Summary
Finland is a destination where you can have it all. Head to the bustling capital of Helsinki for world-class culture and seaside strolls, or travel a short distance from the city to experience Finland’s beautiful national parks, lakes and forests. Visit in the summer for long days of sunshine, or come in the winter for snow sports, saunas, Santa Claus and (if you’re lucky) the Northern Lights. Whatever you do in Finland, you’ll be sure to appreciate its clean air, calm atmosphere and sheer Nordic charm.
Just a short hop from neighbouring capitals Stockholm and Tallinn, Helsinki is a great base for a Nordic multi centre trip.
Explore Finland
Finland
Description
Heading out on the waves on a sightseeing trip provides a different perspective of this city that’s understated and full of wonder. Suomenlinna is a listed UNESCO World Heritage Site in the form of a sea fortress which dates back to the 1700s – a great day out for all ages.
Helsinki is also home to rollercoasters, world-class restaurants, saunas, cathedrals, a bustling market square and a whole lot more besides. Helsinki may be a city but it has plenty of wide open green spaces too so you’ll feel calm and happy as you explore on foot. The Sibelius Monument in the park of the same name is an unusual structure that captivates thousands of visitors every year and is a tribute to Finnish composer, Jean Sibelius.
Our multi-centre city breaks to Helsinki are paired with Stockholm in Sweden and Estonia’s capital city of Tallinn so you can soak up the very best of two different cities while you’re away.
Rovaniemi
Despite its name, Lapland is actually a region in northern Finland rather than a separate country. It also spreads across Norway, Russia and Sweden. Now you know your geography, it’s time to focus on the capital Rovaniemi’s main attractions. Billed as the home of Santa Claus himself, Rovaniemi’s tourism relies on excited kids of all ages coming to visit to catch a glimpse of Saint Nicholas.
Santa Claus Village is open all year round and features Santa’s office, a post office, an igloo hotel and not forgetting the main man’s little elf helpers. You’re guaranteed a magical visit at any time of year and there’s also a wildlife park at Ranua where you can see polar bears and lots of other species of animal.
As amazing as Santa Claus is, he’s not the only reason people come to this part of Finland. Rovaniemi is an ideal spot from which to see the mesmerising Northern Lights – a spectacular sight like no other on earth. While there are no guarantees, the best time to visit to see the Aurora Borealis is between mid-August and early April. The lights are visible from Rovaniemi on approximately 150 nights every calendar year.
Picture yourself looking up at nature’s most beautiful light show as night falls on another fun-filled day in Rovaniemi. You’ll have seen the pictures and videos online, but nothing compares to viewing them through your own eyes.
Discover more about our five day Finnish multi-centre adventure which includes a visit to Lapland.
