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Helsinki cathedral |
This page explains how to travel by train or ferry from Helsinki to other key European cities, and how to buy the cheapest tickets. Click here to for journeys starting in another city. Recommended hotels in Helsinki. Information current for 2024.
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Before you buy your tickets
Take a moment to read these important tips for buying European train tickets. It answers all the usual questions, "Do I need to book in advance or can I buy at the station?", "Can I stop off?", "Are there Senior fares?" and that old favourite, "Should I buy an $800 railpass or a €35 point-to-point ticket?". How far ahead can you buy train tickets?
European train travel FAQ
Train travel within Finland
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Use the Finnish Railways website www.vr.fi or VR app to check times and buy tickets for any Finnish long-distance train.
You can also book Finnish trains (but not sleepers) quickly & easily at Omio.com in €, £, $ and other currencies.
Bookings open up to 130 days in advance.
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Fares for mainline trains are dynamic like flights, cheaper in advance and on less popular dates and trains, more expensive closer to departure date and on more popular dates and trains. Fares for regional and suburban trains are fixed-price and can be bought on the day.
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You can choose your seat from a seat map when booking at www.vr.fi. You may be offered a variety of upgrades, not just from Eko (2nd) class to Ekstra (1st) class, but private compartments or seats above the restaurant. Read the Intercity & Pendolino sections below to understand these.
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You print your own ticket, collect it from the self-service machines or ticket counter at any main VR station, or show it on your phone.
Helsinki station: See station guide
Designed by famous Finnish architect Eliel Saarinen, Helsinki's beautiful main station is a Helsinki attraction in its own right. You'll find the usual range of services here, ticket counters, left luggage, food stores, newsagents, restaurants and cafes. See Helsinki station guide.
Intercity trains
Most Finnish Intercity trains use modern double-deck trainsets like this, with a driving cab built into one end and an electric locomotive at the other. They have Eko (2nd) class and Ekstra (1st) class, a bistro car on the lower deck of one car, and a kids' playroom. There are power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. In Ekstra class there's complimentary tea & coffee and water.
In Eko class you can pay a small fee to keep the seat next to you free.
On the upper deck above the bistro is a seating area with tables for 4 on one side of the aisle and rotating sideways-facing seats on the other which can be used to work on a laptop, see the photos below - you can pay a small extra charge to sit here, you'll see the upgrade offered when you book.
In Eko class these trains have one private 2-seat compartment, one private 4-seat compartment and (at one end of the car with the playroom) one private 4-seat family compartment. You can book these compartments for sole use by paying for an Eko ticket for each passenger plus a cabin fee.
Intercity train at Helsinki station.
Pendolino trains
Tilting pendolino trains operate some services. They have Eco (2nd) class and Ekstra (1st) class & a bistro car. There are power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. In Ekstra class there's a complimentary tea & coffee station. In Eko class you can pay a similar fee to keep the seat next to you free. At one end of the unit is a private 6-seat Ekstra class compartment which can be booked for sole use by paying for a ticket for each passenger plus a cabin fee.
Pendolino train at Helsinki station.
Sleeper trains to Oulu, Kemi, Rovaniemi
There are daytime trains from Helsinki to Oulu, Kemi, Rovaniemi & Kemijärvi, or you can use one of the time-effective sleeper trains, now equipped with air-conditioned double-deck sleeping-cars. All sleepers have cosy duvets, washbasin, soap & towels provided. You can choose a 1 or 2 bed compartment with washbasin, or a 1 or 2 bed compartment with toilet & shower. In an expensive country, a sleeper to Lapland can be very good value if you book ahead, compared to the cost of a hotel. A single-bed sleeper with washbasin starts from as little as €69. You can buy tickets at the Finnish Railways website www.vr.fi & print your own ticket.
Helsinki to Stockholm from €21
Option 1, Helsinki to Stockholm by direct overnight ferry - a great experience, recommended
This is the nicest and most laid-back experience. Boarding is a relaxed affair, starting an hour and a half before sailing time. You've the whole evening to enjoy on the ferry as she sails out of Helsinki past the fortress island of Suomenlinna and through the Finnish archipelago. Next morning there's no need to get up early, you can have a lie-in and leisurely breakfast before a punctual mid-morning arrival in Stockholm, passing many Swedish islands on the way. These ships have a reputation as party boats, especially at weekends, but you don't have to dance the night away if you don't want to. Two competing ferry companies sail overnight every day, Silja Line & Viking Line.
