8 days in Lapland & Helsinki Itinerary

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

Your cultural itinerary includes sights like Rovaniemi Church and Arktikum. Explore hidden gems such as Nature & Wildlife Tours and Santa's House of Snowmobiles. Step out of Rovaniemi with an excursion to Ranua Zoo in Ranua--about 1 hour away. There's lots more to do: don't miss a visit to Santa Claus Village, look for gifts at LAURI Handicraft Shop & Atelier, and enjoy some diversion at Santa Claus Office.

To find where to stay, other places to visit, maps, and tourist information, use the Rovaniemi road trip planning website.

New York City, USA to Rovaniemi is an approximately 16-hour flight. Traveling from New York City to Rovaniemi, you'll lose 7 hours due to the time zone difference. Traveling from New York City in March, expect Rovaniemi to be slightly colder, temps between 30°F and 17°F. Cap off your sightseeing on the 9th (Tue) early enough to go by car to Inari.

Inari is Finland's largest, most sparsely populated municipality, with four official languages, more than any other in the country. Start off your visit on the 10th (Wed): get outside with Lake Inari, then examine the collection at Siida - Sami Museum and Nature Center, then look for all kinds of wild species at Wildlife Areas, and finally pause for some serene contemplation at Pielpajarvi Wilderness Church.

To see other places to visit, traveler tips, and other tourist information, read our Inari online trip planner.

Getting from Rovaniemi to Inari by car takes about 4 hours. Other options: take a bus; or do a combination of bus and flight. In March, daytime highs in Inari are 29°F, while nighttime lows are 13°F. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 10th (Wed) 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.

Satisfy your inner culture vulture at Mannerheim Museum and Sinebrychoff Art Museum. Eschew the tourist crowds and head to Kansallisgalleria and Kallio Church. There's still lots to do: explore the galleries of Sea Fortress Suomenlinna, admire the striking features of Temppeliaukio Church, take an in-depth tour of Seurasaari Island and Open-Air Museum, and steep yourself in history at The Aalto House.

To see traveler tips, photos, reviews, and other tourist information, refer to the Helsinki holiday maker site.

Getting from Inari to Helsinki by flight takes about 4.5 hours. Other options: drive; or do a combination of bus and train. Traveling from Inari in March, things will get a bit warmer in Helsinki: highs are around 37°F and lows about 23°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 13th (Sat) to allow time to travel back home.