Eeyoredagreat

You shouldn't have a problem: the reputable companies are ...reputable.

 

What's galling about the scammers is that you don't suspect it in a developed country. In India, Russia, and so on you know you have to do one on one negotiation, but you assume that developed countries have regulations to protect the consumer.

 

My understanding is that Stockholm used to have such regulations, but the taxi service was poor and expensive, so they deregulated in the hope of improving things. It might have been effective for residents who know the system, but tourists are vulnerable.

desdichado said at the beginning of this thread to just use the 3 companies that he mentioned and that's what I did when i booked.

I am so sorry regarding your experience. Thank you for the warning and ensuring nobody will experience the same as you did.

To amplify what is said above: Stockholm has the worst taxi scam that I've encountered anywhere in the developed world. They can charge anything they like as long as it is posted on the yellow sticker, and you have to pay up. The sticker should say something like 300, but the ones that prey on tourists have numbers like 9000. They wait at popular places like the Vasa museum for unsuspecting tourists who don't know what to look for.

 

So have your hotel call one of the reputable companies, or read that yellow sticker very carefully.

I just had all my trips quoted by Taxi Stockholm. From Port to Vasa to Gamla Stan to port. It totaled around 900SEK for party of 4. It is set and have given the time on when we are going to be picked on each places.

Thank you for the warning, I will cross my fingers and hope that they honor my booking.

Are you taking an organized group tour of St. Petersburg? If so, you will probably need to find one that offers free time along Nevsky Prospect (where a couple of Starbucks are located). The group tours are pretty strictly organized so that all of the attractions can be visited within the limited time you have in port. The tour guide will not be able to drive you to a Starbucks just so you can shop.

 

Your other option would be to pay for a private tour so that the guide can take you wherever you want or to pay for a visa and do a self-tour.

Yes we took the 2 day tour but we have the Faberge Museum and city tour that night. Maybe I can ask the driver to drive us to the nearest Starbucks?

I collect Starbucks mugs on every city, country I go to. Is it easy to find the Starbuck mugs in Tallinn and St. Petersburg?

I know in the Scandinavian cities, it is easy to get it since Starbucks is everywhere.

Just my 2 cents

 

The Copenhagen Card gives you free transportation so then you can use the busses for Ho/Ho + the public busses covers more ground than the tourist busses.

 

You will have a free canal tour (well 2 if you use both companies) and free access to Tivoli and all the other attractions.

 

 

I think that the bus tours costs the same online as on the bus but I´m guessing having the ticket on hand is more convenient.

Is the Hoho Bus tour part of the Copenhagen card?

To Rosenborg you simply just take the metro from Forum one stop to Nørreport, Rosenborg is 5-10 minutes on foot from there.

 

 

To the central station is easier to take bus 250S towards Bella Center or 2A towards Kastrup from Forum station.

 

You can also change train at Nørreport but it takes longer.

Thanks - rejseplen does not show any walking. It shows a lot of bus transfers.

I trust you better!

Thanks again!

Sorry I missed this one.

 

 

 

You simply just take the metro from Forum to Christianshavn and here change for bus 9A towards Operaen and get off at Arsenaløen.

 

 

Major attraction near Street Food is the opera, hvor frelser kirke (church of our saviour) and the free town Christiania.

Hi Danish Viking

Everytime I access Rejseplanen, it always tells me to take a bus. Is there anyway that I just want to take the metro and just walk to the destination I want to go? is it really a long walk. I am used to NY subway that you walk most of the time.

For example: From my hotel Cabinn Scandinavia to Rosenborg Castle or from my Hotel to Central station across from Tivoli

