cjon

Norwegian air is just starting direct flights to Oslo & Stockholm from Oakland, CA & the prices are very low for travel in May & early June. My question is 1) is May decent weather & 2) what is the best travel route. I am thinking flying in to Oslo & out Stockholm with a ferry to St Petersburg. I'm assuming there is a ferry from previous posts. Excuse my ignorance if there is not.

agedude

I would plan for cool and wet, with highs around 50' F. I was in northern Norway at the end of June and got an inch of snow one afternoon.

Personally, I'm not a big fan of Oslo. I do love Stockholm, Helsinki, and Tallinn Estonia. I would fly to Stockholm, ferry to Helsinki, ferry to Tallinn, then Ferry to St Pete. Figuring I would be tired of ship travel, I'd fly from St Pete. back to Stockholm for the return home.

michele_d

In order to travel visa free to St Petes for 72 hrs you need to enter and return on the overnight ferry from Helsinki. There is also a ferry to/from Stockholm to Helsinki and Tallinn. We took both of these trips and loved it. There is also a cruise from Stockholm to St Petersburg with a day trip in Tallinn and a day trip in St Petes. Which of these are you planning to do?

http://www.stpeterline.ru/en/Schedule/Schedule.aspx
http://www.e-pages.dk/rccl/13/3
http://www.tallinksilja.com/en/web/int/book-a-cruise

cjon

Thank you for responding so quickly. I think the suggestion of excluding Norway is a good one, as is ferrying to St. Pete's & flying back to Stockholm. Will review the ferry possibilities & make a decision. Thank you so much for the links.

thursdaysd

If you are willing to get a visa for Russia, which will allow you to stay in the country longer (why go so far for just 72 hours?) you could take the train from Helsinki. See also: http://www.seat61.com/Russia.htm#St%20Petersburg

BigRuss

And as a logistical matter, the flights home are longer than the flights to Europe (jet stream effect). Therefore starting in St. Pete and going west from there to Tallinn, Helsinki, Stockholm and home may be better. That travel day from St. Pete to Oakland would be a real beast.