Fresh off COVID quarantine, Lisa tucked Bob (who just tested positive himself) into a hotel bed in Helsinki and went out and about exploring the city on foot. Still congested but no longer contagious, she stayed mostly outdoors and away from people as she walked through the streets, discovering a famous library, striking sculptures, a distinctive church, and the Helsinki Opera House.
Helsinki is made up of lakes, islands and the Baltic Sea. Its outdoor-oriented culture meant she had to watch out for many runners, bike riders, and people on scooters.
Over the course of a day, she strolled across the soccer field at Helsinki Olympic Stadium, then visited the Sibelius Monument, a welded steel tribute to Finnish composer Jean Sibelius resembles organ pipes, which is one of Helsinki’s most well-known tourist attractions. She enjoyed a cinnamon roll at the famous Café Regatta, a traditional red cottage cafe that has brought a part of Finnish countryside to the middle of Helsinki. Its cafe is famous for fresh cinnamon buns, blueberry pie and other delicacies.
And she visited the unusual Rock Church, or Temppeliaukio Church, an Evangelical Lutheran Church built into a rock. An organist was preparing for a concert and the organ music was mesmerizing.
Bob managed to grab a spot on a Royal Line Sightseeing boat tour of Helsinki on the very last day of its tourist season. The sky was clear blue, and the crisp early-fall weather was perfect for spending an hour and a half on the Baltic Sea Harbor of this European capital.
With a sun deck above, a bar/restaurant below, and harbor maps laminated to the tables, the boat cruise was an excellent way to get a feel for the city of Helsinki from the viewpoint of its harbor. Highlights included the fortresses that once guarded Helsinki, a church with a lighthouse on top, the Helsinki Zoo, and the jetty where families come to wash their rugs. Seriously!
The tour cost 26 euros, 22 euros for 65 and up, with larger discounts for children and babies. Audio tours were available in a variety of languages.
Here is how Royal Line describes the tour:
During the 1.5-hour sightseeing cruise, the main historical sights of Helsinki are visited. The large sun decks of sightseeing ships offer the best views of the city from the sea. Behind the memorable cruise, you will hear interesting stories about the history of Finland, wonderful landscapes from the ship’s sun deck and the ships’ professional crew.
The cruises start from the famous Kauppatori, and along the way you will admire, among other things, the beautiful Merisatama, Eira, Kaivopuisto, Kruununhaa beach and the wonderful UNESCO World Heritage Site Suomenlinna in its entirety.
During the cruise, you can enjoy the most amazing island scenery on the outer deck of the ship and the atmosphere of the summer terrace with the best sea view. All ships have a café-bar that serves snacks and refreshing refreshments.
As our Tour of Scandinavia began winding to a close, we took an overnight ferry across the Baltic Sea from Stockholm, Sweden, to Helsinki, Finland.
We explored the mini cruise ship as we made our way through the Swedish Archipelago, which encompasses 30,000 islands, at sunset. We arrived in Helsinki on an overcast Friday morning. Enjoy the views in the video and more photos on our blog, messysuitcase.com.
ITINERARY
This is what the TourRadar itinerary listed for the day:
Miércoles, 28 De Septiembre De 2022 STOCKHOLM, FERRY
Stockholm (boarding) – Scenery: Very beautiful landscapes from the boat leaving Stockholm.
Notes:Tonight we embark on a night cruise; Carry your documentation (will be required when boarding) and prepare hand luggage (luggage will remain in the coach). Do not forget warm clothing to enjoy on the deck of the boat. In Finland, the currency used is the euro, if you do not have Swedish Crowns, there are convenient exchange offices on the ship. Free day in the most beautiful of the Scandinavian capitals. We recommend walking around the historic center and the island of museums.
17.00hrs.- Transfer to the port of Stockholm. We embark on the modern ferryof the Silja Lines company. Restaurants, bars, nightclub, casino, shops, ample rooms … cruise conditions. Our ship leaves at 19.30 hrs (estimated time at the time of writing this itinerary). The landscapes you can see at the exit of Stockholm are of great beauty (lots of islands). We recommend to enjoy on the deck. Do not forget your camera ! Night on board, double cabins.
Scenery: Very beautiful landscapes from the boat leaving Stockholm.
Notes: Tonight we embark on a night cruise; Carry your documentation (will be required when boarding) and prepare hand luggage (luggage will remain in the coach). Do not forget warm clothing to enjoy on the deck of the boat. In Finland, the currency used is the euro, if you do not have Swedish Crowns, there are convenient exchange offices on the ship.
