Go Back  Fodor's Travel Talk Forums > Destinations > Europe
Reload this Page >

Oslo or Helsinki or both?

Search

Oslo or Helsinki or both?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Apr 28th, 2009, 11:44 PM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Oslo or Helsinki or both?

We are planning on spending a couple of days in Oslo and Helsini. Would we be better to just concentrate on either city? I've heard definitely see Oslo over Helsinki... any comments? Thanks for any advice.
Ozzies is offline  
Old Apr 29th, 2009, 02:47 AM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,407
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
if i had that choice, id have to see both...

from what i have heard, stockholm is nicer and some people even prefer copenhagen but all my friends who have similar taste to mine said that helsinki wasnt all that grand a place but youd still have to have a look, wouldnt you?
someone i know went on a big tour of scandinavia and finland and found the forest landscape of finland pretty monotonous after a while

we are 'doing' helsinki - only because we are flying there and so we booked two nights - one for the afternoon we arrive and then the next day we are catching the fast 2hr ferry across to tallinn which is reportedly a very compact town and very charming- 59 gbp each...
( that's why we decided to tack on that extra day in helsinki after a friend insisted we try to fit it in )
then we are returning to helsinki on the 530 pm ferry and spending the evening ( it will still be light) around the harbour i guess


we have two nights in oslo too - we are flying out from oslo to london at the end of the trip

im looking forward to seeing the russian influence in helsinki and estonia before we head into russia but thats just a personal interest
lanejohann is offline  
Old Apr 29th, 2009, 02:50 AM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 597
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I've not been to Oslo, but I found Helsinki to be a very pleasant walking city, especially if a ferry day trip to Tallinn is added. For more, see my phototravelogue at http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=...&x=0&y=-95hdl3
SemiMike is offline  
Old Apr 29th, 2009, 02:56 AM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,407
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
thats a great slideshow SemiMike
really whets the appetite!
lanejohann is offline  
Old Apr 30th, 2009, 03:43 PM
  #5  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks for your opinions/photos, etc. Helsinki looks worth a visit!
Ozzies is offline  
Old Apr 30th, 2009, 04:25 PM
  #6  
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 4,049
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I love Helsinki. Have taken the ferry to Tallin for a day trip - the old town was interesting. Our first time to Helsinki we took the Silja Ferry overnight from Helsinki to Stockholm. Arrived in Stockholm early morning so had the day to look around. Took the train from Stockholm to Oslo. Both Oslo and Helsinki are great to visit. Both are great for walking.

If you go to Oslo only, you could do the Norway In A Nutshell Tour. One day to Bergen, overnight in Bergen and go back to Oslo the next day or stay in Bergen an extra day.

Our second visit to Helsinki we took a 4 day train tour to St Petersburg from Helsinki.

Whatever you decide you can't but enjoy it.
bratsandbeer is offline  
Old Apr 30th, 2009, 04:38 PM
  #7  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks for the info bratsandbeer, think we'll do both cities!
Ozzies is offline  
Old Apr 30th, 2009, 05:11 PM
  #8  
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 57,890
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
How many days do you have and what have you alredy seen - or plan onseeing on this trip.


If I had to rate the Scandanavian capitols for interest and quantity of things to do it owuld be:

Stockholm
Copenhagen
Oslo
Helsinki

The first is good for 4/5 days at least, the latter you can see in 1.5/2.
nytraveler is offline  
Old Apr 30th, 2009, 05:22 PM
  #9  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
We'll be coming from Tallinn into Helsinki by ferry, (after a little tour of Lithuania, Latvia & Estonia), haven't been to Helsinki before so don't know much about it, then we thought 2 days in Helsinki before flying to Oslo for a couple of days before going by train to Bergen and then up the west coast of Norway by steamer, (my husband really wants to do this part!). We're not going to Sweden this trip. Thanks in advance for any help/advice.
Ozzies is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
rtraveler1
Europe
6
Jul 24th, 2013 04:09 PM
mingtsainy
Europe
20
Jun 10th, 2013 02:27 PM
Renaud
Europe
26
Jan 30th, 2013 07:56 AM
dineroguru
Europe
10
Feb 25th, 2012 03:16 PM
beaverpie
Europe
4
Jan 21st, 2006 01:39 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On



Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -