When it snows, do you actually want to go outside? Does wearing a winter coat make you feel alive? Are you keen to see the Northern Lights with your own eyes? If you answered yes to these questions, you are perfectly suited for a Nordic winter holiday and this 10-day Finland and Norway itinerary is a great place to start.
We think this itinerary is pretty perfect because we followed this exact schedule for our own trip. That said, it is by no means an exhaustive tour of these two countries. (You’d need way more than 10 days for that!) This tour is more of a highlight real of some of the best things these countries have to offer.
In this post, we’ll provide a detailed itinerary for how to spend 10 epic days in Finland and Norway. We’ll start by explaining why Finland and Norway in the wintertime is actually a great idea. Then, we’ll go through some important details and things to know about the planning process. We’ll provide a quick overview of the itinerary, before diving into exactly how to fill each day. Finally, we’ll finish off with some suggestions for other things to see and do if you have a bit more time.
If you’re ready to plan a winter trip to Finland and Norway, keep reading!
Why Finland & Norway — and why in the Winter?!
Finland and Norway are both Nordic Countries and have a lot in common. They share similar a culture, history, architecture/design elements, lifestyle, and even (somewhat) politics. Because of their close proximity, they also have similar climates and, to some extent, geography.
While the two countries have plenty of differences — so much so that Norway is Scandinavian and Finland is not — many of those differences are not easily observed or experienced as a tourist. So for the sake of this section, we’re going to put them under a shared “Nordic” umbrella.
A trip to Finland and Norway provides a variety of incredible experiences. One thing that stands out about travel to this region is the nature. Even in the winter time, some of the best experiences can be found outdoors.
The Lapland region — which includes the northern parts of Norway, Finland and Sweden — is particularly famed for its stunning Arctic wilderness. The coastal regions and fjords are a playground for boat tours, kayaking and wildlife watching.
Finland and Norway are also great destinations for spotting the Northern Lights. Their northern latitudes are right in the heart of the Northern Lights oval. Thanks to the extra hours of darkness in the winter, the Northern Lights are visible almost 200 nights a year, on average. In fact, one particular stop on this itinerary is known for being one of the best places in the world to see the Northern Lights.
As a city gal, I’m always drawn to the vibes and aesthetics of the actual towns as well. I love a happening walking street, a bustling waterfront and anything with twinkle lights — the Nordic towns on this itinerary deliver on all fronts! Trust me — you will not be roughing it in the wilderness. This itinerary is fully loaded with creature comforts.
Why Winter, though?
We have nothing against Finland and Norway in the warmer months. Warm weather in this region gives way to more hiking, picnics and leisurely strolls in fewer layers. While we’ve never been to Finland during during the warm seasons, we have been to Norway and we had a great time.
But if we had to choose between Winter and Summer for a Nordic trip, we’d choose winter every time. Here’s why.
Let’s first address the obvious. Yes, it’s cold, but it’s not unbearable. Places further south like Helsinki and Oslo usually see winter temps in the 20s and 30s °F, which is pretty standard winter weather. (Coming from a gal who grew up in Illinois and now lives in NYC.) The further north you go, it does get colder, but the average highs are still in the 10s and 20s. It’s cold, but with the right gear, you will stay pretty comfortable. So don’t let the weather stop you.
Note: You don’t even need to invest in all new, high-quality winter gear. For many outdoor excursions, tour providers will include thermal clothing! You just need the basics. Be sure to check out our Finland Winter Packing List + Gear Recommendations for tips on what you actually need for Finland (and Norway.)
Similar to weather, is the snow. Both countries see a lot of snow between December and April, but Lapland sees the most. It varies by region, but on average Lapland gets snow on roughly 200 days each year. At any given time during the winter, there’s usually between 10 and 20 inches of snow on the ground. That’s still not enough to rank on the official “snowiest places in the world” list, but it’s close! Traveling through this real-life snow globe is a unique and magical experience that you can’t get in a lot places.
