Cruising from Stockholm to Turku: Budget Sleep, Baltic Views

#summerbudgettrip In the Nordics, where hostel beds can cost more than dinner for two elsewhere, overnight ferries are a backpacker’s dream. When I discovered I could travel from Stockholm to Turku overnight—saving money on a hotel, waking up in Finland, and watching the Baltic archipelago roll by—I booked immediately. Boarding the Boat: A Floating Hotel The ferry (I took Viking Line, but Tallink Silja runs a similar route) leaves Stockholm in the evening. The price? Around €20–40 for a basic bunk in a shared cabin if booked early—less than half of what a room in Stockholm would cost. Walking aboard felt like entering a mini city: restaurants, saunas, karaoke bars, even tax-free shops. But I was here for two things—sleep and scenery. Sailing Through a Thousand Islands As we pulled away from Stockholm, I headed to the deck. The real show had just begun: the Stockholm Archipelago slowly unfolded—thousands of islands, some just trees on rocks, others with tiny red cabins and boats moored at private piers. It felt like gliding through a scattered watercolor. The best part? It’s completely free to watch. Just claim a spot near the rail, let the sun dip low, and watch the world soften into twilight. The long Nordic summer light meant we had golden hour for what felt like forever. Sleeping on the Sea My cabin was simple but clean. The steady hum of the ship and gentle rocking made for surprisingly good sleep. No hostel check-ins, no noisy bunkmates, no alarms—just the quiet of the open water. And unlike budget flights or buses, you arrive rested, not wrecked.