Quick Guide to 7 Days in the Baltic Sea

Quick Guide to 7 Days in the Baltic Sea

One of the most fascinating things about visiting the Baltic Sea is that you can visit several countries in just a short span of time. You won’t get to see the cities in depth but you have access to a variety of city capitals including: Helsinki (Finland), Tallinn (Estonia), and Riga (Latvia) to name a few. During my 7 Day adventure, I travelled to Helsinki, St. Petersburg, Tallinn, Riga, and Copenhagen (I know, not a part of the Baltic Sea).

Getting Around:

I travelled to each country using various transportation methods ranging from ferry, bus, and airplane. Traveling to each country took anywhere from 1.5 Hours to 12 Hours.

Helsinki → St. Petersburg : 12 Hour Ferry Ride

St. Petersburg → Helsinki : 12 Hours Ferry Ride

Helsinki → Tallinn : 2 Hour Ferry Ride

Tallinn → Riga : 4.5 Hour Bus Ride

Riga → Copenhagen : 1.5 Hour Flight

Currency:

Helsinki, Tallinn, and Riga all take the Euro (€). As of Dec 2017, €1 is equivalent to $1.20USD

St. Petersburg takes the Rubles. $1USD is equal to $57.87 Rubles

Copenhagen takes the Danish Krone. $1USD is about $6.19 Danish Krone (DKK)

Hotels:

Unlike most of my trips, I’ve decided to stay in hostels instead of AirBnB. Not my first choice but due to circumstances, I was only able to select hostels. My room ranged from $15 to $35 a night in a 4 persons dorm.


Itinerary:

*Click on dates for the full itinerary.

Day Date Location To Stay To Do/To See To Eat
1 Dec. 27, 2017 Helsinki, Finland

St.Petersburg, Russia

Princess Anastasia Cruise

  • Cost: Basic room (€62 for 2 days) – includes 2 small beds, tiny washroom, Towels, and all-in-one soap dispenser.
1. Arrived in Helsinki at 9 am.

2. Princess Anastasia Cruise

  • Depart Helsinki at 7pm to St. Petersburg
Breakfast: Cake & Coffee (€4.30)

Lunch: Sport Legend (€6.60)

Dinner on cruise: Italian Food (€25.00)

 

2 Dec. 28, 2017 St. Petersburg, Russia Princess Anastasia Cruise 1. Arrive in St. Petersburg

2. Hermitage 

→ 34 Palace Embankment, Dvortsovy Municipal Okrug, Central District, Saint Petersburg, Russia

This is one of the largest museums in the world carrying nearly three million items dating from the Stone Age to the present.

  • Cost: $12

3. Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood

→ Griboyedov channel embankment, 2Б, St Petersburg, Russia, 191186

This is a Russian Orthodox church that is designed in traditional Russian architecture. 

  • Cost: $5

4. St. Issac’s Cathedral

→ St Isaac’s Square, 4, St Petersburg, Russia, 190000

This is one of the largest Russian Cathedrals in the world. 

Dessert: Kupetz Eliseevs Food Hall

  • Ordered: Hot Chocolate ($10)

Dinner on cruise: Hamburger (€25.00)

3 Dec. 29, 2017 Helsinki, Finland Hostel Diana Park

  • Cost: €32

Stayed in a 5-bed coed room. There were 2 showers on the floor and a tiny restroom. The hostel also includes 2 computers in the common room, free coffee and tea in the kitchen, and a few Helsinki Guide Books.

1. Arrive in Helsinki

2. Self Guided Tour

  • Senate Square
  • Helsinki Cathedral
  • Uspenski Cathedral

3. Suomenlinna Island

An island off the coast of Helsinki that is known for its fortresses. 