The snow isn’t just pretty, either. It opens up a whole new world of adventure. Winter in Finland and Norway includes opportunities for snowshoeing, snowmobiling, ice climbing, ice fishing, and more. Wintertime is also the only time you can see the Northern Lights. (Typically. There are rare aurora sightings during the spring and fall, but you cannot see them in the summer due to the Midnight Sun.)
Ultimately, Winter is the best time to visit Finland and Norway because it’s a unique winter experience that you can’t easily or reliably find in many other places in the world.
Itinerary overview
Here’s a quick overview of the itinerary we’re going to explore in this post. It basically calls for 2-3 days in Helsinki, Rovaniemi and Tromsø, with international flights in and out of Helsinki, Finland.
- Day 1: Arrive in Helsinki (This particular itinerary assumes an overnight flight arriving in the morning.)
- Day 2: Helsinki [City sights]
- Day 3: Helsinki [Neighborhoods and museums]
- Day 4: Helsinki [Suomenlinna] + Overnight train to Rovaniemi
- Day 5: Rovaniemi [Excursion, tour or day trip]
- Day 6: Rovaniemi [Santa Claus Village]
- Day 7: Fly to Tromsø
- Day 8: Tromsø [City sights, Northern Lights]
- Day 9: Tromsø [Fjellheisen cable car, Northern Lights]
- Day 10: Flight to Helsinki for Departure
If you want to jump right into the meat of this itinerary, click here. Otherwise, keep reading for some planning notes and tips.
Trip Planning Logistics
Whether you’re booking this specific itinerary or a similar one, this section will walk through some import things to know for booking this trip.
When to travel to Finland & Norway, specifically
I’ve already made my case for traveling to Finland and Norway in the winter, but that’s a pretty big window. December, January and February are the main winter months, but depending on where you go, it can start to be cold and snowy in October/November and last sometimes through May.
For the sake of this Itinerary, I’d suggest traveling in January or February. (We personally traveled in February and it was great.) During these two months, it might not actively snow, but you can almost guarantee snow on the ground in most of your destinations. (We did catch a warm front in Helsinki in February — mid 30s — though, so you never know.)
Why not December?
We don’t recommend December because of the Christmas crowds. This itinerary includes time in Rovaniemi — Santa Claus’ Hometown. As you can imagine, it is an incredibly popular in December. During the holiday season, the crowds are heavy, the lines are long, the prices are high and some things just sell out entirely. That makes everything more stressful and less fun.
If you travel during January or February, it’s still snowy and incredibly festive, but it is infinitely more chill. It just makes it easier to enjoy it with less stress.
How long to stay in Finland & Norway
This Itinerary calls for 10 days, which feels pretty good. You’ll have plenty of time to explore these destinations and go on a handful of excursions or day trips.
If you had more time, you could either pad this itinerary with an extra day in each city, or you could add an extra stop or two. We have some suggestions for beefing up this itinerary at the end of this post.
Flights & Airports
This itinerary starts and ends in Helsinki, which is home to Helsinki-Vantaa Airport (HEL.) It’s the busiest airport in Finland (which, don’t worry, is not that busy) and is the main hub of Finland’s flag carrier airline, Finnair. If you’re traveling to Finland, Helsinki is probably where you’ll fly to.
Tip: If you’re traveling long-haul, fly overnight when traveling east-to-west and fly during the day when traveling west-to-east. This will give you the easiest time adjusting to the jet lag.
Read more: We flew Finnair Business Class on the A350 from JFK to HEL. Check out this post for our thoughts on that specific flight experience.
There are a handful of other international airports in Finland and Norway, that you also might consider. The main alternative to Helsinki though, would be Oslo (OSL). This is a fine option, but this particular itinerary doesn’t include Oslo, so you’d need to make some adjustments.
Outside of the capitals, there are several other cities around Finland and Norway with regional airports. Many smaller airports only serve a handful of routes and often only on certain days. Be sure to check the flight schedules for your entire trip before you book anything. (This itinerary includes flights out of regional airports in both countries, so this is important to pay attention to.)
Getting Around Finland & Norway
There are a few different ways to get between cities in Finland and Norway.
Like the good little European countries that they are, both Finland and Norway are fairly well connected by rail for travel within the country. However, unlike many other European countries, the geography of Finland and Norway allows for very few trains to other countries. Always check your specific route, but it’s usually a good assumption that you can take trains between cities in the same country, and flights to most cities in other countries.
Transportation around each city will depend greatly on where you are. The capital cities in both Finland and Norway (Helsinki and Oslo respectively) are the only cities in each country that have a Metro. However, several cities in both countries offer other reliable public transportation options — most commonly, buses.
If public transportation isn’t an option, one alternative is to take a tour. This is a great way to reach locations you can’t get to by public transit, plus all the logistics are handled. Alternatively, for things like airport and hotel transfers, taxis and car services are always available.
The main takeaway here is that you probably don’t need to rent a car for a trip to Finland and Norway. This itinerary specifically does not require one.
Note: This itinerary does include short taxi rides in a car, specifically in Rovaniemi. That means if you’re traveling with a child, you should bring a car seat or book a car service that has car seats included.
Planning Timeline
Generally speaking, booking a Finland and Norway trip is pretty relaxed. (Unlike planning a trip to Italy, for example, which involves a complex timeline of advance bookings for every single attraction.)
The most important thing to book in advance is your flights. Plan to book your flights approximately 6 months in advance. We booked our flights in August for the following February.
The next most important booking is your Santa Claus Village Hotel reservation, if you’re interested in staying there. Reservations for November and December at this hotel sell out months in advance, often by April or May. If you are traveling outside of the holiday months, you have a bit more flexibility, but not that much. We booked in September for a February stay, and even then several dates and room categories were sold out. If you’re traveling in the winter and want to stay here, book it as soon as possible.
Read more: We stayed at Santa Claus Holiday Village Hotel, and have a full review if you want to know what that is like. We also have a post about Where to Stay in Rovaniemi, which provides a good analysis of whether or not it’s worth it to stay in the Santa Claus Village area.
No matter where you’re staying, you should also book your train ticket to Rovaniemi sooner rather than later. Again, this depends on your travel dates, but you should try to book this several months in advance for the best cabin selection and date availability.
Read more: Be sure to check out this post where we review our experience Riding the Santa Claus Express in a Deluxe Double Sleeper Cabin.
Most other bookings can be handled at your leisure, usually up until a few days before. This includes all of the other details like intercity trains and flights, accommodations, dining reservations, attraction tickets, and tours, which leads us too…
Booking Tours
If you’re traveling to Finland and Norway, there’s a good chance you’ll want to book one or more tours. If you want to explore nature, get out on the water, meet the local wildlife, go snow-sporting or chase the Northern Lights, booking a tour is the way to go.
Even if you’re not typically a “tour group person,” you might want to reconsider for Finland and Norway. There are a few reasons why.
First, tours often include rental gear. If you’re planning to do any outdoor activities, many tour groups will provide thermal snowsuits. That means you won’t have to buy or pack extreme weather gear to stay warm. This also includes any sporting or activity specific equipment, like snowshoes.
Tours also include transportation. This is a great way to see the parts of Finland and Norway that aren’t accessible via public transit — which is most of these countries — without having to rent a car.
Lastly, tours can often provide an experience you can’t easily have on your own. Some of these experiences include things like riding an ice breaker boat and floating on ice, actually spotting the Northern Lights, or going on a dog sled ride. Even if you had a car, you couldn’t necessarily have these experiences.
We personally took two different tours on this trip — Snowshoeing Excursion from Rovaniemi and Northern Lights Tour from Tromsø — both of which we booked both using Get Your Guide.
We like Get Your Guide because they have a ton of tour options, with real reviews from people who have taken the tours themselves. It’s also great because many of the tours offer free cancellation, if you cancel more than 24 hours in advance. It’s nice to know that if something changes or goes wrong, or I just change my mind, I’m not out the money.