Option 2, afternoon train to Turku & overnight ferry to Stockholm - also overnight, but faster & cheaper
This route is significantly cheaper and several hours faster, with a similar late afternoon departure from Helsinki's magnificent central station, and a punctual 06:30 arrival in Stockholm. There's also a Helsinki-Turku-Stockholm daytime service on weekdays, see option 3. The ferry operates a daytime and overnight crossing with tight turn-rounds at each end so boarding may start as little as 15 minutes before sailing time with staff still finishing cleaning the cabins. The ferry arrives in Stockholm early morning, you may be asked to vacate your cabin even earlier so that cleaning can start. This route is certainly faster and cheaper, but the direct Stockholm-Helsinki ferries are definitely the more relaxed option, Having said that, enjoying a (tax-free, affordable) beer at the outdoor but sheltered Vista Bar as the Viking Glory sails into the sunset is such a great experience.
Option 3, morning train to Turku & daytime ferry to Stockholm - the leisurely daytime option, only runs Monday-Friday
Option 4, by train around the top of the Gulf of Bothnia - a long way round taking 2 nights, but all train, no ferry.
Travelling from Helsinki to Stockholm by train 'over the top' takes two nights and a day using two sleeper trains in a row, it only runs 4 days a week and involves a 4.6 km walk from Finland into Sweden. The ferry options are obviously much faster, but if you prefer trains to ferries and want an adventure, this is it!
Option 1, Helsinki to Stockholm by direct overnight ferry
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Two ferry companies run luxurious overnight cruise ferries from Helsinki to Stockholm.
Silja Line sails from Helsinki Olympia ferry terminal at 17:00 every day arriving Stockholm Värtahamnen Ferry Terminal at 09:45.
Viking Line sails from Helsinki Katajanokka ferry terminal at 17:15 every day arriving Stockholm Stadsgården ferry terminal at 10:00.
Silja Line's ships are the superb Silja Serenade & Silja Symphony, entering service in 1990. Viking Line's ships are the Gabriella & Cinderella.
This is perhaps the nicest most leisurely option, with time to chill out all evening on the cruise ferry - or dance the night away, and no need to get up early next morning. You travel in a cosy en suite cabin, there are restaurants, bars, nightclub, and so on. The morning arrival into Stockholm past all the islands is superb, spend some time on deck with your camera.
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Fares start at around €85 including private cabin with shower & toilet, but fares vary by season & day of the week.
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Book the ferry at the Direct Ferries website which can book & compare both Silja & Viking. The operators' own sites are www.sales.vikingline.com & www.tallinksilja.com.
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Cabins: A, B & C class cabins are all virtually identical, but A-class is topsides (decks 5-11) with window, B-class is topsides without window, and C-class is underneath the car deck on deck 2 without window. All have 1-4 berths and en suite toilet & shower. Promenade cabins are similar to A-class but with a window overlooking the big central promenade. Deluxe cabins are more like a hotel room with twin/double bed, shower/toilet and complimentary minibar. Commodore class suites gives access to the exclusive Commodore class lounge with complimentary refreshments & a sauna. The Suites also give access to the Commodore lounge & sauna.
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In Helsinki, Silja Line's Olympia terminal is an easy 1.8 km 23-minute walk from Helsinki station, see walking map. Or you can take trams 2 or 3 which arrive at their terminus just 100m the ferry terminal. At the terminal check-in is painless: Walk up to one of the self-service check-in machines, click the touch screen for English, scan the ferry ticket barcode on your phone or printout, click to confirm and out pops your ferry boarding pass which is also your cabin key. Go through the automatic gates using the boarding pass and walk onto the ferry.
