Europe · 2 cities
Things to Do in Finland
Rovaniemi and Helsinki in one place: what the Arctic Circle town is actually like outside December, when the aurora season runs, and how the ferry culture works in the south.
1,209 tours listed by Viator 2 cities we cover Free cancellation
Where to go
Cities of Finland
In the order Viator’s own catalogue puts them — most-booked first, not alphabetical.
Full list
All cities, by region
Grouped by region using Viator’s own map of the country. The first block is the places it files directly under Finland.
Practical info
Know before you book
The things that change a decision — not a retelling of the guidebook.
Rovaniemi sits on the Arctic Circle
Santa Claus Village is directly on the line, open all year and free to enter — you pay for the activities, not the gate. December is the extreme peak; the same husky and aurora tours in February cost noticeably less and the snow is deeper.
The aurora season runs September to March
Lapland is under the auroral oval and sightings are frequent on clear nights, but nothing is guaranteed. Glass igloos and aurora cabins for the Christmas period are booked close to a year in advance and are the first thing to fix if they matter.
Polar night and midnight sun both apply here
Rovaniemi has a few weeks around the solstice with no true sunrise, and about two months in summer where it never really gets dark. Both are worth experiencing and both reshape what a day can hold.
The sauna is not a spa treatment
There are more saunas than cars in Finland and going to one is ordinary social life rather than a luxury. Public saunas are usually single-sex and taken without swimwear, and conversation is quiet. Helsinki has several excellent modern ones open to visitors.
Helsinki is a ferry city
Suomenlinna, the sea fortress and UNESCO site, is reached on an ordinary public transport ferry with a normal city ticket. Tallinn is two hours across the gulf and is a common day trip — a different country, and a very easy one.
Finland is in the euro, unlike its neighbours
Sweden and Norway are not, which matters if you are combining them. Cards are accepted everywhere, including on buses and at market stalls, and cash is close to unnecessary.
When to visit
Finland through the seasons
What is open, how busy it gets, and when to book ahead.
Spring
Apr–May
- Best for
- Late snow with long light in Lapland, Helsinki thawing, very low prices.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- April in the north still has full snow cover and sixteen hours of daylight — underrated.
Summer
Jun–Aug
- Best for
- Midnight sun, the lakes, island ferries, hiking in Lapland without snow.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Midsummer weekend in late June closes shops and empties Helsinki, as in Sweden.
Autumn
Sep–Oct
- Best for
- Ruska — the Lapland autumn colour — and the first aurora nights of the season.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- September gives northern lights without the deep cold, and the hiking is still open.
Winter
Nov–Mar
- Best for
- Huskies, reindeer, aurora, and Rovaniemi at its most in demand.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- December is the price peak; January to March is colder, cheaper and better for lights.
Frequently asked
Finland: common questions
How many days do you need in Finland?
Two or three days for Helsinki, and three or four in Rovaniemi if you are going north — enough to have more than one clear-sky attempt at the aurora. The two are an hour and a quarter apart by plane, or an overnight train.
What does a tour in Finland cost?
Finland is not in our fifty-city price index, so we will not quote a median. In practice Lapland activity days — husky sledding, reindeer farms, aurora chases — are the expensive end of Nordic touring, while Helsinki city tours are ordinary European prices.
When can you see the northern lights?
September to March in Lapland, on clear nights. The peak months for darkness and clarity are January to March. Nothing is visible in summer. Give yourself three nights in the north rather than one.
Is Rovaniemi worth visiting outside December?
Very much so. February and March have deeper snow, better aurora odds and materially lower prices, with all the same husky and reindeer activities running. December buys you the Christmas atmosphere and little else that the other months lack.
Are tours run in English?
Universally. English proficiency is very high and the Lapland tourism industry is built around international visitors, so English departures are the default rather than the exception.