We’ll include recommendations and links to specific tours throughout this post.
NOTE: We are members of the Get Your Guide affiliate program. If you click our link and book a tour, we may receive compensation at no additional cost to you.
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Let’s get planning! In these next sections we’ll explain how to fill 10 days in Finland and Norway. Along the way, we’ll include lots of tips and links to helpful posts.
Day 1: Arrive in Helsinki
This itinerary begins upon arrival in Helsinki, Finland. If you’re traveling from the east — like we were from NYC — you’ll want to book an evening departure the night before and fly overnight to Helsinki. In that case, you’ll probably arrive in Helsinki at some point before noon — probably a bit jet lagged, but now’s the time to rally.
Trains runs regularly (every 10 to 30 minutes, depending on the day and time) between the Helsinki Airport and Helsinki Central Station in the city center. There are two trains — the I and the P — which run opposite directions on the same loop. You can take either, but the P is about 5 minutes faster.
Tip: You can buy tickets at the kiosk on the platform or on the HSL app. For more details on tickets, be sure to check out this post on How to Take Public Transit in Helsinki.
The first order of business is checking into your hotel. Depending on your accommodation and the time of day, your room may or may not be ready. In most cases, you can at least drop off your bags so you’re not dragging them through the snow or slush. (There will be snow or slush.)
Where to Stay in Helsinki: We suggest staying in central Helsinki, within walking distance from Helsinki Central Station (ideally south of the station). Personally, we stayed at Hotel F6. We originally booked The Yard Hostel, but cancelled last minute because we wanted an indoor fitness center.
If you’re battling jet lag, it’s important to stay moving and ideally out in natural light. A good way to fill this time is to take a walk and get a lay of the land. Be sure to eat around typical meal times on local time and drink lots of water. Go to sleep at a reasonable hour on local time and try to rest up for your first full day.
Tip: I recently started bringing Liquid I.V. Hydration Multiplier +Sleep on trips to help with jet lag. I have found that if I drink one before bed on my first few nights, I get better sleep and adjust to the time change easier. (Disclaimer: I am not a doctor.)
Day 2: Helsinki — City sights
Spend your first fully day in Helsinki exploring the central business district and main city sites. Helsinki’s main CBD comprises three neighborhoods: Kluuvi (the area around Helsinki Central Station), Kruununhaka (the area north of the harbor), and Kaartinkaupunki (the area west of the harbor). This area is pretty compact and largely walkable, but there are also plenty of trams and buses if needed.
Read more: The Helsinki portion of this itinerary basically follows our 3 Days in Helsinki Itinerary but with days 2 and 3 switched to account for the train ride at the end of last day. Check out that post for more details, tips and a helpful map.
If you are a coffee drinker, start your day at Robert’s Coffee’s — specifically the Jugend location near the northeast corner of the Esplanade. It’s a regional coffee chain, but this location is beautiful and cozy inside. (Tip: Try the cinnamon bun!)
While you’re there, the Esplanade is a great next stop. During a winter visit, it is almost always covered in snow, but the walkways are cleared so it’s worth a stroll.
When you’re ready for lunch, visit the Old Market Hall. (It’s the black and white striped building that you can easily spot from the main harbor.) The market has several stalls that offer packaged goods, but also several cafes and restaurants that are great for lunch. It’s a great place to try the local cuisine, like reindeer sausage or salmon soup.
Note: The Old Market Hall is closed on Sundays.
You can see a lot of the city’s most iconic sites in a pretty short time. Fill your day with stops at Senate Square, the Helsinki Cathedral, Uspenski Cathedral and Market Square. The Bank of Finland Museum and the City Museum are both in the same area, and the sparkling streets of Kluuvi are lined with shops, malls, and cafes. (Don’t forget this is a winter itinerary, so museums and shops are a great way to warm up between sightseeing.)