The Vasa, a Viking warship, makes the Titanic seem like a success story. It took but a gust of wind to tip and sink the impressive ship, just 20 minutes into its maiden outing, in full view of excited – then horrified – crowds. The Vasa was simply too tall and narrow to be seaworthy. Then it remained submerged in the harbor in Stockholm for 330 years. We learned the whole story of why it was designed as it was, what caused it to sink, and how it was finally raised, in the fascinating Vasa Museum.
Here’s how its website describes the catastrophe:
“What started with church services and a festive atmosphere ended in a watery grave. It was the 10th of August 1628, when Vasa, the most powerful warship in the Baltic, foundered in Stockholm Harbour before the eyes of a large audience, scant minutes after setting sail for the first time.”
Read the rest of the story of how a puff of wind sank a mighty Vasa. You’ll also find info about how the ship was salvaged in the 1950s.
ITINERARY
This is what the TourRadar itinerary listed for the day:
Day 7. Martes, 27 De Septiembre De 2022 STOCKHOLM
Sightseeing tour of this gorgeous capital city built on 13 interconnected islands. Water is everywhere. We will visit Gamla Stand or the “City between the Bridges”, Stockholm’s Old Town full of life where many of the monumental buildings are located such as the Nobel Museum, located next to Stortorget main square, which pays tribute to the winners of the Nobel Prizes, the Cathedral or the Royal Palace. When possible we can have a nice view from the Fjällgatan viewpoint.
Free time. We advise taking a walk through the City Centre and seeing the museum island. In the afternoon, we offer visitors an optional visit to the Town Hall and the Royal Ship Vasa.
We spent a couple of days exploring Stockholm, on foot, by guided tour bus, and even from on board a hop on, hop off boat. The picturesque Swedish capital by the Baltic Sea is comprised of 14 islands, with an expanse of water, ornate bridges, and boats to add to its beauty.
We did a lot of walking on our own, exploring the Parliament, an old fort, the end of the Changing of the Guards, and then climbed on a bus for a very informative tour in English. Our tour guide took us for a stroll around the lovely old city, where Bob was fascinated watching the way they repair cobblestone streets. Join us as we experience the smallest sculpture in Stockholm, the Nobel Museum, the Wooden Horse Museum (because the wooden horse is one of Sweden’s national symbols), the King’s Garden, and Stockholm City Hall where the Nobel Prize Banquet is held each year.
We stayed in a hotel right beside the Avicii Arena, formerly called the Globe because it is The world’s largest spherical building, and the breakfast room overlooked the interior of the arena. On Day 2 in Stockholm, we took a boat tour, visited the Vasa Museum, which houses a 17th-century ship that sunk on its maiden voyage and was raised from the bottom of the bay 300 years later.
Finally, we found a truly royal place to put our Love Lock!
ITINERARY
This is what the TourRadar itinerary listed for the days:
Day 6. Martes, 27 De Septiembre De 2022
STOCKHOLM
Sightseeing tour of this gorgeous capital city built on 13 interconnected islands. Water is everywhere. We will visit Gamla Stand or the “City between the Bridges”, Stockholm’s Old Town full of life where many of the monumental buildings are located such as the Nobel Museum, located next to Stortorget main square, which pays tribute to the winners of the Nobel Prizes, the Cathedral or the Royal Palace. When possible we can have a nice view from the Fjällgatan viewpoint.
Free time. We advise taking a walk through the centre and seeing the museum island. In the afternoon, we offer visitors an optional visit to the Town Hall and the Royal Ship Vasa.
We started the day with a rainy tour of Oslo, Norway, which is nestled gracefully on a harbor at the end of a 110-km-long fjord. We walked through a glorious sculpture park, Frognerparken Vigelandsparken, (Vigeland Sculpture Park) with its captivating sculptures and monuments and its amazing flowers in bloom in late September. We’ll share photos of the many sculptures in our blog at messysuitcase.com.
Back on the bus toward Stockholm, we had a couple of hours to stretch our legs in the Swedish town of Orebro and saw a lovely 14th-century palace, Orebro Castle. No time to go in, though! We took an hour to wander the scenic streets, and then hustled back onto the bus to head to Stockholm for dinner and bed.
The whirlwind day gave us a taste for future exploration in Oslo and Orebro.
Day 5. Lunes, 26 De Septiembre De 2022 OSLO, OREBRO, ESTOCOLMO Total distance: 530 km.
Scenery: Impressive scenery, with mountains, forests and lakes.
