Helsinki bound!  Sailing out of Stockholm past all the islands on the cruise ferry to Helsinki...  Courtesy of Michael Herbert & Bernadette Hyland

UK to Finland without flying...

It's easy to travel from London to Helsinki by train and ferry, a wonderful 3-day 2-night journey across Scandinavia with a lot to see on the way.  It's a great alternative to an unnecessary flight.  On this page you'll find a step-by-step guide to planning, booking & making a journey from the UK to Finland by train or ferry, with train & ferry timetables, approximate fares, and the best way to buy tickets.

COVID-19 update:  Trains are running between the UK & continental Europe.  Eurostar is running a reduced service, but beyond Paris & Brussels train service is close to normal.  See COVID-19 travel information.

Train times, fares & tickets...

  Which route should you choose?

  UK to Scandinavia route map

  London to Helsinki via ferry from Stockholm

  London to Helsinki via ferry from Travemünde

  Train travel in Finland: Night Train to Lapland...

  Helsinki to other European cities by train or ferry

  Other European cities to Helsinki by train or ferry

  Helsinki to St Petersburg & Moscow by train

Useful country information

Which route should you choose?

There are several good options for reaching Finland in comfort without flying:

• London to Helsinki by train to Stockholm then ferry to Finland:  This is the fastest option, with daily departures taking 2 nights & 3 days from London to Helsinki.  You travel from London to Hamburg by comfortable daytime trains on day 1, from Hamburg to Stockholm by comfortable daytime trains on day 2, and by luxury cruise ferry from Stockholm to Finland on day 3.  You stop overnight in Hamburg and Stockholm.  By all means stop off to see Copenhagen or Stockholm for a day or two on the way if you like.  This route is the one shown in red on the route map below.  Times, fares & how to buy tickets are shown below.

• London to Helsinki by train to Hamburg then ferry from Travemünde to Finland:  Take a morning Eurostar to Brussels & onward trains to Hamburg, spend the night there before taking a local train to Travemünde and the daily Finnlines ferry from Travemünde to Helsinki.  This route is shown in dark blue on the route map below.  Details are shown below.

London to Helsinki via Stockholm

This is the fastest option, with daily departures.  You travel from London to Hamburg by Eurostar & onward trains on day 1, stay overnight in Hamburg, then travel from Hamburg to Stockholm on day 2.  Take a bottle of wine and a good book, and enjoy a 2-day train ride across Europe on modern & comfortable trains with not an airport security queue in sight.  Stay overnight in Stockholm and take the daytime ferry+train service to Helsinki next day.  Or spend the day in Stockholm and take the overnight cruise ferry to Helsinki with a comfortable en suite cabin reserved.  What's the journey like?  Note that the Cologne to Copenhagen sleeper train was discontinued in 2014.

London ► Helsinki

• Day 1, travel from London to Hamburg by train, for example...

  Leave London St Pancras at 11:04 by Eurostar to Brussels Midi, ICE3 train to Cologne, & EuroCity to Hamburg Hbf arriving 21:14.

  Leave London St Pancras at 12:58 by Eurostar to Brussels Midi, ICE3 train to Cologne & InterCity train to Hamburg Hbf arriving 23:16.

  By all means travel earlier for more of an evening in Hamburg, see the London-Hamburg timetable on the London to Germany page.

• Stay overnight in Hamburg...

  The Hotel Reichshof Hamburg is just 200m from the station, features art deco-based design and gets great reviews.  Other hotels next to 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, private rooms in the A&O Hotel near Hamburg Hbf start at around £33 for one person or £49 for two people booked at www.hostelworld.com.

• Day 2, travel from Hamburg to Stockholm by train...

  For most of the year you can leave Hamburg Hbf at 08:56 by Danish Intercity train arriving Copenhagen 13:33, then leave Copenhagen at 14:19 by X2000 train arriving Stockholm Central 19:36.

  From 18 June to 21 August 2022 you can leave Hamburg Altona (not Hamburg Hbf) at 06:52 by Danish Intercity train arriving Copenhagen 11:33, then leave Copenhagen at 12:19 by X2000 arriving Stockholm Central 17:37.  Or you can leave Hamburg Hbf at 10:53 by Danish Intercity train arriving Copenhagen 15:33, then leave Copenhagen at 16:19 by X2000 arriving Stockholm Central 21:38.

