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Kraków to Stockholm, Riga, and Helsinki - any suggestions?



BLSThreads: 79
Posts: 171
Joined: Feb 14, 08 		  Jul 20, 09, 14:02 /  #
We are planning a flight to Stockholm in August...then we would like to slowly work our way back to Kraków via boats, buses, and trains. Along the way, we would like to visit Riga and Helsinki (as well as Tallin and Vilnius, if possible).

Does anybody have any experience with a similar itinerary who can shed some light on what we can expect along the way? I am especially interested in finding the best method for crossing the Baltic Sea. Also - any recommendations for other cities to see? Any input would be greatly appreciated - thanks!
SeanusThreads: 22
Posts: 30,158
Joined: Dec 25, 07 		Edited by: Seanus   Jul 20, 09, 14:11 /  #
There is a ferry from Helsinki to Tallinn. As part of my trip from Lithuania up to Finland, this attracts an extra cost of 60Euro, about 275PLN. If you want to scope out some of the best sights, go to the website of Itaka, the Polish tour organiser we are going through.

It's called Szlak Bursztynowy, the Amber Trail. It includes the capital cities of the four countries and other smaller places. Go to www.itaka.pl, you'll find the details there. We are going by coach so there are designated bus routes.

Aug 24-30 is the duration of my trip.
FromHelsinki   Aug 17, 09, 00:13 /  #
There's now also a boat connection from Gdynia to Helsinki: see
finnlines.com/index.php/passenger_eng/routes_and_timetables
Boat leaves Gdynia at 11:00 and is in Helsinki at 06:45 the next day. You can take a boat from Helsinki to Tallinn very easily, there are ferries about once a hour or so, typically 25-40E one way, but quite often there's some campaign with cheaper prices (like back and forth for the price of one way). See tallinksilja.com/en/tab3/routes/helTal/ or eckeroline.fi/en/document.aspx?docID=2528
BLSThreads: 79
Posts: 171
Joined: Feb 14, 08 		  Aug 17, 09, 09:01 /  #
You can take a boat from Helsinki to Tallinn very easily, there are ferries about once a hour or so, typically 25-40E one way, but quite often there's some campaign with cheaper prices

Thanks for the information! Regarding the ferry from Helsinki to Tallinn, will we be able to find a last-minute one-way deal across the gulf or are the advertised prices pretty much solid? We have a reservation on LindaLines that departs at 7:00 pm, but we would like to find a walk-up bargain earlier in the afternoon (if possible)...our time is quite flexible, so hopefully this will work in our favor.
SzwedwPolsceThreads: 13
Posts: 1,915
Joined: Feb 21, 09 		Edited by: SzwedwPolsce   Aug 17, 09, 10:45 /  #
Congratulations. Stockholm is a fantastic city!

You can go by ferry from Stockholm to Helsinki. It's pretty big ferries with a lot of entertainment. There are several options.

Viking Line

Tallink-Silja
FromHelsinki   Aug 17, 09, 12:28 /  #
BLSegarding the ferry from Helsinki to Tallinn, will we be able to find a last-minute one-way deal across the gulf or are the advertised prices pretty much solid? We have a reservation on LindaLines that departs at 7:00 pm, but we would like to find a walk-up bargain earlier in the afternoon (if possible)...
BLS

As far as I've noticed, they are not doing last minute bargaining - so if you are looking for a discount, better to check the web sites and to do the reservation in advance (some offers are available in the web only).
In any case, there are sufficiently operators and connections so I suppose you won't be stuck ahsore even if you delay buying your ticket until the day of travelling. Most lines expect that you must have finished your check-in half an hour before the departure.

One thing that may be worth a notice wrt. Linda (lindaline.fi/en/) is that as they operate lighter fast craft, they are also more vulnerable to weather conditions than the larger ships used by other operatos. For that reasons, they had to cancel some scheduled departures today, for instance. Otherwise they provide good value for the price (16-32EUR one way).
rkbThreads: 1
Posts: 16
Joined: May 10, 09 		  Aug 18, 09, 11:42 /  #
^^^ As said above i don't think you'll find any bargains getting from Helsinki to Tallinn.

I don't know how long you're going away for but I'd definitely recommend Tallinn & Vilnius above Riga. Tallinn has a stunning old town & for me is the pick of the three, Riga attracts way too many stag parties & is also the most expensive.

It's also well worth checking out the Lithuanian coast, in particular the Curonian Spit which has beautiful sand dunes & a place called witches hill with lots of bizarre wooden sculptures - can be done as a day trip from Klaipeda or you can stay in Nida at the bottom of the spit.
BLSThreads: 79
Posts: 171
Joined: Feb 14, 08 		  Aug 18, 09, 17:14 /  #
Thanks for the suggestions, rkb - you're not the first to steer me away from Riga. I would still like to see the city, but Tallinn and Vilnius have slowly risen to the top of our look-forward-to-see list. Does anyone have anything positive to say about Riga?

As of now, our plans are as follows:
...jet to Stockholm...ship to Turku, Finland...train to Helsinki....boat to Tallin...train to Parnu...bus to Riga...bus to Vilnius...bus/train to Krakow (with a likely layover in NE Poland - suggestions, anyone?)

I will consider the Lithuanian coast per your suggestion, but time is not on our side.
FromHelsinki   Aug 19, 09, 01:16 /  #
I'd say Riga isn't that uninteresting town to visit: thinking about places you mention, I'd rate it above Turku (but I'm a mean Helsinki person and we all disrespect Turku ;)).