  • Cost: Ferry (€5)
Lunch: Buddha Bar

→ Annankatu 6, 00120 Helsinki, Finland

  • Ordered: Thai Noodle Boat (€12)

Dinner: Eerikin Pippuri Kabob

→ Forum, Mannerheimintie 18-20, 00100 Helsinki, Finland

  • Ordered:  2 orders of shwarma including, fries, salad, and a drink (€18.50)
4 Dec. 30, 2017 Tallinn, Estonia Euphoria Hostel

  • Cost: 2 nights (€61.60)

Stayed in a 4-bed coed room by the city center. Hippy-centric hostel

1. Helsinki to Tallinn by ferry

2. Christmas Night Market

Lunch: Rataskaevu 16 Restoran 

→ Rataskaevu 16, 10123 Tallinn, Estonia

Highly Recommended. Dedicated blog post here. Reservations Required.

Ordered: 4-Course Meal (€35)

Dinner: Hesburger

Fast Food comparable to McDonald’s

  • Spent: Hamburger and Fries (€3)

Drinks: Pôrgu

*Bar is now permanently closed.

Great place to go after dinner.

 

5 Dec. 31, 2017 Tallinn, Estonia Euphoria Hostel 1. Self-Guided Tour

  • Old Town
  • Sunrise over Toompea Square Platform
  • Chapel of the Consistory of the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church
  • Town wall Tower
    • Cost: €3
  • Börsi Käik
  • City Wall Walk
  • St. Catherines Passage
  • Masters Courtyard
  • Viru Gate
  • Freedom Square

2. New Year’s Eve Celebration

Live Performance in Freedom Square including fireworks

3. Christmas Market

Coffee: Kohvik Dannebrog Cafe – Tower Cafe

*Cafe is now permanently closed.

Medieval Cafe.

  • Ordered: Vana Chocolate (€7)

Dinner: Spice

→ Mündi 4, 10123 Tallinn, Estonia

Indian/Thai Family – Owned Restaurant

  • Ordered: Green Curry (€15)

Drinks: The Patcave

*Bar is now permanently closed.

Met up with couch surfers to celebrate NYE here. 

6 Jan. 1, 2018 Riga, Latvia The Naughty Squirrel Backpackers Hostel

Kalēju iela 50, Centra rajons, Rīga, LV-1050, Latvia

  • Cost: 4-bed female dorm (€25)

Greeted with shots of Black Balsam, a popular Latvian liqueur that tastes like cough medicine and black licorice. Has happy hour that serves €1 Latvian beer. Bunks were named after capital cities.

1. Ecolines bus, Tallinn to Riga [4.5 hour bus ride]

  • Cost: €17

2. Self Guided Tour

Lunch: Firewood 

*Restaurant is now permanently closed.

  • Ordered: Wine, soup, pork with fries (€23.40)

Dinner: IL Patio

*Restaurant is now permanently closed.

  • Ordered:  Spaghetti Alla Bolognese, wine  €11.50
7 Jan. 2, 2018 Copenhagen, Denmark Copenhagen Downtown Hostel

  • Cost: 4-bed female dorm room (DKK125)

Room had its own sinks. Showers and toilets were down the hall. 

1. Flew from Riga to Copenhagen

2. Free walking tour of Christianshavn

Christiania is a free town and provides a unique way of living with ramshackle houses and legal marijuana. 

3. Self Guided Tour

Dinner: Zirup

→ Læderstræde 32, 1201 København K, Denmark

  • Ordered: Pizza, beer, and chips and guacamole (DKK 290)

 

Expenses for 7 Days:

City Type Costs (Foreign Currency) Costs (USD)
Helsinki Transportation €14 $15.26
  Hostel €32 $34.88
Food €20 $21.80
St. Petersburg Private Driver   $120
  Private Guide   $140
Cruise €82 $89.38
Food €71 $77.39
Souvenir €35 $38.15
Museum   $20
Tallinn Ferry to Tallin €34 $37.06
  Hostel €62 $67.58
Food €70 $76.30
Souvenir €16 $17.44
Bus €2 $2.18
Riga Bus to Riga €17 $18.53
  Hostel €25 $27.25
Food €35 $38.15
Souvenir €10 $10.90
Bus €2 $2.18
Copenhagen Bus from Airport to Downtown DKK36 $5.26
  Bus to Airport DKK36 $5.26
Food DKK290 $42.40
Souvenir €10 $10.90
  Total $918.25