mebanana

Hello everyone,

My husband and I are planning a trip to some of the baltic states this summer. Our first thought was to travel Helsinki to Vilnius via Riga and Tallinn over two weeks, but during my research all I seem to find is people saying how boring Helsinki is.

Is it really that bad? I'm almost at the point where I want to go out of pity!

Also, any tips on the other cities we plan to visit would be welcome - especially nice restaurants and places to get good views.

Thank you!

mebanana

Helsinki MUST be boring, no-one has come to its defence!

tower

Are you also going to Japan in the spring ? If so, I'll answer your other thread with cherry blossom pics and many others, too...and a ron of recomendations.(I lived there for two years long before you were born(1946-48).

We did not find Finland boring...perhaps we're polyannish, but we've never found any of our world-wide travels to 75+ countries boring..maybe one place more relaxng than another, but boring, no. Suggest you rent a car while in Finland to get a look at the scenic birch-tree-laden, lake-filled countryside (see pix).

http://picasaweb.google.com/stuarttower/Finland#

Stu Tower

mebanana

Yes, we are going to Japan All advice/pics gratefully received!

I hadn't thought about going much outside of Helsinki. Your Finnish pictures are cool - did you scan them? Your scanner must be good, I always get mine squint!

Thanks

thursdaysd

I found enough to do in Helsinki for two or three days. If you like Art Nouveau you should definitely go, and if you start in Helsinki you'll get to take the ferry.

For my trip to the Baltic click on my name for my TR on Fodors, or start here: https://mytimetotravel.wordpress.com...ain-and-shine/

mebanana

Thanks Thursdaysd. I'm leaning towards going to Helsinki, but perhaps giving it less time than the other 3 cities.

tower

mebanana..yes, I use a Dell 926 (printer/scanner) and I'm very pleased with the results..and the editing function on Google/Picasa is superb. Have a fun trip to wherever you're heading.
stu

Frances

I ADORE Helsinki! Every time I go to Finland I try to go there although I didn't succeed last year but intend to this year.
Why?
The cathedral glistening in the sunlight but majestic even if its cloudy,
The quayside and its food stalls with all sorts of offerings,
the huge ships ready to sail out to the baltics and Stockholm- and I mean huge,
The design shops which so grab the Finns,
Walking along the waterfront on the other side of the city,
Eating outside a restaurant in a country which is so much further north than mine ( where you can rarely do it!)
The food
The church in the rock
and so on.....

iris1745

We have done that exact itinerary. Helsinki was OK for us.

It's an easy air or boat trip, Helsinki to Tallinn.

Travel between Tallinn, Riga and Vilnus was by bus.

Be sure to get your bus tickets a day or two early, especially if you want an early departure.

www.eurolines.com is a very good company.

For a bit of information on three of the cities, www.inyourpocket.com

mebanana

Thanks iris1745 and Frances!

Think we will def go to Helsinki and make up our own minds We love interesting food for one thing, and some of the restaurants look amazing!

Not sure yet whether to bus or fly between Tallinn, Riga and Vilnius - flights are pretty cheap just now. Had a look at Eurolines but their schedule isn't out for July as yet.

mebanana

Alas, my husband can only get a week this summer, not two - so back to the drawing board! Like this itinerary, though - will shelve it for another time. Thanks for your help!

Where to go for a week? Hmmmm....

Percy

I agree with the above posters, I would not miss Helsinki.
There is a lot to see and do, more so if you are well organized.

Many of the major sites are walkable from the Market Square, except the Rock Church and
even that is walkable,but not the Sebelius Monument.

Soumenlennia Island tour starts right by the Market Square.
Let us know if you are going to do Heksinki and we can help you with the sites you might want to see.

iris1745

We thought Copenhagen was the best. <How boring Helsinki is> Everyone is different. We had fun with friends but were not enamored with Helsinki.

But with a week, I would look to see what non-stops are available from your closest airport and then decide. There are so many places to go for a week.

Let' see. Paris, Prague, Vienna, Berlin, Budapest, Amsterdam, San Sebastian, Barcelona, Copenhagen, Krakow, ect.

From each of these cities very good day trips.

Janalta

I planed to spent one day in Tallinn but thanks God I didn't buy a ticket before my trip. I traveled with Ecolines http://www.ecolines.net/ and bought a ticket day before my travel. I really loved Tallinn and spent there 3 days - one of them I traveled to Helsinki.
If you have time go to Lithuania's seaside called Neringa. It is really beautiful. I think oneday I come here one more time to Lithuania to see this beach and Trakai (really beautiful castle).
And in Poland they have really huge castle called Malbork castle.
I recommend in each city (Riga, Tallinn, Vilnius) spend 2 days - I think it is enough to see them (but not to explore a lot).