Finland

Happy autumn!  I’m back from my summer adventure to Finland, Estonia, and Russia, and it’s not an exaggeration to say it was one of the best trips of my life.  And also that St. Petersburg may well be my new favorite city in the world…but that’s a subject for another blog post!

Our trek through Scandinavia and Russia, while all too brief, really was magical.  There were so many incredible experiences that, a few weeks later, it’s hard to look back and sort out and remember all of them.  We were on the go a lot and saw quite a bit in just nine days, though I wish we’d had more time and definitely plan to return to Helsinki and St. Petersburg in the future.

In the meantime, I wanted to share a few highlights of the trip—the things that stand out most to me when I look back on my visit.

My Favorite Experiences in Finland, Estonia, and St. Petersburg

• Finnish saunas. While I was eager to try the famous saunas in Finland mostly as a cultural experience, I wasn’t sure how much I’d really love them (that whole hot-cold-hot thing sounded a bit dicey).  But actually, Finnish saunas turned out to be a highlight of the trip!  Sitting and relaxing in a steaming, hot but not too hot steam room, soaking up the dry heat perfumed with various herbs, and then dousing yourself in a freezing cold shower is a pretty great way to get over jet lag and absorb Scandinavian culture right off the bat.  And I loved the pools (indoor and outdoor, all different temperatures) that accompanied the sauna experience just as much.
• Helsinki. It may seem strange to put an entire city on this list of highlights.  But the truth is, I really liked Helsinki and was quite bummed we didn’t have more time to spend here.  Our trip only allowed for two half-days in the Finnish capital between our road trip through the gorgeous countryside and our ferry ride over to Tallin.  In that brief time, I became enchanted by Helsinki and its stylish vibe: beautiful shops, cafes, and restaurants that I only got a glimpse of, but really want to come back and explore more of in the future.  Helsinki feels like a chilled-out city made for relaxation and lingering, and that’s often my favorite kind.

• Tallin’s Old Town. Having lived in Prague for a year, I’m kind of a connoisseur of European old towns.  I’d heard high praise for Tallin’s, and it didn’t disappoint—rows of pastel houses, winding side streets (far too) easy to get lost in, a beautiful central square with a market and ringed by great restaurants and cafes.
• Dinner at Rataskaevu 16 in Tallin. While the Old Town was great, my very favorite memory of Tallin is definitely dinner at this delightful restaurant.  We’d heard it was the best in Tallin, and after our meal I would definitely not argue.  The cheese board, fillet, and warm molten chocolate cake with ice cream were all outstanding (and very reasonably priced!), and I would go back in a heartbeat to experience it all again.  In fact, I’ve been telling friends that this restaurant alone is enough reason to visit Tallin!

Inside the Hermitage.

• The Hermitage. I really have no words to describe this place.  For years, I dreamed of seeing Russia’s foremost museum, packed with art and wrapped in a coating of pastel green, sitting on a river…it’s a combination that I knew would be magical.  But I can’t quite do justice to the building, the architecture, and the art we found tucked inside all the beautifully decorated rooms.  I’m actually glad it’s too big to see all of in a single visit, because this is one place I visited that I absolutely know I’ll come back to experience again.  It was simply magical.

Have you been to Finland, Estonia, or St. Petersburg?  What were your favorite experiences?