MKsFamilyTravel

We will be in Finland Aug 8-16. Our groups consists of 2 families - one with 2 adults and 2 kids (ages 5 and 2) and the other with 2 adults and 1 kid (age 3). Our flights are in and out of Helsinki.
I have been browsing the forums and various sites and here's a list of places that look interesting:
1) Helsinki
2) Tallinn
3) Lapland (Rovaniemi)
4) Lake region
5) Aland Islands
6) St. Petersburg
Now I know we can't do all of that in the days we have - so what are the must sees? Which should we definitely try to include?

I also have a few practical questions:
1) Do we need to rent a car if we want to go to Lapland? We were thinking of taking the train up there - will we need a car there or is public transport/tours available?
2) How do we get to Lake region from Helsinki? DO we need car? How do we get about in the lake region for sightseeing? Is it possible to go from Lapland straight to Lake region?
3) Are there any sites for apartment rentals?
4) Is it possible to go from Helsinki to Tallinn and from Tallin on to Aland Islands?

I will really appreciate any help!
Thanks!

elina

With only eight days and small children I would cut out Lapland, St. Petersburg and Äland. Helsinki, Tallinn and the lake region (well, the whole country is kind of a lake region, but I guess you are talking about south/east) is enough. The train to Rovaniemi (which isn´t even "real" Lapland yet) takes 12 hours. And further north from there is very little public transportation because there are not many people. St. Petersburg takes at least three days. And the boat to Äland islands is also 12 hours. The boats from Tallinn go straight to Stockholm. Nearer than Åland is the whole wide archipelago outside Turku. There is a road called Archipelago Ring Road. It goes from island to island, mostly the cars are driven into boats, sometimes there is a bridge.

elina

Check tyhe following, it is for bikers, but you can do the same with a rented car: http://www.saaristo.org/eng/routes-trail.htm

lanejohann

we loved loved loved tallinn
and i so wished the kids were with us

they wouldve loved the medieval city
it is fun
lots of things for kids to look at
even if it is touristy
and the ferry trip over on the superstar was fantastic
my kids wouldve loved exploring this huge ship

dont cut out tallinn
get an early ferry and a five oclock back and you will a fine time
we got the hop on off bus fromthe ferry terminal and we ended up walking all the way from the stop which offers the old wooden buildings
there is also a huge monument to the sunken ship the rusalka right on the beach for the kids to have a play around
and there is a wonderful playground out in that district of old wooden buildings ( this is not in the medieval walled part of tallinn but on the route the bus takes)
the kids will love the castles and if theyre energetic they can climb the 500 odd steps up the church tower..havent got my notes but everyone will know which church i mean

tallinn is definitely kids friendly - theres even a museum of torture weapons - you cant get any cooler
have a great time!

lanejohann

oh about st petersburg
glad i didnt have the kids in that city
too many museums and palaces and if it rains...theres not much else to do
there is yelagins island which has parklands but honestly
it is a pretty sophisticated city and great for adults but we didnt enjoy it as much as moscow

i guess that says a lot about our maturity lol lol

lanejohann

the ferry to tallinn has a play area for kids....the big kids can play on the machines and there are floor toys for the little ones
it is really well set up for kids and the two and half hour crossing

MKsFamilyTravel

Thank you all so much for your very helpful responses - I will reconsider Rovaniemi - it is on the list because the 5 year old really wants to go to the Arctic Circle!

Elina - Is it possible to rent bikes with kid trailers?

Lanejohann - Thanks for all that info about Tallinn and St.Petersburg. It really helps me.

elina

I think I don´t know what a kid trailer is... They have seats for kids.

Just wondering: Why does the 5-year-old want to go to the Arctic circle? Does s/he think there is snow? You could always fly, it isn´t necessarily more expensive than train, sometimes it is cheaper.

Anyway, for accomodation you can always type the name of the town + tourism to Google, and you get to the local tourist offices pages qnd find accomodation possibilities. There should be plenty free since schools have started and Finnish families with kids are no longer on holiday.

To the lake region (if that means lake saimaa) you get by train.

MKsFamilyTravel

Elina - bike seats for the kids would be fine. The kid wants to go to Arctic circle because he is fascinated by the globe and maps and all the lines on them! I haven't even mentioned Santa to him yet

So - If you had to pick any two from the following list which two would you pick?
Tallinn, St.Petersburg, Lake Region, Aland Islands, Lapland.

Debs

Remember that you'll need VISA's to enter Russia - if you're from the US, they must be obtained prior to your visit (in other words, not available at the airport).

We just returned from Tallinn and Helsinki and found both very enjoyable.

ENJOY!

elina

>>>So - If you had to pick any two from the following list which two would you pick?<<<

Since you fly to Helsinki: Helsinki and Tallinn, that is the easiest solution. OR you could fit in "lake region" (pretty much any place in the country) if you don´t stay in Tallinn for a longer time. It is easy to make a day trip. Or an overnight trip.

What small children usually enjoy most is very everyday stuff: a cottage by a lake (or sea), eating berries from forests, swimming, trying to catch fish, just wandering (or toddling)in the forest... But that would mean parents don´t see much. Maybe you could search for accomodation a little out of town so you can combine the two? If you want a cottage, www.lomarengas.fi has the widest selection. Just hope for a good weather, that is never guaranteed. Right now it is +27° but could be anything tomorrow.

elina

I take back the cottage suggestion. You would need a car.

MKsFamilyTravel

Thanks again! I will discuss all this with the rest of the people in the group.