22 days in Helsinki & Rovaniemi 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 out of town with these interesting Helsinki side-trips: Kotka (Sapokka Water Garden & Kotka Church), Söderskärin majakka (in Porvoo) and Espoo (Nuuksio National Park & Haltia - The Finnish Nature Center). Pack the 22nd (Sun) with family-friendly diversions at Linnanmaki Amusement Park. Spend the 27th (Fri) exploring nature at Sipoonkorven Kansallispuisto. There's lots more to do: learn about all things military at Sea Fortress Suomenlinna, stroll around The Esplanadi Park, make a trip to Senate Square, and contemplate in the serene atmosphere at Uspenskin Cathedral (Uspenskin Katedraali).

To find where to stay, photos, ratings, and more tourist information, use the Helsinki day trip planner.

Melbourne, Australia to Helsinki is an approximately 22.5-hour flight. You can also do a combination of train and flight. Due to the time zone difference, you'll gain 8 hours traveling from Melbourne to Helsinki. Traveling from Melbourne in December, expect Helsinki to be cooler, temps between 3°C and -3°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 28th (Sat) to allow enough time to travel to Rovaniemi.

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

Explore the numerous day-trip ideas around Rovaniemi: Pyha-Luosto National Park (in Pyhatunturi), Korouoma Canyon (in Posio) and Kotielainpuisto Arkadia (in Simo). Pack the 5th (Sun) with family-friendly diversions at Duudsonit Activity Park - TornioHaparanda. There's lots more to do: take an exotic tour of a safari tour, make a trip to Santa Claus Village, identify plant and animal life at Poro Farmi, and stop by LAURI Handicraft Shop & Atelier.

To see where to stay, traveler tips, ratings, and tourist information, go to the Rovaniemi trip planner .

Getting from Helsinki to Rovaniemi by flight takes about 4 hours. Other options: do a combination of flight and train; or drive. Prepare for a bit cooler weather when traveling from Helsinki in December: high temperatures in Rovaniemi hover around -6°C and lows are around -13°C. On the 7th (Tue), you'll have the morning to explore before heading back home.