La Finlande en Train (Groupe Accompagné)

Arrive individually in Helsinki and enjoy a complimentary transfer to your hotel. Nicknamed the world design capital, this elegant Nordic metropolis is built along the rocky shores of the Baltic Sea. Helsinki offers a blend of urban life and nature with its lakes, islands, parks, design galleries, terraces, saunas, and ice creams.

In the evening, meet your French-speaking local guide for a welcome briefing over a drink. Then, enjoy a city walk followed by a traditional Finnish buffet dinner at a local restaurant to get acquainted with the local cuisine.

Today’s focus is to experience Helsinki like a local. Your French-speaking guide will take you through the city by public tram, an icon of Helsinki. Explore highlights such as Senate Square with its cathedral, the lively waterfront with the market square, Esplanade park, and the famous Temppeliaukio Church carved into the rock. Enjoy a traditional coffee break in a historic café and visit the Design District along Bulevardi Avenue.

Leave the usual tourist paths by taking the tram to Kallio, once a working-class district, now a trendy neighborhood. For lunch, savor local specialties at the Food Hall.

In the afternoon, explore the Oodi National Library, a masterpiece of modern architecture and a popular local gathering spot. End the tour at the Helsinki City Museum to learn more about urban development and future projects.

Enjoy free time in the late afternoon and evening as you wish. Visit the Design Museum, Amos Rex Art Museum, Kiasma Contemporary Art Museum, or Suomenlinna Island with its UNESCO-listed fortress. Relax in a waterfront sauna or pool, enjoy some ice cream in a park, shop for Nordic tableware or clothing, hop on a tram to observe city life, or dine at one of the city’s well-known restaurants.

Optional: Boat excursion to the Suomenlinna sea fortress.

Overnight at a 4-star hotel in Helsinki (B, L).

What do the locals do in summer? They swim, hike, or visit Tallinn for the day. Lake Kuusijarvi, accessible by train and bus from Helsinki, offers the chance to swim and enjoy a traditional Finnish sauna or a smoke sauna. The hiking trails are perfect for picking blueberries and mushrooms.

The Nuuksio National Park, accessible by train or bus, is a wonderful escape with forests and lakeside trails.

Optional: Join a day cruise to Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, to explore the old town of Tallinn, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Overnight at a 4-star hotel in Helsinki (B).

Water plays a key role in the Finnish DNA, from glacial lakes and rushing rivers to seas dotted with islands. The Finnish archipelago is a puzzle of 40,000 pieces, half of them near Turku. During the boat excursion, cruise among island-dotted seas and stop at Nauvo, an idyllic harbor with a beach, restaurants, and a stone church. After lunch, cycle the Nauvo stretch of the famous Archipelago Trail.

Return to Turku in the early evening. The Aura River, the city’s heart and soul, is perfect for a sunny summer stroll.

Turku is one of Europe’s most sustainable cities, with eco-friendly modes of transport like Föri, a free electric ferry, and Funi, a cable car to the hill of Kakolanmäki.

Tonight, visit a local family for a traditional sauna experience and picnic dinner. Listen to their stories to gain a deeper insight into the Finnish DNA.

Overnight at a 4-star hotel in Turku (B, L, D).