Other ports! Oslo, Helsinki, Copenhagen

[Brahmama]

Since the "search" function won't work, no way to pull up the old posts. and all that's on now is St. Pete's and Stockholm. (They are great, by the way)

 

But I'd like to know some hints, suggestions and interesting stuff about Oslo, Helsinki and Copenhagen too. Planning to do all of these on our own.

 

Thanks,

Carol

[juliejoe]

These are my notes for the ports you asked about. Keep in mind they are our personal notes for what we plan to do at each port when we cruise in August, but there may be some information you can use. There is lots more and better information you can discover from cruise reviews & posts by people who have been there/done that.

 

 

OSLO

Average temperature in August 61 degrees

Currency: Norwegian Krone – NOK

Language: Norwegian

Time Zone: GMT +2

 

Be on deck early a.m. as the ship enters the 60 mile long Oslo Fjord. Sailing into the fjords was lovely, at times both sides of the ship had beautiful countryside in view. Or -stay on deck for about 3 hours following sail-away. This is a beautiful area. As the ship left Oslo harbor, we were able to see the Holmenkollen Ski Jump on the hills overlooking the city. It holds a special place in the hearts of Norwegians. The 1892 jump was rebuilt for the 1952 Winter Olympics and is still used for international competitions. About an hour south of Oslo (on your starboard side as you depart) is the famed Oscarsborg Fortress, where a couple of 19th century cannon held off the entire German Navy during the invasion of Norway in April 1940, sinking a 10,000 ton heavy cruiser and damaging a pocket battleship in the process.

 

24 hr. Oslo pass – Oslo pass 195 NOK (approx. $28 USD) buy at ship terminal for 20% less that getting it at main Tourist Information center in town (or purchase online) http://www.visitoslo.com/index.php?S=93&Hid=2&Aid=2

Tourist Information Office at the cruise ship terminal is open whenever cruise ships call in the summer.

 

The one unique and inexpensive thing to take back from Oslo is a troll. Trolls are found everywhere in shops in Norway. A nice sized troll costs about $20. Norway is truly linked to the sea, and even its name comes from the 1000 year old Viking word, Norvegr, meaning "the way north". Oslo is one of the oldest Scandinavian capitals, having been founded in the mid-11th century by a Viking king. Oslo has become a popular city for tourism in the last decade, and Norwegians enjoy one of the highest standards of living in the world.

 

Go to Vigeland Park & Sculpture Garden first. Take tram #12. It stops at Frogner Park then it is about a 5 minute walk to the Vigeland Sculpture Garden. From the road directly in front of the park take #20 to #30 line. The drivers will help you if you ask which stop to get off at. Take bus #30 straight to Bygdoy Peninsula to the Folk Museum & the Viking Ship, Tiki & Fram Museums.

 

The sea and ships were very important to the Norse as you see when you visit the three museums, all covered with the Oslo pass. At the Viking Ship Museum (opens 9:00 a.m.) you discover that their ships carried them not only to distant lands but also to the next world, the heavenly Vallhalla. Once sunk and buried in blue clay, the ships were essentially perfectly preserved graves. The Kon Tiki Museum, (opens 9:30 a.m). celebrates the ancient style rafts used by Thor Heyerdahl to sail the Pacific, and at the Fram Museum (opens 9:00 a.m.) you are able to walk through the strongest vessel ever built for Polar exploration. Walk from KonTiki and Fram to Viking- approximately a 20-minute walk through a beautiful suburb. The Outdoor Norwegian Folk Museum is about a 5 – 6 minute walk from the Viking Museum. The Norwegian Folk Museum (opens 9:00 a.m.) is a collection of traditional and 19th century architecture. King Oscar II started the collection in 1898. The collection has grown to 153 buildings.

 

Take the ferry back to town and if there’s time walk to city hall. Tour the castle and resistance museum (located near where the ship docks) before returning to the ship.

Akershus Castle and Fortress (Opens 10:00 Changing of the guards daily at 1:30 p.m.)

The ship may dock at the foot of Akershus Castle. Dating from 1299 Akershus burned and was rebuilt in the 16th century as a "Renaissance" castle by King Christian IV. Beautifully restored, the castle currently functions as a site for ceremonial dinners and other royal events. The castle is captivating but its twentieth century history is sad. During World War II Nazis used it as their headquarters and executed Norwegian resistance fighters in what is currently the park surrounding it and the adjacent Resistance Museum.

