TTMA Sweden (Stockholm/surrounding area and Turku, Finland)

[dragon's breath]

The travel bug hit hard today, and while looking at Kayak.com, I found a flight to Sweden for $360.  So, I booked it.  I'll be there for 8 nights, late April/early May.

I've been to a few places in Europe (a few two week trips and one five week trip), but I know almost nothing about Sweden.  Also, I will be traveling solo for the first time (I've always had my son on past trips, but was just the two of us, so I'm comfortable with the thought of being alone and responsible for everything.)

My flights are in and out of Stockholm.  I don't know if I want to stay in one place for the entire trip, only take short day train trips (returning to my room at night), or if I want to visit different cities (I have no issues with hoping a train every other day and seeing something new, I enjoy train travel, but travel is ok, but I won't be driving). 

I wouldn't know what other cities to visit, but prefer the distance this time to be no more than about 6 hours/day, unless I do a night train/ferry (we night trains on our last trip and I really enjoyed that--a lot of distance covered while I could sleep through it, so it wasn't a big time suck).  I've been to Denmark, so I'd be looking at Norway or Finland. 

I love history.  I love Viking/medieval/dark ages/old history/war history.  I'm not into "modern" (I was not a fan of Tate Modern in London).  I'd stay the night in a castle again if it wasn't too expensive.

I love to walk all over the place.  I use my room only to sleep and shower (and sometimes eat if I bought some food at a local market).  I'm usually off and running around 9 am, and stay out until 11/12/1 in the morning.  

Not really a drinker or party girl, not looking to hook up, just want good sites and good food.

I'll go see a show (even if I don't understand the language), so if there is a good theater, I'm game.

I tend to "budget travel" rather than go all-out.  But, I like to find one fun/special thing to do on a trip (like Gladiator school in Rome, Ceremony of the Keys in London, etc).

I also enjoy walking tours (have done ghost tours, a Jack the Ripper tour, etc).

So, hit me with what you've got!

[dragon's breath]

While typing that up, I explored a ferry to Helsinki a little bit... I could do an overnight ferry (around 5 pm to 10/10:30 am each way). I'd have plenty of time to explore Stockholm during the day, take the ferry to Helsinki, and still have lots of time during the day to wander around there. Then take the ferry back the next day or day after (depending on if I'd want two days in Helsinki or three).

Bonus--if I share a room, it would be less than $40 each way. I've shared a sleeper cabin with my son and two other women when we were taking a night train in France, and that worked out just fine.

So, Helsinki recs would be very much appreciated as well.

[dragon's breath]

Or Turku... Looked at the ferry, and they go here as well. Trip would be shorter, cheaper, and doing a little quick look at Turku, I may enjoy it more (a little smaller, which, coming from a small town, might be more relaxing for me).

So, Turku vs Helsinki? I'm pretty sure I'm going to do the overnight ferry to one of these two places.

[dutchgirl678]

Stockholm is a great city where you could spend several days and have a lot to see. It is really easy to get around by metro or bus. You can buy a multi-day pass at the station. You should go see the Vasa museum. The old town is super cute to walk around in.

I often travel for work to Uppsala, which is a small university town just 20 minutes from Stockholm Arlanda airport by train. It is a really cool little town with a castle up on the hill, an old cathedral and the oldest university in Sweden, founded in 1477. Last time I visited the botanical gardens and they also have the famous Linnaeus garden. I haven't had a chance to visit the Gustavianum yet, the university museum, but I heard it is really good.

People are really friendly and English is spoken everywhere. I have never felt unsafe walking by myself.

[dragon's breath]

Thank you! I'm happy to hear about walking by yourself, because even when I've traveled with my son, I'll walk around for hours after he goes to bed. So far, I haven't felt unsafe (out of the US, I've felt unsafe here more than once).

The short train ride to Uppsala sounds perfect for a day trip.

[dragon's breath]

I have a rough plan (with everything booked, but refundable/free cancellation, in case things change).

Stay in Stockholm 3 nights (3 full days to explore).
Take overnight ferry to Turku, stay one night, have 2 full days to explore, take night ferry back to Stockholm.
Have 2 more full days to explore Stockholm/surrounding areas.

I don't have to be at the ferry until 7 and 8 in the evening, so I'm counting those days as full days, even though I'll have to stay close to the area.

I have three days where taking a day trip out of Stockholm is doable. I will be there (in Stockholm) May 1, which is their Labour Day. Not sure how much will be closed during that time, so I'll have to check before I make plans for that day.

[dragon's breath]

Oh, and so far, major trip costs (flight, ferry, rooms) are under $800 for 7 usable days and 8 nights! I'll have a shared room and bath on the ferry, but otherwise it's all private room and bath. I want to be frugal, but not completely cheap.