Free time to stroll around Oslo before continuing our journey. 11:30 h. – Oslo- Departure. We travel to Sweden with its impressive lakes, dense forests. 13.00 hrs.- After the border crossing, we stopped at a service area for lunch. 17.00 hrs- Orebro- Arrival to this Swedish town next to a beautiful lake with a castle and charming historic center. Time for stroll. 18.00 hrs.- Orebro. Departure. 20.30 hrs.- Arrival in STOCKHOLM in the evening.
Enjoy Photos!
Frognerparken Vigelandsparken, (Vigeland Sculpture Park), Oslo
We started the day by visiting the spectacular 100-meter-high Trollafossen Waterfall, which means Waterfall of the Trolls. Then our group was treated to an unforgettable boat cruise through the narrow Sogner Fjord, where we found ourselves surrounded by jaw-dropping cliffsides rising from the blue water on both sides, with crystalline waterfalls snaking down the faces from distant peaks.
After the boat cruise, we visited the positively Seussian Borgund Stave Church, possibly the best preserved and most distinctive Norwegian stave of the 13th century, featuring lavishly carved portals, crosses, and carvings of dragons’ heads on the roofs.
Note Lisa’s new scarf and Bob’s jacket, both purchased in Norway.
Day 4. Domingo, 25 De Septiembre De 2022 BERGEN , OSLO Total distance: 510 km.
Scenery: Spectacular scenery. Impressive views of mountains and fjords and landscapes permanently covered in snow. Note: Have warm clothes at hand to enjoy the snow and the short stretch by ferry between the fjords. The schedules of the cruise can be modified; according to that the schedule of the rest of the day may also undergo changes.
07.45hr. – Bergen –Departure-. We set out amidst beautiful scenery and enter the fjords region.
09.45hrs- Waterfall of Tvindefoss. Short stop to admire this beautiful waterfall 100m of height also call Trollafossen or waterfall of the Trolls. Its waters have the reputation not only of rejuvenating but also of increasing the sexual potency.
10.15hrs- Departure to Sogner Fjord, the largest Norwegian fjord and often considered the most beautiful one. We continue our journey through impressive landscapes and come to Gudvangen.
10:30 h. – Gudvangen. We visit this tiny city and then take a boat cruise on the fiord (departure scheduled for 12.00 h.). The cruise lasts for just over 2 hours and takes us near impressive cliffs. We recommend having lunch on board.
At about 14.10 h. we land in Flam, and then continue our journey surrounded by woods, lakes, isolated mountains with peaks covered in snow all the year round and glaciers.
After passing through the 24.5km Aurland tunnel, considered one of the longest in the world and using innovative techniques to rest the eyes and avoid the monotony of the drivers, we will arrive to the Borgund wood church, possibly the best preserved Norwegian temple of the 13th century, where we will make a brief stop to admire and take a photo (entrance included).
19:30 h. – Oslo –Arrival-. Free time in this pleasant Norwegian city next to the fjord that bears its name and surrounded by mountains. We can visit its port, streets and the works of art of the Frognerparken.
Another incredible breakfast kicked off the third day of our Tour of Scandinavia before we headed out on the bus through Norway, with breathtaking views of fjords and sea landscapes. After a stop at a statue called Three Swords in a Storm, built to remember the Vikings who forged so much of European history, it was off on another ferry ride, with the Norwegian Alps all around us. Next, we rode a bus through the world’s deepest tunnel. Finally, we took another short ferry ride to the port city of Bergen, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The only drawback was the man who kept coughing behind us on the bus. We were masked but most people were not.
Bergen was indescribable. Surrounded by seven mountains and with a historic harbor on a breathtaking fjord, Bergen offers scenic Bryggen Wharf as a walking history lesson as you pass by colorful wooden houses that are centuries old. You can enjoy mountain hikes, city walks, shopping (Bob found a winter coat), water activities, culture, and even a funicular up Mount Flouyen, which offers a spectacular mountaintop vista.
For lunch, we were faced with a choice: reindeer sausage or a moose burger? Bergen demands more time for exploration. Enjoy!
Day 3. Sábado, 24 De Septiembre De 2022 STAVANGER, BERGEN Total distance: 170 km
Scenery: Beautiful fjord and sea landscapes. Many bridges that will make you feel you are travelling between the “sea and the land”. Deep tunnels. Two sections travelling by boat. Notes: Wear warm clothing during the boat crossings. There may sometimes be queues to board the boats, and we may arrive at Bergen later than planned.
07:30 h. – Stavanger –On leaving the city, we will stop at the “Swords in Rock” monument, where we will remember the Vikings before continuing on along the coast and soon come to Mortavika where we take a boat and cross Skunden fjord, which takes just over half an hour.
Arrival at Aarsvagen where we continue to travel through amazing scenery dominated by the sea. We then pass through the deepest tunnel in the world, below the sea.
