9 days in Rovaniemi & Lappeenranta Itinerary

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

Start off your visit on the 8th (Sun): don't miss a visit to Santa Claus Village, then don't miss a visit to Santa Claus Office, then take an in-depth tour of Arktikum, and finally look for all kinds of wild species at Napapiirin Porofarmi. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the 9th (Mon): find something for the whole family at SantaPark - the Home Cavern of Santa Claus and then see exotic creatures in open habitats at a safari tour.

To find more things to do, other places to visit, traveler tips, and more tourist information, refer to the Rovaniemi journey planner.

Milan, Italy to Rovaniemi is an approximately 8.5- hour flight. You can also do a combination of flight and bus; or drive. The time zone changes from Central European Standard Time (CET) to Eastern European Standard Time (EET), which is usually a 1 hour difference. When traveling from Milan in September, plan for much colder days in Rovaniemi, with highs around 13°C, while nights are slightly colder with lows around 6°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 9th (Mon) to allow enough time to travel to Lappeenranta.

On the shores of the country's largest lake system, Lappeenrata serves as the economic and cultural center of southeast Finland.

Explore the numerous day-trip ideas around Lappeenranta: Olavinlinna Castle (in Savonlinna), Kummakivi Boulder (in Ruokolahti) and Siikalahti Wetland (in Parikkala). Spend the 11th (Wed) exploring nature at Repovesi National Park. There's still lots to do: admire the natural beauty at Sapokka Water Garden, wander the streets of Linden Esplanade, step off the mainland to explore Varissaari - Fort Elisabeth, and contemplate the long history of Hamina Town Hall.

For reviews, traveler tips, where to stay, and more tourist information, go to the Lappeenranta trip planner.

Do a combination of flight and train from Rovaniemi to Lappeenranta in 5.5 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of bus, flight, and train; or drive. Expect somewhat warmer weather when traveling from Rovaniemi in September: highs in Lappeenranta hover around 17°C, while lows dip to 9°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 15th (Sun) to allow time to travel back home.