cambe

I am trying to sort out an itinerary for Finland, St Petersburg. Stockholm. Bergen in July August.

Is this doable?

cambe

Sorry I posted the above before I had finished,

I will fly into Tampere and spend 4 nights, 3 days in Helsinki (including 1 day to Tallinn),

Day 5 train to St Petersburg (I am travelling on my own - Do I need a guide?).

Day 8 - Back o Helsinki by train and onwards to Stockholm by night ferry.

Day 9 Stockholm for 3 days

Day 12 = Fly Stockholm to Bergen

Day 12 - Bergen

Day 13 - Norway in a nutshell

Day 14 Bergen

Day 15 Fly home from Bergen

kja

Hi, cambe -

Of course it depends on what you want to see and do, but it sounds like you would have only about 2 days in St. Petersburg. IMHO, that city deserves more! You can visit St. Petersburg on your own, but if you don't speak Russian, you will probably want to at least learn to transliterate Cyrillic before going, and you should bring a good guide book with you.

Hope that helps!

althom1122

I haven't been to Helsinki/Tallinn but have been to all the other places you mention. It might be more logical to fly into St. Petersburg since it would eliminate the backtracking. So start in St. Petersburg (it deserves at least 3 full days and while I haven't been to Helsinki, I'm not sure it does)and then go to Helsinki and on to Stockholm (wonderful - don't miss the Vasa) and Bergen.
I think St. Petersburg would be difficult for a non-Russian speaker without a guide (I've traveled extensively on my own but not in Russia - and think it would have been tough). English is not widely spoken and signs are, of course, in Cyrillic.
Another option, if you're not set on Helsinki, would be to fly from St. Petersburg to Stockholm and then take the train to Oslo (not on a par with Stockholm in my view, but interesting nonetheless). Then you can take the Norway in a Nutshell tour (terrific) from Oslo to Bergen, rather than from roundtrip from Bergen.
Good luck - you'll love this trip. Some great destinations.

SemiMike

First time in Helsinki & Tallinn? You may be interested in my phototravelogue at http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=...&y=-95hdl3

Viajero2

Horrendous Itinerary.

It is frontloaded and rushed at the end for spectacular cities. I visited all those cities a couple of years ago, so I am talking from experience.

Fly all the way to St. Pete and start working your way back west. At least 3 days in St. Pete. Then get a driver ($250/Mercedes Benz; let me know if you need the company name) that can take you St. Pete- Helsinki. If not then train/ferry over. Helsinki needs 2 days max; not incredibly exciting city. Fly to Stockholm (SAS has great one-way fares). About 3 days in Stockholm (research this city well). Fly to Bergen; rent a car and explore the fjords. We met an American lady that was driving solo all over Norway; she was having a blast.

cambe

Thank you all for your comments.

The reason I did not fly into St Petersburg (which I agree would be the most sensible) is because of the cost of travel from London to St Petersburg, I live in Belfast so will have to travel to London and any cheap flights means another stop so I would have to either stay in London overnight or Berlin, Warsaw etc.

I have found another way which still criss crosses but please look at this and tell me if it will work ( I have included an extra 2 days).

Fly into Bergen

3 nights/2 days in Bergen

Norway in a Nutshell to Oslo stopping at the Stalheim Hotel for one night.

1 night/1.5 days in Oslo

Fly from Oslo to St Petersburg.

3 nights/3 days in St Petersburg (arrive early and leave late).

Train to Helsinki

3nights/3days in Helsinki including 1 day to Tallinn,

Overnight ferry to Stockholm.

3nights/3.5 days in Stolkholm.

Fly home from Stolkholm.

Surfergirl

Agree with the 2 day max in Helsinki, as beautiful a town as it is, but you MUST take the night ferry back to Stockholm -- that ferry is incredibly fun, you get the "almost" midnight sun, plus astonishingly beautfiful things to see on the deck of the boat.

annaguide

A night ferry to Stocholm is fun, I agree. The itinerary sounds good. # days in St.Petersburg is still not enough, but it's never enough. It will give You a taste of the city anyway.

althom1122

Your second itinerary is much better! You'll have a great time.

cambe

Thank you all again,

Does anyone have the name of a travel guide in St Petersburg that accommodates group travel that I can join?

I have now got some guide books on the various destinations and I am considering travelling from Turku to Stockholm rather than Helsinki as it is a more scenic cruise. Has anyone done this?

Thanks again

Helen