Routes · Europe

Madrid to the Baltic: Stockholm, Helsinki and Tallinn

Madrid → Stockholm → Helsinki → Tallinn

Baltic capitals Best season (general guide): May–Sep

Three northern capitals sit around the Baltic Sea, and you can travel between them entirely by ferry. This route starts in Stockholm, crosses overnight to Helsinki and finishes with a short sailing to Tallinn. From Madrid there are direct flights to Stockholm and home from Tallinn. The itinerary spends three nights in Stockholm, two nights in Helsinki and two nights in Tallinn.

How to pace it: Spend days one to three in Stockholm: day one, Gamla Stan; day two, Vasa Museum and Djurgården; day three, archipelago boat, then overnight ferry. Then spend days four and five in Helsinki: day four, arrive by ferry, then market square; day five, Suomenlinna. Then spend days six and seven in Tallinn: day six, ferry to Tallinn, then old town; day seven, Kadriorg or Telliskivi.

Stockholm is built on islands, and its old town, Gamla Stan, is full of narrow lanes and colourful facades. The Vasa Museum, which houses a 17th-century warship raised from the harbour, is one of Europe's most remarkable museums. Day trips into the archipelago are easy in summer. The overnight ferry to Helsinki weaves through the islands at dusk and arrives in the morning. Helsinki is known for its design, saunas and markets, and the Suomenlinna fortress is a short ferry ride from the harbour. The final hop to Tallinn takes a couple of hours. Its medieval old town, with towers, merchant houses and the town hall square, is one of the best preserved in northern Europe.

From late spring to early autumn, roughly May to September, days are long, ferry services are at their busiest and outdoor cafés are open. June and July bring the longest light, while late August and September are quieter.

Book ferry cabins for the overnight crossing in advance in summer. All three countries are in the Schengen area, but bring your passport or ID card for the ferries.

Each city has its own sauna culture, and trying it is part of the trip. Helsinki has public saunas by the sea, such as Löyly, and Stockholm has bathing spots on the city's islands in summer. In Tallinn, the Kalamaja and Telliskivi districts, a short walk from the old town, have markets, cafés and a creative atmosphere.

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