Article mis à jour le 16 Aug 2024
One week itinerary for your trip to Finland in summer
If you are looking for an unusual destination to visit in the summer, Finland is the place to go! Composed of 70% forests and 10% water, the Finnish lands will seduce travellers in search of nature and calm. Finland is the perfect country to try the “slow life”!
Summer road trip in Finland: one week
During this one-week trip to Finland, I focused on the heart of the country, namely the Finnish Lakeland, the largest lake region in Europe!
Practical information for your road trip in Finland
↠ How to get to Finland?
From France, I advise you to fly to Helsinki.
Find the best airfares here thanks to Ulysse. Take advantage of a €10 discount on your first booking by registering via our link.
↠ Rent a car for your road trip in Finland
To find a car rental in Finland, compare prices on Discovercars. This comparator scans the entire market and gives very low prices. They’re even cheaper than on direct rental websites.
↠ What budget for a week’s travel in Finland in summer?
Finland is a fairly expensive destination. Prices are correlated with the country’s wages, which are higher than in France. The local currency is the euro. Here are the details of the budget for a trip to Finland in summer:
Flights from Paris to Helsinki: 230€ per person (August 2022 prices)
Car rental: 350€ for the week
Petrol costs: 170€.
Hotels: 150€ per night on average
Restaurants: 70€ per day per person for 2 meals
Total = 2 860€ for a 6 night stay or 1 430€ per person, excluding activities.
Please note: this budget can obviously vary depending on the price of car rentals and aeroplanes, but also depending on the standard of the hotels/restaurants you choose. I speak only from my experience.
↠ When to go to Finland?
Summer or winter, it is possible to have an exceptional trip to Finland!
Between the months of November and February, I recommend you to go to Finnish Lapland. Here on the blog you can find travel guides to Lapland to discover the magic of Santa’s country.
In summer, the experiences are obviously different but just as unmissable. It’s a must to experience the midnight sun. Basically, it never gets dark: it’s magical! The average temperature is between 20 and 25 degrees. You can swim very easily in the lakes, the water is very good thanks to the fact that the sun shines almost 24/24h. ?
↠ What should you pack to go to Finland in the summer?
The first thing that comes to mind is inevitably a mosquito repellent. To my surprise, Finland is overrun with mosquitoes as soon as the snow melts. So during the summer months when it’s hot, these little beasts, which we all hate, proliferate. At the same time, the playground is ideal for them with all the water and vegetation there is! Arm yourself with bug spray (even during the day) and everything will be fine.
Otherwise, think of the usual summer stuff: swimwear, light clothes, trainers for walking and a little jacket in case of a cool evening.
Travel to Finland: one-week summer itinerary
- Days 1 to 3: Jyväskylä region
- Days 4 to 6: Savonlinna region
- Day 7 (bonus): Helsinki
Day 1: Arrival in Helsinki and departure to the Finnish lake district
Once the plane has landed and the rental car has been collected, drive straight to the Jyväskylä region (pronounced youvaskoula ?). It’s about a 3-hour drive.
Overnight stay and experience at Keurusselkä Resort
Keurusselkä Resort is a typical Finnish resort, located on the lake of the same name. Many activities are possible:
- Swimming in the lake
- Walking in the forest
- Water activities (kayaking, paddle boarding)
- Tennis and padel
- Spa (8€ per person)
- Private sauna by the lake (150€ for 2h)
? Online booking
Day 2: What to do in Finland in Jyväskylä
Enjoy the morning at leisure, swimming in Lake Keurusselkä or doing other activities.
Lunch in Jyväskylä
On the way to your next accommodation, stop in the small town of Jyväskylä for lunch. I chose the restaurant Viilu, located on the harbour area. You will have a beautiful view of the lake and you can enjoy fine cuisine.
For those who want, it is possible to enjoy the saunas on the spot!
Unusual experiences at Kapeenkoski Travel
My stay at Kapeenkoski Travel is one of the best memories I have of Finland. Not only are Titta and Jani very welcoming, but their estate, nestled in the heart of the forest, is beautiful. You feel like you are in a movie, with beautiful nature and few people.
