Roadtrip Helsinki-Arco 2016

Roadtrip from Helsinki to Arco takes 3 days, two boat trips and 2500 kilometers. Year after year the trip shows the continent's different traditions, great sceneries and wonderful people. It is an eye-opener and I always see something new that blows my mind.

<<Click the map to see the route>>

<<See the roadtrip video from 2015>>

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Return to Arco and Trentino

Here we are again! Just three months ago we got a taste of the late winter snow at Madonna di Campiglio and early spring climbing at Ledro Valley. Now it is time to for a whole month at Lake Garda region. 

Drive from Helsinki to Arco takes more than 26 hours by car. Over three days by car is not the fastest way to travel but the only viable option for having 2 dogs, climbing and mountain biking gear packed together. Road trip by car offers a great opportunity to see a completely different side of the Germany than the urban and crowded big cities. By picking small hotels from the countryside we have been able to see a glimpse of more traditional lifestyle. I have to admit that it is actually relaxing to hear the noises of cows and wild animals after the busy day at the highway. And when it comes to highways Germany is well known for having the fastest roads in Europe, except this summer! We learned that knowing the roadworks and closed roads upfront is more than valuable. Our usual way to Italy passes Hamburg. For this summer Hamburg was full of roadworks and closed ramps that had blocked or even disabled the traffic completely. Luckily expensive roaming internet access and phone's handicapped online navigation saved as a day!

What surprised us on highways was the amount of German flags attached on the cars. Germans are visibly proud for winning their very 1st game in the FIFA worldcup in Brazil. We were just wondering that how you can attach a small flagpole on the car that holds at the speed of 160 km/h.

For this year we are not alone, our long time friends Sami, Nora and Jarkko will be joining us later as well my brother Juha and his girlfriend Niina. And on top of that Sami and Nora has invited few of their friends to visit at Arco too over the weeks. It looks like that we are turning Arco into a Finnish town during June and July.

See all photos:

Helsinki-Arco, 18.6.2014

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From Helsinki to Arco

Longest bridge in the Europe. Photo taken behind a dirty car window.

Traveling by car takes time but gives also great opportunities to visit in places where you wouldn't go otherwise.

Our trip by car took three days from Helsinki to Arco. Our car started from Helsinki on Tuesday 11.6. at 17:00 and we arrived finally to Arco on Friday 14.6. after traveling total of 70 hours. Traveling by car takes time and patience but on the other hand each day on the road is a small trip to a new country.

Some people have been asking why we drive through Sweden instead of taking a ferry from Helsinki to Rostock. Well, the answer is simple. First of all the traveling time is pretty much the same and the cost for ferry from Finland to Germany, one way with two dogs, is 1100 Euros. And actually when traveling by car you can always pick your personal favorites for eating and sleeping.

We spent the first night in the ferry from Turku to Stockholm. Our plan was to take a boat that arrives early
 to Stockholm to avoid heavy traffic. Actual driving started from Stockholm at 6 am and during the day we drove through Sweden to Malmö. From there we took the longest bridge on Europe to get to Denmark (read more about the longest bridge in Europe).

Denmark was a quick visit that lasted about 240 kilometers and just few hours after Malmö. Then was time to get on a ferry again.

Thatch.

There is at least two alternative ferries from Denmark to Germany. One line goes from Gedser to Rostock and the other one from Rodbyhavn to Puttgarden. Our choise was to take a ferry to Puttgarden and drive to our first hotel to Oldenburg in Holstein.

Our first hotel was excellent, especially their breakfast was just awesome. The hoteal was like a farm house in the middle of the crop fields in a small village. And as usual in the small German hotels the service / cost ratio was great. Second traveling day was all about Germany, from north to south. At the end of the second day we arrived to a small city called Langenbruck in the free state of Bavaria.

Last traveling day was easy, just four and half hours from Langenbruck to Arco via Austria. Austria is always the most impressive part of the trip. Motor highway in between the high peaks is a great view to enjoy for couple of hours that it takes. This was actually easy, maybe next time we just book one hotel from middle of the Germany and drive the whole trip in two parts.

Bavariand fields.

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