At approximately 11.30 h. we arrive at Sandvikvag where we make a boat crossing lasting 45 minutes surrounded by spectacular fjords.
13:30 h. Bergen –Arrival-. We ascend on the funicular railway to Mount Flouyen (price of trip included) where there are fantastic views of the city and its fjords. Then visitors have a free afternoon in Bergen, to enjoy its lively atmosphere.
After an awesome buffet breakfast at our hotel, our bus took us to the first ferry of our tour. It was mostly a travel day with tiny pockets of exploration. We crossed the Baltic Sea to Norway, and got our first view of the magnificent fjords.
ITINERARY
This is what the TourRadar itinerary listed for the day:
Day 2. Viernes, 23 De Septiembre De 2022 – AARHUS, FERRY, KRISTIANSAND, STAVANGER Total distance: 420 km
Scenery: Attractive woodlands and mountains in Norway; first view of fjords. Notes: The times of the ferries between Denmark and Norway often vary and so the times during this part of the circuit will depend on those changes. We recommend you wear warm clothing for the boat crossing. In Norway, the currency is the Norwegian Krone. We suggest your change your currency on the ferry.
08:00 h – Aarhus –Departure-. We set out for the northern part of Denmark, amidst attractive scenery.
10:30 h – Hirsthals. We take a tour of this city and port before embarking on the modern ferry to cross the North Sea to Norway-. Normally our boat sails at 12.15 h. The crossing takes about three hours. We advise you to change your currency on the boat and have lunch.
15:30 h. – Kristiansand – We land and then continue our journey-.
17:00 h. – Flekkefjord –A town on a fjord, with wooden houses and tiny restaurants. Time to explore.
17:45 h. – Flekkfjord –Departure-. The scenery is even more attractive.
19:45 h. – Stavanger –Arrival-. Free time to explore this beautiful lively city next to the sea.
… or Our First Experience Being Led Around by the Nose
During our extensive travels, we’ve always been completely in charge of own travel itinerary, a process that involves extensive planning and research, and can be frankly exhausting. For our first big trip post-COVID, we decided to give ourselves a break from logistics and try an organized tour. We looked over the endless options, our budget in mind, and chose Scandinavia, a region neither of us had ever visited.
So in September 2022 we embarked on a three-week clockwise tour around Scandinavia, from Copenhagen to Helsinki, that incorporated buses, ferries, and fjords. All we had to do was pack, then hand our luggage to the bus driver.
We booked this tour through Tour Radar, which offers a huge selection of multi-day travel experiences for all budgets. Their tour operators take care of everything from logistics to meals to experiences to friendly guides. The operator of our Scandinavian tour was Europamundo. We’ll do a whole blog later about the tour experience. It was a bit of a whirlwind, so don’t expect a lot of details in these videos!
Our tour of Scandinavia kicked off with a walking tour of Copenhagen, followed by a bus ride to Odense, hometown of writer Hans Christian Andersen.
Join us as we visit the famous Little Mermaid statue in Copenhagen (the book was written by Andersen, author of many beloved fairy tales), the Denmark Royal Palace, the romantic Copenhagen Town Hall, Andersen’s childhood home, and the Odense Cathedral. We ended the first day with a cozy outdoor dinner beside a scenic canal in the vibrant city of Aarhus, one of the oldest cities in Denmark.
Speaking of Andersen, you can do a whole vacation that centers around this beloved author, who in addition to The Little Mermaid wrote The Ugly Duckling, The Snow Queen, and many others. (Link below.)
Our tour route
ITINERARY
This is what the TourRadar itinerary listed for the day:
Day 1. Jueves, 22 De Septiembre De 2022 — COPENHAGUE , ODENSE, AARHUS Distance: 315 km Scenery: Pleasant hills in southern Denmark
At 08:00 h. we start out on a comprehensive tour of the Danish capital; the largest of the Scandinavian cities is a city of contrasts: its popular “Tivoli”; Christianborg Palace; the terraces of Nyhavn, and the mermaid… The visit ends at about 10:30 h. 11:30 h.– Copenhagen –Departure-. We will travel to the Jutland Peninsula, passing through pretty landscapes with hills and crossing the 20 km long bridge that connect Jutland to the island on which Copenhagen stands. 14.00 h.- Odense- Arrival. Free time to explore and have lunch in this pleasent city where you can visit its gothic cathedral and the house of Andersen. 16.00 h.- Odense. Departure. 18.15 h.- Aarhus –Arrival-. Free time. We recommend a visit to this pretty city, the Danish city with the second highest population.
