Start your Finnish food adventure with a visit to the Hakaniemi Market Hall, a historic indoor market filled with deli counters, food stalls, and small restaurants. Try traditional delicacies like reindeer meat and Finnish pastries like pulla. In the afternoon, take a food tour to try Helsinki’s best seafood dishes. End the day with a drink at A21 Cocktail Lounge, a speakeasy-style bar serving unique cocktails and snacks.
Explore Turku, Finland’s oldest city and its food culture. Start with a visit to the indoor market hall of Kauppatori. Try Finnish cheese, smoked fish, and cloudberries. For lunch, head to Roster Turku, a modern Finnish restaurant that serves locally-sourced ingredients. Afterward, take a riverboat tour and have dinner on-board to see a sunset over Turku archipelago.
Discover the charming old town of Porvoo, one of Finland’s six medieval towns. Visit Porvoo’s landmark, the Cathedral of Porvoo, and stroll through the narrow streets of the old town. Have lunch at Tallipiha Aitta, a traditional Finnish restaurant, and try some Finnish meatballs and salmon soup. In the afternoon, take a tour to the Porvoo Brewery, a family-run craft brewery.
Experience the Finnish sauna culture in the city of Tampere. Start with a hearty brunch at Kahvila Tyyni, a chic café that serves Nordic pastries and sandwiches. Afterward, visit the Rauhaniemi Sauna, a public sauna by Lake Pyhäjärvi. In the evening, have dinner at Sauna Restaurant Kuuma, known for its traditional Finnish dishes with a modern twist.
Get a taste of Finland’s northern cuisine in Oulu, a city located by the Bothnian Bay. Start with a visit to the Rotuaari Market Hall, where you can try traditional Finnish food like sautéed reindeer and Karelian pies. For dinner, head to the River Restaurant, a fine-dining restaurant that serves dishes made from locally-sourced ingredients from the nearby river.
Experience the Lapland’s unique culinary culture in Rovaniemi, the official hometown of Santa Claus. Start your day with breakfast at Lapland Restaurant Kotahovi, which offers traditional Sami breakfast dishes. Take a snowmobile safari to the Arctic Snow Hotel and have lunch at its ice restaurant. In the evening, have a dinner at Nili Restaurant, known for its Sámi food and its cozy atmosphere.
Explore Kemi, a city on the coast of the Gulf of Bothnia. Start with a visit to the Kemi SnowCastle, a unique ice structure that has a snow hotel, a snow chapel, and an ice bar. For lunch, head to the Snowcastle Restaurant, which serves Lappish delicacies. In the afternoon, visit the Kemin Jalokivigalleria to see and shop for Finnish gemstones like Lapponia Jewelry.
Discover cuisine from Finland’s historical eastern region in Savonlinna, a city of lakes and castles. Start with visiting the Olavinlinna Castle,which has a medieval food hall where Finnish banquet dishes are served. For lunch, try some traditional Karelian pasties at Marttisen Pirtti, a café that is located in a farm museum. In the afternoon, join a guided fishing tour and have the host cook the fresh catch for dinner.
End your Finnish food journey with a visit to the Market Square in Helsinki, which is known for its fresh market produce and food stalls. Have your last Finnish meal for lunch at Johan & Nyström, where you can find some creative coffee and homemade sandwiches. In the afternoon, do some souvenir shopping at the Design District and take a walk in the Esplanade Park.
Train is the most convenient way to travel between cities in Finland. Book in advance to get a seat on the comfortable Pendolino trains. For getting around within cities, walk or rent a bike. Taxis are also available but can be expensive. The total cost for transportation is about $$$-$$$$. The travel time for the entire itinerary can vary depending on the train schedule, but it can take about 10-12 hours in total.
If you have more time, visit Lapland in winter to see the Northern Lights and to experience unique winter activities like husky sledding and reindeer rides. If you have less time, skip Savonlinna and head directly to Helsinki from Rovaniemi. To save money on food, try the daily specials and set menus, which are usually cheaper than ordering a la carte. Bring comfortable walking shoes and warm clothing for colder months. Remember to bring cash, as some places do not accept credit cards.
The airport in Helsinki is the main international airport in Finland. It is called Helsinki-Vantaa Airport (HEL) and it is located about 18km from the city center. There are direct flights to Helsinki from major cities in Europe, Asia, and North America. Other airports in Finland are mostly regional and have fewer international connections.