for gifts at Marimekko Oyj, and admire the masterpieces at Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma.

To see maps, photos, more things to do, and tourist information, refer to the Helsinki road trip planning tool.

If you are flying in from Australia, the closest major aiports are Helsinki Vantaa Airport, Turku Airport and Tampere-Pirkkala Airport. In February, daytime highs in Helsinki are 0°C, while nighttime lows are -3°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 25th (Mon) to allow enough time to travel to Ivalo.

Ivalo is a village in the municipality of Inari, Lapland, Finland, located on the Ivalo River 20km south of Lake Inari. For other places to visit, where to stay, ratings, and other tourist information, read Ivalo online trip itinerary planner.

Fly from Helsinki to Ivalo in 3.5 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of train and bus; or drive. In February, Ivalo is slightly colder than Helsinki - with highs of -6°C and lows of -15°C. On the 25th (Mon), wrap the sightseeing up by early afternoon so you can travel to Utsjoki.

Utsjoki is a municipality in Finland, the northernmost in the country. To find more things to do, reviews, other places to visit, and other tourist information, refer to the Utsjoki day trip site.

Traveling by shuttle from Ivalo to Utsjoki takes 4.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive. Due to the time zone difference, you'll gain 1 hour traveling from Ivalo to Utsjoki. In February, daily temperatures in Utsjoki can reach -3°C, while at night they dip to -11°C. On the 4th (Mon), you're off to Helsinki.

To find photos, where to stay, more things to do, and tourist information, read our Helsinki day trip site.

Use the Route module to find suitable travel options from Utsjoki to Helsinki. You'll lose 1 hour traveling from Utsjoki to Helsinki due to the time zone difference. On the 5th (Tue), you'll travel to Helsinki.

Deepen your sense of the past at sights like The Aalto House and Raseborg Castle. Let the collections at Heureka and Design Museum capture your imagination. Explore Helsinki further: hunt for treasures at Market Square Kauppatori, walk around Sibelius Monument, and visit Ullanlinna.

To see reviews, where to stay, other places to visit, and more tourist information, go to the Helsinki trip planner.

Finish your sightseeing early on the 7th (Thu) so you can take a train back home.