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In Stockholm, it's an easy well-signed 12-minute 1km walk from Silja Line's Värtahamnen ferry terminal to Gärdet Tunnelbana (metro) station, see walking map. It's then just 3 stops from Gärdet to T-Centralen (Central Station). The Tunnelbana accepts contactless bank cards, you can just touch in and out. Alternatively, taxis are available and both Silja Line & Viking Line operate transfer buses from their ferry terminals to Stockholm Cityterminal (next to Stockholm Central) after the arrival of the ferry, buy tickets from the information desk on board the ferry or from the bus driver. See map of Helsinki showing ferry terminals. See map of Stockholm showing ferry terminals.
Viking Line also sails overnight from Helsinki to Stockholm to a similar schedule, with the Gabriella & Cinderella.
Option 2, afternoon train to Turku + overnight ferry to Stockholm - Helsinki to Stockholm overnight, every day
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Step 1, travel from Helsinki to Turku by Intercity train, leaving Helsinki station at 17:36 every day, arriving Turku Port at 19:50.
This is a double-deck Intercity train specifically timed to connect with the ferry to Stockholm. It has Eko (2nd) class & Ekstra (1st) class, bistro, playroom & various seating options, see more about this Intercity train.
In Turku, it's just 100m from Turku Port station (Turku Satama) to the Viking Line ferry terminal, see map.
Update: For 2 years from Autumn 2022, a bus will replace the train between Kupittaa (eastern Turku) and Turku Port. However, the bus is well signed, well organised and pretty efficient. The bus arrives next to Turku Port station.
Fares start at €7.90 in Eco class, €18.80 in Ekstra class.
Book from Helsinki to Turku Port at the Finnish Railways website www.vr.fi and print your own ticket or show it on your phone.
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Step 2, sail from Turku to Stockholm by Viking Line ferry.
The ferry sails from Turku at 20:55 every day, arriving Stockholm Stadsgården ferry terminal at 06:30.
Fares start at €42 including a private cabin with shower & toilet, a bargain. However, fares vary by season & day of the week, with Fridays and the summer months usually more expensive.
The ferry has a wide range of standard & deluxe cabins, restaurants, bars, cinema, lounges & open deck. A cabin is compulsory on the night crossing.
Map of Stockholm showing ferry terminal. In Stockholm, there are taxis available or Viking Line operate a transfer bus from outside the ferry terminal to the Cityterminalen (next to Stockholm Central Station), fare €7 or so, buy from the driver or buy at the information desk on the ferry.
Book the ferry at the Direct Ferries website or at www.sales.vikingline.com. Print out your ticket or show it on your phone.
Option 3, morning train to Turku + daytime ferry to Stockholm - Helsinki to Stockholm by day, Mondays-Fridays only
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Step 1, travel from Helsinki to Turku by Intercity train, leaving Helsinki station at 05:28 on Mondays-Fridays, arriving Turku Port at 07:45.
This is a double-deck Intercity train specifically timed to connect with the ferry to Stockholm. It has Eko (2nd) class & Ekstra (1st) class, bistro, playroom & various seating options, see more about this Intercity train. There's no train connection into the daytime ferry from Turku at weekends.
In Turku, it's just 100m from Turku Port station (Turku Satama) to the Viking Line ferry terminal, see map.
Update: For 2 years from Autumn 2022, a bus will replace the train between Kupittaa (in eastern Turku) and Turku Port. However, the bus is well-signed and well-organised. The bus arrives next to Turku Port station.
Fares start at €7.90 in Eco class, €18.80 in Ekstra class.
Book this train at the Finnish Railways website www.vr.fi and print your own ticket or show it on your phone.
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Step 2, sail from Turku to Stockholm by Viking Line ferry.
The ferry sails at 08:45 arriving Stockholm Stadsgården ferry terminal at 18:55.
Fares start at €25 including a private cabin with shower & toilet, a bargain. However, fares vary by season & day of the week with Fridays and the summer months usually more expensive.
The ferry has a full range of standard & deluxe cabins, restaurants, bars, cinema, lounges & open deck. A cabin is optional on the day crossing, but I recommend one as somewhere to nap, shower, relax in private.
Map of Stockholm showing ferry terminals. In Stockholm, there are taxis available or Viking Line operate a transfer bus from outside the ferry terminal to the Cityterminalen (next to Central Station), fare €7 or so, buy from the driver or buy at the information desk on the ferry.
