8 days in Finland Itinerary
8 days in Finland Itinerary
Created using Inspirock Finland trip itinerary maker
Start: Bilbao
Fly
1
Rovaniemi
— 1 day
Drive
2
Levi
— 2 nights
Fly
3
Saariselka
— 1 night
Fly
4
Helsinki
— 3 nights
Fly
End: Bilbao
Sat, Dec 14 - Sat, Dec 21
Edit
S | M | T | W | T | F | S |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
8
|
9
|
10
|
11
|
12
|
13
|
14
|
15
|
16
|
17
|
18
|
19
|
20
|
21
|
See full calendar
Rovaniemi
— 1 day

Official Hometown of Santa Claus
An urban center set amongst the great Arctic wilderness, Rovaniemi serves as the capital of Lapland province.Start off your visit on the 15th (Sun): make a trip to Santa Claus Village, see Santa Claus Office, and then take a memorable tour with Feelapland.
To see traveler tips, maps, more things to do, and other tourist information, refer to the Rovaniemi holiday maker site.
Bilbao, Spain to Rovaniemi is an approximately 12-hour flight. You can also drive; or do a combination of car and train. You'll lose 1 hour traveling from Bilbao to Rovaniemi due to the time zone difference. Plan for cooler temperatures traveling from Bilbao in December, with highs in Rovaniemi at -6°C and lows at -13°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 15th (Sun) to allow enough time to drive to Levi.
Things to do in Rovaniemi
Find places to stay Dec 15 — 16:
Highlights from your trip
Levi
— 2 nights

Finland's largest and most popular ski resort, the fell of Levi provides excellent slopes and lively nightlife in an enchanting setting.On the 16th (Mon), grab your bike and head to Levi Ski Resort. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the next day: explore the wealth of natural beauty at Pallas-Yllastunturi National Park.
To see where to stay, more things to do, photos, and other tourist information, go to the Levi trip maker site.
You can drive from Rovaniemi to Levi in 2.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus. In December, daytime highs in Levi are -6°C, while nighttime lows are -15°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 17th (Tue) so you can travel to Saariselka.
Things to do in Levi
Side Trip
Find places to stay Dec 15 — 17:
Highlights from your trip
Saariselka
— 1 night

Outdoor pursuits--ranging from cross-country skiing and snowmobiling to reindeer safaris and chasing Northern Lights--draw the largest number of tourists to Saariselka.On the 18th (Wed), hit the slopes at Saariselka Ski & Sport Resort.
To see traveler tips, more things to do, and more tourist information, you can read our Saariselka trip planner.
Fly from Levi to Saariselka in 3.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a bus. December in Saariselka sees daily highs of -7°C and lows of -17°C at night. Finish your sightseeing early on the 18th (Wed) so you can travel to Helsinki.
Things to do in Saariselka
Find places to stay Dec 17 — 18:
Highlights from your trip
See timeline
Helsinki
— 3 nights

Daughter of the Baltic
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.Step out of the city life by going to Nuuksio National Park and King's Road. You'll explore the less-touristy side of things at Room Escape Games and Seurasaari Island and Open-Air Museum. There's lots more to do: step into the grandiose world of Sea Fortress Suomenlinna, take in the spiritual surroundings of Uspenskin Cathedral (Uspenskin Katedraali), take in the architecture and atmosphere at Helsinki Cathedral, and admire the landmark architecture of Temppeliaukio Church.
To find photos, maps, other places to visit, and more tourist information, read Helsinki travel route planning app.
Traveling by flight from Saariselka to Helsinki takes 5 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of bus and train; or drive. When traveling from Saariselka in December, plan for a bit warmer days in Helsinki, with highs around 3°C, while nights are much hotter with lows around -3°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 21st (Sat) to allow time to travel back home.
Things to do in Helsinki
Side Trips
Find places to stay Dec 18 — 21:
Highlights from your trip
Finland travel guide
Land of a Thousand Lakes
Combining vast Nordic wilderness with bustling hip cities, Finland offers something to delight and surprise all its visitors. Generally speaking, the northern region is populated by unspoiled pine forests, glistening blue lakes, and a plethora of interesting wildlife, while the south is home to the nation's thoroughly modern urban centers. Although Finland holds the title of most sparsely populated county in the European Union, restaurants, bars, and nightclubs in cities like Helsinki, Espoo, and Tampere are often packed with fun-loving Finns. Do bring your dancing shoes, but don't forget your hiking boots either--you'll want to make use of the country's 37 national parks, spread throughout this "Land of a Thousand Lakes."