Day 1

Helsinki
Arrival at the airport in Helsinki. Transfer to the hotel.

 

Day 2

Helsinki
Enjoy the sightseeing in a high-tech metropolis with the charm of a village. Quirky Helsinki is a Nordic gem. See world-class architecture visiting Helsinki's two main churches - the Lutheran Helsinki Cathedral and the Orthodox Uspenski Cathedral. They stand in stark contrast to each other and set the scene for this unique city. Visit Timo and Tuomo Suomalainen's Temppeliaukio Church, carved straight out of the rock that reveals the Finnish creative touch. Sit on the steps in Senate Square and marvel at the neo-classical surroundings. Enjoy a boat ride to explore the rugged coastline and Helsinki's 315 islands.

 

Day 3

Helsinki – Hämeenlinna (100km./1h.) – Aulanko – Hameenlinna
Catch the train to Hämeenlinna, a traditional and vibrant educational and cultural town. Enjoy the ideal combination of nature and culture. Visit the city's landmark, one of the largest and most famous castles in Finland built during the middle ages. Hämeenlinna is also famous for its unique Aulanko Park and as the birthplace of Finnish composer Jean Sibelius. Enjoy Hameenlinna town market square in the city centre, a typical Finnish and a main attraction for tourists. Visit the Holy Cross Church, a medieval, gothic church, built mostly of red bricks. Inside there are many paintings and sculptures. See the Ahvenisto ridge, a beautiful ridge area. Enjoy the beach of the lake Ahvenisto. 

 

Day 4

Hämeenlinna – Tampere(8h.)
Depart by boat for a lake cruise to Tampere. Visit Visavuori, a museum entity comprising the Home and Atelier Museum of the artist Emil Wikström and the Kari-Pavilion exhibiting the works of Wikström's grandson, the most famous cartoonist in Finland. Disembark in Tampere.

 

Day 5

Tampere
Start from Finland's largest glass sculpture, owned by the City of Tampere, "Pack Ice / The Mirror of the Sea". Enjoy spectacular views from an old red-brick observation tower situated on top of the impressive Pyynikki Ridge. The city is famous for its museums. Visit the Vapriikki Museum Centre, which includes the Natural History Museum of Tampere. Continue to Finnish Hockey Hall of Fame, one of the six museums in the world that have specialized in the history of the ice hockey. Visit The Old Church (Vanha kirkko) on the edge of the Tampere Central Square.

 

Day 6

Tampere – Turku(160km./2h.) – Helsinki (160km./2h.)
Travel by train to Turku. Visit the Turku Castle, a must for everyone visiting the city. Highlights include the two dungeons and magnificent banquet halls, and a historical museum of medieval Turku in a maze of restored rooms in the castle's old bailey. See the Turku Cathedral, the Mother Church of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland, and the country's national shrine. It is also regarded as one of the major records of Finnish architectural history. Continue to Luostarinmäki. In 1827 a fire destroyed almost all of Turku. Luostarinmäki was one of the few areas that were saved, and now it hosts a handicrafts museum. Back to Helsinki.

 

Day 7

Transfer to the airport.