  You can check train times from Hamburg to Stockholm at www.bahn.de.  Trains from Copenhagen to Stockholm cross the impressive Öresund Fixed Link, a tunnel & double-deck road/rail bridge opened in 1999 linking Denmark with Sweden.  More information about the Hamburg to Copenhagen journey.  More information about X2000 tilting trains.

• Stay overnight in Stockholm.  Check hotels in Stockholm.

• Day 3, travel from Stockholm to Helsinki by ferry & train...

  Two ferry companies compete on this route, both offering luxurious cruise ferries which sail out of Stockholm past many islands into the Baltic.  Consider this a cruise, see the video!

  If you choose Silja Line (www.tallinksilja.com, for English change locale=de to locale=en in your browser address bar), the Silja Line terminal is about 2.5km from Stockholm city centre, 500m from Gärdet metro station.  The Silja Line ferry sails at 07:10 arriving Turku Harbour at 19:15.

  If you choose Viking Line (www.vikingline.fi), you sail from Stockholm's Viking Line terminal at 07:45, arriving in Turku Harbour at 19:50.

  A connecting InterCity train is waiting at the quayside, leaving Turku Harbour (Turku Satama) at 20:18 and arriving in Helsinki's wonderful art nouveau station at 22:26.

• Alternatively, spend day 3 exploring Stockholm and sail overnight from Stockholm direct to Helsinki.

  Viking Line and Silja each offer a luxurious overnight cruise ferry from Stockholm direct to Helsinki - I'd suggest Silja, www.tallinksilja.com.  Silja's ferry sails from Stockholm at 16:45 every afternoon arriving in Helsinki around 10:30 next morning (which would be day 4 from London).  Viking Line sails at 16:30.  It's a very scenic voyage, as the liner sails out of Stockholm past all the islands, see the video.  You can have dinner in the restaurant and retire to your cabin, or party all night in the nightclub, it's up to you!  The Silja terminal is about 2.5km from Stockholm city centre, 500m from Gärdet metro station.  A shuttle bus links the Cityterminal (the bus terminal next to the central railway station) with the Silja terminal.  Map of Helsinki showing Silja terminal.

Helsinki ► London

• Day 1, travel from Helsinki to Stockholm by train & ferry...

  The luxurious Scandinavian ferries sail across the Baltic and into Stockholm past many pretty islands, consider this a cruise!

  You leave Helsinki station at 05:28 by Intercity train, arriving Turku Harbour (Turku Satama) at 07:47.

  If you choose Silja Line (www.tallinksilja.com), the Silja Line ferry sails from Turku at 08:20 arriving Stockholm Silja Line terminal at 18:15.

  If you choose Viking Line (www.vikingline.fi), the Viking Line ferry sails from Turku at 08:45 arriving Stockholm Viking Line terminal at 18:55.

  Alternatively, sail from Helsinki to Stockholm overnight & spend a day in Stockholm:  Viking Line & Silja each offer a luxurious overnight cruise ferries direct from Helsinki to Stockholm - try Silja, www.tallinksilja.com.  The Silja ferry sails from Helsinki at 17:00 arriving in Stockholm at about 09:45 next morning, after sailing past all those islands.  Departures are daily, and a range of comfortable cabins is available.  Map of Helsinki showing Silja terminal.  If you choose this option, you leave Helsinki the night before (let's call it day 0) but you then get a free day to explore Stockholm (the day we're calling day 1).

• Stay overnight in Stockholm.  Check hotels in Stockholm.

• Day 2, travel from Stockholm to Hamburg by train...

  For most of the year you can leave Stockholm Central at 08:21 by X2000 tilting train arriving Copenhagen 13:25, then leave Copenhagen at 15:26 by Danish Intercity train arriving Hamburg Hbf at 20:02.

  From 18 June to 21 August 2022 you can leave Stockholm Central at 07:20 by X2000 tilting train arriving Copenhagen 12:24, then leave Copenhagen at 13:26 by Danish Intercity train arriving Hamburg Hbf at 18:02.  There's also a later departure at 10:22, arriving 21:58.

