Today was my last day in Helsinki! I decided to keep things interesting and booked a 16-hour ferry to Stockholm that left at 5:00 PM, which meant I still had most of the day to explore before setting sail.

After checking out of my hostel, I faced the hard truth: if I wasn’t going to get my backpack before leaving Helsinki, I desperately needed a second outfit. So… shopping trip time it was.

But plot twist! Just as I was about to leave, I got a notification that my bag had been found!!! 🎉 HOWEVER… the flight bringing it to Helsinki wasn’t landing until 2:40 PM, and I needed to be at the ferry dock by 4:00 PM. The airport is a full hour from the city center, so I knew I was cutting it way too close.

Spoiler: the flight got delayed (of course it did), so the bag was officially not making it to me before I left. I accepted defeat and headed to a shopping mall called Forum instead.

Thanks to the €150 in compensation from Finnair, I started my little haul at H&M. I tried on a ton of clothes (why is everything in Europe just… cuter?) and ended up getting pants, two long-sleeve tops, socks, and underwear (aka the essentials). I also stopped by a few Finnish shops and grabbed black gloves and a matching burgundy hat and scarf for when it inevitably gets colder.

After all that, I had to get out of my cursed Day 4 outfit, so I changed in a mall bathroom stall like a true budget traveler. A bit humbling, yes, but worth it.

Once I felt semi-human again, I headed back to Market Square for one last bowl of salmon soup (still obsessed) and started sketching out my Stockholm itinerary.

Then it was ferry time! But not just any ferry, this thing was basically a mini cruise ship. Like escalators, massive concourse, multiple restaurants; the works. I got my ticket, boarded, and found my cabin which, yes, was below the cars 😅 (budget life), but I had the room to myself and honestly it was kind of cozy.

And of course, right as I set my things down, I got a message that my backpack had officially arrived at the Helsinki airport 🙃 So now I get to figure out how to have it forwarded somewhere else. At least I went shopping earlier or I’d be spiraling.

After settling in, I went up to the top deck with an Aperol Spritz in hand and watched the ship pull out of the harbor. I stayed up there through sunset, which was gorgeous and honestly kind of magical. I wandered around the ship for a bit, then hit up the duty-free store to buy some treats (and Prosecco because I deserve it).

Dinner was followed by a very random (but delightful?) performance by a group of Italian opera singers. Afterward, I brought my Prosecco back to my room, then headed to the ship’s main stage area where a band was playing live music. The crowd was going off and I sat there people-watching while the singers hilariously butchered the lyrics to every English song. 10/10 entertainment.

Eventually I called it a night and crawled into bed. I already kind of love the feeling of falling asleep on the water, the gentle sway is weirdly very comforting. Maybe I am a cruise girl now?

Next stop: Stockholm. Stay tuned!