If you ask either of us what our favorite trip so far has been, we’d both say Finland without hesitation. When we planned our trip to Finland, we desperately hoped for aurora viewings, and we were rewarded! Even without the northern lights, there’s just something magical about Finland in winter. In our opinion, a trip here is 100% worth using work vacation time on! Here’s a break down of what our trip included…
Days 1-2: Helsinki, Finland
Helsinki is Finland’s capital, so flights in and out are easy to come by. (I’ve seen some pretty wonderful flight deals to Helsinki if you can leave from a larger airport in the U.S.) If you arrive in the morning, you’ll want to get out and explore the city a bit on your first day to help adjust to your new time zone. If you arrive later in the day, hit up a local restaurant for dinner and then get some sleep so that you’re well rested for the adventure to begin!
When you’re finally able to get out and explore the city, head out to see Helsinki Cathedral, a striking white walled Finnish Evangelical Lutheran church. Since we were there in December, at the base of the stairs leading up to the Cathedral, a local Christmas market was set up. We love a good Christmas market! You’ll find other markets throughout the city to explore as well.
If you tire of shopping, then head over to check out the Temppeliaukio Church. It looks like a spaceship coming out of a rock! And the inside is simply beautiful. You can also head over to visit the Kamppi Chapel of Silence if you’d like to take a break from the bustling city.
Days 3-4: Rovaniemi, Finland
On the morning of our third day, we took a quick flight from Helsinki to Rovaniemi. Rovaniemi is the capital of Lapland which is Finland’s northernmost region. This was our second time to cross the Arctic Circle, and our first time to cross the Arctic Circle in the winter.
While in Rovaniemi, we took a snowmobile tour one evening to search for the Aurora Borealis. While we didn’t see the Northern Lights dance that evening, we still had a great time driving through the dark, snowy woods.
In addition to snowmobile tours, you can also take bus tours in search for the Aurora Borealis. We opted for a bus tour on our second night. While driving out to our final spot, we pulled over to see a weak aurora dancing above us. After a few photos, we jumped back on our bus and headed out to a cabin. From the cabin, we trekked up a large hill where we were greeted with starry skies and a warm teepee. We were highly sparked with anticipation of the aurora dancing again, so we stayed outside while the other guests warmed up. Our perseverance paid off! All of a sudden, green lights exploded across the sky and began to dance. Words truly can’t describe the experience.
The Northern Lights aren’t the only reason to visit Rovaniemi, though. If you love Christmas or enjoy a little cheesiness, then head over to Santa Clause Village. Some of the activities here include a sleigh ride with reindeer through a wintry forest, visiting an ice igloo, shopping for Christmas gifts, and taking a photo with Santa Claus. This is also where you can officially cross the Arctic Circle. If a photo isn’t enough proof for you to bring home, then you can also purchase a certificate confirming that you’ve crossed the Arctic Circle while at Santa Claus Village.
Days 5-7: Saariselkä, Finland
From Rovaniemi, we flew to Saariselkä. Who hasn’t seen the photos of a glass igloo surrounded by snow shared all over FaceBook? Well, you can find those glass igloos at the Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort in Saariselkä. (You can read more about our stay in a glass igloo in this post.)
While in Saariselka, there are plenty of winter activities available, including aurora hunting trips, ice fishing, snowshoeing, snow mobiling, and dog sledding. Fair warning, this was where we felt the coldest. We went on a dog sledding adventure where my eyelashes began freezing together!
You’ll definitely want extra layers for a visit to Saariselkä in winter, but it’s worth it. This is where we felt the magic of Finland, and we can’t wait to go back! We’ve actually already booked our next trip to Saariselkä…
Days 8-9: Return to Helsinki
After a relaxing stay in Saariselkä, we returned to Helsinki in time for dinner. Since we had already spent some time in Helskini, on the following day, we took a day trip to Porvoo by hopping on a bus from the station near our hotel.
Porvoo was ADORABLE! The wood houses, the cafes, the cute shops…definitely worth the visit! We spent the entire day meandering the streets popping in cafes and shops as we went. We were able to easily catch a bus back to Helsinki at the end of the day.
Day 10: Return home or extend for a side trip?
If you’re out of vacation days, then this is when you’d fly back home. We opted to add an overnight trip to Tallinn, Estonia, before returning home. If you can spare the time off, we’d highly recommend adding in a side trip to Estonia!