The major Estonian islands (Hiiumaa/Saaremaa) have a nice tranquil rural athmosphere of their own, old lighthouses, etc. but this tip might apply best for someone who has a quite relaxed schedule and who isn't looking for famous sights or events. "How to get there" info in English can be found from saaremaa.ee web pages.
BLSThreads: 79
Posts: 171
Joined: Feb 14, 08 		  Aug 19, 09, 09:04 /  #
I'd rate it above Turku

In Turku, we will disembark from the boat at 7:30 and hop on the train to Helsinki at 7:37 - I hope 7 minutes isn't too much time to spend there... :)
FromHelsinki   Aug 19, 09, 11:34 /  #
In Turku, we will disembark from the boat at 7:30 and hop on the train to Helsinki at 7:37 - I hope 7 minutes isn't too much time to spend there... :)

I suppose no permanent damage will be caused by that short exposure. Besides, that's enough to have a glimpse of their main attraction, the Castle. Welcome to Helsinki.

What day you plan to be here, I could tell if there's something special going on here by that time?
LukeXXThreads: 4
Posts: 77
Joined: Aug 15, 09 		  Aug 19, 09, 12:06 /  #
BLS:
In Turku, we will disembark from the boat at 7:30 and hop on the train to Helsinki at 7:37 - I hope 7 minutes isn't too much time to spend there... :)

Sounds good to me. That's long enought to visit the station shop, buy some food, and rush to the train to Hensinky.

I have had the misfortune to spend a day and Turku couple of year back. Though I travelled many places, Turku still remains the most boring place I have ever visited. Highly above some desolate villages in Mongolia or small towns in central S.Korea.
BLSThreads: 79
Posts: 171
Joined: Feb 14, 08 		  Aug 19, 09, 13:40 /  #
What day you plan to be here, I could tell if there's something special going on here by that time?

We arrive in Helsinki on 27 August...

The plan was to sail to Turku and then take the train to Helsinki to get a glimpse of the Finnish countryside - will the scenery be boring, breathtaking, or something in between???
FromHelsinki   Aug 19, 09, 15:14 /  #
We arrive in Helsinki on 27 August...

The plan was to sail to Turku and then take the train to Helsinki to get a glimpse of the Finnish countryside - will the scenery be boring, breathtaking, or something in between???

I'm afraid the train travel between Turku and Helsinki won't offer sceneries of particular interest: forest-field patch-bush-forest-field-bush-noncharacteristic population center-forest... the scenic routes are in the central/eastern lake district (check Google Earth, for instance).

Helsinki Festival Weeks continue until the end of August - so there's more than the usual number of cultural and musical events in the town by the time of your visit. Some are free, some require buying a ticket; see the program in English at
helsinginjuhlaviikot.fi/en/paivamaaran-mukaan/eventsfordate/2009/08/27
Helsinki is an easy city for a tourist, things tend to work and many signs are in English and it's also spoken at understable level by almost everyone.
BLSThreads: 79
Posts: 171
Joined: Feb 14, 08 		  Sep 4, 09, 11:42 /  #
FH - During our cruise to Turku, we saw many older women on the ship dressed in fairly elaborate black dresses that looked like some sort of traditional wear. The skirts flared out at the waist, almost resembling a bell (I wish I had taken a picture...sorry I didn't).

The women seemed to be speaking Russian, but I can't be sure - any ideas about which country they might hail from? Thanks!
SeanusThreads: 22
Posts: 30,158
Joined: Dec 25, 07 		  Sep 4, 09, 21:12 /  #
I probably saw you somewhere, BLS. I was in Helsinki on that day too. Did you get one of the ferries back to Tallinn that day? The waves were super choppy and many threw up. I don't get seasick but I felt it a little on my stomach. A memorable ride back.
BLSThreads: 79
Posts: 171
Joined: Feb 14, 08 		  Sep 4, 09, 22:27 /  #
I was on the LindaLine that left Helsinki at 19:00. I can't believe they allowed her to sail - terrible waves...

I didn't get sick (surprisingly), but my girlfriend sure did. Never again, my friend!

Which was your favorite city? I liked Riga the best, but Tallinn was wonderful too.
SeanusThreads: 22
Posts: 30,158
Joined: Dec 25, 07 		Edited by: Seanus   Sep 4, 09, 22:37 /  #
Riga because of the beautiful women there. I loved the bridge with all the locks in the park, did you get to see that?

We left at 5pm and we were told that the waves were picking up. We disembarked when you were embarking (also Lindaline)

Tallinn had a great rynek. Did you get to visit Molly Malones? It was one of my favourite bars in Hiroshima so I was glad that I could go there in Tallinn. Did you sample the gourmet almonds in Tallinn? Wow, I had the warm ones and they were addictive.

Did you try some Balzams from Riga? 45% but it's hallucinogenic, I swear.

How about the market near the harbour in Helsinki? I wish I was hungry then, they had some cracking food. I bought a toy moose for my younger bro's wee baby. I like the Finnish flag and Finnish spirit. I had a Finnish beer near the station before going back to Tallinn.
BLSThreads: 79
Posts: 171
Joined: Feb 14, 08 		  Sep 5, 09, 08:01 /  #
We encountered only one of the things you mentioned - the market in Helsinki harbor. We ate salmon paella at one of the stalls, but it was overpriced and not very tasty. One thing I did discover on my journey was pear cider - wow. I wish it was available in Kraków...

Comparing the cities, Vilnius actually seemed more attractive to me than Tallinn or Riga. However, the people seemed a bit too aggressive for a soft American such as myself - I was never quite comfortable in Vilnius.

I too noticed the women in Riga and heartedly concur - I actually expected Vilnius to 'win' in this department, but Riga gets my vote. Nothing close to Kraków, however (it's good to be home... :)
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