Finland and the Åland Islands

Arrival in Helsinki and independent transfer from the airport. Dinner at leisure and overnight stay.

Breakfast at the hotel and meeting with the tour leader. Morning guided tour of Helsinki, discovering its highlights: the Sibelius Monument, Esplanadi Park, the Old Market Hall, Uspenski Orthodox Cathedral, Senate Square and Helsinki Cathedral in the neoclassical city centre, as well as entrance to the Rock Church. In the afternoon, after a short ferry crossing, visit Suomenlinna with the tour leader, a historic sea fortress offering a unique blend of maritime landscapes, military history and nature, with museums and panoramic views over the Baltic Sea. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1991. Return to the city in the late afternoon. Dinner at leisure and overnight stay.

Breakfast at the hotel and departure towards Jyväskylä. Along the way, stop to visit the Old Church of Petäjävesi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This outstanding example of wooden architecture, built between 1763 and 1765, represents a perfect blend of Nordic craftsmanship and European Baroque influences. Arrival in Jyväskylä, known for the legacy of the renowned architect Alvar Aalto, one of the leading figures of 20th-century modern architecture. Guided visit to the Alvar Aalto Museum to explore his life, vision and work. Dinner and overnight stay.

After breakfast, departure for Tampere, Finland’s third-largest city, located between Lakes Näsijärvi and Pyhäjärvi. Here, industrial heritage has been transformed into modern creativity, making it one of the country’s most vibrant centres. Guided walk with the tour leader, including highlights such as the Art Nouveau market hall dating back to 1901, with cafés and local delicacies, and Finlayson, a historic district built around the former cotton factory. In the afternoon, continue to Naantali, a picturesque town on Finland’s southwest coast, where you can relax and enjoy spa and sauna facilities before dinner at the hotel. Overnight stay.

Breakfast at the hotel and early morning departure for the ferry to the Åland Islands, a Finnish archipelago in the Baltic Sea between Finland and Sweden, made up of around 6,700 islands. Although part of Finland, the region enjoys wide political autonomy, is demilitarised and has Swedish as its official language. Arrival at Långnäs harbour. Continue for a first exploration of the archipelago towards Mariehamn, the capital, and the northern area known for its apple orchards. Dinner and overnight stay in Mariehamn.

Breakfast at the hotel. Day dedicated to exploring the history of the Åland Islands with a local guide. Visit Bomarsund, one of the most significant historical sites, located in eastern Fasta Åland in the municipality of Sund. It is the remains of a large 19th-century Russian fortress, now a fascinating complex of ruins set in nature. Continue to Kastelholm Castle, the only medieval castle in the archipelago, dating back to the 14th century. Return to Mariehamn and, in the afternoon, ferry back to mainland Finland. Arrival in Turku, dinner at leisure and overnight stay.

Breakfast at the hotel. Morning dedicated to discovering Turku with the tour leader, Finland’s former capital, rich in history and culture. Entrance to Turku Castle, a medieval fortress. In the early afternoon, departure for the famous Paimio Sanatorium, one of Alvar Aalto’s most iconic works, designed in the 1930s as a pioneering facility for the treatment of tuberculosis. Arrival in Helsinki in the evening. Dinner at leisure and overnight stay.

Breakfast at the hotel and independent transfer to the airport.