Tip: Be sure to check the hours for the cathedrals and museums. They aren’t open every day and sometimes open late or close early in the winter. It can be a bit of a puzzle to see it all without too much zig-zagging around.
Day 3: Helsinki — Neighborhoods & Museums
While there is a lot to see in the central districts of Helsinki, there is even more scattered around town just a tram-ride away. Use your second full day to explore a few of these areas, including a neighborhood or two and a museum or two.
One of the best and easiest neighborhoods to explore is the trendy Punavuori district. Some of the highlights of this area include Sinebrychoff Park, Mikael Agricola Church, Fredrikinkatu (shopping street) and Iso Roobertinkatu (pedestrian street). The area has lots of thrift shops, art galleries and cafes that are great to pop in and out of.
If you have extra time, head southeast of Punavuori to the southern part of the Ullanlinna neighborhood. Huvilakatu is a beautiful street filled with colorful homes that leads right to waterfront. There’s a large park along the water. Follow that east and you’ll reach Kaivopuisto. There’s a hill in the middle of this park that has beautiful views. It’s definitely worth the detour if the weather is good.
Then head off to a different neighborhood for a museum and another activity. Here are three good pairings to consider:
- Finnish Museum of Natural History + Temppeliaukio Church
- Helsinki Tram Museum + Sibelius Monument + Cafe Regatta
- Art Museum Ateneum + Helsinki Central Library
We personally did the Tram Museum, which is very small but great for little kids who love trains. Cafe Regatta is super cute and Instagrammable, but do be prepared for very long lines as it has gotten very popular.
Day 4: Helsinki — Suomenlinna + Overnight train to Rovaniemi
This is your last morning at your hotel in Helsinki. Today’s schedule calls for a day trip which will likely last until the afternoon. Before you set off, be sure to check out of your hotel and store your luggage with bell services.
Note: If your hotel does not offer luggage storage, you can rent a locker at Helsinki Central Station instead. This works out well, because that’s where the overnight train departs from.
Next, head to the harbor and take the ferry to Suomenlinna.
Suomenlinna is a former military fortress on an island just off the coast of Helsinki. Today, the island is a UNESCO World Heritage Site where you can find many preserved buildings and structures, as well as several museums and other attractions. The island is very popular with both locals and tourists for its many parks and breathtaking views.
Read more: Check out our guide to Visiting Suomenlinna in the Winter. This post has tips for planning your transportation and what to expect from a winter visit specifically.
The island is car-free and there is no public transportation. Instead, there is a well maintained and marked walking path that follows a main route, with many other paths and trails that weave around the entire island (actually, it’s a few islands, and they’re connected by pedestrian bridges.)
Note: There are restaurants on the island, but they operate on limited hours during the winter season. Be sure to check locations and hours in advance.
A Suomenlinna day trip in the winter will probably take about 3 hours, likely getting you back to the harbor in the early afternoon. You’ll probably have a few hours to kill, and now is a great time to visit any places you might have missed, buy your souvenirs, or just cozy up in a cafe.
Tip: If you really want to keep busy, spend the afternoon at Allas Sea Pool. The facility has heated and unheated pools, and several saunas. There are showers available, too, so you can freshen up before you head to the train station.
Next up is the overnight train from Helsinki to Rovaniemi. Most likely, you’ll want to be back at your hotel to get your bags around 4:30 or 5. That should give you enough time to eat dinner and get to Helsinki Central Station by 6:30 for a 7:30 PM departure on the Santa Claus Express to Rovaniemi. (There’s also a later train, too, which would give you even more time.)
Read more: Check out this post about Riding the Santa Claus Express in a Deluxe Double Sleeper Cabin for everything you need to know about this train ride, including booking details.
Day 5: Rovaniemi — Excursion, Tour or Day Trip
The 7:30 PM Santa Claus Express arrives in Rovaniemi just after 7 AM. It’s about a mile from the train station to the city center of Rovaniemi. There’s no good public transportation options there, but it is walkable if you choose. There’s also always a line of taxis waiting at the station if you don’t want to walk or are going somewhere else.