  You can check train times from Stockholm to Hamburg at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.  Tip: Click Add intermediate stops, enter Copenhagen, click More means of transport and change admit changes to direct connections for both sectors, to ensure a 1-change journey.

  Trains from Stockholm to Copenhagen cross the impressive Öresund Fixed Link, a tunnel & double-deck road/rail bridge opened in 1999 linking Denmark with Sweden.  More information about X2000 tilting trains.  More information about the Copenhagen to Hamburg journey.

• Stay overnight in Hamburg...

  The Hotel Reichshof Hamburg is just 200m from the station, features art deco-based design and gets great reviews.  Other hotels next to 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, private rooms in the A&O Hotel near Hamburg Hbf start at around £33 for one person or £49 for two people booked at www.hostelworld.com.

• Day 2, travel from Hamburg to London by train...

  For example, the earliest departure leaves Hamburg Hbf at 06:46, change at Cologne Hbf & Brussels Midi to arrive London St Pancras at 16:05.

  Or you can leave at 08:46 arriving London at 18:06.  Or have a leisurely breakfast and leave Hamburg at 10:46 arriving London at 19:57 (21:33 on Saturdays & some other dates), see the Hamburg to London timetable on the London to Germany page.

How much does it cost?

• London to Brussels by Eurostar starts at £52 one-way or £78 return in standard class, £115 one-way, £199 return standard premier (1st class).

• Brussels to Hamburg starts at €27.90 each way in 2nd class or €56.90 each way  in 1st class.

• Hamburg to Stockholm starts at €56.90 each way in 2nd class.

  These train fares are dynamic like air fares, so book early for the cheapest prices and avoid busy days such as Fridays or Sunday afternoons.

• Stockholm to Turku by Viking Line ferry costs as little as €15 each way without any cabin accommodation, but you can add various types of private cabin from €13 upwards.  Silja Line is similarly priced.

• Turku to Helsinki by train costs starts at €8.90 if booked in advance in Eco class (2nd class) or around €35 full-price on the day.

• Stockholm to Helsinki by direct overnight ferry starts from around €88 including a bed in a shared 4-berth with Viking Line or €111 with sole occupancy of a cabin with Silja Line.  But there are whole range of cabin types and prices, just check both ferry company websites.

	Above:  Helsinki's beautiful art nouveau station, by famous Finnish architect Eliel Saarinen. Photo courtesy of Adrian Tanovic

How to buy tickets...

• Step 1, book from London to Hamburg (and back, if returning) at www.raileurope.com and add to basket...

• Step 2, book from Hamburg to Stockholm at www.raileurope.com, add to basket and check out...

  Booking tips...

  Anyone from any country can use www.raileurope.com, it allows you to book all your tickets together in one place in plain English, international credit cards accepted and fares shown in multiple currencies. There's a small booking fee.

  Booking for all these trains usually opens up to 180 days ahead, but significantly less than this when the mid-December timetable change intervenes, see more about when booking opens.

  Fares are dynamic like air fares, for the cheapest prices book early and avoid busy days such as Fridays or Sunday afternoons.

  Eurostar return fares are significantly cheaper than two one ways, so any return journey involving Eurostar is best booked as a round trip.  However, with the Brussels-Hamburg & Hamburg-Stockholm tickets a round trip is simply two one-ways, so makes no difference.

  A seat reservation is automatically included with every ticket on Eurostar and on Swedish X2000s.  However, seat reservations on the German & Danish trains between Brussels & Copenhagen are usually optional, if you want a reserved seat it can be added during the booking process for fee of around €4.50 each way.  A reserved seat is a good idea, especially at busy periods, so I'd add one when prompted.

  You print your own tickets, or after booking you can load the Eurostar ticket into the Eurostar app, and show the DB tickets on your laptop or smartphone.

  After booking you can use the Eurostar Manage Booking system to select an exact seat on Eurostar.

  About those tight 20-minute connections at Brussels Midi...

  The slick 20-minute connection in Brussels between Eurostar and an onward ICE, sometimes less than this, is usually a recognised connection which lots of people make.  It's not usually a problem, especially if you use the Brussels Midi short cut between platforms.  Even though the system sells you separate tickets either side of Brussels, you are protected by the Railteam Promise/HOTNAT so if there's a delay and you miss the connection you will be allowed to travel on later onwards trains at no extra charge.  Just make sure that if you did miss that 20 minute connection in Brussels, there are later trains that would still get you to Hamburg by close of play that day.

