My journey through the Nordics began exactly where roaming the Baltic capitals ended—at the ferry terminal in Tallinn. After exploring Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia by bus, it was time to continue north. Just across the Gulf of Finland was Helsinki, and rather than heading back to the airport, we boarded a ferry and set off across the Baltic Sea. It was easy, affordable, and definitely more interesting than another trip through airport security.
Over the next few weeks, I would travel through Finland, Sweden, and Norway by ferry, cruise ship, train, and, when necessary, a quick flight. Somewhere along the way, I realized that some of my favorite memories weren’t happening after I arrived. They were happening during the transition.
My Nordic Route: Tallinn → Helsinki by ferry → Stockholm by overnight ferry → Bergen by plane → Oslo by train.
Why the Scenic Route Through the Nordics Is Worth It
I’ve always believed that travel rewards a little creativity. The fastest route isn’t necessarily the most memorable, and an airport isn’t always the best way to connect two dots on a map. Sometimes there’s a ferry crossing the sea, an overnight ship weaving through an archipelago, a mandatory road trip, or a train rolling past lakes, mountains, and hidden towns.
Traveling this way also gives a better understanding of how these places fit together. Instead of flying over the borders that separate them, we move through them. We witness the geography change, watch one culture slowly bleed into the next, understand why certain borders were drawn, and experience just how connected these neighbors are.
So, while this is a journey through the Nordics, it isn’t simply about Helsinki, Stockholm, Bergen, and Oslo. It’s about everything I discovered along the way, and why, if you let it be, getting there is half the adventure.
Tallinn to Helsinki by Ferry
One of the easiest ways to travel from Tallinn to Helsinki is by ferry. The journey across takes around two hours, and there are several crossings each day, making it an easy alternative to flying. We paid around $30 USD per person.
We left Tallinn behind from the water, settled in for the short crossing, and a couple of hours later watched Helsinki come into view. With bars, restaurants, duty-free shopping, and even rows of slot machines onboard, the crossing felt less like public transportation and more like a miniature cruise.
A Few Favorite Helsinki Finds
Stepping off the ferry, Helsinki was an immediate shift from Tallinn. There was a grandeur to the buildings and monuments, and everything felt much less medieval. I wasn’t trying to check every Helsinki must-see off a list, but a few places and experiences ended up defining the city for me.
• Old Market Hall — This lovely old food hall sits right by the harbor, serving tons of local dishes and treats. It is a bit touristy, but still worth a visit. Don’t miss the famous Finnish salmon soup! If the weather is holding up, you can also shop and eat your way through Helsinki Market Square just across the street.
• Sompasauna — Sauna culture is deeply rooted in Finland and woven into everyday life. Having a sauna in your home is quite common, and that love of hot-and-cold therapy has spread throughout the Nordics—which makes perfect sense given the weather they bravely tackle every year.
Sompasauna is located on Mustikkamaa island, just outside central Helsinki. You can take a local bus there and arrive in no time. There are three wood-fired saunas, each roaring at a different temperature, with access to the Baltic Sea for a cold plunge between sessions. The facility is run by volunteers and is free to the public, though donations are appreciated. Don’t sweat it if you don’t have cash; there is a QR code you can scan on-site to donate from your phone.
For me, this was such an authentic way to dip into a part of Finnish culture that is incredibly important to them. It’s a wholesome experience that will leave you feeling fantastic—and probably craving another bowl of that salmon soup. If you don’t have time to make it out to Sompasauna, Allas Pool is another option in the city.
• Winest — If you have a craving for a cuisine a little off the beaten path, may I suggest Georgian? We chose Winest for its stellar reviews, and the restaurant itself was cozy and inviting, with an expansive menu.
Georgian restaurants had been on my radar ever since I started noticing them scattered throughout the Balkans and Baltics. We chose the tasting menu paired with a natural wine flight, and it turned out to be a perfect introduction to Georgian cuisine and wine culture. Georgia has one of the oldest winemaking traditions in the world, and discovering it in Helsinki was an unexpected highlight.
