Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
by land or ferry (for instance, Germany-Sweden-Finland). A more expensive
Global Pass is a good value only for those spending more time throughout
Europe. A three-week first-class Global Pass costs about $950 (if you travel
with a companion, you'll save about 15 percent apiece with a Global saver-
pass).
Railpasses give you discounts on some boat tickets (such as Stockholm
to Helsinki) and cover almost all trains in the region (though you'll need
50-kr reservations for long rides and express trains, plus a 180-kr supplement
for Norway's Myrdal-Flåm ride—part of the Norway in a Nutshell route). If
you'll be taking a popular train on a busy day and want to be assured of hav-
ing a seat, a reservation can be a good investment even if it's not required.
Buses
Don't overlook long-distance buses, which are usually slower but have con-
siderably cheaper and more predictable fares than trains. (In Denmark,
however, the train system is excellent and nearly always the better option.)
On certain routes, such as between Stockholm and Oslo, the bus is cheaper
andonlyslightly slower than the train. Scandinavia'sbigbuscarriers are Nor-
way's Nor-Way Bussekspress (
www.nor-way.no
), Denmark's public buses
(
www.rejseplanen.dk
)
, Sweden's Swebus (
www.swebusexpress.se
)
, and Fin-
land's Matkahuolto (
www.matkahuolto.fi
)
. Estonia has several carriers, of
which Lux Express is the largest (
www.luxexpress.ee
).
Boats
Boats are romantic, scenic, and sometimes the most efficient—or only—way
to link destinations in coastal Scandinavia. But boats can often be more ex-
pensive than other options, although some routes may be covered or discoun-
ted if you have a railpass. Note that short-distance ferries may take only cash,
not credit cards.
Advance reservations are recommended for overnight boats, especially
in summer or on weekends. The main links are Oslo to Copenhagen
(
www.dfdsseaways.com
)
, Stockholm to Helsinki (
www.vikingline.fi
and
www.tallinksilja.com
)
, and Stockholm to Tallinn (
www.tallinksilja.com
)
.