 

Kon-tiki museum is located in the suburban area of Oslo, across a bay from the harbour area. The Kon-tiki Museum celebrates Norway's most famous 20th-century explorer, Thor Heyerdahl. He made a voyage in 1947 from Peru to Polynesia on the Kon-Tiki, a balsa raft, to confirm his theory that the first Polynesians originally came from Peru. He sailed the Ra I, a papyrus boat, across the Atlantic Ocean but the boat disintegrated short of his goal of reaching Barbados. The next year in 1970, he sailed the Ra II from Morocco and this time, did reach Barbados. His successful voyage proved his theory that ancient societies could have traveled by the papyrus boats they used to settle in new worlds, primarily in South America. The Kon-tiki raft and The Ra II boat are both on display and it’s quite remarkable to think that people sailed them across vast stretches of ocean – and survived to tell about it.

 

The Fram Museum - The entire original Arctic exploration ship Fram, built 1892, is exhibited with its original interior and inventory. The ship was used for three expeditions by Fridtjof Nansen, Otto Sverdrup and Roald Amundsen. A comprehensive history of arctic exploration is presented around the ship.

 

The Viking Ship Museum - Great Viking-ship discoveries as well as other finds from Viking tombs around the Oslo Fjord. The world's two best-preserved wooden Viking ships built in the 9th century. Small boats, sledges, cart with exceptional ornamentation. Implements, tools, harness, textiles and household utensils.

 

Vigeland Park Formal name is Frogner Park - contains works by sculptor Gustav Vigeland. In 1921 the townspeople of Oslo provided Georg Vigeland with a free house and studio, in exchange for which he began to chip away at his life's work, which he would ultimately donate to the city. Included was the 470-ton monolith that is now the highlight of the park and over 600 other stone statues, all dedicated to the theme of “lifeâ€. The grand fountain shows people holding up the cup of life with water (another reference to life) running over them. The fountain is surrounded by sculptures of the trees (they too represent life) each with a person or people in various stages of life. For instance, there’s a grandmother and her granddaughter under one tree – pondering on their futures. Another shows an old man with his arms around the base of the tree – clinging to life. The monolith depicts men, women and children, young and old, some passive, some active – all in various stages or acts of life. In a circle around the base of the monolith are 11 groups of three statues – again showing people in all stages of life, such as an enraged baby boy stamping his foot and scrunching his face in fury or another - a mother on all fours with her two children on her back and they’re using her braids as reins to play “giddy-upâ€: Truly a remarkable place!

 

Norwegian Resistance Museum. Akershus castle was German H.Q. in the war and saw many resistance fighters executed in the grounds. The small resistance museum there tells the story in pictures and writing. There are Norwegian troops in ceremonial dress on guard with a traditional hat with high feathers.

 

 

HELSINKI

Average temperature in August 59 degrees

Currency: Euro – EUR Will need Euros here equal to about $20 USD

Language: Swedish & Finnish but English widely spoken

Time Zone: GMT +3

 

Grand Princess will be at West Harbor HERNESAARI/BERTH C – should be able to take bus 15 from there. (Helsinki City Transport takes you to the ports of Helsinki: Katajanokka Terminal, Kanava Terminal Tramway route 4 or Bus 13; Makasiini Terminal, Olympia Terminal Tramway routes 3B & 3T; West Terminal bus 15)

 

You can take a shuttle from the port ($4 each way pp) to the city center or take public transportation from the port to the Esplanade. Buy a 1 day transportation pass (Tourist Ticket) for 5.40 Euros (about $6.50) - covers buses and the ferry. Purchase from a bus driver or at Market square (Suomenlinna ferry terminal).

 

A good way to see around Helsinki is to Take Tramway route 3T/3B. These trolleys follow a figure-eight route (in opposite directions) and take about 1 hour to go around the city. Catch the 3T tram for a "tour" of the city. Get off and on as many times as you want within an hour for one low fare. If you stay on the tram, the loop takes about 1 hour. Ask the driver for a map that describes the stops and points of interest (they also appeared on an overhead lighted board as you approach them).

 

Temppeliaukio Church “Church in the Rock†- an elaborate church that was built right into solid rock. Its walls are the rock that the church was carved into and the ceiling is supported by beams attached to the top of the rock walls.

 

Senate Square with its lovely neo-classic architecture is the center of tourism in Helsinki,

 

Tuomiokirkko a huge Lutheran Church, built in 1852, that dominates Helsinki’s downtown skyline and is located in Senate Square.

