7 Days. 3N ROVANIEMI 4* (BB) | 3N HELSINKI 4* (BB)

About the destination: Situated just south of the Arctic Circle, Rovaniemi is the Finnish capital of Lapland. It's located at the meeting point of Lapland's powerful rivers Kemijoki and Ounasjoki. Beautiful colours all year round, relatively warm summers, proper snowy winters, Santa Claus, numerous sport resorts, excellent hotels and services, for all this and more Rovaniemi is a must-visit northern stop. Moreover, it's a grand spot to explore the Lapland region and to observe the Aurora Borealis or Northern Lights. The Lumberjack Candle Bridge, Jätkänkynttilä, has become a symbol of Rovaniemi. The bridge has a tall pylon with bright yellow light on top and a massive bronze lumberjack statue. The Arktikum museum is a one-stop cultural centre for all things Arctic, it's dedicated to exhibits relating to Lapland's geology, climate, plants, animal life and cultures. Aside from the exhibits, the Arktikum's highlight is definitely its long glass corridor with its views on the river behind the building. Outside Arktikum there's a garden of arctic plants. Rovaniemi is, of course, Santa Claus hometown. At Santa Claus Village you can meet Santa Claus, send friends and relatives greetings from the Arctic Circle at the Santa Claus Post Office and visit the Christmas Exhibition, which explains some of the Christmas traditions from around the world. Rovaniemi is the best place to make a Christmas wishlist and to experience awe-inspiring wilderness, traditional Sámi culture, and enjoy a range of different activities surrounded by a wonderful natural landscape.

About the destination: Helsinki is located on a small peninsula at the southern tip of Finland. If you approach Helsinki from the sea, you'll see neoclassical buildings with elegant lines and pastel colours, and a marketplace brimming with strawberries and salmon. The city has grown with a focus on harmony. In the summer, many locals swap city life for their country cottages, but in winter the capital comes alive with theatre, political institutes and over 20,000 university students. Architecture enthusiasts will adore Helsinki. The attractive neoclassical buildings around Senate Square were almost entirely designed by German architect Carl Ludwig Engel in the early 19th century, shortly after Helsinki took over from Turku as the capital of Finland. The jewel in the crown is the Lutheran Cathedral, which has recently been refurbished and looks better than ever, with the 12 apostles on the roof once again looking down at the world below. Elsewhere in the city, the bold, simple designs of the city’s great 20th century architects, notably Aalto and Saarinen, blend with the clean neoclassical lines. The stunning Jean Sibelius Monument, dedicated to Finland’s most famous composer, consists of hundreds of steel pipes sculpted by Elia Hiltunen. The monument is located in Sibelius Park. The Kansallimuseo, or National Museum, has fantastic displays of Finnish culture. The exhibits of the City Museum illustrate the history of the city. The islands surrounding Helsinki make for excellent day trips. The sandy beaches and smooth rocks of Pihlajasaari make it a popular summer spot for sunbathing Finns. Every summer, there are many free outdoor concerts in one of the city’s numerous parks. In the afternoons, all kinds of music can be heard on the leafy Esplanadi. Helsinki may be a small city compared to the world's mega-cities, but it still has a cosmopolitan spirit. Helsinki is a beautiful city, especially in the summer. The streets are clean and there's always a peaceful spot to be found, if you need one. Some say that Helsinki is "the biggest village in the world" and it's a fantastic place for tourism, history, museums, galleries, theatre, music, shopping, restaurants, clubs, and so on, all environmentally friendly, free of pollution and traffic congestion.