  Alternatively, nothing stops you booking an earlier Eurostar than the one which directly connects with your chosen onward ICE, if it has cheaper fares or if you want a more robust connection.  To do this using www.raileurope.com, click More options, then enter Brussels (any station) as a via station with a stopover duration of (say) 1 or 2 hours.  There are plenty of places for a meal, coffee or beer between trains in Brussels!

  If you don't see any cheap Hamburg-Stockholm fares...

  Availability of Hamburg-Stockholm tickets is limited, so if you don't find any cheap fares between Hamburg and Stockholm using www.raileurope.com, split the booking like this:

  First book Hamburg to Copenhagen at German Railways www.bahn.de and print your own ticket.

  Then book Copenhagen to Stockholm using either Omio.com (small booking fee, happily accepts overseas credit cards, you can pay in Swedish Kr, £, € and $) or www.sj.se (in Swedish Krona, no booking fee, you can usually choose a specific seat from a seating plan, but it can sometimes be fussy with overseas credit cards).  You simply print out your own ticket or show it on your smartphone, or you can choose to collect tickets from the SJ ticket machines at Copenhagen station.

• Step 3, book the ferry from Stockholm to Turku...

  You can check sailing dates & prices for both Viking Line & Silja Line ferries on both the Stockholm-Turku & Stockholm-Helsinki routes at the Direct Ferries website.  Remember to select '18+' for adults and change With vehicle to No vehicle.  The price you initially see is for a basic passenger place on the ferry, you can add a cabin at the next stage.  When you book online you will be emailed a confirmation which you present at check-in to exchange for your boarding pass.

  Alternatively you can book direct with the relevant operator at www.vikingline.fi or www.tallinksilja.com (for English, change locale=de to locale=en in your browser address bar).  You can book individual beds in shared cabins if you book directly with the operator, which is much cheaper than sole occupancy, that's the one thing Direct ferries can't do.  Tips for using www.vikingline.fi:  For English, change 'Suomi-Suomeksi' to 'International'.  Now look for the 'Book' box on the right, and remember to change the selection from 'Cruise' to 'Regular voyage'.  Now you can select Stockholm to Turku!

• Step 4, book the train from Turku to Helsinki:  If you book the daytime or overnight Stockholm-Turku ferry, you'll need an onward train ticket to Helsinki.  You can do this online at www.vr.fi (click 'EN' for English).  It's Turku Harbour (Satama) station that you should select.

How to buy tickets by phone...

• Step 1:  Buy your train tickets from London to Stockholm.  You can buy all these tickets through a number of UK agencies, but the best for this trip is probably Deutsche Bahn's UK phone line on 00 49 (0)30 311 68 29 04 (lines open 08:30-20:00 Monday-Friday, 09:00-13:00 Saturday & Sunday UK time, 1.5% fee for phone bookings).  Click here for a list of agencies and more info on how to book.

• Step 2:  Book the Viking Line ferry at the Direct Ferries website or www.vikingline.fi or by phone though its UK agent, Emagine Ltd, on 01942 262662.  Book the Silja Line ferry at the Direct Ferries website or www.tallinksilja.com or through their UK agents, DFDS Seaways, on 0871 522 9955.

Let Railbookers arrange it...

• If you want a custom-made trip with train & ferry travel, hotels & transfers all arranged for you, contact Railbookers.  Tell them what you want and they'll advise you on the best trains, routes & hotels and sort it all out.  They get positive reviews and look after their customers very well.

    UK call 0207 864 4600, www.railbookers.co.uk. 

    US call free 1-888-829-4775, see website.

    Canada call free 1-855-882-2910, see website.

    Australia call toll-free 1300 971 52 see website. 

    New Zealand call toll-free 0800 000 554 or see website.

What's the journey like?