You should head to your hotel first, but there’s a good chance your room won’t be ready. Most places will store your luggage, though, as they’re used to the rush of arrivals coming off of the morning train.
Where to Stay in Rovaniemi: There are three primary options: city center, Santa Claus Village area or a boutique hotel in the wilderness. If Santa Claus Village is the main reason you’re visiting Rovaniemi, we’d suggest staying near there. (It’s also close to the airport, which comes in handy on your way out of town.)
The fact that you might not have a room yet makes your arrival day perfect for a day trip.
There are so many options for excursions from Rovaniemi. We went snowshoeing, which was so much fun (even for our 3-year-old) and we’d highly recommend it! If that’s not your style, maybe take a day trip to see the Korouomo frozen waterfalls or consider a wildlife excursion like a reindeer sleigh ride. This ice breaker boat also looks so cool! (At the time of publication though, there were not yet any reviews and I did not personally do it, so I can’t say for sure.)
Whatever you choose, just be sure it starts at least a couple hours after your scheduled arrival. That way you don’t run into any issues if your train is delayed.
By the time you finish your activity, you’re room will probably be ready and you can relax and enjoy the rest of your night.
Day 6: Rovaniemi — Santa Claus Village
Rovaniemi is the official hometown of the real Santa Claus. Santa Claus Village is located about 5 miles north of the Rovaniemi train station (and basically across the street from the Rovaniemi Airport.)
Santa Claus Village is a Christmas themed amusement area on the Arctic Circle. The highlight of Santa Claus Village is of course Santa’s office, where you can meet the big man himself. You can also meet Mrs. Claus, go on a reindeer sleigh ride, and send a letter from Santa’s Post Office. There are several gift shops, restaurants and tour operators in the area, too. Everything at Santa Claus Village is pretty close together and walkable, along a pedestrian path.
Note: Santa Claus Village is open all year. Some attractions have different operating times outside of the holiday season, though, so be sure to check schedules in advance.
If you’re visiting outside of the holiday season, you really only need a few hours to do pretty much everything at Santa Claus Village. During peak season, though, it is much more crowded. Many of the attractions, specifically meeting Santa or going on a sleigh ride, have long lines, and everything will take longer — allot for a full day.
Once you’ve done all of the Christmas things, make your way over to Snowman World. This is a separate, ticketed snow-themed amusement park of sorts, that’s located on the grounds of Santa Claus Village. A ticket includes all day (come-and-go) access to snow and ice slides, ice skating, a snow maze and an ice bar made entirely out of ice. There is also an ice restaurant inside, which requires a separate reservation and an additional charge.
Read more: Check out this Handy Guide to Snowman World to learn all about this experience.
The combination of Christmas attractions and Snowman World fills a full day nicely.
Day 7: Fly to Tromsø
It’s time to pack up again and head to our next and final city: Tromsø, Norway. There are no direct trains between Rovaniemi and Tromsø, so plan to fly. During the winter, Finnair usually flies this route once per day (except Tuesdays.)
The flight is usually pretty early, and in our experience, the check-in queue was long and slow for such a small airport. Wherever you’re staying, it’s probably easiest to take a cab to the airport. However, there is a bus that goes to the airport from both the city center and Santa Claus Village.
The flight to Tromsø is pretty short. The Tromsø airport is located on the opposite side of the island from the city center. To get there, you can take either the Airport Express bus (faster, more expensive), a city bus (cheaper, more stops) or a taxi (fastest, most expensive.)
Between the early flight and the time difference (Tromsø is 1 hour ahead of Rovaniemi), it will probably still be before noon when you get to your hotel in Tromsø. Once again, there’s a good chance your room won’t be ready, but hopefully you can check your bags.
