Finland combines pristine wilderness with modern Nordic design. From the Northern Lights in Lapland to vibrant Helsinki, experience midnight sun, thousands of lakes, and the world's happiest people.
Top day trips
Handpicked excursions within easy reach.
Tallinn, Estonia
Tallinn's Old Town is a walled medieval center with a nearly intact street plan, split between the hilltop Toompea district and the merchant Lower Town below. It sits across the Gulf of Finland from Helsinki and is reached by high-speed ferry, making it the only foreign-country day trip on this list. The city feels denser and more ornamented than Finnish towns of similar size, a legacy of its Hanseatic trading past and successive Danish, Swedish, German and Russian rule.
Highlights: Medieval Old Town (UNESCO) · Toompea Castle · Viru Gate market street · Estonian craft beer bars · Traditional kama desserts
Porvoo
Porvoo is one of Finland's oldest towns, built around a riverside Old Town of red-ochre wooden storehouses and narrow streets that escaped the large-scale fires and rebuilding that reshaped Helsinki and Turku. It sits on the Porvoonjoki river a short bus ride east of Helsinki, and the entire Old Town can be seen on foot in a relaxed half-day, making it a popular first day trip for visitors with limited time.
Highlights: Iconic red riverside wooden warehouses · Porvoo Cathedral (1418) · Artisan chocolatier Brunberg · Old Town cobblestone streets · Taidetehdas cultural centre
Turku
Turku is Finland's oldest city and its former capital, straddling the Aurajoki river where it meets the Archipelago Sea. It combines a working medieval castle and cathedral with a university-town atmosphere, and its riverside is lined with museum ships and cafes rather than the purely commercial harbor you find in Helsinki. The Intercity train makes it an easy, if longer, day trip that rewards a full day rather than a rushed half-day.
Highlights: Turku Castle (1280) · Turku Cathedral · Aura Riverbank restaurant strip · Luostarinmaki Handicrafts Museum · Day ferry to Naantali and Moomin World
Nuuksio National Park
Nuuksio is a forest and lake landscape of exposed bedrock, pine ridges and clear lakes, the closest proper national park to Helsinki and the easiest way to experience Finnish wilderness without a car. Unlike the historic towns on this list, the appeal here is entirely the terrain itself - marked trails through rocky forest with lake swimming spots in summer - so the day is shaped by how much walking you want to do rather than by sights to tick off.
Highlights: Ancient granite lake landscape · Flying squirrel habitat · Haukkalampi swimming lake · Campfire sites under Everyman's Right · Finnish Outdoor Education Centre sauna
Hameenlinna
Hameenlinna grew up around Hame Castle, a medieval brick fortress on the shore of Lake Vanajavesi, and the compact town center sits within easy walking distance of both the castle and the Aulanko nature park on its outskirts. It's a lower-key day trip than Turku or Tallinn, built around one major historic sight and a landscaped forest park rather than a dense old town to wander.
Highlights: Hame Castle (13th century) · Aulanko Nature Reserve panorama tower · Sibelius Birthplace Museum · Lake Vanajavesi kayaking · Katuma Adventure Farm
Trips by distance
How far you can go in a day.
Getting there
Transport options for day trips.
- Tours
- Organized day tours to Porvoo, Tallinn, and Nuuksio from €40-90 per person. Helsinki Expert and Strömma run daily departures from Market Square.
- Private
- Car hire from €50/day at Helsinki Airport. Ideal for Nuuksio, Porvoo, and western coastal routes.
- Public
- VR trains cover Turku, Tampere, Hameenlinna. Bus from Kamppi terminal covers Porvoo. Ferries to Tallinn from West Harbour.
- Rental
- Car rental from €50/day at Helsinki Airport. Essential for flexibility in national parks. Free parking outside cities.
Multi-day tours from Finland
If you have longer than a day, these are organised multi-day trips that start here.
Browse multi-day tours from FinlandWe may earn a commission from bookings made through this link.
Day trip tips
Make the most of your excursions.
Book the VR train to Turku at least a few days ahead - advance fares from €15 versus €42 day-of
Porvoo summer steamboat from Helsinki Market Square (June-August) is the most scenic way to arrive
Tallinn day trip is excellent but requires an early ferry (7-8am) to have a full day in Estonia
Nuuksio National Park is best visited midweek to avoid Helsinki weekend crowds