Onward to Stockholm
As my journey through the Nordics continued, it was time to say goodbye to Helsinki. Instead of heading to the airport, I walked to the Viking Line terminal at the harbor and boarded an overnight cruise to Stockholm.
For as many people as there were at the terminal, we boarded with ease and were on our way just before sunset. I highly suggest grabbing a drink and heading to the back of the ship to catch your last look at Helsinki as you pull away. It’s a gorgeous view and a wonderful way to say goodbye.
Helsinki to Stockholm Overnight Cruise
The overnight ferry from Helsinki to Stockholm takes roughly 16–17 hours and is one of the most memorable ways to travel between the two Nordic capitals. We paid around $55 USD, making it not only an experience but a surprisingly affordable way to travel between the two capitals while covering a night’s accommodation along the way. The ship is a proper little cruise, with restaurants, bars, shops, entertainment, and plenty of places to enjoy the evening. If you have your heart set on one of the restaurants, I recommend making a reservation in advance.
I opted for a perfect girl dinner instead: a charcuterie plate and a glass of wine at the wine bar, with my book keeping me company. After dinner, I headed back to my cabin and fell asleep somewhere along the Baltic Sea. But whatever you do, set your alarm early the next morning.
Grab a coffee and find a spot outside as the ship begins weaving its way through the Stockholm archipelago. Thousands of islands scatter the water approaching the city, with tiny towns, colorful houses, docks, and boats tucked along their shores. Watching people live their lives out here gives you a glimpse into the coastal life you would miss when arriving by plane. This is exactly why it’s usually worth taking the scenic route!
A Few Favorite Stockholm Finds
Upon arriving in Stockholm, I immediately felt the weight of Sweden’s history. For centuries, Sweden was one of the major powers of Northern Europe, at times wielding enormous influence across both the Nordic and Baltic regions. That legacy is still felt. Stockholm is filled with stately buildings, impressive architecture, and an unmistakable sense of importance. After traveling through the Baltics and Finland, it felt like I had arrived in the region’s longtime power player.
As I wandered the city without much of a plan, these are the memories I’m still savoring.
• Södermalm to Gamla Stan — One of the best ways to get a feel for Stockholm is to walk it. I stayed in Södermalm and loved having this neighborhood as my home base. It felt cool, creative, and noticeably removed from the more touristy parts of the city, with plenty of cafés, restaurants, shops, and local life to explore.
From Södermalm, make your way toward Gamla Stan, Stockholm’s colorful Old Town. Wander the narrow cobblestone streets, admire the architecture, and find somewhere to stop for a proper fika. Fika is the beloved Swedish ritual of slowing down over coffee and something sweet, often with friends. It’s less about grabbing a caffeine fix and more about actually taking a break. This is one ritual I’m taking home with me!
• Östermalms Saluhall — I have a soft spot for a good food hall, and Stockholm has a beautiful one. Östermalms Saluhall has been feeding the city since 1888, and its gorgeous historic interior is worth seeing on its own. Inside, you’ll find counters piled with seafood sandwiches, cheeses, baked goods, prepared foods, and plenty of Swedish specialties.
You can browse what locals are picking up for dinner, try a few things you’ve never heard of, or enjoy one of the restaurants. If you have the time, grab some seafood, a glass of bubbles, and enjoy the atmosphere.
• Check Out Stockholm’s Music Scene — Stockholm is considered one of the music capitals of the world. For being a small country, its influence on the global music scene is pretty remarkable. From ABBA and Avicii to the producers behind some of the biggest pop songs of the last few decades, music is deeply woven into Stockholm’s cultural identity.
I learned that Bad Bunny was performing at Strawberry Arena while I was there and bought a ticket on a whim. It wasn’t on my Stockholm itinerary, and it ended up being a marked memory. Stockholm is a groovy place to enjoy some live music!
