Stockholm/Helsinki December

toadfly

Hi All,

Can anyone please help? I want to bring my boyfriend away in December (29th Dec - 3rd Jan) for his 30th birthday so want someplace special. Was thinking of flying in and out of Stockholm (Ryanair) and maybe going to Helsinki by night cruise. I have looked up bus transfer from the airport and the price of the cruise just wondering about hotel/drink prices? I have looked into it but if anyone was there lately if they could advise? Seems to be very expensive and seeing as we will be there over the new year would like to be able to go out for a good night without it bankrupting us!

Anywhere else you would recommend in Europe? Have been to Paris, Venis, Salzburg, would love to go to Rome but flights very dear. Maybe take in a days skiing as well! More than likely flying with Ryanair preferrably from Shannon but I know Dublin will be best bet for more choices!

Not asking much I know but any info much appreciated :rolleyes::)

boonen

I visited Stockholm july last year. The prices are quite high. I stayed at hostel, private room with 2 beds around 20euros/night each (me and my friend) so 40€ total/night. The hostel was pretty good, the best i've been ever. Very clean, calm, plus a big tv/pc in your room with internet access!

The hostel was: http://www.hostelworld.com/availability.php/STF--IYHF-Fridhemsplan/Stockholm/10913

Good luck and have fun

ArmaniJeanss

TillyGirl wrote: »

Hi All,

Can anyone please help? I want to bring my boyfriend away in December (29th Dec - 3rd Jan) for his 30th birthday so want someplace special. Was thinking of flying in and out of Stockholm (Ryanair) and maybe going to Helsinki by night cruise. I have looked up bus transfer from the airport and the price of the cruise just wondering about hotel/drink prices? I have looked into it but if anyone was there lately if they could advise? Seems to be very expensive and seeing as we will be there over the new year would like to be able to go out for a good night without it bankrupting us!

Anywhere else you would recommend in Europe? Have been to Paris, Venis, Salzburg, would love to go to Rome but flights very dear. Maybe take in a days skiing as well! More than likely flying with Ryanair preferrably from Shannon but I know Dublin will be best bet for more choices!

If money is an issue then try Tallinn (Estonia). Its a gorgeous city and everything is very cheap. It has the advantage of being very close to Helsinki, its about 2 hours away by fast ferry (about €20pp) and there are about 15 sailings a day. So you could say fly into Helsinki on the 29th, spend two (or one) nights there, then get the ferry to Tallinn and spend two (or three nights) there, then fly home from there.
I found Tallinn far more fun than Helsinki by the way (at a fraction of the hotel and alcohol prices)

tinkerbell

I've a post about Stockholm somewhere, hang on let me find it.

Edit: here it is - Stockholm review

I thought Stockholm was lovely, went there in 2005.

AJ2012

Hi,

I've been to both Stockholm and Helsinki in the past year. Stockholm is a lovely city and would thoroughly recommend it. It's really not that much more expensive than Dublin. We stayed in a hotel out in the suburbs (think the place was called Kista) and it was very reasonably priced. Lovely city all round and plenty to do & see.

The same however cannot be said of Helsinki!! I thought it was the dullest place I've ever been to. Avoid!!

toadfly

:rolleyes:Thanks for the great advice. Not sure now what to do, will keep an eye on the flights and see how they go. I dont think Ryanair fly into Helsinki but tallin does sound good.

Thanks again guys, if anyone else has any opinions or to suggest somewhere else to go it woud be appreciated! Want to get somewhere special and different!

toadfly

Anyone been there over new years or during december/january? Is it dark all day?!:eek:

Gran Hermano

TillyGirl wrote: »

Anyone been there over new years or during december/january? Is it dark all day?!:eek:

I love Stockhomk in December, it gets dark earlier than here.
Near Christmas it'll be dark around 3 in the afternoon. But it just
adds to the atmosphere. Nothing beats a stroll around Gamla Stan
with candles flickering outside.

toadfly

Thanks for that Gran Hermano. It does sound beautiful. Is it a safe city? I have been reading reports on this site about Barcelona how bad it is for pickpockets which I didnt know before.

tubos

I've been to Stockholm a few times inthe run up to Christmas, it's really nice then, especially in Gamla Stan with the markets and the cosy pubs and cafes. However, I'm not sure what it will be like just after Christmas, it can cold,wet and dark before 3 o clock which is actually nice when it's christmas, but not sure when the decorations come down! Great city though. Took the night train up to the ice hotel once in December. Great trip!!!!
And yes it's very safe, as far as big cities go.

