Vienna-Iceland-Helsinki-Äkäslompolo-Helsinki-Tallinn-Riga-Prague-Budapest -Vienna
Vienna 9, 10/12 and 30, 31/12
Go flexible with below interesting places:
State Opera/Belvedere Hill/monumental Ring/Maria Theresia/Hofburg/ Rathausplatz /Palais Kinsky/erstl Passage/Michaeler Platz /Kohlmarkt /St. Stephen’s/Hundertwasserhaus/Ferris Wheel.
State Opera/Belvedere Hill/monumental Ring/Maria Theresia/Hofburg/ Rathausplatz /Palais Kinsky/erstl Passage/Michaeler Platz /Kohlmarkt /St. Stephen’s/Hundertwasserhaus/Ferris Wheel.
Schoenbrunn
Iceland * ice cave tour cancelled due to snowstorm, planned iti below has been adjusted accordingly
Sunrise/Sunset: 11.10/15.30 *4WD not necessary for this iti. Weather/road conditions https://safetravel.is/ http://www.road.is/
10/12 Airport - Vik - Fosshotel Nupar *4h drive *Visited Yellowstone recently, hence skipping Geysir thermal area
11/12 Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon/Diamond Beach + ice cave tour - Svartifoss (the black falls)*parking fee - Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon - optional: Eldhraun lava field *do not step on moss - Farmhouse Lodge *4h drive
12/12 Black sand beaches (Dyrhólaey *spot puffins and Reynisfjara Beach* keep far from the waters edge here) - Skogafoss *walk the stairs on the right side of the waterfall to the top! - Seljalandsfoss *with a parking fee + Gljúfrabúi *walk through a gorge until you get to a cave - Northern Comfort Apartments *3h drive
Popular Northern Light spots: Reykjavik Grótta/*Seltjarnarnes/Perlan/Öskjuhlíð/Reynisvatn and South Coast Skógar/Vik+black beach /Jökulsárlón
Reykjavik - Hallgrimskirkja *view from tower top/Laugavegur and Skólavörðustígur shopping streets/Harpa concert hall/Sun Voyager/Reykjavik Lake/Icelandic Parliament building.
- Local cuisine focuses on seafood (caught fresh daily from the mountain streams or cold Atlantic waters) and lamb.
- Try lamb soup Kjötsúpa about $14.50 USD, lax (salmon) and salted cod.
- Bæjarins Beztu is the most famous hot dog (+/-$3 USD at Tryggvatagata 1 in downtown Reykjavik. Most gas stations have them.
- Skyr, dairy product similar to greek yogurt, low fat, high protein/calcium. Can be seen anywhere, +/- 2USD for a small container.
- Kaffivagninn *recommended to us by a local, about $19 USD per meal, but the portions are big enough to be shared. The meal comes with three fried fillets, three dipping sauces, a pile of fries, soup, side salad, a roll and unlimited hot coffee
Mid-Range: Ostabudin/Forrettabarinn/Resto Reykjavik *Outside Reykjavik, many inexpensive great places to eat
Bonus * cheapest *10-11 expensive!
*try fresh/frozen fish/lobster*langoustine
Äkäslompolo (Ylläs) 14-21/12 Yllas Holiday Club 1
https://www.holidayclubresorts.com/en/store/yllas/one-bedroom-holiday-residence4/ Tel: (+358) 400 190217 (Mon-Fri 10-18, Sat 10-15). email: yllasavain@yllas.fi Check In Time: 18:00 Check Out Time: 10:00 Holiday Club Yllas 2 *key and map in green mailbox at Ylläs Avain Oy, Tunturintie 16 A 1, Äkäslompolo. Pick up spare key during office hours.
