Sumit and I have travelled to Scandinavia before on two occasions. Once for a road trip in Iceland and second time for a Norway and Denmark trip. So this time we chose Finland and Sweden. We arrived in Finland first and then took an overnight cruise to Stockholm.
 |
| Uppenski Cathedral |
- Day 0 - Arrival
- Day 1 - Poorvo, Sipponkorpi, Helsinki
- Day 2 - Nuukiso, Helsinki
- Day 3 - Suemenlinna, Cruise
Note about cruises -
Overnight cruises between Stockholm, Helsinki, Estonia and even Russia are very popular. Consider one of these options if you don't want to take a flight or drive. Was very comfortable for us. More on this later.
Also, this time I fed my scribble notes to chatgpt to compose the following post. Yay!
Day 0 — Arrival and Settling In
We landed at the airport in the evening, picked up our rental car, and immediately noticed how narrow yet surprisingly manageable the roads were. Thankfully, we had booked a hotel right in downtown with dedicated parking — an absolute must when driving in the city. After settling in, we took a gentle stroll around the neighborhood, soaking in the atmosphere of the lively yet relaxed urban center before calling it a night.
Day 1 — Porvoo, National Parks & Helsinki by Night
 |
| Poorvo |
We then attempted to head to Högebergget for views, but Google Maps delivered us to a tiny village with no viewpoint in sight. Pivoting quickly, we rerouted to Byabacken in Sipoonkorpi National Park, where we enjoyed an easy and refreshing 2.1 km hike. Mosquitos were out in full force, convincing us to head straight to a supermarket afterward for repellent!
Back in Helsinki, we enjoyed a beautiful evening walk along Esplanadi, had dinner at Indus, and unexpectedly caught a vibrant Samba Carnival — dancers, costumes, music, the works. Post-dinner, we wandered through Market Square, climbed up toward the Uspenski Cathedral, and passed fountains and historical buildings on our way back to the hotel. A perfect blend of nature, city life, and surprises.
 |
| Canoeing in Nuuksio |
Day 2 — Canoeing in Nuuksio & City Exploration
The day began with a drive to Nuuksio National Park, where we rented a canoe and paddled peacefully for two hours on Lake Haukkalampi, surrounded by nothing but forest, water, and the rhythmic sound of paddles dipping into the lake. We grabbed a warm bowl of soup at Haltia afterward. Being a Sunday, nearly everything was closed, and finding lunch became a tiny adventure of its own before we finally settled at Tandoori Flames.
Recharged, we headed back to the city for some shopping at H&M and Mango, then walked to the majestic Helsinki Cathedral and Senate Square. Later, we hopped on a tram — a must-do in Helsinki — which took us back toward the lively Central Station Square, full of statues and people enjoying the day. We skipped the Oodi Library and the zoo due to time, and returned our car in the evening.
Day 3 — Suomenlinna, Ferries & Overnight Cruise
In the morning, we took the ferry to the historic Suomenlinna Fortress (note: ferries run frequently, but it’s always worth double-checking the timetable). We walked across the island to the old submarine, explored the stone walls, and enjoyed the sea breeze before returning to the city for lunch at Indus restaurant. Dinner was takeaway before heading to the port for our Tallink Silja Line cruise — the Symphony. Boarding at 3:30, we were pleasantly surprised by how many kids’ activities the ship offered. The pool area was especially fun, and Piku had a blast.
Our Executive Suite with promenade views was incredibly comfortable and made the overnight journey feel luxurious. The cruise glided through the Baltic Sea as we relaxed, slept soundly, and woke up to arrive in Stockholm at 10 AM. The views of archipelago closer to Stockholm are beautiful.
 |
| Our Cruise Ship |
Other Notes:
If you have more time in Finland, consider adding a visit to the magical Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi, especially if traveling with children. Helsinki is also surrounded by stunning national parks — like Sipoonkorpi, Nuuksio, and Liesjärvi — all perfect for hiking, canoeing, and escaping into quiet Nordic nature.
