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Scandinavian summer holiday – Stockholm, Åland, Turku and Helsinki

Tall ship in Käringsund

Prices from £1009/adult when sharing a twin/double room
10 days, 9 nights
Travel period: May – September 2010

See gracious, classic Stockholm, modern, stylish Helsinki, the amazingly beautiful Åland Islands and historic Turku on one ten-day summer holiday. Start with Stockholm, the royal Swedish capital, then take a ferry and stay in a cottage by the sea in the Åland Islands, stop in the cultural Turku, and finish the tour on Helsinki, the World’s Design Capital 2012. Relax and enjoy history, culture and beauty on the shores of the Baltic Sea.

Friday to Sunday: Imperial Stockholm

Stockholm is called “Venice of the north” for a reason. It is a city characterised by the sea with boats and ships everywhere. It has a wealth of handsome historic buildings from the Royal Palace to museums and the medieval Old Town, Gamla Stan.

Stockholm is very compact city, so walking is the best way to get hold of it. Have a stroll in the narrow streets of lively Old Town in the evening. There are dozens of restaurants and bars to choose from, small boutiques for shopping and beautiful squares to relax for a while.

Sightseeing by boat is a must. There are various tours available depending on your interests or time available. ”Under the bridges of Stockholm” and the early “Good morning Stockholm” tours give an excellent view of the city.

Skanssen is an outdoor museum with 150 old buildings moved there from around Sweden. It gives an idea how people lived in the 17^th and 18^th century both in towns and in the countryside.

Vasa Museum is built around the battleship Vasa that sunk on its maiden voyage in 1628. The ship was salvaged and is the only almost intact ship from the 17^th century left in the world. Visitors can see the ship from six levels from keel to the stern, and there are fascinating displays life at the sea and about history of Sweden. Since its opening in 1990 about 25 million people have visited the Vasa Museum.

For shopping Södermalm has dozens of small trendy boutiques and friendly cafes. Östermalm’s old market building is an essential destination for all food lovers.

Monday to Thursday: Archipelago experience

Take a ferry from Stockholm through the islands to Mariehamn in Åland. This autonomous region of Finland is a collection of 6 700 islands and rocky islets. Pick up your hired car in the harbour and drive about 20 miles to Eckerö to settle in your cottage in Käringsund resort.

It is easy to tour Åland either by a car or a bicycle as the main islands are connected by bridges or ferries. The main attraction is the region itself with islands and the sea. On top of that, Åland boast 46 sights to see: there is the medieval Kastelholm castle, lovely fishing villages, the museum sailing ship Pommern, ruins of the Bomarsund fortifications bombarded by the Royal Navy, museums, events and handicrafts.

Åland’s capital, Mariehamn, is a small shipping town of 11,000 inhabitants that livens up in the summer. It has several museums reflecting its history as a seafaring town, and it has the largest small boat harbour in the Nordic countries. Mariehamn has idyllic streets with linden trees lined with quality craft shops and cafes.

The museum ship Pommern in the western harbour next to the Maritime Museum has been restored, and its four masts remind of the huge sailing fleet that once took to seas from the port. The ship was built in Glasgow in 1903 and came to Mariehamn in 1923. She sailed constantly around the world until the break of the Second World War, and in that time visited her home harbour only five times.

The Bomarsund fortification was built when Finland was still part of the imperial Russia. In 1854, during the Crimean War, the British and French bombarded the fort until it surrendered. The battle resulted in the first ever Victoria Cross being awarded to Charles David Lucas for his bravery. About 2,000 Russian soldiers were taken as prisoners of war to Britain and France, including 300 Finnish grenadiers who were taken to Lewes. The fortification was totally destructed after the battle.

The medieval Kastelholm castle was built by King Gustav Vasa of Sweden as the stronghold in the middle of his kingdom that also included Finland at the time. Most of the castle has been restored and there are guided tours available.

Åland offers also excellent opportunities for cycling, canoeing, golf, fishing and other sports.

Thursday: Ferry to Turku

Take a ferry to Turku, the former capital of Finland. You can have a nice dinner by the Aurajoki river or enjoy a drink in one of the various boats moored on the river. Make a plan for the next morning as there are a few hours to explore Turku before taking the train at noon to Helsinki.

The Turku Castle is a culturally historical tourism attraction that is over 700 years old. The Castle has a museum, which demonstrates the history of the Turku region from prehistory to present day with its frequent exhibitions, events and furnished style rooms. The Turku Cathedral is the national shrine of Finland. Dedicated to the Virgin Mary and Finland’s first bishop, English St. Henrik, the church was inaugurated in 1300. The Cathedral Museum in the southern gallery takes the visitor back in times to the 14th century Wäinö Aaltonen Museum of Art hosts a collection of the sculptors own works in various media and the city’s own art collection with works of regional artists.

Friday to Sunday: Helsinki, the modern capital

You have time to explore Turku before taking the 1.5 hours train at noon to Helsinki.

Helsinki’s identity has been formed by cultural influences from both the East and West. It is a vibrant city with a laid back attitude. Helsinki has a history of over 450 years, but it is modern and forward looking. There are dozens of museums and art galleries, lively markets, events and concerts, excellent restaurants and good shopping opportunities especially for design and fashion.

For the first time visitor a sightseeing tour is a good way to start. You can get the commentary on 12 languages (including Latin) on a bus tour or, alternatively, take the tram 3T/3B that drives a one hour circular route to different parts of the city. After the tour, it is easiest to walk everywhere as the Helsinki centre is very compact.

The Ateneum Art Museum has an excellent collection of Finnish art from the 1750s to 1960s with a superb section of works from “the Golden Age” of early 1900s.

Helsinki has been chosen as World’s Design Capital in 2012. The Design District around the Dianapuisto park has a cluster of designer shops, antique dealers, clothing and jewellery boutiques and galleries. In the centre of the area, Design Forum Finland, presents the best of the latest Finnish design. Artek shop shows the furniture by the legendary architect Alwar Aalto.

Temppeliaukio church is quarried out of natural bedrock that forms the interior walls with a copper dome as a ceiling. The church, opened in 1969, is a popular place for concerts and an essential place to visit in Helsinki.

Take a ferry to Suomenlinna, one of the world’s largest historical maritime fortresses. Built on six islands in the 1700s, the garrison town attracts steady flow of visitors and also offers a home for over 800 residents. This UNESCO Heritage site has museums and even a submarine to visit.

The Seurasaari open-air museum gives an insight into the Finnish housing and building traditions in the past. The museum’s buildings, dating from 18^th to 20^th century, come from all over Finland, and tell about how both the gentry and peasants lived.

Restaurants in Helsinki bloom in the summer. There are serious gourmet places with Michelin stars, small corner venues, restaurants on islands. There are dozens of cuisines available from traditional Finnish cooking to excellent Russian kitchen and international tastes. Try the Helsinki menu that is served in various establishments with local, pure ingredients.

Prices:

May, September: £1009/adult when sharing a twin/double room
June, August: £1064/adult when sharing a twin/double room
July: £1134/adult when sharing a twin/double room