On-site: Cross Country Skiing
Sleeps 6 Full Kitchen/Fireplace/Sauna/Vacuum/DVD Player/LCD Television/Loft/square footage: 565/Bi-level Units/Coffee Maker/Kettle/Toaster/Refrigerator with freezer/Microwave/Conventional Oven/Stove Top 4 burners/Dishwasher/Multiple Double, Double pull out sofa., including hand soap/ body wash/laundry powder/dishwashing liquid/dishwasher tablets
Activities
Activities
Yllastunturi Visitor Centre Kellokas + cafe *nice food *small museum on local history and a gallery/small library/PC-service/book shop/info desk/mini movie theater. Good walks and cross-country ski trails right outside. Very nice views of the fells at the rear of the building. Free Wi-Fi at lounge *check weather, trails,+ huts, NP's info https://www.nationalparks.fi/yllastunturivisitorcentre
Snow shoes Trails are marked with posts and easy to follow. Follow a trail to one of the huts/Laavu shelters to roast sausages. Just a short distance from the centre the surroundings are just like Narnia! Take your sausages and drinks and head out to one of the many beautiful routes!
Aurora hunting - *do not need tour guide! Lapland falls between KP1-3 there is always high probability of seeing Northern Lights Aurora App is helpful. If conditions are right, you will be able to see them anywhere fairly dark, ie just walk a short distance away from the village lights. Eg onto the local lake. commonly appear between 9pm-1pm.
Rovaniemi day trip
18/12 11am Duration 4h 3km reindeer ride + ice fishing + snowshoes + lunch REI-T12260867 invoice: REI-7104236 120€x2 https://reindeerandfishing.fi/ Wolverine Fell Wilderness and Nature Ltd *Kätkäjärventie 407, Sirkka Petra: +358 468 101 400 tel. +358 46 810 1400 e-mail. kael@levi.fi
Cross country skiing - there are prepared tracks suitable for beginners. Skiset 30eu/day https://www.akaslompolosportshop.fi/vuokraamohinnasto/ or https://www.sportcorneryllas.fi/fat-bikes
Lainio Snow Village/hotel 17.50eu https://www.levi.fi/en/enjoy-levi/services/snowvillage.html
optional: 2km husky ride and kennel visit *without transportation 30 €/adult https://www.facebook.com/pg/GiewontAdventures/about/?ref=page_internal kittila.husky@gmail.com
optional: 2km husky ride and kennel visit *without transportation 30 €/adult https://www.facebook.com/pg/GiewontAdventures/about/?ref=page_internal kittila.husky@gmail.com
Notes:
- All trails, huts and shelters are totally free to use. With huts and shelters even fire wood is often provided for free, although you need to bring your own tools. Do leave the place tidy and clean.
- The street lamps of the villages are shut down at 10 pm so that people can better admire the northern lights.
- Visit Levi for food and nightlife Levi map https://www.levi.fi/en/levi-info/maps-cameras-and-weather/maps.html
- Yllas map https://www.ylla
- Pallas-Yllästunturin national park *this national park has the world’s cleanest air!s.fi/en/area-info/maps.html
Supermarket: Äkäslompolo, Jounin Kauppa http://www.jouninkauppa.com/ Weekdays 8/21, Sundays 10/21.
Food:
- Fresh and smoked salmon (gravlax) is probably one of the best in Scandinavia.
- Smoked herring and pickled herring are commonly served as appetizers, sometimes accompanied by small potatoescalleduusiperuna
- reindeer sausages, kebabs, hamburgers, stews, jerky, steaks and every imaginable meat dish
- Hernekeitto, split pea soup/Ruisleipa, Rye bread
- Karjalanpiirakka , dish made from a thin rye crust with a filling of rice
- cloudberries are little orange tart berries packed with vitamin
- Mustamakkara, black sausage or blood sausage
- hunting season, elk, bear, birds/fresh fish/pulla/Korvapuusti, cinnamon rolls
- Ate king crab at King Crab House, Levi yummo!
Helsinki 13, 14/12 and 21/12
Kauppatori Market Square / Senate Square + Tuomiokirkko (Helsinki Cathedral) /Stockmann/Esplanade Park Food: cafe Esplanade - korvapuusti cinnamon bun or at Karl Fazer cafe, Kluuvikatu- cakes or the famous "blue" milk chocolate. Old Market Hall - cold smoked reindeer or salmon soup*yum!
others: Kamppi Chapel of Silence/Temppeliaukio Church/Hakaniemi MarketHall/Sibelius Monument for a coffee and pulla (cinnamon bun) at Cafe Regatta/2-3h walk around Suomenlinna, a UNESCO-heritage fortress island - take ferries from Market Square
Food: Best place to eat crayfish is at the Old Market Hall near the Helsinki harbor.
