Subway_Scoundrel

Need help with my Itinerary which I have booked flights there and back. I just need to plan the dates between. My original plan was to go to Copenhagen, Stockholm, Helsinki and then Tallinn and flying to Amsterdam/London. When I laid this out, it was a lot travel and not enough days in the 3 main cities (CPH/STO/HEL). I could be wrong.

Below is the Itinerary. I will travel alone so I get a little nutz when I stay in a city for more than 3 to 4 days. I would like to go to Tallinn but not sure I have the time but might could squeeze some time out of the other cities.

I would like to fly from AMS to Lon on Friday but I can also fly out of AMS on Sat. morning early which might give me some extra time. I do have too many days in Helsinki but that is because I took out Tallinn which I would like to squeeze in

I may post this in 4 different forums so you may see in different countries.

Any and all suggestions is helpful but the flights to CPH and flying out of AMS is locked. (can fly out Sat morning or Friday from AMS to Lon )

Nov. 20 Fri -- Fly out 
Nov. 21 Sat -- Copenhagen/ 3:05 pm (CPH)
Nov. 22 Sun -- CPH
Nov. 23 Mon -- CPH
Nov. 24 Tue -- CPH  Fly to Stockholm at 8:15pm
Nov. 25 Wed -- Stock
Nov. 26 Thur -- Stock
Nov. 27 Fri -- Stock
Nov. 28 Sat -- Stock- Fly to Helsinki possibility at 6:40pm
Nov. 29 Sun -- HEL
Nov. 30 Mon -- HEL
Dec. 1 Tue -- HEL
Dec. 2 Wed-- HEL
Dec. 3 Thu-- Hel  Fly to Amsterdam
Dec. 4 Fri-- HEL  Fly to London
Dec. 5 Sat -- Fly out  From London to home


Alternative Ending
Dec. 4 Fri  Fly to AMS
Dec. 5 Sat Fly out  From AMS to London (12:00noon) to home at

kja

It depends on what you want to see and experience, but it seems to me that you have a disproportionate amount of time in Helsinki. I enjoyed that city, but thought 2 days about right. I didn't go to Talinn, so can't comment on how long to include if you do decide to go there.

I take it you aren't planning to visit Amsterdam or London?

Michael

A lot of Finns take (or at least used to) the hydrofoil from Helskinki to Tallinn for a day of golf and to buy beer; they carried it back by the case load. You cold join them and spend a day in that city. 14 years ago a day's visit was just fine.

iris1745

Hi; Tallinn is a very nice town to visit. Richard http://wikitravel.org/en/Tallinn or www.inyourpocket.com/ Click on the town and then 'instant' for a download.

trsny

IMHO, that's too many days in Helsinki. It's a great city, but not for that amount of time. I'd split my time between Helsinki and Tallinn. Tallinn is an amazing can't miss city and can be reached by ferry from Helsinki.

Kay2

Agree.
Day trip to Tallinn very doable from Helsinki. The days are going to be short in all your locations, so you may want to layout what your interests are in each city and which ones need to be done during daylight hours and which in later afternoon after dark. Flying in the evening is also a good way to use the time.

I have only been to Finland in November on business, so I can't recommend activities at that time as a tourist. The locals tell me that often November is a rainy month, adding to the darkness even during the day. I wore boots and raincoat a lot the first trip. Another time I went in November it had already snowed, which I rarely see at home, so I enjoyed being out walking in the cold/snow. Third time I don't remember any rain or snow at all. It was a lot warmer than the other years.

babelic

It usually snows instead on rain in late November, but often the snow melts away very soon (and then the wet roads freeze at night when the temperature drops making them extremely slippery). Right now there is little snow on the ground in Southern Finland.

I would also recommend day trip to Tallinn. You can view all ferry options here: http://www.portofhelsinki.fi/english/ Spending one day in Tallinn would leave you three full days in Helsinki which is enough. If you like you could also make a half-day visit to Porvoo (http://tourism.porvoo.fi/en). There is regular bus service between Helsinki and Porvoo and the drive takes about 1 hour.

ps. there is very interesting Picasso exhibition right now in Ateneum

hetismij

Can you not fly home from AMS and avoid London, so you can see a little of AMS too, and avoid the UK departure tax? Or return to CPH and fly home from there?

Subway_Scoundrel

Thanks Everyone. Hetismij, my original plan was to fly out of AMS to Lon on 12/5 but my flight was at 7:00 in the morning. That is OK but it also means I need to leave the hotel earlier than 5am. This means I have to take a taxi which is more expensive. My flight is on points with AA and I am taking the direct flight from LON to RDU at 12/Lon time.

I have been to AMS more than any other city in Europe but my whole reason for going to AMS is my favorite restaurant in the world is there and I know how to get through Schiphol to AMS Center to tram 1,2 or 5 to Leidesplien (sic) and back. Again, not much time but I have been to AMS many times and looking forward to a night with a good reataurant and a few bars and then hit the streets for a couple of hours the next morning. Nothing like buying tulips in AMS and giving them to my mother that night. (sneak them through customs)

bratsandbeer

If you could get 4 days out of your schedule, you could take the 4 day train trip to St Petersburg Russia. It takes about 5 hrs (not sure if that is right - maybe 4 hours) from Helsinki to St Petersburg. You do need a visa to go to ST.P.

I think taking a day from CPH and a day from Stockholm and 2 days from Helsinki, it would work. Or flying direct from STP to London would eliminate some time. We stayed in StP 3 nights and took an afternoon train back to Helsinki the 4th day.

We took an early morning ferry to Tallinn and came back in the evening. As other posters mentioned, people would go to Tallinn to buy alcohol and do other shopping. There is a high tax on alcohol in Finland.

Also, Finnair has direct flights between London and Helsinki if you would decide on that route.

nancicita

bookmarking

Subway_Scoundrel

Bratsandbeer, Thanks

I would go to STP but I went there 2 years ago and spent 4 to 5 days there. I thought about going again but voted against it due to tight scedule and getting a visa for a 2 or 3 days trip. Actually when I was there, I met many people from Finland who has taken the train. Drank with them one night at the hotel hallway bar.