35 days in Europe Itinerary

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

Family-friendly places like Santa Claus Village and Safaris will thrill your kids. There's still lots to do: find something for the whole family at SantaPark - the Home Cavern of Santa Claus, pause for some serene contemplation at Rovaniemi Church, get engrossed in the history at Arktikum, and see Santa Claus Office.

To see maps, where to stay, and tourist information, go to the Rovaniemi day trip planner.

Sydney, Australia to Rovaniemi is an approximately 27-hour flight. The time zone changes from Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST) to Eastern European Standard Time (EET), which is usually a -8 hour difference. In December, Rovaniemi is much colder than Sydney - with highs of -6°C and lows of -13°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 3rd (Fri) so you can travel 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.

Family-friendly places like Sea Fortress Suomenlinna and Helsinki Cathedral will thrill your kids. When in Helsinki, make a side trip to see Sarkanniemi Theme Park in Tampere, approximately Tampere away. And it doesn't end there: contemplate in the serene atmosphere at Temppeliaukio Church, get to know the fascinating history of The Esplanadi Park, don't miss a visit to Senate Square, and learn about wildlife with up-close encounters at Korkeasaaren Elaintarha.

Take the guesswork out of planning a Helsinki vacation by using our trip itinerary maker.

You can fly from Rovaniemi to Helsinki in 4.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a train; or drive. Traveling from Rovaniemi in January, things will get a bit warmer in Helsinki: highs are around -3°C and lows about -9°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 7th (Tue) to allow time to travel to Stockholm.

One of Europe's most culturally diverse cities, Stockholm extends over 14 islands, united by a series of tunnels and bridges.

Family-friendly places like Vasa Museum and Royal Palace will thrill your kids. The adventure continues: see the interesting displays at Skansen, admire the masterpieces at Moderna Museet - Stockholm, take a stroll through Stockholm Old Town, and steep yourself in history at Drottningholm Palace.

Plan my Stockholm trip by asking Inpirock to come up with tips and suggestions.

Fly from Helsinki to Stockholm in 4.5 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of train and ferry; or do a combination of bus and ferry. The time zone difference moving from Eastern European Standard Time to Central European Standard Time is minus 1 hour. Traveling from Helsinki in January, expect a bit warmer with lows of -5°C in Stockholm. Finish your sightseeing early on the 13th (Mon) to allow enough time to travel to Copenhagen.

Founded in the 10th century as a Viking fishing village, Copenhagen has morphed into the cultural, political, and economic powerhouse of the country.

Bring the kids along to Tivoli Gardens and Rundetarn. There's still lots to do: visit Nyhavn, pause for some photo ops at The Little Mermaid, contemplate the long history of Rosenborg Castle, and admire the landmark architecture of Amalienborg.

To see traveler tips, where to stay, ratings, and tourist information, refer to the Copenhagen trip planner.

You can do a combination of flight, taxi, and train from Stockholm to Copenhagen in 4 hours. Other options are to take a train; or drive. Traveling from Stockholm in January, things will get a bit warmer in Copenhagen: highs are around 3°C and lows about 0°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 20th (Mon) to allow enough time to travel to Oslo.

Norway's capital city, Oslo boasts a thousand years of history and a diverse mix of architecture that blends old, new, and ultra-modern.

Kids will enjoy Viking Ship Museum and Norsk Folkemuseum. There's much more to do: admire the masterpieces at Vigeland Museum, see the interesting displays at Holmenkollen Ski Museum, get engrossed in the history at Fram Museum, and step into the grandiose world of Akershus Castle and Fortress (Akershus Slott og Festning).

For reviews, other places to visit, more things to do, and other tourist information, you can read our Oslo road trip planner.

Getting from Copenhagen to Oslo by flight takes about 4.5 hours. Other options: drive; or take a train. Expect a bit cooler evenings in Oslo when traveling from Copenhagen in January, with lows around -9°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 25th (Sat) so you can travel to Reykjavik.

Reykjavik, the world's most northerly capital, effortlessly combines small-town charm with heaps of big city energy.

Kids will appreciate attractions like Hallgrimskirkja and Mink Viking Portrait Studio. Venture out of the city with trips to Galgaklettur (in Thingvellir), Hveragerdi - Stone and Mineral Museum (in Hveragerdi) and Ljosafoss Power Station (in Selfoss). There's still lots to do: test the waters at a local thermal spa, take an in-depth tour of National Museum of Iceland, try out the rides at Thorlakshofn Swimming Pool, and witness a stunning natural landmark at Strokkur.

For traveler tips, reviews, more things to do, and more tourist information, go to the Reykjavik road trip planner.

Traveling by flight from Oslo to Reykjavik takes 6 hours. The time zone changes from Central European Standard Time (CET) to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), which is usually a -1 hour difference. When traveling from Oslo in January, plan for a bit cooler days in Reykjavik, with highs around 3°C, while nights are somewhat warmer with lows around -1°C. Cap off your sightseeing on the 31st (Fri) early enough to travel back home.