Kauppatori Market Square / Senate Square + Tuomiokirkko (Helsinki Cathedral) /Stockmann/Esplanade Park Food: cafe Esplanade - korvapuusti cinnamon bun or at Karl Fazer cafe, Kluuvikatu- cakes or the famous "blue" milk chocolate. Old Market Hall - cold smoked reindeer or salmon soup*yum!
others: Kamppi Chapel of Silence/Temppeliaukio Church/Hakaniemi MarketHall/Sibelius Monument for a coffee and pulla (cinnamon bun) at Cafe Regatta/2-3h walk around Suomenlinna, a UNESCO-heritage fortress island - take ferries from Market Square
Food: Best place to eat crayfish is at the Old Market Hall near the Helsinki harbor.
a day ticket €8 zoneAB for all trams, buses, local trains, the metro (subway) and the public ferry HSL to Suomenlinna * limitless journeys or opt for back and forth tram tickets. A tram ticket allows you one tram ride without a change https://www.hsl.fi/en/tickets https://reittiopas.hsl.fi/index.php?locale=en
Supermarket: Helsinki, Lidl*cheapest/S-market/K-market
Tallinn 21, 22/12
21/12 20:30/23:00 21eu Viking Line https://www.sales.vikingline.com/
17:15 Helsinki VantaaTerminal 2, buy ferry ticket upon arrival. From airport, take the direct train to the central station and change to the tram (same ticket the whole way) *55m
Helsinki South Harbour Katajanokka terminal (Viking) tram 4 or 5 *walkable from Kauppatori - terminal D Tallink ferries
Interesting places:
Walls of Tallinn inc Viru Gate, Fat Margaret Tower, Hellemann Tower*UNESCO heritage-listed Town Hall Square including Tallinn Town Hall, Town Hall Pharmacy
Freedom Square inc War of Independence Victory Column climb to the top of Upper Town via Toompea Hill (taking the scenic PikkJalg path up or slipping through a gap in the town walls past the curiously named Kiek in de Kök Tower. Iconic view ofAlexanderNevsky Cathedral and Toompea Castle) St. Catherine’s Passage
others: Kohtuotsa and Patkuli Viewpoints/Ye Olde Pubs/The Nunna, Sauna, and Kuldjala Towers/Kadriorg Art Museum/Kalamaja
Food: MUST *Kompressor, giant pan cakes €5-6 10:00 – 23:00? try, bacon with Gouda and the garlic and salmon with smoked cheese / III Draakon, try elk meat soup €2 and pirukad stuffed with a variety of vegetables or meat for €1-2 *free homemade pickles *bunk bed rental €1 per hour / sreet food at Balti Jaama Turg and Telliskivi Creative City /*plenty of good foodnearAngleterre Apartments /Local food store Rimi, Prisma, Selver
Connection: to Tallinn Coach Station, take a bus no. 17 or 23 or a tram no. 2 or 4.
Riga 22, 23/12
Old Town *UNESCO World Heritage Site. inc House of Blackheads+Town Hall/Riga Church/remains of Riga’s defensive structures/ St. Peter’s Church/Three Brothers/Powder Tower + Latvian War Museum/Bastejkalna Park
Central Market, sample local delicacies, like salted herring or smoked chicken. Stock fruits and souvenir
optional: Riga Castle/Swedish Gate/Freedom Monument
Notes:
- Riga’s most famous drink, Black Balsam.
- Free walking tour that explore the Old Town’s main sites leave from St. Peter’s Church daily at 11am.
to Riga airport
- taxi 15€ 15-20m Green AirBaltic and red Riga Cab taxi are recommended.
- Mini-Bus route 222 Central Bus Station 1€ 33m
- Bus No 22 from Old Town or Stockmann/Forum cinema 1,15€ (2€ bought inbus). 30m ticket from kiosk/machines near bus stops mini-bus Nr 322 Stockmann or Nr 241 at Esplanade
Prague 23, 24, 25, 26/12
Connection from Václav Havel Airport Prague to town
- Uber (€22+)
- Airport Shuttle Transfer (€9.95), from the airport directly to your hotel or apartment
- The bus station is right in front of Terminal 2 (Exit D). A ticket valid for 90 minutes costs €1.25 (32 CZK) and you can use it for the bus, tram or subway. Just take the bus 119 to Nadrazi Veleslavin where you must transfer to subway line A (green) and you can continue to downtown (Mustek) or any other station. The bus goes every 6 minutes and operates from 4:23 AM to 23:42 PM (last bus) on all days including the weekend.