Uspenski Cathedral built in 1868 is awe-inspiring. It is the largest Russian Orthodox Church outside of Russia and one can clearly see its heritage. From it’s terrace you have a beautiful view of the heart of Helsinki.

The Railway Station is a beautiful building. See Finlandia Concert Hall

 

Market Square an open-air market - you can buy everything from strawberries to reindeer pelts. Most stalls in market wanted Euros. Didn't find any great bargains at stalls. Stockman’s Dept. Store - try the Frazer chocolate. Beautiful walk along Esplanade to Stockman’s from Market Square.

 

Esplanadi Park – (Helsinki’s 2 main shopping streets with a park in the middle) -There are tourist information people all over Esplanade to help you. Fascinating city and people. Majority spoke English.

 

Suomenlinna, a fortified island with several museums that is only 20 minutes away via ferry from Market Square. The island dates back some 200 years and is fascinating. This vast fortress was built to protect the city and is now a major park and recreation area for locals as well as an historical site

Stockman’s Department Store - better bargains may be found here than in Market Square

 

Take one of the harbor tour/cruises that depart from Market Square's waterfront. These 1 ½ hour cruises will explore Helsinki's harbor and waterways disclosing some wonderful shorefront homes and rural areas on the islands that make up Helsinki’s community.

 

Make a stop at the harborside Cafe Kappeli, a 19th-century oasis of coffee, pastry, and relaxation.

 

Take bus #24 from the Swedish Theater to the end of the line which goes to a wonderful wooden bridge you walk across to Seurasaari Open-Air Folk Museum – on it’s own island.

 

 

COPENHAGEN

Average temperature in August 62 degrees

Currency: Danish Krone – DKK Tipping is not expected/required in Copenhagen

Language: Danish, though most folks speak some English.

Time Zone: GMT +2

 

Arrive in Copenhagen, purchase Copenhagen Plus Card at the Service Information desk in Terminal 3 DKK 399 pp $65 USD The train to the city (DKK 22 $3.50 USD) departs from Platform 2, Terminal 3 every 20 min. then take a taxi to our hotel - The Phoenix Copenhagen. Address: Bredgade 37; 1260 Copenhagen, Denmark; Phone: 33-95-95-00. This hotel is near Kongens Nytorv & Nyhavn. Copenhagen Central Station is 2.0km/1.3mi. Copenhagen International Airport is10.0km/6.3mi. Taxi to Phoenix Copenhagen Hotel is DKK 200 $40 USD and takes about 20 – 25 minutes.

 

(How to take the train to and from Copenhagen Airport: The ticket office is located in Terminal 3 above the railway station. There are lifts and travolators between the platforms and Terminal 3. You can take the free shuttle bus which runs between Terminal 1 and Terminal 3, where the station is located.)

 

Check train schedule for round-trip Copenhagen to Hillerod for Frederiksborg Castle

 

Stop at the tourist office, across from the train station, to pick up a city map and Copenhagen This Week (a free monthly listing of sights, museum hours and events, including free English tours.

 

 

Take guided tour at Amalienborg Palace @ 3:00. Free w/Copenhagen Plus Card (Will see changing of the guard on Tues. walking tour). Walk Stroget to Radhuspladsen (Town Square) and Tivoli Gardens. (fireworks midnight on Saturday) Get the entertainment schedule in the office to the left after you enter the main gate of Tovoli.

 

 

Sunday - On our own, take the train (about 1 hour) to Hillerod (about 22 mi. NW of Copenhagen). Plan to leave Copenhagen at about 8:45 a.m. In Hillerod, catch a bus or walk directly to Frederiksborg Castle, DKK60 pp $10 USD – Use Copenhagen Plus Card for discount on entrance fee. The castle was built by King Christian IV. This pearl of history, built in magnificent Renaissance style, is now a national historical museum. It contains paintings, tapestries, porcelain, silver and furniture of great historical value. Be sure to visit the chapel. A department of North Zealand Folk Museum (Hillerød Town Museum) presents a selection of its local history exhibits on the outskirts of the castle gardens. Plan to leave Hillerod at about 12:45.

 

Return to Copenhagen and go to Christiansborg Palace – (will take English guided tour on Tuesday).