Book the ferry at the Direct Ferries website or at www.sales.vikingline.com. Print out your ticket or show it on your phone.
Option 4, Helsinki to Stockholm by train - a long way round, but all train, no ferry
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Step 1, travel from Helsinki to Tornio by sleeper train, leaving Helsinki station at 20:29 on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays & Saturdays, arriving Tornio Itäinen at 08:21 next morning.
The sleeper train has impressive double-deck sleeping-cars, with 1 & 2 bed compartments, some with shower & toilet. There's a restaurant car and ordinary seats.
Tornio Itäinen means Tornio East, it's a local halt with no facilities so don't expect much.
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Step 2, walk across the border from Tornio Itäinen station to Haparanda station, see walking route.
It's a 4.6 km walk taking just over an hour. Remember the 1 hour time difference between Sweden and Finland!
Or take a taxi, this costs around 250 SEK (€22, 2024 price), you can pre-book a taxi from www.taxihaparanda.se.
There are long-term plans to resume a train service between Oulu, Tornio main station and Haparanda, but nothing yet.
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Step 3, travel from Haparanda to Boden by regional train. On Mondays-Fridays, leave Haparanda 14:28 arriving Boden 15:54. On Saturdays, leave Haparanda 15:24 arriving Boden 16:49. On Sundays, leave Haparanda 12:30 arriving Boden 13:55.
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Step 4, travel from Boden to Stockholm by sleeper train, leaving Boden at 17:54 & arriving Stockholm Central at 06:35.
Sleeper train D92 has 1st class 1 & 2 berth sleepers with toilet & shower, 2nd class 3 bed sleepers with washbasin, 6-berth couchettes, ordinary seats, cafe car.
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How to buy tickets
Book from Helsinki to Tornio Itäinen at the Finnish Railways website www.vr.fi.
Book from Haparanda to Stockholm at the Swedish Railways website www.sj.se.
In both cases, you print your own ticket or can show it on your phone. Booking opens several months ahead, this varies.
Helsinki to Tornio by double-deck Finnish sleeper train. Photos courtesy of Sunil S Mehta. Click the interior image for larger photo.
Boden to Stockholm by Swedish sleeper train: This is a 1st class sleeper with shower & toilet, shown in day mode (above left) and night mode set up as a single with upper berth folded against the wall (above centre). Courtesy of Discoverbyrail.com. Click the images for larger photos.
Helsinki to Copenhagen
Option 1, Helsinki to Stockholm overnight, onwards to Copenhagen by daytime train
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Step 1, travel from Helsinki to Turku by train & Turku to Stockholm by overnight ferry, as shown in option 2 of the Helsinki to Stockholm section above. You leave Helsinki station at 17:36 by train to Turku, sleep in a comfortable private cabin with shower & toilet on the overnight ferry to Stockholm, arriving 06:30. The ferry is usually very punctual.
On arrival in Stockholm, transfer from the ferry terminal to Stockholm Central either by taxi or the Viking Line transfer bus to the Cityterminal, which is next to the station. I'd allow 1½-2 hours or so between ferry arrival and an onward train departure.
Alternatively, take the daily direct ferry from Helsinki to Stockholm, see option 1 in the Helsinki to Stockholm section above. This is the more relaxed experience, although it takes an extra 4 hours with arrival in Stockholm late morning.
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Step 2, travel from Stockholm to Copenhagen by 200 km/h X2000 train.
If you arrive via Turku at 06:30 you'll usually find an X2000 leaving Stockholm Central at 08:20 arriving Copenhagen at 13:33, but by all means book a later one if you like.
If you arrive from Helsinki by direct ferry at 10:30, you'll usually find an X2000 leaving Stockholm Central at 12:20, change at Malmö Central, arriving Copenhagen main station at 17:45, or there are later ones.
Tip: If you have a 1st class ticket you can use the SJ lounge at Stockholm Central.
Fares start at 195 SEK, about €20.