Plenty of activities are offered: fishing, hydrospeed, 100% traditional wood-fired sauna, forest walk… In the evening, you will be served dishes concocted with love, based on fresh and local products.
Day 3: Continuation of the one-week trip to Finland in summer
Hike to Hyyppäänvuori Hill
Put on your trainers and climb Hyypäänvuori Hill, which offers a breathtaking 360° view! Once at the car park, small wooden signs will guide you to the top. The walk is through the forest, so don’t forget your mosquito repellent during the summer months.
? Access: To park, go to this GPS point. You will see parking spaces on the left hand side of the road. Trail is 4km round trip with a rather steep climb.
Relaxation at the Revontuli Hotel
After the effort, the comfort! For the rest of the day, I invite you to head for the next accommodation, namely the Revontuli Resort. There you will find many activities: bowling, trampoline, paddle, water bike, sauna, jacuzzi… Impossible to get bored.
Several types of accommodation are available. I personally chose the package in the glass igloo, including 1 night on site, 1 dinner for 2, breakfast and access to the Beach sauna with jacuzzi (price: 399€). For those on a smaller budget, the other options are cheaper, I’ll let you check that out by clicking here.
Day 4: Visit to the Savonlinna region in Finland
Hiking in South Konnevesi National Park
To start the day off right, I recommend that you take the Kalajan Kierro Trail, which passes through Konnevesi National Park. There is an easy section of about 1 km round trip, but you can also do the whole hike which is 4.6 km. You will walk through the woods and see beautiful views of the surrounding lakes. ? Itinerary by clicking here
? Take your mosquito spray with you!
Kuru Resort Hotel
Are you looking for a real haven for a couple’s time? The Kuru Resort is the place for you! The hotel consists of 16 villas with a panoramic view of the lake or nature. Each villa has its own private sauna!
In the heart of the resort, you can swim freely in the lake, take a relaxation class, dine or even book a treatment at the Sisley spa.
Day 5: Summer activities in Finland
Seal watching safari
During the summer season, seals can be seen in Finland, especially in the Savonlinna area. Meet at the harbour of the Nature Hotel & Spa Resort Järvisydän for the start of the excursion. I didn’t see any seals but I wish you better luck than I did!
? Price: €87 per person. Click here
Other activities
At the same location, you can enjoy kayaking / paddling or relax at the SPA. Info & booking
Departure to Savonlinna
Savonlinna is a typical Finnish town surrounded by lakes and forests. I recommend you to take a walk through the market place and Olavinlinna castle.
Cruise on the historic steamer S/S Punkaharju
At the end of the day, enjoy a cruise on a steamer to admire the surrounding landscape. There is a bar on board where you can enjoy a drink! Choose the 5pm or 7pm cruise so that there is a beautiful light.
Where to eat in Savonlinna?
For dinner, go to the Linnakrouvi restaurant which is located right next to the castle! Nice service, varied choices and good value for money for Finland.
Where to stay in Savonlinna?
At the Resort Hotel Norppa, you will enjoy a pleasant lakeside setting with rooms and flats.
Day 6: Back to Helsinki.
Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to visit Helsinki, the capital of Finland.
If you have the opportunity, you can book this free guided tour of the city.
For other activities, book as you wish on Civitatis or GetYourGuide.
Where to stay in Helsinki?
Find a wide range of accommodation for all budgets on Booking.com
I hope I’ve helped you with this one week road trip itinerary in Finland in summer! Feel free to ask me any questions in comments and share the article if you enjoyed it.
Je suis Aurélie, co-créatrice du blog et de l’Instagram Amoureux du Monde. Depuis 2016, j’ai eu la chance de visiter de nombreuses destinations et de me former à la photographie via ces expériences. Ce que je recherche en voyage, c’est l’apaisement devant un magnifique paysage, l’émerveillement devant la beauté de la nature et l’émotion devant un coucher de soleil.
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