1st see the Royal Stable and Coach Museum at the Palace open from 2:00 to 4:00 on Sat. & Sun. 2nd see The Ruins, under Christiansborg Palace open daily 9:30 to 3:30 – BOTH Free with Copenhagen Plus Card. 3rd Across a canal from Christiansborg Palace is the National Museum – Free with Copenhagen Plus Card open daily 10:00 to 5:00 - Worth a look!

 

To taste a real Danish pastry, stop at one of the bakeries found on nearly every corner and ask for a wienerbrød.

 

Monday – Copenhagen guide – Richard’s Walking Tours (no reservations needed)

Web site: http://www.copenhagenwalks.com/default.htm

 

Richard’s Walking Tours: Uptown Copenhagen Tour Meet at Tourist Information Office 10:30 a.m. $10 USD pp 90 minutes. Have lunch @ Cafe at Rosenberg Slot (just off Solvgard street, beside Rosenburg Slot). (This outdoor cafe uses the customary Scandinavian habit of ordering at the counter and then listening for a number to be called to pick up your food. Truly exquisite food! Each meal is prepared to order. Prices reasonable.)

 

Richard’s Walking Tours: Rosenborg Castle and Royal Treasuries Tour Meet outside the ticket office of the castle at 1:30 p.m. $7 USD pp plus castle entrance fee DKK 60 pp $10 USD. Use Copenhagen Plus Card for discount on entrance fee. 90 minutes. Following this tour go to see Copenhagen by boat & take a cruise through the city's harbor and canals. The Netto-Bådene company tours are DKK 25 pp $5 USD – ½ the price of DFDS boat tours. Follow the canal to the Holmens Church which is right across from the old Stock Exchange building, you will find the Netto Badene boat tours.

 

Grand Princess arrives at 1:00 p.m. on Monday and will be in port overnight.

 

 

 

Tuesday – Richard’s Walking Tours: Crosstown Copenhagen Tour - Meet at Tourist Information Office 10:30 a.m. $10 USD pp 90 minutes. Go to Christiansborg Palace - 1:00 or 3:00 English guided tour. OR: Do one of the Frommer’s Walking tours or see: Carlsberg Brewery, The Round Tower, Boat Tour, whatever we have time for - Danish Resistance Museum is excellent!

 

 

Taxi Phoenix Hotel to Pier Orient Kaj Pier Frihaven is < DKK 100 $20 USD takes about 10 min.

 

Embark Grand Princess at quay c254 - the sail-away is at 9:00 p.m.

 

Leaving Copenhagen, heading north, the ship will pass Elsinor and Kronborg Castles.

 

 

<')))><

Grand Princess 8/17/04 Baltic B2B with 8/27/04 Transatlantic & 11/27/04 Western Caribbean

 

 

[Globaliser]

One might point out that there are only 13 pages of this board, and it won't take much time to go to each in turn and "Find" (ctrl+F) the key words "Oslo", "Helsinki" and "Stockholm". 10 seconds' scanning of page 2 revealed at three threads on Oslo on that page alone.

 

____________________________________________________________

 

Jewel of the Seas 1-3 May 2004 - see my review here, and my photos here.

[CruisinChris]

Carol,

 

We're just back from the Grand! Copenhagen was very easy to do get around on your own. Most of the interesting things to see are between the ships and Tivoli, closer to the ships than to Tivoli. I highly recommend getting on one of the hop on hop off water bus tours. They're cheap and a great way to see the city from the water. Let me know if you have specific questions and I'll try to answer. Our time in Helsinki was cut very short so we din't go into town. We chose to rest up from St. Pete.

 

ANyway, hope all is well with you!

 

Chris

 

Cruisin' Chris

 

 

 5/19/04 Grand Princess Baltic Heritage

 

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[Bruin Steve]

My notes from our Baltic cruise:

 

Helsinki: We took the ship's shuttle into town...On the Esplinade, there is a kiosk that sells a bus tour for much less money than the ship excursion (It was around $20 apiece when we were there in 2001)...the tour takes you to all of the major sites: The Lutheran Church, the Rock Church, the Sibellius monument and allows you time at each stop...

 

Oslo: We took an excursion, but, the basics were the Open Air Museum, the Vigelund Scultpure Park and the Ski Jump...I guess you could get a taxi and do these yourself, but they are pretty far flung around the city...Wasn't too impressed with the open air museum, but thought the Sculpture Park was really unusual...The ski jump was mainly for the views...