Book the train at the Swedish Railways website www.sj.se (has been known to reject some overseas credit cards) or Omio.com (easy to use, in multiple currencies, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee). You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
Option 2, Helsinki to Stockholm by daytime ferry, onwards to Copenhagen by sleeper train - Mondays-Fridays only
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Step 1, travel from Helsinki to Turku by train & Turku to Stockholm by daytime ferry, as shown in option 3 of the Helsinki to Stockholm section above, this runs Mondays-Fridays only. You leave Helsinki station at 05:28, relax on the ferry from Turku to Stockholm, arriving Stockholm around 18:15-18:55.
On arrival in Stockholm, transfer from the ferry terminal to Stockholm Central either by taxi or the ferry company transfer bus to the Cityterminal, which is next to the station. Have dinner in Stockholm.
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Step 2, travel from Stockholm to Malmö by sleeper train, leaving Stockholm Central at 23:17 and arriving Malmö Central at 06:48.
The sleeper runs daily except Saturdays. The train has 1st class sleeping-cars with private 1 & 2 bed sleeper compartments with en suite shower & toilet, 2nd class sleeping-cars with shared single-gender 3-berth sleeper compartments with washbasin, one 2nd class couchette car with shared 6-berth compartments, and one seats car. Exact times may vary.
You then hop on the next Öresund train from Malmö Central to Copenhagen, these run every 20-30 minutes and you should make the 07:08 arriving Copenhagen at 07:53.
You can buy tickets from Stockholm to Copenhagen as one transaction at the Swedish railways website www.sj.se.
SJ.se is sometimes fussy with overseas credit cards, if you have any problems try alternative Swedish train booking site www.snalltaget.se or agency www.acprail.com, which can sell the same cheap fares with just a small fee. Or you can book by phone, calling SJ telesales on +46 771 75 75 75, there's a phone menu option for English.
You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone. The ticket allows you to take any Öresund train from Malmo to Copenhagen, not just the one shown when you book, so by all means take a later one and have breakfast in Malmo.
Alternatively, you can easily book the Malmo-Stockholm sleeper train at Omio.com, overseas cards accepted, although this will only book a seat or couchette in a 6-berth compartment, not a sleeper. You first need to book Stockholm to Malmo and look on the last page of the search results for the overnight train. Book that, then add a Malmo to Copenhagen ticket. You can pay in £, €, $ or Krona, there's a small booking fee, You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
Helsinki to Oslo & Norway
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Step 1, travel from Helsinki to Turku by train & Turku to Stockholm by ferry, as shown in option 2 of the Helsinki to Stockholm section above.
You leave Helsinki station at 17:36, the ferry sails from Turku Port at 20:55 sleeping in a comfortable private cabin with shower & toilet on the overnight ferry, and arrive Stockholm at 06:30.
On arrival in Stockholm, transfer from the ferry terminal to Stockholm Central either by taxi or the Viking Line transfer bus to the Cityterminal, which is next to Stockholm Central.
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Step 2, travel from Stockholm to Oslo Sentral by train, leaving Stockholm Central at 10:51 and arriving Oslo Sentral at 16:09.
This is an air-conditioned X3000 train, with 1st & 2nd class, bistro car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Check times at the Swedish Railways website www.sj.se. The ferry is usually punctual, but I'd allow at least 1½ hours or so between ferry arrival and any onward train departure.
Fares start at 195 SEK, about €20.
Book the train at the Swedish Railways site www.sj.se or at Omio.com (easy to use, in multiple currencies, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee). You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
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Step 3, onward trains from Oslo to Bergen, Stavanger, Trondheim and so on can be booked at the Norwegian transport site www.entur.no.
Helsinki to St Petersburg & Moscow
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There are a number of daily Allegro trains from Helsinki to St Petersburg plus an overnight sleeper train Tolstoi from Helsinki to Moscow. These can be booked online with Finnish Railways www.vr.fi, see the Helsinki to St Petersburg & Moscow page for more information.
These trains were suspended due to Covid-19 and remain suspended due to sanctions & the war in Ukraine.
Helsinki to Tallinn
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Several ferry companies operate ferries from Helsinki to Tallinn, crossing 2 to 2½ hours.
There are 6 or 7 departures every day, with fares from as little as €19.
