Train to Lapland
I had compulsory days off over the holidays. I thought about traveling outside of Europe, but flights were too expensive. I settled for a train ride to Finland. The plan was to use a train to get from Slovenia to Lapland, and on my way, stop to visit some friends.
It wouldn’t make sense if I didn’t have FIP tickets. I had to pay only for Swedish trains, and that was 250€, expensive, and the flight back (Venice, 100€). Lapland offers some interesting activities in the wintertime.
Table of Contents
Daily review
- Ljubljana to Berlin
- Berlin to Copenhagen
- Copenhagen to Stockholm
- Stockholm
- Lulea
- Lulea to Kemi
- Kemi to Rovaniemi
- Helsinki to Tallinn
- Tallin to Ljubljana
Transport
Trains were mainly free with FIP coupons. I paid 25€ to Salzburg, in Sweden I paid 280€ for 4 trains, a reservation in Finland was 18€, 3x Uber/taxi was 29€, car/van 40€, ferry 25€ to Tallin and 18€ to Venice, bus/metro 50€, flight to Venice was 100€, together 570€. Again around 100 km on foot.
Accommodation
The first night in Berlin was on Žan’s couch, not too nice for my back. In Annex Copenhagen, I took a single room close to the train station with a toilet and shared bathroom, self check-in, small but good enough, 46€ over Trip.com. In Stockholm, I took a twin room at Thon Partner Hotel close to the station, with a bathroom, without windows, a good breakfast was included, 68€ over Booking. The next night was on the train, couchette was 160€, but I was alone in the compartment, got linen and water, 12h.
In Lulea windowless room at Citysleep with space for 3, without windows, shared bathroom, Agoda, some problems, 64€. In Villa Kemi, nice room with shared bathroom, sauna, nice common place, Agoda again problems, 52€ The next night was again on a night train, but this time on a seat, reservation 18€, crowded, no sleep. Last night in Tallinn, I took a room at the Hilton 5-star hotel, 7th floor, good bed, some amenities were not included, sauna, pool, water, 95€, deposit via Trip.com.
So, 8 nights, 1 on a friend’s couch, 2 on the train, 5 in accommodation from 2 to 5 stars for 325€.
Food and drinks
From home, I took 3 homemade sandwiches with chicken breaded steak, 3 cans of tuna, some salami, and water. In Copenhagen, Derviš made me dinner, including chicken soup with dumplings, burek, sirnica, baklava, hurmaišice, lemonade, and kefir. In Stockholm, I had meatballs with mashed potatoes (35€ with beer), a cinnamon roll and cookies as a gift, McDonald’s (12€), and free breakfast in the hostel.
On the train, I had a shrimp sandwich, 15€. In Lulea, I had a Bastard hamburger, 23€. Later, I had bananas, chips, bread, and dried deer from the shop, 15€. The next morning, I had an apple, tuna, and bread for breakfast.In Kemi, I bought a kebab and warmed it in the microwave, 8€. On the aurora tour, we had some warm juice and sausage. The next morning, I had a banana, tuna, and bread for breakfast. On the reindeer tour, we had warm juice and cookies. On the ice fishing tour, we had tea and sausage. On the night train, I got meatballs with mashed potatoes, 23€ with beer, and some crackers.
In Helsinki, I started with McDonald’s, 14€. Later, I had salmon soup, 11€. I finished with a Michelin-star dinner. 365€. The next morning, I had tuna and bread for breakfast. I drank mostly water; tap water was ok everywhere. In the shop I bought few times juice and Coke. For beer, I would pay from 5 to 12€. Bought some vodka, 16€.
All summed to 700€, half of it was a Michelin-star dinner.
Sights
I visited Berlin before. This time I arrived late at Žan. Similarly, I was in Copenhagen before. So, besides visiting friends, I went to Tivoli amusement park and walked Strøget road. In Stockholm, I visited the old town twice, saw the sunset from the hill, and passed the town hall.
In Lapland, you have some typical activities: sled with a husky (missed in Lulea, 169€), sled with reindeer (Rovaniemi, 90€), ice fishing (Rovaniemi, 100€), aurora hunting (Kemi, 100€), ice castle (Kemi, 30€). Other activities would be visiting Santa village, crossing the Arctic Circle, walking on the ice road, NYE fireworks, UNESCO church village, …
Helsinki has a stone circular church, many Art Nouveau buildings, like the main train station. Tallinn has a nice old town on the hill. Venice and its canals are famous.
Budget
Transport was 570€, accommodation 325€, food and drinks 700€, sights 400€, with souvenirs and misc, it sums to 2000€.
Weather and packing
When I started in Ljubljana, it was around 0. Berlin and Copenhagen had around -5. Stockholm had similar but strong winds. On arrival in the morning in Lulea, it was -27. Temperatures in Laplend were between -15 and -30. Helsinki came to -10 and Tallinn to -5 with snow. Venice was +5 and Ljubljana on return again around 0.
I packed again minimally, just hand luggage. 6 sets of underwear, t-shirt and socks, toiletries, long underwear, charger. I was wearing a warm down jacket, a warm pullover, good shoes, and jeans. The upper body was always warm, but with legs and feet, I had a few problems. Since it’s all EU, I didn’t need a visa (an ID or passport is enough), the same sockets as at home, and I don’t even need special mobile roaming packages.
