Travel guides › What to book › Finland

What to book before you travel to Finland?

Most visits can be booked on the spot. A few sell out days ahead. Here they are, stop by stop, with what you can do without booking underneath. Keep the rest of your time free.

Trip length
WeekendOne weekTwo weeks

8 activities to book · about €312 per person

Helsinki

Days 1-2
Days 1-2Suomenlinna fortress (ferry and visit)Half dayA sea fortress built across a group of islands from 1748, UNESCO-listed, reached by the city ferry in about fifteen minutes.€15Book on GetYourGuide →
Days 1-2Public sauna and a cold dip2hThe Finnish ritual: heat, a plunge into the sea or a cold pool, then back in. Löyly and Allas Sea Pool are the best known in Helsinki.€20Book on GetYourGuide →

No booking needed: Helsinki Cathedral · The Market Square by the harbour · The Design District

All activities in Helsinki on GetYourGuide

Porvoo

Day 3
Day 3Guided walk of the wooden old town1h30The red riverside storehouses and the wooden houses behind them, with someone to tell you who lived there.€12Book on GetYourGuide →
Day 3Cruise from Helsinki3hAlong the archipelago to Porvoo by boat, a few hours each way. It runs in summer only.€35Book on GetYourGuide →

No booking needed: The red storehouses along the river · Porvoo Cathedral · The cobbled lanes · Craft and chocolate shops

All activities in Porvoo on GetYourGuide

Lake Saimaa

Days 4-5
Days 4-5Lake cruise and locksHalf dayHalf a day on the water between the islands. Some routes pass through the locks that join the lake basins.€30Book on GetYourGuide →
Days 4-5Kayak or floating sauna2hPaddle between the islands, or take a sauna on a raft and swim straight off the edge.€35Book on GetYourGuide →

No booking needed: Islands and forest as far as you can see · Saimaa ringed seals · Lake swimming in summer · Lakeside nature trails

All activities in Lake Saimaa on GetYourGuide

Rovaniemi (Lapland)

Days 6-7
Days 6-7Snowmobile safari and northern lightsEveningAn evening out on the snow, away from the town lights, to give the aurora its best chance. Sightings are never guaranteed.€120Book on GetYourGuide →
Days 6-7Santa Claus Village and reindeerHalf daySanta's village on the Arctic Circle, then a sleigh ride or a visit to a reindeer farm.€45Book on GetYourGuide →

No booking needed: The Arctic Circle line · Snow-covered forests · The northern lights (winter) · The midnight sun (summer)

All activities in Rovaniemi (Lapland) on GetYourGuide

Indicative prices per person, checked when written. The button opens the GetYourGuide search for the activity and the town, on the days of the stop once your dates are known. Some links are affiliate links: we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.

Frequently asked questions

How much do the activities to book in Finland cost?

€312 per person if you do them all, across 8 bookings. The most expensive is "Snowmobile safari and northern lights" at €120, the cheapest "Guided walk of the wooden old town" at €12. Prices checked when written: confirm them when you book.

What can you do in Finland without booking anything?

15 visits on this itinerary need no ticket or time slot, starting with Helsinki Cathedral, The Market Square by the harbour, The Design District, The red storehouses along the river. They make up most of your days: booking ahead only concerns a handful of sites with limited places.

At which stop should you book earliest?

Helsinki, with 2 activities to book, against 2 at the quietest stop. That is where slots go first.

How long do these activities take?

From 1h30 for the shortest to Half day for the longest. Fit them into your days before filling the rest: a guided visit often takes half a day.

The rest of the trip

📒 The free printable Finland guide: itinerary, map, where to sleep→ 🗓️ Best time to visit Finland, month by month→ 🎟️ What to book: all our destinations→