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For times, fares & tickets use the Direct Ferries website as this shows sailing times and sells tickets for all 3 operators.
The operators' own sites are www.tallinksilja.com, www.sales.vikingline.com & www.eckeroline.com.
How to reach the Viking Line & Eckerö Line terminals in Helsinki.
Helsinki to Riga
Option 1, Helsinki to Tallinn by ferry, bus or train from Tallinn to Riga - daily departures all year round, cheapest
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Step 1, several ferry companies operate ferries from Helsinki to Tallinn, crossing 2 to 2½ hours.
There are 6 or 7 departures every day, with fares from as little as €19.
For times, fares & tickets use the Direct Ferries website which can compare prices and sell tickets for all 3 operators.
The operators' own sites are www.tallinksilja.com, www.sales.vikingline.com & www.eckeroline.com.
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Step 2, travel from Tallinn to Riga by bus (4h20) or train as shown here.
Helsinki to Vilnius
Option 1, Helsinki to Tallinn by ferry, bus or train to Riga, bus or train to Vilnius - daily departures all year round, cheapest
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Step 1, several ferry companies operate ferries from Helsinki to Tallinn, crossing 2 to 2½ hours.
There are 6 or 7 departures every day, with fares from as little as €19.
For times, fares & tickets see www.tallinksilja.com, www.sales.vikingline.com or www.eckeroline.com or use the Direct Ferries website which can compare prices and sell tickets for all 3 operators.
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Step 2, travel from Tallinn to Riga by bus (4h20) or train as shown here.
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Step 3, travel from Riga to Vilnius by bus or train as shown here.
Helsinki to London, Paris, Amsterdam or anywhere in western & central Europe
Option 1, by overnight ferry from Helsinki to Stockholm, free day in Stockholm, sleeper to Hamburg - a comfortable leisurely option
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Day 1, travel from Helsinki to Stockholm overnight as shown in options 1 or 2 in the Helsinki to Stockholm section above.
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Day 2, spend a day at leisure in Stockholm. Left luggage is available.
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Day 2, travel from Stockholm to Hamburg overnight by SJ EuroNight sleeper train.
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Day 3, travel from Hamburg to Amsterdam, Brussels, Paris, Germany, Switzerland and so on by daytime train.
For information specific to your destination, go to the Trains from Stockholm page, select your destination, then look for an option which leaves Stockholm on the SJ EuroNight sleeper to Hamburg.
Option 2, by ferry from Helsinki to Travemünde in Germany then onward trains
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Day 1, transfer from downtown Helsinki to the Hansa Terminal in Vuosaari by metro+bus.
Helsinki's Hansa Ferry Terminal in Vuosaari is 16 km east of Helsinki city centre, see map of Helsinki showing Vuosaari.
Take metro line M1 from Helsinki Central station to Vuosaari, then take bus 90 from Vuosaari metro station to its terminus outside the Hansa Terminal in Vuosaari harbour, the bus runs every 15 minutes. Total journey time around 40 minutes.
A Helsinki Zone AB ticket covers both metro & bus from the city centre to the ferry terminal, for Helsinki public transport see www.hsl.fi.
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Day 1, sail from Helsinki to Travemünde in Germany by ferry, Finnlines sail every day.
Check-in is open 13:30-15:00 Monday-Saturday, 12:00-13:30 on Sunday.
The ship sails at 16:15 Monday-Saturday & 15:00 Sundays, arriving at the Skandinavienkai in Travemünde at 21:45 next day (day 2).
Check sailing times & buy tickets at the Direct Ferries website or the Finnlines website www.finnlines.com.
The ship is not as glamorous as some other cruise ferries on the Baltic, but it has all the essentials: Comfortable cabins with private shower & toilet and free internet access (but not WiFi, so bring a network cable), restaurant, shop, bar, sundeck, gym and (naturally, being Finnish) a sauna. It's a very civilised way to travel.
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Day 2, on arrival at Travemünde, transfer by bus & local train to Hamburg Hbf.