Hi! We'll (both in our late 60's) be in Copenhagen for 3 overnights in early June which basically gives us two full days (thus maybe the 48 hour HOHO tour) plus the first afternoon/evening after long plane trip and the morning before embarking on the Princess cruise. Not being intrepid travelers, I'm thinking maybe the 48-hour HOHO is the best way to go. The hotel told me there's a stop about five minutes walk away at the train station. For the amount of time we'd have, any idea if it's worth it also to also buy the Copenhagen pass for those two full days or just pay as we go? We have Rick Steve's book on Copenhagen but I'm not sure that it alone would get us everywhere in a somewhat efficient way. I'd love to hear from anyone else who has done a similar time. This will be our first and possibly only time to see Copenhagen. Oh, I have read about the "free walking tours" but if we're paying for HOHO, that kind of seems like we'd be wasting our HOHO time. Also, is the canal cruise worth doing along with the HOHO and anyone know the cost? Next, the HOHO costs about $37 for the 48 hours when bought on line but our hotel wrote that we can book both HOHO and canal cruise (same company) once we get there--but would it be the same price? If you can answer any of the above of my rambling questions or provide other suggestions, they would be appreciated. Oh, also, in anyone's experience, is it better to bring raincoats for Copenhagen/Baltic or carry small umbrellas?[/quote

 

go to the Wonderful Copenhagen Thread. somebody will surely answer all your questions. Danish Viking for oone.

I don't know about the time tables for the HoHo buses and I would advise against using them.

They are an expensive and very time consuming way of getting around.

 

From your ship to Vasa in the morning you are better off using the HoHo boats (drops you off at Vasa) or the harbour ferry Emelie (drops you off at Allmänna gränd).

See the first post and the last couple of pages for more info. A bus can easily get stuck in traffic and etc while the boats/ferry just cruises straight to Djurgården.

I agree with you. I am just imagining all those cruise passengers taking the Hoho Buses specially when everybody trying to get to the ship all at the same time.

Yeah I think so for larger groups. See first post for general info about taxis.

 

 

 

What buses, which cruiseport and when?

 

Also one of the maps links in the first post is no longer valid so here is the new link: http://sl.se/resources/maps/geographics/2016/7510.Innerstan.2016.html

Thanks Desdichado62

I checked Taxi Stockholm. Do you know they have guided tours. If you are a big group and you share the amount - it will come out not bad. I am now talking to them directly.

I think if you are 11 persons, pre-booking taxi's would be faster then going with the HoHo since there is a risk that all of you would not go on the same boat and etc.

 

From Vasa on the other hand, it depends on when you are feel that you are finished with Vasa and when the free walking tour starts.

You could probably use Djurgårdsfärjan but it would obviously be more expensive then using taxi.

when yo say pre-booking taxi's, do you mean make a reservation, or just get a cab outside in the port.

Vasa is a must and so is Old Town.

 

I have not visited the City hall or Abba the museum but I think both are worth a visit.

 

The choice I would make is to choose Abba over the City hall for the following practical reasons:

 

1. Abba allows you to make a ticket reservation in advance, guaranteeing you to be able to get in at a certain point.

For the CH you can only visit it by going on their guided tours and tickets can only be bought on location at the CH. The English tours starts every 30 minutes.

2. At AB. you can leave when you feel that you are ready as opposite to doing a guided tour,

3. Abba is just some 500-600m walk from Vasa and have harbour ferries berthing just 100m away which will take you directly to Old Town.

No need to spend time on buying bus tickets or travel cards anything like that. Just pay when you board the ferry (or HoHo boat in the morning)

 

The order you should it is: Vasa->Abba->Royal Palace->Old Town.

As for transport use HoHo boats or ferries in the morning, then use Djurgårdsfärjan when going from Abba to Old Town.

Finally as you suggested yourself, walk from Old Town to ship, but remember to use the scenic route.

 

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/59.3220666,18.0728581/59.3201541,18.0723134/59.3184197,18.0793997/59.3174054,18.0837847/59.3169023,18.0895764/59.3154131,18.0947155/59.3144474,18.0988529/59.3155461,18.1035429/@59.3188738,18.0906095,15.25z/data=!4m2!4m1!3e2

Hi Desdichado62

Our cruise is in August and arriving in Stockholm On Aug. 16, Tuesday. Norwgian Star's Berth is S364. We want to do Vasa first, then we will try to catch the Free walking tour of Gamla Stan outside the Metro station of Gamla Stan.

is it better just to take the taxi from the Berth since everybody will try to take the HoHo boat? We are a party of 11. So we thought, if we share the cab ride it would be cheaper to go to Vasa.