 

Copenhagen: Did this by ourself--but it was pre-cruise and we had 3-4 days...Don't miss: The canal boat tour (you can purchase on your own) and Rosenborg Palace (we found a guide through Rick Steve's Scandinavia book--the guide's name is Richard, an American living in Copenhagen, and he gives an excellent tour a specific times...if you can be their at his appointed time, he's worth his fee)...I wasn't impressed with Tivoli--it's loud and crowded and not all that enchanting...You must stroll down the Stroget and visit Nyhavn...The Stroget is the main shopping street and it is delightful...Nyhavn is a short canal like street lined with boats and bars...extremely picturesque--my most colorful photos of Copenhagen with all the sails and all...

 

Have fun...

 

Summit, July 3, 2004: Alaska: 13 night cruisetour

Constellation, July 16, 2005: Northern Europe: 14 nights

[Brahmama]

Globalizer,

 

Thank you for pointing that out to me. I must admit I didn't realize you could do a (Control) Find. I had only tried the search function. That will prove very handy to me.

 

Carol

[Brahmama]

Dear Chris,

 

Glad to hear that you had such a great time on the Grand! We would love to cruise with you both again - maybe in May?!!?

 

Why don't you email me at Brahmama@yahoo.com and I'll ask you some more questions.

 

Tell your mom hi from us both,

 

Carol

[Brahmama]

Bruin and Julie Joe,

 

Thank you so much for taking the TIME to share your experiences. This is some wonderful and pertinent information. I really appreciate it and have copied it all to my Scandinavian file.

 

I hope the next time you guys cruise, you find someone to do the same for you.

 

Carol

[adgtravel]

Juliejoe, thank you for all your info! What other boards have you found out this info? We leave in a few weeks on Grand, and I am still looking for more info. Do you have notes on Tallin, Berlin, and Gdansk? I really appreciate any help you can give! Thanks

[juliejoe]

adgtravel,

 

From what I have read, Tallin will be very easy to do on our own. We plan to just walk around the old town. We go to Oslo instead of Germany. For Gdansk, that is the only port that we will take a ship's excursion. We'll to do the Malbork Castle & Gdansk City Tour.

 

Most of the information I've found for the ports has come from cruise reviews and posts here on the Baltics Board. I've been reading all I could find for the last year, and I still check regularly for new information.

 

Julie

 

 

<')))><

Grand Princess 8/17/04 Baltic B2B with 8/27/04 Transatlantic & 11/27/04 Western Caribbean

 

 

[jebjab]

Tallin is very easy to do on your own. You can walk to the Old Town from the ship or take the free Princess shuttle that drops you off a few block from Old Town, and takes you back to the ship from the same place.

 

Very quaint and picturesque with lots of lovely sidewalk cafes to rest and have something to eat or drink.

 

Judy

 

Carnival-Holiday- 1985

Carnival - Celebration - 1986

Star Princes - 1992

Carnival Victory - 1998

Carnival Triumph - 1999

Grandeur of the Seas - 05/2001

Explorer of the Seas - 11/2001

Grand Princess - 10/2002,

Carnival Spirit - 12/2003

GRAND PRINCESS-BALTIC - 05/19/2004

[summer2004]

Hello,

 

Can anyone who recently came back from the Baltics on the Grand clarify some conflicting info for me?

 

I am wondering if Princess provides a shuttle from the ship to town in any of the ports, but specifically Helsinki and Tallinn (I don't mean the "on your own" excursions)?

 

Is it free? If there is a shuttle and it is not free do you have to sign up ahead of time to take it? What is the cost? And when and how do you pay for it (each way, when you get on the shuttle in US $ or charge it to your room?)?

 

Any and all info on this topic is greatly appreciated! Thank you.

[jebjab]

Princess provided a shuttle for Tallin and Warnemunde, Germany. One was free (I think Tallin) and the other was a couple of dollars. There is a person collecting on the bus and they accept U.S. dollars.

 

Hope this helps.

 

Judy

 

Carnival-Holiday- 1985

Carnival - Celebration - 1986

Star Princes - 1992

Carnival Victory - 1998

Carnival Triumph - 1999

Grandeur of the Seas - 05/2001

Explorer of the Seas - 11/2001

Grand Princess - 10/2002,

Carnival Spirit - 12/2003

GRAND PRINCESS-BALTIC - 05/19/2004

[FeegleGirl]

I've just come back from the Baltic cruise of May 29th and there were no free shuttles anywhere. You did have to pay for them in dollars or euros (they accepted both at Helsinki - $8 or 8 euros return, so pay in dollars) but you didn't have to prebook. They were running every 10 to 15 minutes, so you just went whenever you were ready and handed the money to the driver or someone taking payment next to it.