Take bus 30 or 31 from the bus stop outside the ferry terminal building to Lübeck ZOB bus station. The bus stop is listed on int.bahn.de as Skandinavienkai Terminal, Lübeck. At Lübeck, the bus station is just 100m from the station. Local trains run from Lübeck Hbf to Hamburg Hbf every 30 minutes. Total journey from ferry terminal to Hamburg Hbf 1h22, fare around €19.
You can check journey times from Skandinavienkai Terminal, Lübeck to Lübeck or Hamburg at the German Railways website as its database holds the bus times as well as trains, just use this link to bahn.de, or you can find bus information at www.xn--sv-lbeck-95a.de.
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Stay overnight in Hamburg. The Hotel Reichshof Hamburg is the top choice here, just across the road 100m from the station's Kirchenallee exit, with art deco-based design and great reviews. Other hotels near Hamburg Hbf with good or great reviews include (starting with the cheapest) the Hotel Continental Novum, Hotel Furst Bismarck, Hotel Europaischer Hof, Hotel Atlantic Kempinski. If you're on a budget, cheap private rooms in the A&O Hotel near Hamburg Hbf can be booked at www.hostelworld.com. You might also consider staying overnight in Lübeck.
Tip: The ferry arrives late at night and is sometimes late. You could consider staying overnight in Lübeck instead. Next morning, trains link Lübeck with Hamburg Hbf every 30 minutes taking around 45 minutes.
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Day 3, travel from Hamburg to anywhere in western or central Europe by train.
For anywhere in Germany, Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Slovenia, Croatia, check times and buy a ticket at the German Railways website int.bahn.de. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone. You will find more detail on the Trains from Hamburg page.
For London & UK, see the UK to Finland page.
For Spain, Portugal, Andorra, Italy, Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey see the Trains from Hamburg page.
Option 3, by overnight ferry from Helsinki to Stockholm, then daytime trains
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Day 1, travel from Helsinki to Stockholm overnight, as shown in option 2 of the Helsinki to Stockholm section above.
You leave Helsinki station at 17:36 by train to Turku, sleep in a comfortable private cabin with shower & toilet on the overnight ferry from Turku to Stockholm, arriving around 06:30.
On arrival in Stockholm, transfer from the ferry terminal to Stockholm Central either by taxi or the ferry company transfer bus to the Cityterminal, which is next to the station. I'd allow 1½-2 hours or so between ferry arrival and an onward train departure.
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Day 2, travel from Stockholm to Copenhagen by X2000, you'll usually find one leaving Stockholm Central at 08:20 arriving Copenhagen 13:33.
The train has 1st & 2nd class and a bistro car, power sockets at seats and free WiFi. More about X2000 trains.
Fares start at 195 SEK, about €20.
Book the train at the Swedish Railways website www.sj.se (has been known to reject some overseas credit cards) or Omio.com (easy to use, in multiple currencies, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee). You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
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Day 2, travel from Copenhagen to Hamburg by EuroCity train, leaving Copenhagen main station 15:26, arriving Hamburg Hbf 20:04.
A same-day connection is possible with the 22:07 Nightjet sleeper train to Karlsruhe, Basel & Zurich. Change in Karlsruhe for Paris. Change in Zurich for Milan & Italy.
A connection with the 20:10 Nightjet sleeper train to Munich, Innsbruck & Vienna is too tight.
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Stay overnight in Hamburg. The Hotel Reichshof Hamburg is the top choice here, just across the road 100m from the station's Kirchenallee exit, with art deco-based design and great reviews. Other hotels near Hamburg Hbf with good or great reviews include (starting with the cheapest) the Hotel Continental Novum, Hotel Furst Bismarck, Hotel Europaischer Hof, Hotel Atlantic Kempinski. If you're on a budget, cheap private rooms in the A&O Hotel near Hamburg Hbf can be booked at www.hostelworld.com.
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Day 3, travel from Hamburg to anywhere in western or central Europe by train. You can easily reach London, Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, Berlin, Switzerland, Prague, Bratislava or Budapest the same day. See the Trains from Hamburg page for suggested train times & how to buy tickets.
Hamburg to Copenhagen by EuroCity train. From June 2023, these trains are temporarily being operated by former German Railways intercity cars and a Danish electric locomotive, until new trains being built by Talgo arrive in 2024. The current trains have 1st & 2nd class, power sockets at seats, but no catering so bring your own food & drink. More about the Hamburg-Copenhagen journey.