Day 1
Old Town Square - Týn Church/astronomical clock *optional: Old Town Hall (This spire has a lift) or Powder Tower, the most famous tower in Prague.
Prague’s Jewish Quarter (Josefov) UNESCO World Heritage Site - Jewish Museum+Prague’s Old Jewish Cemetery/The Old-New Synagogue
Prague’s beer museums- either learn about it at the actual museum on Husova street, or you can simply sit and drink it at the Prague Beer museum pub on Smetanovo
National Museum (Národní muzeum)/Wenceslas Square (Václavské náměstí) *for the street food
Day 2
Prague Castle*UNESCO World Heritage Site/Malá Strana(Lesser Town)/John Lennon wall
lunch: Lokál U Bílé kuželky in Malá Strana
Petrin Hill Lookout*optional (the Prague version of the Eiffel Tower)/Charles Bridge
Letná BeerGarden *great views over the river and city below
late-night stroll along the Vltava River *views of Prague Castle
National Museum (Národní muzeum)/Wenceslas Square (Václavské náměstí) *for the street food
Day 2
Prague Castle*UNESCO World Heritage Site/Malá Strana(Lesser Town)/John Lennon wall
lunch: Lokál U Bílé kuželky in Malá Strana
Petrin Hill Lookout*optional (the Prague version of the Eiffel Tower)/Charles Bridge
Letná BeerGarden *great views over the river and city below
late-night stroll along the Vltava River *views of Prague Castle
Food:
- Lokal,serves traditional homemade Czech meals with great beer. *near hotel
- Sisters Bistro, popular for delicious chlebíčky, Czech open-faced sandwich. *near hotel
- Malostranská beseda, recommended for delicious Pork Knuckle marinated in dark Czech beer.Naše Maso, delicious meat dishes such as beef tartar.
- U Pinkasu, best place to taste traditional Czech cuisines in a typical pub atmosphere. Cafe Louvre, unique atmosphere and traditional menu.
- U Medvídků, classic Czech delicatessen and great beer.
- Kolkovna, great Pilsner Urquell Lager beer and it is the perfect place to try all typical Czech meals.
Notes:
- Free Walking Tour Prague’s* Old Town tour is one of the best! It departs at 10 am or 1.45 pm each day from outside the Powder Tower in the Old Square.
- Prague Castle -free to get in and walk around the gardens of the castle, as well as inside some of the buildings. You can go inside the cathedral without at ticket too, but you’ll be relegated to a small area at the entrance
- Avoid food at tourist areas eg. Old Town area
Budapest 27, 28, 29, 30/12
reserved 17:30 Dinner at Riso Restaurant, Hotel Castle Garden 15% as hotel guest https://riso.hu/en/ *bus 16 stops behind hotel, 10m interval
Interesting places: Fisherman's Bastion/Matthias Church/Chain Bridge/Buda Castle/Gellert hill Parliament/Shoes on the Danube/Liberty Square/St Stephens Basilica/Zryinyi Utca/New York Cafe *optional: Váci utca/Central Market Hall
optional: Andrássy Avenue +Opera House/Heroe Square/Szeszenyi Baths others: Koller Gallery/Margaret Island
food- Chicken Paprikash (Paprikás Csirke)/Beef Goulash (gulyás)/street food, Chimney cake (Kürtőskalács) and Lángos Burger
lunch at the butcher’s: hot sausages or huge pork knuckles. Try Belvárosi Disznótoros, Recommended restaurants- Zeller Bistro/Spíler /New York Cafe for a cup of hot drink*the food is pretty pricey and not very good
Itinerary notes:
- Buy Taiwanese pineapple tarts and mochi
- 90 days visa free to Schengen area (inc Latvia/Estonia/Czech Republic/Austria/Hungary/Finland/Iceland), Taiwan up to 30 days.
Click here for more photos https://photos.app.goo.gl/t6UwKc7LqXyAMERu6
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