Copenhagen, Stockholm, and Helsinki – how easy to navigate each for a day?

Copenhagen is walkable, even from the pier where the cruise ships dock. However, if you want to reduce some walking, you may take the ship's shuttle bus into downtown (or one way and you walk back through town).

In Stockholm, many cruise ships dock in Stadsgarden which is pretty far away from everything. My advice: Take a taxi at the pier directly to the Vasa Museum in order to arrive there before the crowds come with the buses. Then take the ferry back to downtown, explore downtown on foot and go back either by streetcar or by taxi.

In Helsinki, the cruise ships dock in a remote industrial port. Take the ship's shuttle into downtown (or, if they offer, to the rock church) and walk through downtown. Take the shuttle bus or a taxi back to the ship.

Awesome, thanks.

We've got a drop-dead date for a refund of June 30th so we're trying to decide if it's a go or no go.

Traveller's advice is good. Have you thought of getting one of those "canes" that open to a seat... so you could sit and rest at your leisure? I'm not a Helsinki fan (the rock church is a good suggestion) but love the other two. Try to have open faced sandwiches in Copenhagen!

All three are pretty walkable and safe and there is no language barrier, because most of the people can speak English.
I prefer using a taxi especially if the time is limited. The underground system is very useful in Stockholm, but then you cannot see anything.

I'll be taking a Baltic cruise in late July. I'm planning on doing all of the ports (except St. Petersburg) on my own.

As far as navigating each of the cities you've listed, most of the major sites seem to be in a pretty compact area, once you reach the city from the port.

How easy it is to get into town from the port depends on which berth your ship will be at, as some are closer to town than others. You can see which berth your ship will dock at here:

For Stockholm: http://tinyurl.com/nl3lcq
For Helsinki: http://tinyurl.com/ljs9bz
For Copenhagen: http://www.cmport.com/

The website for the Copenhagen port does not seem to be working correctly right now, but that the one I used to determine which pier my ship was at.

Generally speaking, taking the ship's shuttle or a taxi would probably be the most convenient (and most expensive).

For us, I plan to use public transportation at each of the cities, if it's not walkable from the ship to town. At each of these ports we'll be docking at there appears to be a bus stop pretty close to where the ship docks.

Try looking at the forums at cruisecritic.com - there's a ton of information on the various ports and how to get from place to place in the small amount of time you have.

I lived in Copenhagen for 6 months and can say it is one of the easiest cities to navigate by foot/public transportation. The city is super compact and metro/buses are easy and accessible. Alternatively, you can rent a bike at a bike shop and make it a true Danish experience -- almost 50% of all transportation is by bike and it is actually the easiest way to get around town.

Here is a good site that helps you plan your route...you select where you want to go, what time you'll be traveling and what kind of transportation you want to use, and it'll tell you the best way to get there: http://www.rejseplanen.dk/ (click on the UK button at the bottom for English)

Also, absolutely everyone in Copenhagen speaks English extremely well so that will definitely not be a problem... Danes have told me that they love practising English and in my experience they are always very happy to help you if you need assistance.

Never been to Stockholm or Helsinki so can't say much there, though, sorry! But have a great time in CPH and definitely try an open faced sandwich as Gwendolynne suggests... Ida Davidsen is supposed to be THE utltimate, supreme smorrebrod maker in all CPH (http://www.idadavidsen.dk/index.php?page=8)

Thanks, the bike jayellie. Unfortunately, getting on a bike is something i physically won't be able to do.

At this point, we're leaning towards making the trip.

Chepar, thank you for these helpful Websites. We're also planning on sightseeing on our own, except St. Petersburg.
How about Berlin? Will you make the trip from Warnemünde?

Copenhagen has buses that are easy to use. With your limited time in Stockholm I would second the above suggestion to head for the Vasa Museum. It was great, even my museum hating brother enjoyed it. There is a boat that goes over to..brain failing here...the island that Gamla Stan is on..the old town. It's fun for a stroll, many reastaurants, and the palace, the Stockholm Cathedral and the Nobel Museum are all there and very close to each other.

There is also a market, someplace...helpful, I know. We didn't get there but I saw it either on No Reservations with Tony Bourdain or with Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern. It really looked wonderful and I'm sorry we missed it. Food for day.

I have been a solo traveler to Helsinki and Stockholm, but not starting from a cruiseship. After you take the above advice about determining where your ship docks, you can check whether public transport from there to the tourist sites is feasible by checking their online journey planners.