 

I can't remember the price of the shuttle in Tallinn, but I still have the Princess patter with all the info, so I can look for it if you need it. Still, I would recommend walking from the pier to Tallinn because it is really close, but you are better off taking the shuttle in Helsinki.

[summer2004]

Jebjab and Feeglegirl,

 

Thanks for the info. It's nice to know they are at least offering a shuttle. I guess I'll just be prepared to pay and maybe we'll get lucky and it will be free.

 

Feeglegirl- You recommended just walking from the pier to Tallinn and I was wondering if the walk was up hill? Thanks again!

[FeegleGirl]

The walk fromt the ship to Tallinn is flat most of the way. It only gets slightly uphill once you get to the wall surrounding old Tallinn and the shuttle stops outside the wall anyway.

 

The upper town could be a bit of a struggle if you have walking difficulties, but it can only be seen on foot. Even if you take an organised tour the coaches will have to park outside that area.

 

Voyager of the Seas Nov-03

Grand Princess 29-May-04

[Brahmama]

adgtravel,

 

From what I have read, Tallin will be very easy to do on our own. We plan to just walk around the old town. We go to Oslo instead of Germany. For Gdansk, that is the only port that we will take a ship's excursion. We'll to do the Malbork Castle & Gdansk City Tour.

 

Most of the information I've found for the ports has come from cruise reviews and posts here on the Baltics Board. I've been reading all I could find for the last year, and I still check regularly for new information.

 

Julie

 

 

<')))><

Grand Princess 8/17/04 Baltic B2B with 8/27/04 Transatlantic & 11/27/04 Western Caribbean

 

I really enjoyed this but then I realized that I had missed your Stockholm and would love to have that too.

We're doing about the same as you - a week later and different trip. 8/26/04 Baltic on Constellation and that 9/6/04 the Transatlantic!

 

Hope you're on the same cruise as me sometime, so I can tell you in person how helpful your information has been to me!

[juliejoe]

Here's my notes for Stockholm. - I hope they are of some use to you. We were originally going to take the train, but chickened out and decided to take the shore excursion "Stockholm on your own" and pay the whopping $69 per person just to go round trip between Nynashamn and Stockholm. I spent lots of time fretting over that decision! When we had a $600 pp price drop for our transatlantic cruise, we decided to just pay the $69 and quit worrying about it.

 

Thank you for your kind words. So many people have helped me in my cruise planning, I am always glad when I have something to share that may be useful to someone else.

 

Enjoy your cruise!

Julie

 

Average temperature in August 59 degrees

Currency: Swedish Kronor - SEK Language: Swedish, many people speak English

Time Zone: GMT +2

 

Nynashamn to Stockholm approximately 1 hour

 

Stockholm is easy to get around on public transportation. There are buses and underground traffic. Most people in Stockholm speak English so don’t hesitate to ask for help to find the right place to catch the bus or where to get off. This is a link for information on the public transport company in Stockholm: http://www.sl.se/english/

 

To pay for the rides you can either pay on board (more expensive) or buy a prepaid coupon block. Travel within the inner city, valid for one hour, is two coupons which on board costs SEK 30 ($4.25) (as long as you stay within the hour you can change from one means of transport to another as many times as you want). A coupon block with 10 coupons costs SEK 80 ($10.75). A block with 20 coupons costs SEK 145 ($19.50). These blocks can be used by more than one person. So if you are two persons and count on travelling five times at different times during the day a 20 coupon block will cover your travel (2 people x 2 coupons x 5 times = 20) By buying a block you will save SEK 155. Coupon blocks can be bought at the underground station entrances and at many service shops that sell things like magazines and newspapers, fruit and candy etc.

 

Bus # 47 is the bus to take to the Vasa Museum and the Nordic Museum. Also one or two bus stops further on is the Skansen outdoor museum.

 

The Nordic Museum is across the street from the Vasa in a large brick building. This is an excellent museum, different from others with a Christmas exhibit, shoes, china, clothing. Walk 6-7 minutes to Skansen Outdoor museum. This is excellent, but quite large. From Skansen, take bus 47 (bus stop right in front of Skansen) to the City Hall at the city center.

