Sweden and Finland: Baltic Sea coast-hopping adventure

You can hardly wait! Your dream of travelling to the far north is finally coming true! The prospect of dancing northern lights, untouched nature and colourful cities with 'hygge' vibes oozing froom every corner has you tingling with excitement. Before you know it, you're in Stockholm, making your way to the centre of the capital, where you check into your hotel. You take the time you need to get good and settled in, and shortly thereafter, you head out and start exploring the city.
Excited to see what Stockholm has to offer, you set off on your adventure. Your first stop: the historic Old Town. First, you take the metro (optional, payable on site) and find that the station alone is a giant work of art, with walls shining in the brightest of colours. A short ride later and you're strolling through the narrow, winding streets of Gamla Stan, Stockholm's original city centre. The vibrant houses and The Royal Palace are simply enchanting. And from Skinnarviksberget, a small hill by the river that you climb in almost no time, you have a fantastic view over the city – breathtaking sunset included!

Grab your hiking boots, hop in your hire car and head to Tyresta National Park south-east of Stockholm, where unspoilt nature awaits. Marvel at centuries-old, gnarled pine trees and ice-polished rocks that bear witness to times long past. Explore the unique ancient forest as you wander down narrow paths, over springy forest floors and across gigantic rock slabs covered in blooming heather. Discover glistening lakes with crystal-clear water that interrupt the vastness of the forests and invite you to take a dip. And there's also plenty to discover in Stockholm itself! Experience the history of Sweden up close in the Skansen open-air museum and be sure not to miss the Vasa Museum, which owes its name to a sunken warship.
Afterwards, it's time to say 'Hej då, Stockholm' and 'Hei, Turku!' Make your way to the harbour, where the ferry will take you on an overnight ride to Finland. Whip out your passport, climb aboard and get set to sail! Step out on the deck and feel the fresh sea breeze on your face as you soak in the view. Count the small islands that pass you by, snuggle up in your bunk after sunset and let the gentle waves lull you to sleep. Good night!

You're awoken by the first rays of sun before the ferry reaches the harbour, and the gentle rocking reminds you that you've spent the night at sea. Then just a short time later, it's land ho and welcome to Turku!
As soon as you check in, you'll want to head right back out – after all, the city is begging to be explored! Keep your eyes out for the steeple of Turku Cathedral, or as the Finnish call it, Turun tuomiokirkko. It's Turku's main landmark and should definitely be on your list of must-sees, as should the Market Square and Market Hall, where the Finnish delicacies are sure to make your foodie heart beat faster. Once you've fuelled up, you can dive back into nature – and here, it's filled with superlatives and guaranteed to impress. After all, the largest archipelago in the world is located off Finland's coast. Island-hopping takes on a whole new meaning here. Next stop: Ruissalo. This island gem covered in vast forests is the perfect place for hiking and relaxing. And there's even a good chance of spotting a moose, if not just on the signs.

You can't wait to see more of Finland, so you grab your keys, step on the accelerator and zoom off to Vaasa. After just a few minutes you realise that today, the journey is the destination! The sun makes the yellow ribbon of flowering dandelions on the roadside glow as the green forests provide the perfect contrast. And if you want to stretch your legs at the beach, Yyteri, one of Finland's few beaches, is the perfect spot for just that, where you can revel in the sound of the waves between snow-white dunes and emerald-green pines before continuing on to Vaasa.
The lovely harbour town welcomes you with the spectacular Kvarken archipelago in the Gulf of Bothnia – a mosaic of water and land. The unique landscape is at the top of the list of must-sees in Vaasa. Did you know that the land rises several millimetres above the sea every year and is constantly changing as a result? That means it's high time to experience the archipelago up close. What are you waiting for? Lace up your hiking boots and off you go!