Also, from Vasa, is it easier to take the cab to catch the walking tour?

Since we don't have enough time, we thought Vasa and Gamla Stan are the points we need to see. ABBA would be nice even the Nobel museum but reality check, we can't do it all.

You've chosen to go with a very highly rated tour company. I can't see any reason why you would worry about having the tour company choose a restaurant for you. If you have any specific dishes you'd like to try or any specific food allergies, just tell SPB in advance. Considering the number of visitors SPB guides each cruising season, they probably have very strong opinions about which restaurants work and which restaurants don't.

 

Just to give my answer a little context, my husband and I enjoy cruising, but we still take a lot of land vacations. When we cruise, we plan pre- and post-cruise stays that may equal the length of the cruise. Part of the appeal of a land stay for us is to eat the food of the country we're visiting. So my answer to your question is that I wouldn't give up a chance to eat in a St. Petersburg restaurant for some additional driving time through the city. And I definitely wouldn't ask the guide to pre-order my meal.

 

Below, I've shared a link to a post I wrote just after we got home from our Baltic cruise. It includes the names of two restaurants where we had very tasty meals, but I don't know if either location would be optimal for your plans. Besides, St Petersburg must have dozens of restaurants that would put a smile on your face after a dinner there.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=47229380&postcount=140

Thank Pet Nit Toy - valuable information. I am with you on this, we always try the food of the countries we visit. We always believe the food shows the true culture of that country.

Can't believe you did not try their beer or wine!

You're absolutely right about the excellent Faberge collection at the Virginia Museum of Fine Art (VMFA). Unfortunately, you're going to have to wait a bit before seeing it there. Right now, the objects are traveling; whatever may have stayed home is not on display. (I have family in Richmond and I'll always head over to the VMFA when we visit.)

 

If your goal is seeing Faberge pieces ASAP, the closest place to see them will be at Hillwood in Washington, DC. When Marjorie Merriweather Post's husband was ambassador to Russia she went on an awesome buying spree. Now her haul is displayed in her former mansion. I know there's at least one egg in her collection.

 

The SPB Faberge museum is amazing and more than a little overwhelming.

My routine advice is to go there after 6:00 PM when you can rent an audio guide describing the eggs and proceed at your own pace through the egg room and all the other rooms.

Hi Pet Nit Toy

I cannot wait to see the Faberge eggs at St Petersburg. we have booked that as our evening option, so we will definitely see the museum after 6:00 PM. We have taken the SPB Tour evening option which is Faberge Museum and dinner at a Russian restaurant after. Is it a good idea to let them bring us to a Russian restaurant or should we choose a restaurant of our choice. Or maybe not go to a restaurant at all but drive around and just enjoy st. Pertersburg at night. They said its beautiful. Need your advice.

By the way I did see the Faberge Episode at Netflix and made me look forward to see the museum.

Walk over to Kongens Nytorv metro station, take the metro towards Vestamager or Lufthavnen and get off at Christianshavn.

 

From here you take bus 9A towards Operaen, Holmen and get off at Experimentariet, Arsenaløen and walk from there.

 

https://www.google.dk/maps/dir/Copenhagen+Street+Food,+Trangravsvej/Experimentariet,+Arsenal%C3%B8en,+1434+K%C3%B8benhavn/@55.6782343,12.597702,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m13!4m12!1m5!1m1!1s0x4652533b4ae238fd:0xc0e47d5d65b2f5e7!2m2!1d12.597749!2d55.6796334!1m5!1m1!1s0x4652533ab94b2e0d:0xb536c6a4aae3a92!2m2!1d12.6019798!2d55.6777408

 

 

 

 

But but but

 

They are building a bridge on the southside of Nyhavn that should open this June and then a short walking tour will be better.

 

 

http://map.krak.dk/m/mVO2F

Hi Danish Viking - how about from Cabinn Scandinavia to The Street Food. what are the major attractions near the Street Food, it maybe that I am in one of the major attractions already and just go to the Street food for a quick meal.