 

Or take the ferry to the Gamla Stan (Old City). From the ferry terminal at Gamla Stan walk about 6 minutes to the Royal Palace if in time for changing of the guard around noon - it is worth seeing!

 

The ferry (about a 5-10 minute ride) to the Djurgården Island is very easy to see (big signs with pictures of a ferryboat) on the water right at the edge of the Gamla Stan. This island is where the Vasa Museum is located as well as Skansen. It is easy to visit those in a few hours since the ferries run every 15 minutes or so and then walk Gamla Stan--it's far superior to the old towns in many other cities in Scandinavia--even in a short period of time.

 

The Vasa Museum opens 9:30 am - admission price is SEK 70 (approximately $9.50). Guided tours in English every hour starting at 10:30 am. The museum houses the 17th century royal warship Vasa, which sank in 1628 and was salvaged in 1961, after 333 years on the ocean floor.

 

The Royal Palace is open daily 10:00am - 4:00pm, May to August. See changing of the guard at noon – highlight of the Palace. The Stockholm cathedral and Riddarholm church are in this area.

 

City Hall offers daily guided tours at 10:00am, 11:00am, 12:00pm and 2:00pm. See the Gold Room with its mosaics and The Blue Room, where the Nobel banquet is held each year.

 

Skansen is open daily 10:00am - 10:00pm with exhibition halls open from 11:00am - 5:00pm. the world's largest and oldest open-air folk museum.

 

Gamla Stan (The Old Town) Most souvenir shops in Old Town are open Monday to Friday 10:00am - 6:00pm. The oldest parts of Stockholm. Narrow alleys and very special atmosphere.

 

To joyride Stockholm's canals, hop on a sightseeing cruise—"Historical Stockholm" is best.

 

The people-watching center is Kungstradgarden, King's Garden Square. Watch the life-sized game of chess and enjoy the free concerts at the bandstand. Bordered by the tourist office, department stores, harborfront, and tour boats, this is the place to feel Stockholm's pulse (with discretion).

[go4itsly]

Monday – Copenhagen guide – Richard’s Walking Tours (no reservations needed)

Web site: http://www.copenhagenwalks.com/default.htm

 

Richard’s Walking Tours: Uptown Copenhagen Tour Meet at Tourist Information Office 10:30 a.m. $10 USD pp 90 minutes. Have lunch @ Cafe at Rosenberg Slot (just off Solvgard street, beside Rosenburg Slot). (This outdoor cafe uses the customary Scandinavian habit of ordering at the counter and then listening for a number to be called to pick up your food. Truly exquisite food! Each meal is prepared to order. Prices reasonable.)

 

Richard’s Walking Tours: Rosenborg Castle and Royal Treasuries Tour Meet outside the ticket office of the castle at 1:30 p.m. $7 USD pp plus castle entrance fee DKK 60 pp $10 USD. Use Copenhagen Plus Card for discount on entrance fee. 90 minutes. Following this tour go to see Copenhagen by boat & take a cruise through the city's harbor and canals. The Netto-Bådene company tours are DKK 25 pp $5 USD – ½ the price of DFDS boat tours. Follow the canal to the Holmens Church which is right across from the old Stock Exchange building, you will find the Netto Badene boat tours.

 

Tuesday – Richard’s Walking Tours: Crosstown Copenhagen Tour - Meet at Tourist Information Office 10:30 a.m. $10 USD pp 90 minutes. Go to Christiansborg Palace - 1:00 or 3:00 English guided tour.

 

juliejoe:

I was checking out previous postings on the Baltic cruise and came across your posting last year. I assumed you've already completed your cruise and would like to seek advice from you regarding Richard's Walking Tours. I'll be take the Princess cruise in May 25 and already planned a 3-day pre-cruise stay in CPH. The 3 walking tours you mentioned here are the same ones that I would be interested in. I'm just wondering if you did take all these tours and what your recommendation is for each of the tours. Thank you in advance for your help.

 

BTW, all your postings are very informative, just like many of the postings by other members. I really learn a lot from everybody in preparing for my trip and I'm grateful to all of you.

[M&T]

Go4itsly: I thought I'd bump this up to see if you can get a reply. I read where someone took Richard's tour of Rosenburg Castle and found it informative and fun. Good luck getting an answer. Juliejoe did have great notes as well as some others from last year. I think I got some response from last year's cruisers on the Princess board or maybe Europe. Marlyne