Mandika

I can't recommend a private tour group since we got visas and spent several days in SPB -but if you welcome out-of-norm ideas, here is a quick review/overview I wrote of my time there: Golitsyn Loft on Fontaka river - cool, hipster, artsy side of SPB. Than you can walk down to Faberge museum from there. A few steps away from Church of Spilled Blood is inexpensive Museum of Soviet Arcade- kids will like but adults will too for a little Soviet nostalgia look. Another tip, if you want to escape Hermitage crowds, your ticket also gets you in at the Gen Staff building (right across from main Winter Palace bldg) which is more modern but also very cool and you'll see rarely-seen Monets, Degas, Picassos. And Rodin sculptures with almost NO one else!! Other off-the-beaten path: New Holland Island if weather is good, all of St. Pete love to go there. Foodwise, anything by ubiquitous Ginza project is kind of perfect though locals may scoff a bit at them. Go to their website for slew of restaurants and bars. Marketplace is GREAT fast casual self service chain, can sample lots of dishes. Nighttime To Dos: cruise on canal, watch bridges rise at 1am, walk down super lively Rubenstein street, or a ballet.

Just wanted to add a July update: in US, it seems for tourists they are now encouraging 3 yr multiple entry visa, as prices recently changed and all visas generally will cost around $160

This is what we did in June: looked at the transpo options at the little store right outside ship: HOHO bus route map looked inconvenient, also seemed expensive. They also had the train schedule there (or look up online), seemed like one was leaving soon so we bought at that shop an all day card that worked on all public transportation (train, bus, tram, ferry - so easy!). To get to the Nynashamn train station you can walk- I saw several people do this, following a blue line marked on the sidewalks- probably would take you 15-25 mins depending on how fast you walk. Our ship ended up offering $5 dollar shuttle bus to the station, took 5 mins so we did that. Took 45-50 mins on train I think, to Stockholm City stop. When we exited I asked workers/info desk how to get to Vasa, they said a tram is right outside across the street, also gave us a transportation map. After visiting Vasa, I asked the museum worker how to get to Gamla Stan, they said the ferry is a a few minutes' away- walk toward the water. The weather was great and so the 7-10 min or so ferry ride was extra beautiful! I ended up taking a detour to have lunch at Gondolen (a bit of a walk from where ferry dropped us, but nice, unique place high up). Then we walked to Gamla Stan, enjoying the sights (some areas very touristy though) and the best fika break at hidden garden of Grillska Huset! (A must is the cinnamon bun). There are many informative walking tours offered in Gamla Stan, we eavesdropped on some (not on purpose, it was just hard to avoid hearing them, there were so many!) From Gamla, I debated taking a tram back into the main city but we ended up walking across the pretty bridge all the way back, also managed to walk around City Hall area- very pretty. They hold the Nobel Prize banquet there every year. Then we just asked people where train station was. It wasn't too far. Look for commuter train signs once there. We shopped a little there waiting for our train to Nynashamn. ONE CON: The train experienced an unexpected delay. In retrospect, I should have just stayed on the train but we got off after it had stopped for like 10 mins. We found other, fellow cruise goers outside who tried to call back to the ship or order ubers. In the end, we got a taxi and it cost us $90 USD shared between 4 passengers. So beware! Don't wait for the absolute latest train! I wouldn't say it ruined the trip-  Stockholm was so pretty. Maybe if we missed the ship haha. It was an extra cost yes, but it gave us a story to tell! Enjoy your trip and hope you have good weather! 

I wrote a very quick review on these ports when I visited in May/June on Regal Princess:

• COPENHAGEN: Chilly/slight rain so didn't rent bikes to tour around. Took HOHO bus from port instead which got you into center. Easy to get around that way. Christianhvan is cute to walk around and diff than downtown. Freetown a bit of a walk but very interesting/diff community there. Didn't have time to explore the gardens/palaces but they looked beautiful. Nyhavn is a must of course. Then easy to see Little Mermaid as the last stop right before you go back to port. A note: Many do Tivoli Gardens which is also a stop on HOHO bus, there is an entrance fee ticket to get in. 
• Helsinki: Debated to do HOHO bus but so crowded, everyone on ship was trying to get on. Our ship ended up offering a four stop, mini-hop on and off of their own for around $40 pp I think and we might have taken that, but decided to take a taxi when we saw one at port instead, straight to Rock Church (highly recommend). Then we walked from there to the center squares of town. Nice way to see city and architecture esp if weather is good. Oodi building amazing. Download map if you can first. Try moose and reindeer or fried fish around the square. Saw Lutheran cathedrals, orthodox church. Lappi restaurant is so unique (opens at 4pm though). Great food in Helsinki in general though. Also for something a little different/local-- recommend LOYLY sauna/terrace restaurant for drink, relaxing, and the views or to try the famous Finnish sauna if you have the time. Loyly is VERY near the ship if it is docked at Henesarri (four ports in Helsinki so know which one you are at.) Loyly also has a "taxi button" behind the bar---so handy for us tourists when we need one!

Many said to buy Rick Steves' travel book specifically on the Northern Europe/Baltic cruise ports. It was helpful and had maps you can just rip out and take with you. 

Yes they offered it. Also a four stop shuttle of their own- they slipped all this info on pieces of paper under our cabin door two days or so before we reached that port. Since the weather could be unpredictable, I generally waited to book things. Unless you have your heart set on a specific excursion that may sell out, then you should reserve early. 

My partner said it worked better than uber - but he also switched out his sim card in his iphone when he installed it - because he was told drivers may not pick you up without a local number. Also he didn't put in a credit card - he just paid rubles at end of trip - (round up as tip). Watch the pickup location carefully, some times it is two blocks away so you need to change it before you hail the car. 

I was on the Regal Princess Baltic cruise less than two weeks ago. It docked in Henesaari port or something like that so about 12-15 min drive from the city center. There were HOHO buses available once you exited the ship (everyone was trying to get on them so be prepared for a wait) OR the cruise did end up offering their own four-stop-hop on-and off- shuttle bus - I forgot the price but yes, I guess it was probably around $20USD pp but I think the last bus back was a bit early (4:30p) and I wanted a bit more flexibility with that I was planning to see so we ended up taking a cab that we happened to see at the port ($20 to the Rock Church and then we walked to Market Square from there - a long-ish, nice way to see the city. Download or bring a map first).