Planning a summer holiday in Finland? Try this 7-day itinerary that lets you explore the best of summer Finnish culture and nature, from Helsinki to Rovaniemi.
Finland is a beautiful country with plenty of attractions and activities to explore. Whether you’re looking for an adventure or a relaxing vacation, Finland offers something for everyone. While Finland might be known for its wintry wonderland, summer is arguably one of the best times to visit. Finland’s summer, from June to August, is when the climate is at its warmest, the days are longest, and the blossoming landscape is at its prettiest. It’s also the time when you can experience the Midnight Sun phenomenon — where the summer days are so long that the sun doesn’t seem to go away.
This 7-day itinerary will take you through some of the best things to do in Finland in the summer. Seven days may not be long enough, but you’ll still get opportunities to explore the culture and natural beauty of this Nordic country while enjoying some of its top attractions and activities. So pack your bags and get ready for an unforgettable journey through Finland!
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Day 1: Helsinki
Image Credits: Pexels
Upon landing, you can start your Finnish adventure in Helsinki, the vibrant capital city of Finland. Visit Helsinki Cathedral, a neoclassical landmark located on Senate Square, for striking views of the city. Then, stroll along Esplanade Park for a relaxing afternoon filled with cafes, restaurants, and shops.
For lunch, head to Helsinki’s Market Square to indulge in Finnish delicacies such as Smoked Salmon, Reindeer Meatballs, and Karelian Pies. Afterwards, visit one of Helsinki’s famous museums, like the Ateneum Art Museum or the Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art.
In the evening, explore the trendy Kallio neighbourhood for authentic Finnish nightlife. Check out live music at iconic venues like Siltanen or Kuudes Linja, or enjoy a craft beer at one of the local breweries!
📍 Helsinki Cathedral, Unioninkatu 29, 00170 Helsinki | 🎟 €5 admission fee
📍 Ateneum Art Museum, Kaivokatu 2, 00100 Helsinki, Finland | 🎟 €20/ticket
📍 Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma, Mannerheiminaukio 2, FIN-00100, Helsinki, Finland | 🎟 €18/ticket
The Ultimate 7-Day Finland Itinerary For Summer 2023: Find out more here
Day 2: Turku
Image credits: Nomad Epicureans
Take a train or bus from Helsinki to Turku, Finland’s oldest city located on the southwestern coast of Finland, full of historical significance.
Start your day exploring the Turku Castle, a medieval fortress that has served various purposes throughout history — from royal residence to prison. Today, it’s a popular tourist attraction that offers guided tours, exhibitions, and events.
Next, visit Turku Cathedral, a Gothic architectural masterpiece built in the 13th century. And, take a leisurely stroll along the Aura River, which offers scenic views of the city.
For lunch, try some of Turku’s local dishes like Salmon Soup or Rye Bread, and visit the Aboa Vetus Ars Nova Museum to learn more about Finnish culture and history!
The Ultimate 7-Day Finland Itinerary For Summer 2023: Find out more here
Image credits: Hotel Kakola
Check out Turku’s vibrant restaurant and bar scene during dinner. Try some local craft beers at one of the many pubs, or enjoy a cocktail at Kakola Prison. What used to be Finland’s former largest and most dangerous prison is now a prison-themed boutique hotel and nightlife hotspot with restaurants and bars.
📍 Turku Castle, Linnankatu 80, Turku | 🎟 €14/ticket
📍 Turku Cathedral, 1 Tuomiokirkonkatu, 20500 Turku | 🎟 Entrance is free
📍 Aboa Vetus & Ars Nova museum, Itäinen Rantakatu 4–6, 20700 Turku | 🎟 €15/ticket
📍 Kakola Prison, Kakolankatu 14, 20100 Turku
The Ultimate 7-Day Finland Itinerary For Summer 2023: Find out more here
Day 3: Finnish Turku Archipelago
Image credits: Featuring Finland
Get ready for an island-hopping scenic journey today! Dress comfortably and apply sunscreen generously.
The Turku Archipelago is ideal for summer as this is when the roads are accessible daily and the views, unobscured. It’s part of the stunning Finnish Archipelago, the largest archipelago in the world, with over 40,000 islands (and islets). The area houses various national parks, charming small villages, fascinating islands, impressive lighthouses, and historical monuments.
Image credits: Featuring Finland
Begin by taking a car, ferry, or boat tour from Turku to one of the many islands in the archipelago. The Small Archipelago Trail can be enjoyed equally in a clockwise or anti-clockwise direction from Turku to Naantali, Rymättylä, Seili Island, Nagu, Pargas, Kaarina, and back to Turku. Some areas might not be accessible by car and you would need to board an inter-island ferry which is usually free. Either way, it’ll be a scenic journey!