[pinkpeony08]

I lived in Stockholm for two summers in college. Your plans sound great. I took the overnight ferry to Helsinki with a friend but not Turku. FYI- the Swedes often take the ferry essentially as a Night party while the alcohol is cheaper on the boat.... then they sleep and do it again for the way home.
Uppsala is a great day trip- the info above is great.
I love to wander around Stockholm. The vasa museum is amazing, and the Nobel museum is great as well. I’m a bit jealous you found such a great fate! I should watch as it’s one of my favorite places to visit.

[frlcb]

We were in Helsinki this Summer with our kids. We were underwhelmed, to be honest. I wouldn't spend 3 days there.

[tcu2003]

Nov 23, 2018 21:03:21 GMT -5 frlcb said:

We were in Helsinki this Summer with our kids. We were underwhelmed, to be honest. I wouldn't spend 3 days there.

Ditto. DH and I went a few years ago. We flew in/out of Helsinki, took an overnight ferry to Stockholm, spent 2-3 days there, and then an overnight ferry to Tallinn, Estonia, and then the ferry back to Helsinki.

[frlcb]

Nov 24, 2018 1:30:21 GMT -5 tcu2003 said:

Nov 23, 2018 21:03:21 GMT -5 frlcb said:

We were in Helsinki this Summer with our kids. We were underwhelmed, to be honest. I wouldn't spend 3 days there.

Ditto. DH and I went a few years ago. We flew in/out of Helsinki, took an overnight ferry to Stockholm, spent 2-3 days there, and then an overnight ferry to Tallinn, Estonia, and then the ferry back to Helsinki.

We also did the ferry to Tallinn from Helsinki (less than 3 or 4 hours if I remember correctly) and we love Tallinn, so we enjoyed it much more. There was nothing wrong with Helsinki, it just wasn't exciting. There is a UNESCO heritage fortress, Suomenlinna, that our kids liked but everything else was just a bit eh. And ridiculously, ridiculously overpriced. So, so expensive.

[dragon's breath]

Nov 23, 2018 20:47:57 GMT -5 pinkpeony08 said:

I lived in Stockholm for two summers in college. Your plans sound great. I took the overnight ferry to Helsinki with a friend but not Turku. FYI- the Swedes often take the ferry essentially as a Night party while the alcohol is cheaper on the boat.... then they sleep and do it again for the way home.
Uppsala is a great day trip- the info above is great.
I love to wander around Stockholm. The vasa museum is amazing, and the Nobel museum is great as well. I’m a bit jealous you found such a great fate! I should watch as it’s one of my favorite places to visit.

Sounds like I might be in for an interesting ferry ride!  Hopefully I can sleep...  

After two recommendations for the vasa museum, I looked it up, and it's right up my alley.  I'll definitely be going there.

I found the fare by searching from my local airport (pdx) to "anytime, anywhere".  Then set my fare limit to $400.  Dublin was the same price, but I've been to Ireland and wanted to try someplace new.

[dragon's breath]

Thanks, everyone, for the input on Helsinki. I think this trip I'll do Turku (it looks like it could be even more boring for some people, but I like to just wander around looking at old stuff, relaxing). I'd get there in the morning and head back to Stockholm the next evening.

I'll have to keep Tallia in mind for a future trip.

[pinkpeony08]

Nov 24, 2018 16:31:30 GMT -5 dragon's breath said:

Nov 23, 2018 20:47:57 GMT -5 pinkpeony08 said:

I lived in Stockholm for two summers in college. Your plans sound great. I took the overnight ferry to Helsinki with a friend but not Turku. FYI- the Swedes often take the ferry essentially as a Night party while the alcohol is cheaper on the boat.... then they sleep and do it again for the way home.
Uppsala is a great day trip- the info above is great.
I love to wander around Stockholm. The vasa museum is amazing, and the Nobel museum is great as well. I’m a bit jealous you found such a great fate! I should watch as it’s one of my favorite places to visit.

Sounds like I might be in for an interesting ferry ride!  Hopefully I can sleep...  

After two recommendations for the vasa museum, I looked it up, and it's right up my alley.  I'll definitely be going there.

I found the fare by searching from my local airport (pdx) to "anytime, anywhere".  Then set my fare limit to $400.  Dublin was the same price, but I've been to Ireland and wanted to try someplace new.

We had no trouble sleeping because everyone in the rooms was asleep and quiet.  Upstairs in the party rooms, it was a totally different story. 

I'll have to watch - I just looked at Google flights briefly- lots of cheap flights all over Europe in the spring.  

Stockholm has great public transit and is very walkable.  Have a great trip!!

[tcu2003]

You will love the Vasa Museum - it’s one of the best museums I’ve been to. So excited for you!