1. London to Brussels by Eurostar...

Eurostar trains link London & Brussels in just 2 hours, travelling at up to 300 km/h (186 mph).  There are two bar cars, power sockets at all seats and free WiFi.  Standard Premier and Business Premier fares include a light meal with wine (or breakfast, on departures before 11:00).  There's a 30-minute minimum check-in (10-minutes for business premier) as all border formalities are carried out before you board the train.  More information about Eurostar including check-in procedure.  St Pancras station guide.  Brussels Midi station guide & short cut for changing trains in Brussels.

A Eurostar e320 at St Pancras.  More about Eurostar.		Standard Premier/Business Premier.  Larger photo.

Standard class seats.  Larger photo.		One of two cafe-bars, in cars 8 & 9.  Larger photo.

2. Brussels to Cologne by ICE3...

Germany's superb ICEs have a bistro-restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  In 1st class, bistro orders are taken at your seat.  50 minutes after leaving Brussels the ICE calls at Liège, where you can admire the impressive station designed by celebrity architect Santiago Calatrava.  As you approach Cologne Hbf you'll see the twin towers of Cologne Cathedral on the right, next to the station.  More information about ICE3.  Brussels Midi station guide.  Cologne Hbf station guide.

An ICE3M to Cologne at Brussels Midi.  More information about ICE.  Advice on changing trains in Brussels.

2nd class seats on an ICE3M.  Larger photo.		1st class seats on an ICE3M.  Larger photo.

Proper china & metal cutlery...  I recommend the Erdinger Weissbier! See  current month's menu.		Restaurant car:  This is the small 12-seat restaurant on an ICE3M...  Larger photo.

3. Cologne to Hamburg by Intercity train...

Germany Intercity trains travel at up to 200km/h (120mph), with power sockets at all seats and a bistro car serving tea, coffee, wine, beer, snacks and hot dishes.  On the Cologne to Hamburg route you'll find some departures are operated by high-speed ICEs (usually ICE1) rather than Intercity trains, although the ICEs are no faster than ICs on this section of line.  More information about Intercity trains.  Hamburg Hbf station guide.

A German Intercity train.  More information about Intercity trains.

Dinner in the bistro.  The beef ribs were delicious...		Bistro car.  See current month's menu...

2nd class seating is usually in open-plan saloons like this, most seats unidirectional, but with some tables for 4.  Sometimes you'll find 2nd class compartment cars with side corridor and ten 6-seat compartments  Larger photo.

4. Hamburg to Copenhagen by Intercity train

Hamburg-Copenhagen trains are operated by Danish IC3 trains like this, shown in the timetable as IC for Intercity.  See more photos, tips & information about the Hamburg to Copenhagen journey.

The late afternoon Hamburg-Copenhagen IC3 leaving platform 5 at Hamburg Hbf on a busy summer day.  The yellow stripe above the windows indicates first class, located at one end of both 3-car units.  More information about the Hamburg-Copenhagen journey.

Boarding a Danish IC3 train at Hamburg Hbf...		1st class seats on an IC3 train.  Larger photo.

2nd class seats on a IC3 train.  Larger photo.		An IC3 train to Copenhagen at Hamburg.

5. Copenhagen to Stockholm by X2000. 

These Swedish 200km/h (125mph) tilting trains link Copenhagen & Stockholm in just a few hours, centre to centre.  They cross from Denmark to Sweden over the Oresund Link, a combined tunnel and bridge.  On the bridge section you seem to be flying just feet above the water... More information about X2000

A Copenhagen-Stockholm X2000 train boarding at Copenhagen main station...		2nd class seats on an X2000 train from Copenhagen to Stockholm.

X2000 bistro car...		X2000 bistro car seating area...		Bistro self-service...

Winter scenery from a train between Copenhagen & Stockholm. Courtesy of Radoslav Sharapanov

6. Stockholm to Turku by cruise ferry & train to Helsinki...

The Viking Line ferry from Stockholm to Turku.  Silja line operate a competing ferry.  These  photos courtesy of Matthew Philips		2-berth cabin on the cruise ferry to Finland...		The InterCity boat train from Turku Harbour to Helsinki is a double-deck InterCity train. Note the children's play area!

The Silja Line ferry:  Competing with Viking Line with almost identical timings and the same train connection to Helsinki, Silja's Galaxy sails out of Stockholm bound for Turku.  Courtesy Jeremy Nicholls.

...or Stockholm to Helsinki by direct overnight cruise ferry.