Where to Stay In Tromsø: The city is pretty small, and a bunch of hotels are clustered around the tourist center (on the east side of the island along the water, south of the Tromsø Bridge.) Tromsø is pretty expensive all around, so choose the hotel option that fits your budget. We personally stayed at Clarion Hotel The Edge and loved it.
You make what you wish out of the rest of your afternoon on your arrival day. One great thing to do is walk the waterfront, up toward the bridge, to get some great views of town. You might also want to pop into a cozy cafe or take your first stroll down Storgata, the main walking street.
Tip: Consider booking a Northern Lights tour for your arrival day in Tromsø, especially if seeing the lights is a priority for you. Many tours on Get Your Guide offer free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance. If you book tours on your first and third nights, you’ll have time to cancel your second tour if you see them on your first. And if you don’t, you’ll still have that second chance locked in.
Day 8: Tromsø — City sights & Northern Lights
Tromsø is a pretty small town that attracts a huge number of tourists for primarily one reason: it’s known as the best place in the world to see the Northern Lights.
Even though the Northern Lights are common around Tromsø — between September and March, the lights are often visible more than 50% of nights — they are far from guaranteed. The best advice anyone gives for seeing the Northern Lights is to give yourself as many chances as possible.
That’s why people tend to stay in Tromsø for several days, even though you don’t “need” that many days to see the city’s sights. Even still, there are plenty of ways to fill a few days in Tromsø.
Read more: Check out the 10 best things to do in Tromsø when you’re not chasing the Northern Lights.
On your first day, explore the tourist district. There a few museums in the area that you might want to visit, most notably the Polar Museum and the Troll Museum. If you like sea animals, Polaria is another good option. Be sure to take a stroll (or several) Storgata, and pop into the many shops for things like souvenirs, wool yarn, winter gear and more.
The other thing I’d highly recommend is a visit to Pust Sauna. It’s a tiny floating sauna right in Tromsø harbor. You can enjoy the stunning views of the nearby mountains from the hot sauna, and then cool off with a dip in the icy sea water.
Tip: If you want to go to Pust, you must book your spot in advance. Times do sell out, so try to book it a few days or weeks in advance if you’re interested.
Get an early dinner before you head out on your Northern Lights chase. Many tours depart around 5:30 or 6:30 PM.
Day 9: Tromsø — Fjellheisen Cable Car & Northern Lights
Spend your final day in Tromsø (and of this trip) soaking up the most amazing views in town from the top of Storsteinen mountain. If hiking a mountain in the snow isn’t on your trip Bingo card, don’t worry, the Fjellheisen Cable Car will get you to the top in just 4 minutes.
Tip: This attraction is really popular, and for good reason. It is really great! To avoid long lines, be sure to arrive at the cable car shortly after it opens at 9 AM (or within the first hour or so.)
The base of the cable car is here, in the mainland part of Tromsø, across the water from city center. To get there, you can either take a city bus or you can walk. The walk is just under 2 miles and includes a trip across the Tromsø Bridge and passes the Arctic Cathedral. (It sounds intimidating, but I promise it’s quite lovely.)
At the top, there’s a viewing deck and tons of open space to enjoy the view. (Plus a hiking trail up to an even higher peak if you’re feeling adventurous.) There’s also an indoor space at the peak, which has a cafe and bathrooms, and is a great place to warm up.
Once you get to the top, you can stay as long as you like. From start to finish, we spent about 3 hours here, which included lunch.
That leaves your afternoon pretty open. This is a great time to visit any places you missed (or revisit your favorite spots) or just relax before another long night of chasing the Northern Lights.
Tip: If you have time to stand in the queue, grab some hot dogs for dinner at Raketten. It’s very popular and you’ve surely passed it by now. It’s tasty and fun and definitely worth doing once during your visit.
Day 10: Fly to Helsinki for Departure
The details of your final day will largely depend on your travel schedule. This schedule assumes you’re flying round-trip out of Helsinki. If you’re flying east-to-west (say, back to Japan), you might have an evening departure the same day. If you are flying west-to-east (say, back to North America), you might have a daytime flight the next day. In either case, you probably want to head back toward Helsinki in morning or early afternoon on your 10th day.