Stockholm to Bergen
Now, I could have taken a couple of trains to get from Stockholm to Bergen, but I was already set on taking the famous Bergen-to-Oslo train at the end of my trip. And looking at the travel time, 1.5 hours versus 13+, I caved and booked the flight. But when I look at the journey as a whole, traveling through the Baltics and Nordics with only two flights across six countries is pretty good.
I took an early morning tram from Södermalm to the airport and was in Bergen in time for breakfast!
A Few Favorite Bergen Finds
Bergen had held a bit of a fascination for me long before I arrived. Maybe it was the centuries-old fishing and trading lore, the colorful wooden buildings of Bryggen, or the legacy of the German Hanseatic merchants whose trade networks helped Bergen flourish as one of Northern Europe’s important ports. Whatever it was, I knew as I returned to Norway for the third time, Bergen had to be seen!
Luckily, it lived up to the picture I had built in my head. Bergen is surrounded by mountains and water, with beautiful neighborhoods climbing the hillsides and a harbor that is central to city life. And when the sun is shining, there is nothing quite like it. As a San Francisco lover who was born there, Bergen felt like its Nordic sister in all the best ways.
• Hike Mount Ulriken — If you’re up for getting your heart pumping, hiking to the top of Mount Ulriken was easily one of my favorite experiences in Bergen. You can take the cable car up, but I highly recommend making the climb yourself if you’re able. The trail takes you above the city, past beautiful Norwegian homes, with the views getting better the higher you go.
At the top, you reach sweeping views over Bergen, the surrounding mountains, islands, and water. There are places to grab refreshments, plenty of viewpoints to explore, and even a troll forest. I loved this hike so much that I woke up the next morning and did it all over again.
• Wander Bryggen & Nordnes — Start along the harbor in Bryggen, the city’s historic Hanseatic district and one of its most recognizable sights. Don’t just admire the colorful wooden buildings from the main waterfront. Duck into the narrow passageways between them, where you’ll find tiny shops, galleries, and centuries of history just behind the famous facade.
Make your way around the harbor toward Nordnes, a charming neighborhood lined with beautiful homes and quiet streets, offering views of the city from a different perspective. Bergen is stunning from just about every angle, so give yourself some time to wander and soak it in.
• Bergen to Oslo on the Bergen Railway — Eventually, as my journey through the Nordics came to an end, it was time to leave Bergen. This was one departure I had been looking forward to. The Bergen Railway connects Bergen and Oslo across some of Norway’s most dramatic mountain scenery and is widely considered one of Europe’s great train journeys.
The pictures and videos I took don’t do it justice whatsoever. I had my snacks ready and spent most of the ride glued to the window. Fairytale towns appeared between rolling mountains and forests, with little white and red houses and barns scattered across the landscape for miles. Safe to say, this one lived up to the hype.
As Our Journey Through the Nordics Ends …
Looking back at this journey through the Nordics, some of the moments I remember most happened between destinations. Watching Helsinki disappear behind the ship, waking up to tiny islands scattered across the water outside Stockholm, and spending hours staring out the window as the Norwegian countryside rolled past.
There is a convenience to flying that I will always appreciate. Sometimes, it simply makes sense. But when time allows, slow down and plan your route a bit differently. If you have the luxury of not having to take the fastest route, don’t!
Moving around by train, ferry, or bus gives you something an airport rarely can ~ a sense of where you actually are. You watch the landscape change, see how people live between the cities, and experience the geography rather than soaring over it.
All in all, after six countries, a few buses, two ferries, one unforgettable train ride, and only two flights, this trip confirmed something I already knew: getting there really can be half the adventure.
Cheers to traveling a little slower,
xoxo, Bekah
PS ~ If your time allows, here’s some inspiration for a memorable road trip through the Jotunheimen Mountains of Norway!