For Helsinki the website is www.ytv.fi/eng
There is an A-Z index that includes Points of Interest, so you can choose Esplanade Park, for example, and it will tell you how much walking, exact stop names and numbers, etc. so you can tell if it is feasible for you.
The site also gives you the fares - 1,80 to 2,50 a ride or 6,80 for a tourist day pass.
I have run into quite a few people who do not speak English in Helsinki, but we can usually communicate with my map, guidebook, etc. It helps with the bus drivers when I have the correct change for the ticket I want or I just buy the day pass.
What are your preferred sights in Helsinki and perhaps I can help you organize. The rock church is rather off by itself. the waterfront market, Lutheran Church, Russian Orthodox church, Esplanade are close together.

I agree with the others that the top of most people's list in Stockholm is the Vasa Museum and for good reason. Then there is a tram or boat to take you west to Gamla Stan, which is near the palace, and you see the lovely waterfront buildings along the way. City Hall is a little further west.
To check public transport in Stockholm:
www.sl.se/
I have not spent as much time there, but I encountered fewer people who did not speak English. I bought a Stockholmcard because I was there for 2 days and planned to see several museums as well as use public tranport. I doubt if it is a bargain for someone staying only 8 hours.

Hope all goes well with the surgery.

Because of the probability you would tire, may I suggest you either choose your top "must see" and head there first with a plan for how to continue if you can, else plan a grouping of sights that will allow you to see alot in close proximity, devoting little energy to moving about. Plus if you tire and your companion wants to explore some more, if you have chosen a location central to several sights, then you can rest while your companion is nearby.

waggis,

We are taking the train to Rostock and plan to wander about there for a bit, then return to wander around Warnemunde for the rest of the day.

I had thought about going to Berlin, but ultimately it was the amount of travel time involved that made me decide against it.

We feel the same way, chepar, and thought to forego the trip to Berlin. Rostock looks very interesting. I was also considering Wismar, old Hanseatic town & UNESCO World Heritage Site, but it's further.
Have a great trip!

waggis-

In case you're still deciding what to do in Germany, take a look at this blog (if you don't already know about it):

http://tinyurl.com/mxaxz8

It's by someone who lives in Germany and posts over at cruisecritic.com frequently. His blog is basically a bunch of guides on how to do a shore excursion on your own to various places near Warnemunde. He gives step by step instructions on which trains to take, how to purchase your tickets, etc. Go to the "Archive" section on the right to see all the various places he's posted information on.

You have a great trip too - we're looking forward to ours!

helsinki has cobblestones
and even in flat shoes you can turn an ankle

stockholm - we stayed in gamla stan and that is very walkable but again has cobblestones

we used the hop on and off bus in stockholm to orientate ourselves but when we decided to use it to actually get to see some of the spots we ended up walking cos the bus had a problem with the audio guide and another wasnt coming for a while
we ended up walking to the deerpark from gamla stan lol
now theres a walk ...we caught a tram back after doing the skansen museum and part of the park as well...we were absolutley wrecked after that hahahaha
so our hop on /off bus turned out to be just the 'hop off' bus

If I had 8 hours in Copenhagen I would see this museum http://www.davidmus.dk/en . Then I would have lunch here http://www.cafehovedtelegrafen.dk/ or here http://www.nikolajkirken.dk/ If time permitted I would take a trip on one of the harbour-boats http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Europe/Denmark/Koebenhavns_Kommune/Copenhagen-162183/Things_To_Do-Copenhagen-Canal_harbour_tours-BR-1.html

chepar - I'm always amazed at the amount of detailed information available....if you're lucky enough to have a friend who knows where to look We're not sailing until September, so we can do some more research. I've signed up with cruisecritic, but haven't seen anything yet re our cruise.
Thank you very much for the link!

bookmarking

http://www.cykeltaxa.nu/ You can phone this company, and they will pick you up and take you for a ride in the city on a rickshaw.

Most signage in Helsinki is in Finnish, Swedish and English. The young people all learn English in school.
We have walked all over Helsinki - to the rock church, the Sebilius Monument etc. But we love to walk and weren't recovering from surgery. And we had more than 8 hours.

You might like to walk around the open air market at the harbor and the inside market at the harbor.

Stockmans is a nice department store. We always make a couple of stops there - great souvenirs that are useful - look in the kitchen department.

There are also many nice shops on the Esplandi.