To get from Tromsø back to Helsinki, it’s easiest and fastest to fly. Finnair operates this route one to three times a day, depending on the day.
If you’re not flying out until the next day, it’s a good idea to just book a hotel near the airport for your final night. We stayed at the airport Hilton, which was just a short walk to the terminal. There are a handful of options in the area, though.
If you get into Helsinki early and don’t fly out till the next day, you can easily take the train into the city center for one more afternoon of fun. If you haven’t done the SkyWheel or Allas Sea Pool, those are both good options.
Another great way to spend a few extra hours, especially if you have kids, is Heureka. This science center in Vantaa (the same city the airport is technically located in) is just a 25 minute train ride from the airport. (That’s about as long as it takes to get to Helsinki city center.) It is such a fun and interactive museum with lots of cool exhibits and activities. We spent the morning here before our 4 PM departure, and had the best time.
Other Itinerary Additions
That was a pretty solid and busy 10 days in Helsinki, Rovaniemi and Tromsø. If you have more time, or just want to make some modifications to this itinerary, there is plenty more in the region to tack on.
Here are just a few ideas for things you could add or substitute in this itinerary, and how long you’ll need.
- Tallinn, Estonia (+1 day in Helsinki): You can visit Tallinn as a day trip from Helsinki. It’s a 2-hour ferry ride with multiple daily sailings in both directions. (Book ferry tickets in advance.)
- Oslo, Norway (+2-3 days): Oslo is a beautiful (albeit expensive) city and makes a perfect addition to this itinerary. You’ll probably have to fly there, so plan to spend at least one or two full days. Don’t miss the Fram Museum and the Norwegian Folk Museum.
- Copenhagen, Denmark (+2-3 days): Check off another Nordic country with a visit to Denmark’s capital. This city is a beautiful mix of charm and quirk and trendiness that is unlike anywhere else. Be sure to visit Freetown Christiania, Nyhavn and Tivoli Gardens. From Copenhagen, you can also take a day trip to Malmö, if you want an easy way to also add Sweden to your itinerary.
- Stockholm, Sweden (+2 days): To add Sweden without adding Denmark, add a stop in Stockholm. From there, it’s a short and cheap flight back to Helsinki, so you can still plan to fly round-trip out of Helsinki.
These are four great ways to add additional countries to your itinerary. However, some of these cities also require additional flights, which might add more to your budget than you’d like. Another option is to add an extra day or two to each of the cities on the original itinerary.
Here’s how I would fill that extra time.
- Helsinki: We had three days here, and it still wasn’t enough to see it all. If I had another day, I would have taken the ferry to Seurasaari island, which looks stunning in the snow. We also never made it to Temppeliaukio Church or the Finnish Museum of Natural History, nor did we take the day trip to Tallinn. I could have filled at least 2-3 more days in Helsinki if I had the time.
- Rovaniemi: Take another tour. I always remember Rovaniemi as the snowiest place I’ve ever been, and if I could change one thing about this trip it’d be to spend more time out in the snow. I went snowshoeing, but if I had an extra day, I’d love to also take a tour to see the frozen waterfalls.
- Tromsø: I would have loved to spend some time on the water (she says, knowing exactly why she didn’t spend any time on the water.) If I didn’t get deathly seasick every time I tried to go on a boat, I’d have loved to explore the fjords, gone whale watching or even done a Northern Lights cruise.
Closing Thoughts
I think if I had one closing argument for this post, it would be that snowy vacations are underrated. Everyone tends to fly south for the winter, and I think we should be flying north. More snow, more magic, am I right?
If nothing else, I hope I took some of the anxiety out of the idea of a winter trip to Finland and Norway. It’s cold and dark, but it’s magical as can be. This itinerary is a perfect way to enjoy some of the highlights of Finland and Norway in just 10 days.
I hope you enjoy your winter trip to Finland and Norway!
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