Image credits: Discovering Finland
On the trail, get the chance to visit:
- The riverside town of Pargas to take in its idyllic clapboard houses and medieval grey stone church.
- Artbank – Finland’s largest private collection of surrealist Salvador Dali against the backdrop of a Finnish fishing village
- The island of Seili at Nagu, which was once used as a hospital for people with leprosy
- Naantali, the official hometown of the Moominworld. Get to meet all the characters from Tove Jansson’s beloved Moomin stories.
As there’s a good amount of moving involved, make sure to check travelling time and ferry schedules to get the most out of your day.
For food, savour the local specialities such as Smoked Fish, Crayfish, or Archipelago Bread. Many of the restaurants and cafes in the archipelago serve traditional Finnish cuisine made from locally sourced ingredients.
Enjoy the sunset views and the peaceful atmosphere of the archipelago in the evening. With many cosy cottages and luxurious spa hotels available, the archipelago is the perfect place to kick back and relax. You can choose to either stay in the archipelago or head back to Turku City.
📍 Artbank, Kauppiaskatu 24, 21600 Parainen
📍 Moominworld, Muumimaailma, Kaivokatu 5, 21101 Naantali | 🎟 from €35/ticket
The Ultimate 7-Day Finland Itinerary For Summer 2023: Find out more here
Day 4: Tampere
Image credits: Pexels
Take a train from Turku to Tampere, a bustling city known for its industrial history, cultural attractions, and scenic environment.
Begin your day by visiting the Tampere Näsinneula Observation Tower, the tallest observation tower in the Nordic countries, offering breathtaking views of Tampere and its surroundings. Enjoy a meal or drink at the rotating restaurant, which completes a full rotation every hour.
Image credits: Visit Tempere
Then explore the Tampere Art Museum, showcasing contemporary Finnish art with over 6,000 artworks, including paintings, sculptures, and installations. The museum also hosts temporary exhibitions and events throughout the year. If you haven’t visited Moominworld at the Turku Archipelago, you can also check out the Moomin Museum in Tampere.
The Ultimate 7-Day Finland Itinerary For Summer 2023: Find out more here
Image Credits: Shermans Travel
For lunch, head to Tampere’s Market Hall, a historic indoor market that dates back to the 19th century, offering a variety of Finnish specialities, such as Reindeer Meat, Smoked Fish, and traditional pastries.
In the evening, visit the Pyynikki Observation Tower for panoramic views of Pyynikki Ridge and surrounding forests. Enjoy some of their famous doughnuts at the Pyynikki Observation Tower Cafe for a post-lunch snack.
The Ultimate 7-Day Finland Itinerary For Summer 2023: Find out more here
Image Credits: Visit Alvar Aalto
If you’re a designer or an architect buff, it might be worth your time to visit the Alvar Aalto Museum which is about a two-hour journey away from Tampere. For those who don’t know, Alvar Aalto is a prolific architect and designer respected by many. As he’s a Jyväskylä native, his works can be found around the city and in the museum where visitors can immerse themselves in the work of one of Finland’s most famous architects and designers.
📍 Näsinneula Observation Tower, Laiturikatu 1, Tampere 33230 | 🎟 from €8.90/ticket
📍 Tampere Art Museum, Puutarhakatu 34, 33230 Tampere | 🎟 €13/ticket
📍 Moomin Museum, Tampere Hall, Yliopistonkatu 55, FI-33100 Tampere | 🎟 €14.50/ticket
📍 Tampere Market Hall, Hämeenkatu 16/Hallituskatu 10, Tampere
📍 Pyynikki Observation Tower and Café, Näkötornintie 20, Tampere | 🎟 €2/ticket
📍 Alvar Aalto Museum, Säynätsalo Town hall, Parviaisentie 9, FI-40900 Jyväskylä | 🎟 €10
The Ultimate 7-Day Finland Itinerary For Summer 2023: Find out more here
Day 5 & 6: Rovaniemi, Lapland
For the region of Lapland, it is best to allocate two days to be spent in Finland’s largest region, the enchanting and magical land of Lapland. Even though Lapland is known for its arctic wonderland in the winter, don’t underestimate what the Northern wilderness can offer in the summer.
From Tampere, you can take a train ride to the capital of Lapland, Rovaniemi, which is approximately seven to eight hours long. Rovaniemi is the main hub for most activities in the area and they’re plentiful.
The majority of tours and activity groups leave from Rovaniemi with pick-up from nearby hotels, making it hassle-free if you decide not to rent a car to explore Rovaniemi, Lapland.
