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 see photos, other places to visit, ratings, and more tourist information, refer to the Rovaniemi journey planner.

Milan, Italy to Rovaniemi is an approximately 11-hour flight. You can also drive; or do a combination of car and train. 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. The adventure continues: take in the dramatic scenery at Imatra Waterfall, take in nature's colorful creations at Sapokka Water Garden, explore the activities along Saimaa Canal, and trek along Santalahti Nature Trail.

To see where to stay, photos, other places to visit, and tourist information, use the Lappeenranta trip itinerary planner.

Do a combination of flight and train from Rovaniemi to Lappeenranta in 5.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a train. When traveling from Rovaniemi in September, plan for a bit warmer days and about the same nights in Lappeenranta: temperatures range from 17°C by day to 9°C at night. Finish your sightseeing early on the 15th (Sun) so you can travel back home.