Best of Finland
HELSINKI – SAVONLINNA – KUOPIO – TURKU
12 days | 11 nights
This individual package tour is the perfect way to discover Southern Finland and the famous Lakeland district. After three nights in the bustling capital of Helsinki, you will discover the picturesque city of Savonlinna, built on a number of islands in the Lake Saimaa and famous for its Opera festival during the month of July every year. A steam ship will take you through the Lakeland to the city of Kuopio. The tour ends in Finland’s oldest city Turku, famous for its historic castle and loved for its good food and nearby archipelago.
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Minimum number of participants: Two adults.
| Day 1 | Arrival in Helsinki | More information |
| Day 2 | Guided walk in Helsinki with private guide | More information |
| Day 3 | Helsinki | More information |
| Day 4 | Helsinki-Savonlinna by bus | More information |
| Day 5 | Guided tour of Savonlinna and Olavinlinna Castle | More information |
| Day 6 | Guided tour to Valamo Monastery | More information |
| Day 7 | Savonlinna-Kuopio by steam ship | More information |
| Day 8 | Boat excursion to Alahovi Berry Wine Farm including lunch | More information |
| Day 9 | Kuopio-Turku by bus | More information |
| Day 10 | Turku | More information |
| Day 11 | Turku | More information |
| Day 12 | Turku-Helsinki Vantaa Airport by train | More information |
Included
Transfer from Helsinki Vantaa Airport to your hotel in the centre of Helsinki
Three nights at the Lilla Roberts Helsinki, including breakfast
Guided walk in Helsinki with private guide (10:00-13:00)
Transfer to Helsinki Bus Station
Helsinki-Savolinna by bus (duration: 4 hours 30 minutes)
Three nights at the Original Sokos Hotel Seurahuone in the centre of Savonlinna, including breakfast
Guided tour of Savonlinna and Olavinlinna Castle (3 hours)
Guided tour to Valamo monastery (5 hours)
Savonlinna-Kupio by steam ship
Two nights at the Original Sokos Hotel Puijonsarvi Kuopio, including breakfast
Boat excursion to Alahovi Berry Wine Farm including lunch
Kuopio-Turku by bus (duration: 6 hours 30 minutes)
Three nights at the Solo Sokos Hotel Turun Seurahuone in the centre of Turku, incl. breakfast
The Turku Museum Card valid three days
The Turku Restaurant Card valid at five out of ten local and authentic restaurants
Turku-Helsinki Vantaa by train (duration: 2 hours 30 minutes; change of trains at Pasila)
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Optional
Day trip to Tallinn in Estonia
Steamboat day tour from Helsinki to Porvoo.
Discover a traditional sauna in Savonlinna
Jet Ski Adventure in Savonlinna
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Not included
Flights to / from Helsinki
All activities not mentioned as “included”
As from 1995 EUR per person
Minimum number of participants: Two adults
English
1 July – 31 August 2021
The steam ship between Savonlinna and Kuopio operates from 1 July to 2 August 2021
DAY 1
Arrival in Helsinki
Transfer to your hotel in the centre of Helsinki
Three nights at the Lilla Roberts Helsinki, including breakfast
DAY 2
City Walk with your own Private Guide (10:00-13:00)
We will start with a short stroll along the Esplanadi Boulevard, just next to your hotel. During the walk we will pass by many interesting places: the Senate Square, the Cathedral of Helsinki, the Uspenski Russian Cathedral, the Central Railway Station and The Market Square. Should you have a special interest, please let us know so that we can adapt the tour.
DAY 3
Free time in Helsinki
You can add a day trip by steamboat to Porvoo. It is also possible to visit Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, by ferry. Each voyage lasts two hours and in Tallinn it is possible to include a panoramic tour with your own private guide and driver.
DAY 4
Helsinki-Savonlinna by bus
Transfer to Helsinki Bus Station
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Welcome to Savonlinna, the pearl of Lake Saimaa and Finland’s Lakeland. The city was founded in 1639 and is built on islands, so Lake Saimaa is never far away. The Savonlinna Opera festival is a cultural event known across the world, and with Olavinlinna castle as its stage, is a one of a kind historic attraction. In addition to opera, Savonlinna offers many other forms of live music, art, theatre and history to anyone travelling here.
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Three nights at the Original Sokos Hotel Seurahuone, including breakfast
DAY 5
Guided tour of Savonlinna and Olavinlinna Castle (3 hours)
Your guide will pick you up at your hotel and will tell you many fascinating facts about the city and the area. You will visit Olavinlinna Castle, founded in 1475 by the Danish-born knight Erik Axelsson Tott. The castle was built in order to repel Russian attacks and to guarantee the control for the Swedish Crown. The history of Olavinlinna is a mixture of medieval arms clashing, cannons roaring and people doing everyday duties inside the security of the castle’s thick walls.
DAY 6
Guided tour to Valamo Monastery (5 hours)
Your guide will pick you up at your hotel and will take you through the Finnish countryside to the Valamo Monastery, an active centre of the Orthodox religious life and culture in Finland. Located in the beautiful surroundings of Heinävesi, the monastery welcomes visitors throughout the year. The peaceful atmosphere and the close proximity to nature offer a rare opportunity to relax far from the bustle and noise of everyday life.
Optional evening excursions: Discover a traditional sauna or Jet Ski Adventure
Contact us for more information.
DAY 7
Savonlinna-Kuopio by steam ship
Departure from Savonlinna at 09:00. Welcome onboard the steamship MS Puijo, which will take you on the Heinävesi canal route through Finland´s finest lakeland scenery. We arrive to Kuopio at 19.30.
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Two nights at the Original Sokos Hotel Puijonsarvi Kuopio, including breakfast
DAY 8
Boat excursion to Alahovi Berry Wine Farm including lunch
Departure at noon. After 1 hour and 30 minutes on board, we arrive at Alahovi Berry Wine Farm, where we will enjoy a berry wine and liqueur tasting and learn more about berry wine production. We have some time on our own to discover the surroundings before we head back to Kuopio, where we arrive at 4 pm.
DAY 9
Kuopio-Turku by bus
Turku was founded in 1229 and is Finland’s oldest city. Today being Finland’s third biggest city, Turku is home to a number of yearly events and festivals: tango, middle age, music, theatre and design. Turku retains its enchanting old town feel while increasingly becoming a culinary hub. Turku offers excellent restaurants that will flick your taste buds and make visitors go back for seconds.
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Three nights at the Solo Sokos Hotel Turun Seurahuone, including breakfast
The Turku Museum Card valid three days
The Turku Restaurant Card valid at five out of ten local and authentic restaurants along the banks of the River Aura
DAY 10
Turku
The entrance to Turku Castle is included in your Turku Museum Card. The fortress of Turku Castle has stood at the edge of the river Aura since the 1280’s. During its history, it has been a defensive bastion, a majestic court, an administrative centre, a prison, a storehouse and a barracks. Nowadays the castle is a must visit tourist attraction in Finland.
DAY 11
Turku
Turku Art Museum manages one of Finland’s most comprehensive art collections and features art from Finland’s Golden Age at the turn of the 20th century, self-portraits, Finnish surrealism as well as pop art. Thanks to your Turku Museum Card, the entrance is included in your trip. The museum’s collection includes almost 7000 pieces and part of the collection is on continuous display through changing exhibitions. The museum’s national romantic granite building is one of the city’s most prominent landmarks and also an attraction in itself.
DAY 12
Turku-Helsinki Vantaa Airport by train
End of programme. You can also continue your trip to Stockholm on a day cruise. Contact us for more details.
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