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).
Table of Contents
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
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1. Arrived in Helsinki at 9 am.
2. Princess Anastasia Cruise
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Breakfast: Cake & Coffee (€4.30)
Lunch: Sport Legend (€6.60) Dinner on cruise: Italian Food (€25.00)
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| 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.
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.
→ 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
Dinner on cruise: Hamburger (€25.00) |
| 3 | Dec. 29, 2017 | Helsinki, Finland | Hostel Diana Park
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
An island off the coast of Helsinki that is known for its fortresses.
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Lunch: Buddha Bar
→ Annankatu 6, 00120 Helsinki, Finland
Dinner: Eerikin Pippuri Kabob → Forum, Mannerheimintie 18-20, 00100 Helsinki, Finland
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| 4 | Dec. 30, 2017 | Tallinn, Estonia | Euphoria Hostel
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
Drinks: Pôrgu *Bar is now permanently closed. Great place to go after dinner.
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| 5 | Dec. 31, 2017 | Tallinn, Estonia | Euphoria Hostel | 1. Self-Guided Tour
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.
Dinner: Spice → Mündi 4, 10123 Tallinn, Estonia Indian/Thai Family – Owned Restaurant
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
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]
2. Self Guided Tour |
Lunch: Firewood
*Restaurant is now permanently closed.
Dinner: IL Patio *Restaurant is now permanently closed.
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| 7 | Jan. 2, 2018 | Copenhagen, Denmark | Copenhagen Downtown Hostel
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
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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 |