Image credits: Scandi Travel
Known for its magical Santa Claus Village, in Rovaniemi you can experience the magic of Christmas. There, you can meet Santa Claus, cross the Arctic Circle, and enjoy a winter wonderland even in Summer.
The Ultimate 7-Day Finland Itinerary For Summer 2023: Find out more here
Image credits: Husky Park
Although the activities here are a little different in summer, rest assured, you will still get a taste of what the village has to offer. Instead of taking a reindeer sleigh ride, you can walk with a reindeer. And instead of husky sledding, you’ll be able to experience huskies pulling your carriage (with wheels).
Image credits: Lapland Welcome
The next evening, immerse yourself in the Lapland forest landscape and experience a wild moose safari. On this five-hour safari, journey into the forest looking for moose, known throughout Finland as the King of the Forest due to their gracefulness despite their massive size and horns that look like a giant crown.
You’ll be accompanied by an experienced guide who will bring the expedition team deep into the Lappish forests to track and look for the shy creatures. Along the way, you might also get to see other wildlife like reindeer, hares, foxes, and owls or eagles.
The Ultimate 7-Day Finland Itinerary For Summer 2023: Find out more here
Image credits: Visit Rovaniemi
Alternatively, you can opt for a relaxing time aboard the Sauna Boat Scenic River Cruise. Inspired by the traditional Finnish sauna experience and the picturesque lake landscape, the concept of the floating sauna offers an unforgettable way to relax and unwind. At midnight, you can watch the midnight sun which is a rare opportunity for those who visit from June to July. Those who visit out of the season of the midnight sun like in August or late July can still enjoy long bright summer nights and sunsets.
The Ultimate 7-Day Finland Itinerary For Summer 2023: Find out more here
Image Credits: Visit Rovaniemi
For food, try local specialities such as Reindeer Meat, Grouse, Lappish Bread Cheese, or freshly caught Lake Trout. If you’re looking for restaurant recommendations in the city centre, try restaurant Nili for traditional Finnish Lappish cuisine and restaurant Roka for something more modern.
📍 Santa Claus Village, Tähtikuja 1, 96930 Rovaniemi
📍 Restaurant Roka, Ainonkatu 3LH2, 96200 Rovaniemi
📍 Restaurant Nili (Ravintola Nili), Valtakatu 20, 96200 Rovaniemi
Day 7: Helsinki
Image Credits: My Helsinki
Fly back to Helsinki and spend your last day exploring the city’s other attractions, such as the Temppeliaukio Church (aka the rock church), Sibelius Monument, Suomenlinna Fortress, and Studio Aalto!
Image Credits: My Helsinki
Don’t forget to enjoy some last-minute souvenir shopping and a farewell dinner at one of Helsinki’s best restaurants, Olo. Located in the heart of the city, Olo is a one Michelin-starred restaurant that features contemporary Scandinavian cooking with a focus on Finnish ingredients and flavours.
📍 Temppeliaukio Church, Lutherinkatu 3, 00100 Helsinki | 🎟 €5/ticket
📍 Sibelius Monument, Sibeliuksen puisto, Mechelininkatu, 00250 Helsinki
📍 Studio Aalto, Tiilimäki 20, FI-00330 Helsinki | 🎟 €20/ticket
📍 Olo, Pohjoisesplanadi 5, 00170 Helsinki
The Ultimate 7-Day Finland Itinerary For Summer 2023: Find out more here
Find Your Next Escapade In The Land Of A Thousand Lakes!
This 7-day itinerary for Finland in summer is a short but sweet way to experience the natural beauty, cultural heritage, and character of this fascinating scenic country. Who says Finland has to be icy to be fun? Take advantage of the long summer days, comfortable climate and clear skies. From the vibrant city of Helsinki to the stunning landscapes of Lapland, your trip to Finland is sure to be a memorable one. And no matter if you’re off in the Northern wilderness or enjoying a craft beer, don’t forget to use your YouTrip Card to enjoy those wholesale exchange rates!
As Singapore’s favourite multi-currency wallet, we aim to get those pesky fees out of the way and help you save on your travels. With the best foreign exchange rates, no longer will you have to deal with those long queues at money changers! So if you’re looking for a go-to travel card, sign up for your complimentary YouTrip card today with promo code <YTBLOG5> to get FREE S$5 in your account! Then, head over to our YouTrip Perks page for exclusive offers and promotions — we promise you won’t regret it. For more great tips and articles like this, join our Telegram (@YouTripSG) and subscribe to our free weekly newsletter here or down below.
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