The Stockholm-Helsinki overnight ferry...  Sail direct from Stockholm to Helsinki by overnight luxury ferry, a true floating hotel.  Two operators, Silja Line & Viking Line compete with almost identical timings.  Above, the massive Silja Symphony towers over the Silja Line terminal in Helsinki.  Photos courtesy of Discoverbyrail.com

Viking Line's Gabriela sails out of Stockholm en route to Helsinki.  Courtesy Jeremy Nicholls.

Near midnight, the Silja Serenade sails past the Åland islands en route from Stockholm to Helsinki.  Courtesy Jeremy Nicholls.

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	Don't fly to Finland, cruise there!  A Finnlines Travemunde-Helsinki Star class ferry.  Below:  A cabin on the Finnlines ferry. Photos courtesy of www.finnlines.com

This leisurely option runs every day and takes 3 nights outward to Helsinki, just 2 nights inward back to London.  In the outward direction it includes a day at leisure exploring Hamburg, too.  Take a morning Eurostar to Brussels and onward trains to Hamburg, and stay overnight.  After a day exploring Hamburg, transfer by local train to Travemünde on Germany's Baltic coast, then take the daily Finnlines ferry from Travemünde to Helsinki, a 2-night cruise.  This route is shown on the route map above in red between London & Hamburg and in dark blue between Hamburg & Helsinki.

London ► Helsinki

• Day 2, transfer from Hamburg to Skandinavienkai Terminal, Lübeck like this:

  Take a local train from Hamburg Hbf to Lübeck Hbf, these run every 30 minutes during the day, hourly in the evening, journey time 42-43 minutes.

  At Lübeck Hbf, leave the station and follow the signs to the ZOB bus station 100m away.  Lübeck is a good place for dinner with plenty of bars & restaurants in the old town 5 minutes walk from the station.

  Now take bus 30 from Lübeck ZOB bus station to Travemünde Skandinavienkai Terminal (this is the stop before Travemünde Skandinavienkai - Bahnhof Skandinavienkai).  The bus ride takes 30 minutes, the last bus goes around 21:00.

  You can check journey times from Hamburg to Travemünde Skandinavienkai Terminal at the German Railways website, just use this link to bahn.de as it has the bus times in its database as well as the trains, or you can find bus information at www.xn--sv-lbeck-95a.de.

  Alternatively, take a frequent local train from Hamburg Hbf to Lübeck Hbf, then a frequent local train to Travemünde Skandinavienkai Bahnhof, Lübeck from where the ferry terminal is an 8-minute taxi ride or a 34-minute 2.8 km walk.

  At the terminal, walk into the large modern office block marked HAFENHAUS next to the bus stop, with a green neon Check in sign by the front door.  After check-in, you go downstairs to a large waiting hall, with a bar/cafe open until 10pm, toilets and a large supermarket open until 01:30 selling alcohol and chocolate.

• Day 2-3, sail from Travemünde to Helsinki on the daily Finnlines ferry, see www.finnlines.com or the Direct Ferries website.

  Check-in opens at 21:00, the ship boards from 22:30 to 24:00 (day 2), foot passengers are driven onto the car deck in a minibus.  The ship sails at 03:00 (day 3), arriving at Helsinki Vuosaari ferry terminal outside Helsinki at 09:00 on day 4.

  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, and (naturally, being Finnish) a sauna.  It's a very civilised way to travel.

• Day 4, transfer from the Vuosaari terminal to central Helsinki.  Helsinki's new Hansa Ferry Terminal in the Vuosaari Harbour is 16 km east of central Helsinki.  There is a bus connection (bus 90B) between Vuosaari harbour and Vuosaari metro station.  Take the metro from Vuosaari into central Helsinki, journey time 25 minutes.  Map of Helsinki showing Vuosaari.

Helsinki ► London

• Day 1, transfer from Helsinki to the Vuosaari ferry terminal, some 16 km east of Helsinki.  You can take the metro from anywhere in central Helsinki to Vuosaari metro station, then bus 90B from Vuosaari station to the Vuosaari's Hansa ferry terminal.  Map of Helsinki showing Vuosaari.

• Day 1, sail from Helsinki to Travemünde on the daily Finnlines ferry, see www.finnlines.com or the Direct Ferries website.

