Finland and Sweden: walking in the heart of the Far North

First day

Welcome to Helsinki! We arrive in the Finnish capital on our flights and head to the city center on a comfortable train. The calm atmosphere at the airport immediately tells us that we have arrived in Northern Europe: no rush, just a pleasant and respectful silence that perfectly matches the Nordic landscapes we can see from the train windows. Our hotel is located a stone's throw from the beautiful Kaisaniemi Puisto Botanical Garden and is also convenient for exploring the entire city on foot. For those arriving early, we recommend starting to visit the city: right next to the station is Oodi, Helsinki's innovative and beautiful central library with a distinctly Finnish design. We will then meet in the early evening at the hotel with our travel companions and guide: during dinner, they will explain our next stops on this journey through the Nordic countries.

Second day

The Finnish capital: Helsinki and Soumnlinna Island
This holiday in Finland begins with a visit to Helsinki: we will walk together through the streets of the city to Senate Square, where the majestic Protestant Cathedral stands, and then move on to see the Orthodox Cathedral of the Dormition, just a few steps away, which is equally impressive but with different architectural features. We then head to Kauppatori ( Market Square), where we can enjoy a typical lunch at the stands by the sea. After lunch, we continue with a ferry tour tothe island of Suomenlinna, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We visit the island, a veritable 18th-century sea fortress built on six different islands and known as "The Castle of Finland." We return to the mainland and collect our belongings: a transfer to Turku awaits us, where we will arrive in time for dinner.

Third day

Turku, Lake Littoinen, and a traditional Finnish sauna
Today we wake up in Finland's ancient capital: we visit Turku, smaller than Helsinki but equally interesting from a cultural and naturalistic point of view. We explore its Protestant cathedral (Tuomiokirkko) and its old covered market (Kauppahalli) and stroll along the beautiful Aura River, where many modern and ancient ships are on display. A special place to learn more about Finnish culture is the Luostarinmäki open-air museum, consisting of original wooden houses from the 1800s. In the afternoon, we will take a short excursion along Lake Littoinen, with a Finnish surprise at the end! We deserve a real traditional Finnish sauna at Villa Jarvelä: we will learn how to enjoy this traditional ritual without rushing, following all the steps one by one. Ten minutes in the sauna followed by a dip in the icy waters of the lake will make us feel truly alive! If we want, we can have dinner with a nice barbecue in front of the lake: what a fantastic way to end the day!

Fourth day

Excursion to the Turku archipelago
This morning we embark on a mini cruise in the Baltic Sea to reachSeili Island ( Själö in Swedish), in the archipelago off Turku (in September this excursion will probably be replacedby the excursion to Vepsä Island). This island, whose name is often interpreted as Island of Souls (själar), has a sinister past as a place of isolation for lepers and then as a psychiatric hospital, but today it is home to a branch of the University of Turku and is one of the most beautiful places to visit in Finland, much loved by the Finns themselves!
Here we stroll to discover the lush nature of the archipelago, learning about its history and its links to the rest of Finland.
The fourth day of our holiday in Finland ends with the ferry to Turku, where we can look for a good Finnish restaurant for dinner and then rest.

Fifth day

Cruise on the Baltic Sea and the Åland Islands
Another day among the Nordic countries! Today we set sail for Sweden on a scenic cruise on the Baltic Sea: the day will be one of pure relaxation aboard the large boat, from which we can enjoy the spectacular Nordic landscape as if we were at the cinema. Archipelagos of wild islands and calm seas will accompany us on our crossing from Turku to Stockholm: we will sail through the Åland Islands ( literally "Land of Perch"), an autonomous Finnish province where more than 30,000 people live on 60 islands. Our voyage will continue peacefully until we arrive in Stockholm in the early evening. Here we will settle into our hotel and look for a good restaurant for dinner.

Sixth day

Discovering Stockholm
We are ready to explore the Swedish capital! Today we're going to visit Stockholm far and wide: we'll take the pedestrian street that leads us straight to the heart of the city. Gamla Stan is Stockholm's old town: it encapsulates the essence of the city, with its medieval buildings overlooking Stortorget square and its narrow streets full of bars and shops. The majestic Royal Palace, dating back to the 18th century, is the gateway to the city. From there, we will move on to the Skansen open-air museum: a real journey into Swedish culture, through historic buildings, natural landscapes, plant and animal species.
We will have lunch with something local and then enjoy the afternoon off. For those who appreciate museums, there are many here in Stockholm: the Vasa Museum, dedicated to the world's best-preserved 17th-century ship, or the Nobel Museum, or the one dedicated to ABBA. There will be time to shop for local products to take home and stroll through Stockholm's most beautiful parks (we recommend the Royal Djurgården).
In the evening, we will have our last dinner together at a restaurant in Stockholm.

Seventh day

Last wake-up call in Stockholm, it's time to say goodbye to the Great North! This week's trip to Finland and Sweden has left us speechless: nature manifesting itself in dense forests and beautiful lakes in Finland, passing through the unique archipelagos that rise from the calm sea between one peninsula and another; the strong culture visible in the architecture and squares of Helsinki, Turku, and Stockholm; the calm and respectful way of life of these peoples.
This vacation gave us the opportunity to see places and situations far from our normality, but the feeling is that they are actually much closer than they seem. With the hope of carrying this experience in our hearts, we say goodbye until next time!