2nd class seats are almost all open-plan like this. There are a handful of 6-seat 2nd class compartments in one of the coaches, but only a few.
The 1st class car has 6-seater compartments like this. Larger photo. Larger photo.
Hotels in Helsinki
See the advice on hotels on the Helsinki station page.
Backpacker
hostels
www.hostelworld.com: If you're on a tight budget, don't forget about backpacker hostels. Hostelworld offers online booking of cheap private rooms or dorm beds in backpacker hostels in most cities at rock-bottom prices.
Travel insurance & other tips
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Always take out travel insurance
Never travel overseas without travel insurance from a reliable insurer, with at least £1m or preferably £5m medical cover. It should also cover cancellation and loss of cash and belongings, up to a sensible limit. An annual multi-trip policy is usually cheaper than several single-trip policies even for just 2 or 3 trips a year, I have an annual policy with Staysure.co.uk myself. Here are some suggested insurers. Seat61 gets a small commission if you buy through these links.
www.staysure.co.uk
offers enhanced Covid-19 protection & gets 4.7 out of 5 on
Trustpilot.
www.columbusdirect.com
is also a well-know brand.
If you live in the USA try
Travel Guard USA.
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Get an eSIM with mobile data package
Don't rely on WiFi, download an eSIM with a mobile data package for the country you're visiting and stay connected. Most newer mobile phones can download a virtual SIM card so you don't need to buy a physical SIM, including iPhone 11 & later, see device compatibility list. Maya.net is a reliable eSIM data retailer with a 4.5 out of 5 Trustpilot rating and a range of packages including unlimited data.
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Get a Curve card for foreign travel
Most banks give you a poor exchange rate, then add a foreign transaction fee on top. A Curve MasterCard means no foreign transaction fees and gives you the mid-market exchange rate, at least up to a certain limit, £500 per month at time of writing. The money you spend on your Curve card goes straight onto one of your existing debit or credit cards.
How it works: 1. Download the Curve app for iPhone or Android. 2. Enter your details & they'll send you a Curve MasterCard - they send to the UK and most European addresses. 3. Link your existing credit & debit cards to the app, you can link up to two cards with the free version of Curve, I link my normal debit card and my normal credit card. 4. Now use the Curve MasterCard to buy things online or in person or take cash from ATMs, exactly like a normal MasterCard. Curve does the currency conversion and puts the balance in your own currency onto whichever debit or credit card is currently selected in the Curve app. You can even change your mind about which card it goes onto, within 14 days of the transaction.
I have a Curve Blue card myself, it means I can buy a coffee on a foreign station on a card without being stung by fees and lousy exchange rates, just by tapping the Curve card on their card reader. The money goes through Curve to my normal debit card and is taken directly from my account (in fact I have the Curve card set up as payment card on Apple Pay on my iPhone, so can double-click my phone, let it do Face ID then tap the reader with the phone - even easier than digging a card out). I get a little commission if you sign up to Curve, but I recommend it here because I think it's great. See details, download the app and get a Curve card, they'll give you £5 cashback through that link.
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Get a VPN for safe browsing. Why you need a VPN
When you're travelling you often use free WiFi in public places which may not be secure. A VPN encrypts your connection so it's always secure, even on unsecured WiFi. It also means you can select the geographic location of the IP address you browse with, to get around geoblocking which a surprising number of websites apply. See VPNs & why you need one explained. ExpressVPN is a best buy with a 4.7 out of 5 Trustpilot ranking which I use myself - I've signed up as an ExpressVPN affiliate, and if you go with expressvpn.com using the links on this page, you should see a special deal, 3 months free with an annual subscription. I get a small commission to help support this site.
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Carry an Anker powerbank
Tickets, reservations, vaccination records and Interrail or Eurail passes are often held digitally on your mobile phone, so it's vital to keep it charged. I always carry an Anker powerbank which can recharge my phone several times over if I can't get to a power outlet. Buy from Amazon.co.uk or from buy from Amazon.com.