  Check in is between 13:30 & 16:30.  The ship sails at 17:30 (15:00 Sundays) and arrives at Travemünde at 21:30 the next day (day 2).  The ship is 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, and sauna.

• Day 2, transfer by bus and local train to Hamburg Hbf.  Buses link the ferry terminal (Travemünde Skandinavienkai Terminal) with Lübeck ZOB bus station, it's a short walk to Lübeck station, then local trains run every 30-60 minutes to Hamburg Hbf.

• Stay overnight in Hamburg...

  The Hotel Reichshof Hamburg is just 200m from the station, features art deco-based design and gets great reviews.  Other hotels next to 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, private rooms in the A&O Hotel near Hamburg Hbf start at around £33 for one person or £49 for two people booked at www.hostelworld.com.

• Day 2, travel from Hamburg to London by train...

  For example, the earliest departure leaves Hamburg Hbf at 06:46, change at Cologne Hbf & Brussels Midi to arrive London St Pancras at 16:05.

  Or you can leave at 08:46 arriving London at 18:06.  Or have a leisurely breakfast and leave Hamburg at 10:46 arriving London at 19:57 (21:33 on Saturdays & some other dates), see the Hamburg to London timetable on the London to Germany page.

How much does it cost?

• London to Brussels by Eurostar starts at £52 one-way or £78 return in standard class, £115 one-way, £199 return standard premier (1st class).

• Brussels to Hamburg starts at €29.90 each way in 2nd class, €56.90 each way in 1st class.

• Hamburg to Travemünde by local train & bus costs around €19 each way.

• Travemünde to Helsinki by Finnlines ferry costs between €120 and €155 (£95-£120) each way in a reclining seat depending on the day and season.  However, I recommend a cabin.  The fare including a bed in a 3-bed shared inside cabin is between €200 and €287 each way.  The fare including a bed in a 2-bed outside cabin is between €279 and €413 each way.  Children under 6 go free, and there are reduced fares for children 6 to 12 and youth fares for children 13-17.  See the fares at www.finnlines.com or the Direct Ferries website.

How to buy tickets...

It takes several websites so it's best to try a dry-run on all of them first to check prices and availability before booking for real.  Here's how it's done:

• Step 1, book the Travemünde-Helsinki ferry at www.finnlines.com or the Direct Ferries website.

• Step 2, book the London-Brussels Eurostar at www.eurostar.com.  If returning, book this as a round trip as Eurostar return fares are significantly cheaper than two one-ways.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your smartphone.

• Step 3, book Brussels-Hamburg at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.  Booking usually opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone. 

• Step 4, you can also buy a Hamburg-Travemünde ticket at www.bahn.de, or simply buy it at the station when you get to Hamburg.

How to buy tickets by phone...

• Step 1, buy your ferry ticket:  Finnlines telesales number in Germany is 00 49 451 1507 443.

• Step 2, buy your London-Hamburg train tickets:  You can buy tickets from Deutsche Bahn on 00 49 (0)30 311 68 29 04 (lines open 08:30-20:00 Monday-Friday, 09:00-13:00 Saturday & Sunday UK time, 1.5% fee for phone bookings).

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Train travel within Finland

• For onward travel to Tampere & other destinations in Finland, see the Trains from Helsinki page.

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Recommended guidebooks

You should take a good guidebook.  For the independent traveller, I think this means either the Lonely Planet or the Rough Guide.  I personally prefer the layout of the Lonely Planet, but others prefer the Rough Guide.  Both guidebooks provide the same excellent level of practical information and historical background.  You won't regret buying one!  My own book, an essential handbook for train travel to Europe based on this website called "The Man in Seat 61", was published in June 2008, and is available from Amazon with shipping worldwide.

Click the images to buy at Amazon.co.uk...

Or buy direct at the Lonely Planet website, shipping worldwide.

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European Rail Timetable & maps

The European Rail Timetable (formerly the Thomas Cook European Timetable) has train & ferry times for every country in Europe plus currency & climate information.  It is essential for regular European train travellers and an inspiration for armchair travellers.  Published since 1873, it had just celebrated 140 years of publication when Thomas Cook decided to pull the plug on their entire publishing department, but the dedicated ex-Thomas Cook team set up a private venture and resumed publication of the famous European Rail Timetable in March 2014.  You can buy it online at www.amazon.co.uk (UK addresses) or www.europeanrailtimetable.eu (shipping worldwide).  More information on what the European Rail Timetable contains.

