Tag: baltic

What to do in 24 hours in Riga, Latvia, as a solo female traveller

On By Laura Ferries WriterIn baltic, europe, solo female travel2 Comments

Welcome to the blog entry on the 30th country I have visited: Latvia!

Long ago, when I first fell in love with travelling abroad and seeing as much of the world as I had time for and could afford, I saw pictures of Riga in a city break brochure (remember travel brochures?!) and thought it looked stunning and have long kept the idea in mind but for years, I was put off by the unfair Stage/Hen do reputation and other places had presented themselves as holiday destinations until now.

So, in May 2025, I found reasonable flights to Riga from Manchester and booked them without much idea of what there would be to see and do there apart from pretty architecture. This is what I love about booking a trip- the research can then commence and the excitement builds as you uncover more and more of what will be waiting for you once you arrive.

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Top Things to Do in One Day in Helsinki, Finland

On By Laura Ferries WriterIn Finland, scandinavia7 Comments

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On a cold, blustery October day, we decided to jump a ferry from Tallinn to Helsinki where we would have seven hours to explore the capital of Finland.

It was an absolute bargain of £12 each way per person which was incredible when you think how much you can pay for a seat on a flight and how little legroom you get for it. (I say that as someone who is 5ft3″ tall, I can’t imagine how it is for tall people..)

The biggest luxury about taking the gigantic ferry over to Helsinki was the impossibility of becoming bored. There were bars, cafes and restaurants and the ability to walk around freely was a novelty.

Pulling into Helsinki, the first thing I noticed was how the terrain looked totally different. The fir trees on a little island before the mainland looked jagged and shrouded in mist.

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Tales from Tallinn: Exploring the Charm of Estonia’s Capital

On By Laura Ferries WriterIn estonia, tallinn4 Comments

Tallinn is the capital city of Estonia, one of the three Baltic states. It was under Soviet rule from the 1940s until 1991, something which is evident in the architecture and style all around. Following adventures this year in Bordeaux and Porto, my cousin Luke and I decided to go for somewhere a little bit different.

Just a couple of hours away from Finland by ferry, Tallinn’s vibe is a fusion of Baltic, Soviet, Scandinavian and Medieval influences. Together, it creates a fairytale feeling and for this reason alone, I had to go and visit.

Two days is enough to explore this petite city but it’s a good idea to plan in advance what you want to see and do to avoid wandering around having to seek things out. Tallinn can hide some of its best secrets so here are some of the ones we saw for you to know about beforehand.

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