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Tallinn, Helsinki and Petersburg without visa – budget travel
We weren’t planning the trip to Tallinn, Helsinki and Petersburg. Actually everything started from LOT special offer for the flights: Warsaw – Tallinn and Helsinki – Warsaw. From Tallinn to Helsinki we traveled by Tallink ferry, but it’s possible to go with other companies such as Viking Line or Eckero Line. You need to check in at least 30 minutes before the departure of the ferry. Check-in desk is located at the Terminal D. Tallink shuttles 6 times a day and the voyage takes around 2 hours and definitely it isn’t boring (you can read about it here). The ferry arrives at the West Harbor. To the city center you can go…
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Hobbits’ stronghold in Helsinki neighborhood
Suomenlinna stronghold, located in 6 islands, is a very important point in Helsinki touristic map. It was built in the half XVIII century by the Swedish in order to defense against Russians. In that times it was the biggest building in the kingdom and the second – largest city in Finland. After a long siege it was finally conquered by Russians in 1808. In view of its strategic location, Russians decided to move the capital of Finland from Turku to Helsinki in 1812. Fortress remained under Russians rule till 1917, when Finland regained independence. These days it doesn’t have military significance but it’s a very interesting historic monument. The most…
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Helsinki
We stopped off in Helsinki during our journey from Tallinn to Sankt Petersburg. This city, well known for its leafy surroundings and interesting architecture merging Finnish minimalism with Russian grandeur, is actually an archipelago of more than 300 islands. The city is famous of white nights in June and July and intensive nightlife. Gathering information about Helsinki before our trip, I was surprised that regardless the highest alcohol prices, there’s the biggest sobering chamber in Europe! This riddle was solved during our ferry trip form Tallinn. The Finnish – Estonian border is very busy. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw a lot of passengers trailing carts filled to the…