Rail Map Europe is the map I recommend, covering all of Europe from Portugal in the west to Moscow & Istanbul in the east, Finland in the north to Sicily & Athens in the south.  Scenic routes & high-speed lines are highlighted.  See an extract from the map.  Buy online at www.europeanrailtimetable.eu (shipping worldwide) or for £9.67 at www.amazon.co.uk (UK addresses).

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Hotels in Helsinki & Scandinavia

My favourite hotel search site: www.booking.com www.booking.com is my favourite hotel booking site and I generally prefer booking my hotels all in one place here.  You can usually book with free cancellation - this allows you to confirm your accommodation at no risk before train booking opens.  It also means you can hold accommodation while you finalise your itinerary, and alter your plans as they evolve - a feature I use all the time when putting a trip together.  I never book hotels non-refundably.  I have also come to trust their review scores - you won't be disappointed with anything over 8.0. Tip:  It can pay to compare prices across multiple hotel sites:  HotelsCombined.com is a price comparison site which compares hotel prices on Booking.com, Hotels.com, Expedia, Accor, Agoda and many others.  Though if there's not much in it, I prefer keeping all my bookings together in one place at www.booking.com.

Other hotel sites worth trying...

www.tripadvisor.com is the place to find independent travellers' reviews of all the main hotels.

Backpacker hostels: www.hostelworld.com...

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 Paris and most other European cities at rock-bottom prices.

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Travel insurance & VPN

Always take out travel insurance...

You should take out travel insurance with at least £1m or preferably £5m medical cover from a reliable insurer.  It should cover trip cancellation and loss of cash & belongings up to a reasonable limit.  These days, check you're covered for covid-19-related issues, and use an insurer whose cover isn't invalidated by well-meant but excessive Foreign Office travel advice against non-essential travel. An annual policy is usually cheapest even for just 2 or 3 trips a year, I use an annual policy myself.  Don't expect travel insurance to bail you out of every missed connection, see the advice on missed connections here.  Here are some suggested insurers, I get a little commission if you buy through these links, feedback always welcome.

www.staysure.co.uk offers enhanced Covid-19 protection & covers you even if the FCDO advises against non-essential travel.

If you have a pre-existing medical condition or are over 65, see www.JustTravelCover.com - 10% discount with code seat61.

You can use www.confused.com to compare prices & policy features across major insurance companies.

        If you live in Australia, New Zealand, Ireland or the EU, try Columbus Direct.

  If you live in the USA try Travel Guard USA.

Get a Curve card to save on foreign transaction fees...

Banks often give a poor exchange rate, then charge a currency conversion fee as well.  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 as I write this.  The balance goes straight onto one of your existing debit or credit cards.  And you can get a Curve card for free.

How it works:  1. Download the app for iPhone or Android.  2. Enter your details & they'll send you a Curve MasterCard - they send to most European addresses including the UK.  3. Link your existing credit & debit cards to the app.  4. Now use the Curve MasterCard to buy things online or in person or take cash from ATMs, just like a normal MasterCard. Curve does the currency conversion and puts the balance onto whichever of your debit or credit cards you choose.  You can even change your mind about which card it goes onto, within 14 days of the transaction.

I use a Curve Blue card myself - I get a little commission if you sign up to Curve, but I'm recommending 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, too.

Get a VPN for safe browsing.  VPNs & why you need one explained...

When you're travelling you often use free WiFi in public places which may not be secure.  A VPN means your connection to the internet is encrypted & always secure, even using unsecured WiFi.  In countries such as China where access to Twitter & Facebook is restricted, a VPN gets around these restrictions.  And lastly, you can select the geographic location of the IP address you browse with, to get around geographic restrictions which some websites apply - for example one booking site charges a booking fee to non-European visitors but none to European visitors, so if you're not located in Europe you can avoid this fee by browsing with a UK IP address using a VPN.  VPNs & why you need one explained.  ExpressVPN is a best buy and I use it 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, and I get a small commission to help support this site.

 

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