9 days in Finland Itinerary

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

Start off your visit on the 24th (Thu): admire the sheer force of Auttikongas and then see Santa Claus Office.

To see more things to do, other places to visit, maps, and other tourist information, refer to the Rovaniemi trip planner.

Los Angeles, USA to Rovaniemi is an approximately 20-hour flight. The time zone changes from Pacific Standard Time (PST) to Eastern European Standard Time (EET), which is usually a 10 hour difference. Prepare for cooler weather when traveling from Los Angeles in May: high temperatures in Rovaniemi hover around 51°F and lows are around 37°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 25th (Fri) early enough to drive to Levi.

Finland's largest and most popular ski resort, the fell of Levi provides excellent slopes and lively nightlife in an enchanting setting.

Kick off your visit on the 25th (Fri): kick your exploration up a notch at Levi Ski Resort.

To see photos, other places to visit, where to stay, and tourist information, you can read our Levi trip itinerary planning site.

Traveling by car from Rovaniemi to Levi takes 2.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus. In May, daytime highs in Levi are 50°F, while nighttime lows are 34°F. On the 26th (Sat), wrap the sightseeing up by early afternoon so you can travel to Turku.

Sitting at the mouth of the Aura River, Turku is one of Finland's quaintest and most historically rich towns.

On the 27th (Sun), contemplate the long history of Turku Cathedral, then let the kids burn off some steam at Adventure Park, then get engrossed in the history at Turku Castle, and finally browse the collection at Turku City Library.

To find maps, traveler tips, photos, and more tourist information, use the Turku trip builder site.

Getting from Levi to Turku by flight takes about 5 hours. Other options: drive; or do a combination of bus and train. Plan for somewhat warmer temperatures traveling from Levi in May, with highs in Turku at 59°F and lows at 40°F. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 27th (Sun) so you can go by car to Tampere.

Finland's third largest city, Tampere boasts an array of cultural offerings and a lively music scene.

On the 28th (Mon), take in panoramic vistas at Pyynikki Park and Observation Tower, see the interesting displays at Vapriikin Museokeskus, contemplate in the serene atmosphere at Tampereen Tuomiokirkko, then get your game on at Irti Maasta Tampere, and finally pause for some serene contemplation at Church of St. Alexander Nevsky and St. Nicholas.

To find reviews, photos, more things to do, and other tourist information, go to the Tampere online driving holiday planner.

You can drive from Turku to Tampere in 2 hours. Alternatively, you can take a train; or take a bus. In May, daytime highs in Tampere are 59°F, while nighttime lows are 39°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 29th (Tue) so you can drive to Helsinki.

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.

Eschew the tourist crowds and head to Seurasaari Island and Open-Air Museum and Hakaniemi Market. Next up on the itinerary: admire the striking features of Temppeliaukio Church, explore the world behind art at Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma, pause for some serene contemplation at Helsinki Cathedral, and take in the spiritual surroundings of Uspenskin Cathedral (Uspenskin Katedraali).

For more things to do, maps, other places to visit, and other tourist information, use the Helsinki trip planning tool.

You can drive from Tampere to Helsinki in 2 hours. Other options are to take a train; or take a bus. In May, daily temperatures in Helsinki can reach 60°F, while at night they dip to 43°F. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 31st (Thu) so you can travel back home.