Today, I watched the first two episodes of a six-episode series titled Raiders of the Lost Art. The show is about missing art masterpieces. The second episode is the reason I posting about the show on the Northern European Board. That episode is all about the Faberge Easter eggs. For anyone who has visited or will be visiting the Faberge Museum in St. Petersburg, watching this should be very enjoyable.

 

In keeping with the theme of missing art masterpieces, the show ends with the story about the discovery of egg number three and shows photographs of some of the other missing eggs. Until I watched this episode, I had no idea another egg had been found quite recently.

 

I've done my watching on Netflix, but the series is being broadcast on the Ovation Chanel later this month. (URL below) The times are early in the AM suggesting the April shows are re-broadcasts.

 

http://www.ovationtv.com/series/raiders-of-the-lost-art/

 

Happy watching! And happy touring!

Thank You Pet Nit Noy. Was it shown at Netflix originally? I am so looking forward to seeing the Faberge Museum in August. Yes I will see the Museum after 6:00. It's part of my SPB evening tour

The Rick Steves guide for Scandanavia or for the Northern Europe Cruise Ports lists quite a few reasonably priced restaurants in Copenhagen. We ate dinner at the vegetarian buffet at Riz Raz (two locations) for 99 DKK. I am a meat-eater from way back so I was a little wary about a vegetarian buffet, but it was great!

 

We also tried some of the Danish hot dogs from a cart around Nyhavn. (We saw them in other places around town too.) Do not leave Copenhagen without trying one!

Thanks Gradut. Now I'm really tempted to get Rick Steves Guide. Danish Viking can be Rick Steves in disguise!

Yes, the audio are good. We usually rent audio and tour on our own. Please don't discount our enjoyment of splurging on an all-day tour with a guide. It made the day special for us.

Whatever works for anybody. I was not discounting anyone. My Original reply was to Danish Viking and commended his advise. Did not mean to make anyone defensive of their own choices. Please accept my apology for the miscommunication.

Hello Danish Viking -

Yes, the Viator tour is more money. The value is in the all-day guide. We wanted to learn more of Denmark's history, not just view the castles. My great-grandparents emigrated from Denmark. My great-grandfather worked with the King's horses at the Royal Stables. It was fascinating to learn more of the monarchy and gain an appreciation for Denmark's history.

There are audio which you can rent. Those are as informative as a human guide, plus you can pause or repeat if you want to hear it again. I usually rent an audio.

Thanks Danish Viking - you always give us good options. What better to follow than a local. Will do what you suggested. We also booked for a free walking tour of Copenhagen.

One more thing Danish Viking. I know Copenhagen is pretty expensive, any suggestions where we can find food that is reasonable. I heard about the Street Food. Is that worth it? Where is it actually. Nearest Metro to my hotel is Forum

In my honest opinion I think the Viator thing is a waste of money, When the trains and busses runs as often as they do you wont waste that much time at the stations.

 

Yes Tivoli is included.

 

Also the local ferry on the lake at Frederiksborg Palace is included.

Thanks Danish Viking - you always give us good options. What better to follow than a local. Will do what you suggested. We also booked for a free walking tour of Copenhagen.

As an alternative to the train - We did a Viator all day castles tour that visited Kronborg, Frederiksborg, and Fredensborg. It was an excellent tour. I booked online. The next day we visited the two castles in the city on our own, complete with a picnic in the gardens outside Rosenborg Castle. Wonderful castle experiences! The Viator tour allows good time at each castle and provides a lunch (extra$.)

Thanks PNW traveler. I am still debating if I should take the Viator. Am Arriving 2 days before the cruise and planning to take the train from the airport to my Hotel.

Copenhagen Pass 48HR is cheaper by at least $40.00 than the Viator and it covers all your train rides, entrance to all the castles you want to see among others, Canal boat tour, not sure about the entrance to Tivoli.

I am still debating, do I want to save or do I choose the convenience, Viator.

Thanks Danish Viking

Hi Danish Viking

If I want to see both castles, Fredericksborg and Kronborg for one day. what is the train route i should take. I am coming from my hotel Cabinn Scandinavia and planning to purchase the 48hr Copenhagen Pass

Thank you Danish Viking - is it easy to see both castles just taking the metro in one day?