Nody

TillyGirl wrote: »

Thanks for that Gran Hermano. It does sound beautiful. Is it a safe city? I have been reading reports on this site about Barcelona how bad it is for pickpockets which I didnt know before.

Nothing worse then Dublin or any other major city in Northen Europe really; use common sense as always.

Decorations should come down beginning of January (around 7th or so).

bills

just to add my 2cents- i would really reccommend stockholm. A really great city with loads to do. Just beware if flying ryanair-airport is one hour & 20 mins from city. We did not find food dear but drink is more expensive than here. You have to do the ice bar too while there.

tinkerbell

^^ Defo recommend the ice bar! Now I don't drink so just got an orange juice and it was €15 for a juice :eek: So just get one drink and high tail it out of there before you've spent all your spending money on a few drinks! lol

We flew with SAS btw, great airline, direct Dublin > Stockholm (the actual Stockholm airport, not the one that Ryanair fly into).

boarddotie

TillyGirl wrote: »

Hi All,

Can anyone please help? I want to bring my boyfriend away in December (29th Dec - 3rd Jan) for his 30th birthday so want someplace special. Was thinking of flying in and out of Stockholm (Ryanair) and maybe going to Helsinki by night cruise. I have looked up bus transfer from the airport and the price of the cruise just wondering about hotel/drink prices? I have looked into it but if anyone was there lately if they could advise? Seems to be very expensive and seeing as we will be there over the new year would like to be able to go out for a good night without it bankrupting us!

Anywhere else you would recommend in Europe? Have been to Paris, Venis, Salzburg, would love to go to Rome but flights very dear. Maybe take in a days skiing as well! More than likely flying with Ryanair preferrably from Shannon but I know Dublin will be best bet for more choices!

Not asking much I know but any info much appreciated :rolleyes::)

Hi there,

I took that cruise with 2 friends at the end of Feb just gone. I think I remember it getting dark in both citiea round 5pm but by those times you would be heading to the ship. I dont know what you are planning but we took Ryanair from Dub to Stockholm, spent the afternoon in Stockholm (area near the ship dock has some amazing views), onto the ship at 5. Then got off in Helsinki the next day and spent the day there. Back onto ship and sailed back to Stockholm. We spent one night in Stockholm and then early flight home. So the real expense would be airport transfer and one night in a hotel. I wouldnt recommend staying in helsinki too, no real bonus to is and you will be on ship for 2 nights anyway.

I would defo recommend Stockholm, it would be cold then but not in a bitter windy cold way. Just wrap up nicely. helsinki was very windy I remember and slightly kippish...we were just enchanted by the deep snow and were happy strolling around but there is not a quarter as much to see there as Stockholm.

As for the cruise, I cant recommend it enough. It was THE TWO BEST NIGHTS i have ever had!! If anyone is looking for sumehre unusual to go on a friend holiday or boozy break I would recommend. But dont me wrong, there are all sorts on the Viking Line-families, old couples, young couples too but it was great for the youngsters haah!

prices on the ship were great. Buffet dinner and brekkie for €36 or so PP. No taxes on booze once the ship hits the open sea so very cheap. The tradition is (wll I dont know if this was just our tradition) but eat the buffer and tear down to the Duty Free Shop just before it closes at 10pm. Buy some cheap booze and drink it in cabin and then head to the casino/cabarte show/bar and then disco. Great fun!