Silja Line, Stockholm to Helsinki: Scared of the Prices, We Brought Cup Noodles

Hi there :) I’m a systems engineer in Tokyo. Work keeps me busy, so I’m always looking for small ways to make everyday life a little lighter.

In September 2026, my husband and I spent two weeks traveling around Europe on our honeymoon. From London to Helsinki, we packed in every place the two of us wanted to see.

From Stockholm to Helsinki, I graduated from the overnight buses I used all the time on my college trips around Europe, and spent a night on the ship I’d always dreamed of: the Silja Line. The thing is, Scandinavia is expensive, so how much would we end up spending on board…? It was our honeymoon, so we went for it and booked the dinner buffet. But we also packed cup noodles, just in case we got hungry.

Silja Line: the basics

We booked a slightly nicer cabin, one with a window to see outside. Cabins fill up close to the date, so I recommend booking early!

Overview


Route	Depart Stockholm 16:30 → arrive Helsinki 10:30 the next morning
Ship	Silja Serenade
Cabin	A-Standard (sea-view window, 2 people)
Booked	August 8, 2026, on the official website (card payment)

Price (2 adults, taxes included)

	Euro	US dollars
Cabin (2 people)	135.00	about $150
Fuel surcharge (2 people)	33.80	about $38
Dinner buffet (2 people)	97.00	about $108
Total	265.80	about $295

Dollar amounts use about €1 = $1.11 (November 2026).

Terminals

Stockholm: Värtaterminalen

Helsinki: Olympia Terminal

Before boarding: a museum and the supermarket

We had some time before boarding, so we visited the Nordiska museet. It shows how people lived through the harsh Nordic winters long ago.

The Nordiska museet under a blue sky, a huge castle-like building

There’s a café inside too. It wasn’t crowded, so we could relax.

The museum café: white and terracotta, with round pendant lights

After the museum, we stocked up at a supermarket near the terminal. On the map, the terminal looked close to the supermarket, but maybe because of construction, we ended up walking about ten minutes down a deserted road. It never felt unsafe at all, but on your own, it might be a little scary.

Tickets in seconds with a QR code

Just to be safe, we got to the terminal about an hour before departure. Then it was time to print the tickets. You scan the QR code from your email at the ticket machine, and that’s it. It was surprisingly quick and smooth. If you get your tickets at the staffed counter, they charge extra, so watch out.

Holding the printed Silja Line boarding pass

Gliding between islands while it’s still light

Picking the 16:30 departure from Stockholm was the right call. While it’s still light, the ship weaves its way between beautiful islands.

The Stockholm islands and sea through the bar's big windows

We set off with drinks at the bar near the front of the ship. It was happy hour, and drinks were half price. After all that worrying about prices and even stocking up at the supermarket, things on board weren’t that expensive after all… Most of the people around us were European families.

The bar at the front of the ship, with sofas and chairs along the windows

The dinner buffet was way better than expected

For dinner, we went to the buffet we’d booked. It was way better than I expected, and drinks were all-you-can-drink. I’m sad the photo can’t really show it, but it was so good.

A plate from the buffet: roast beef, shrimp, salmon and more

Breakfast was the cup noodles we’d bought at the supermarket in Stockholm. There’s no kettle in the cabin, but there’s a hot water dispenser on the deck with the shops, so you can get hot water there. Dinner was so good that I kind of regret not booking the breakfast buffet too…

A window cabin: great view, great shower

The view from the cabin was perfect, too.

The sea and the city through the cabin window, with striped curtains

This is how big the room is.

The whole cabin: bed, window and wooden shelves, with my husband standing by the window

I was surprised the shower ran properly hot. It never cut out halfway, either. It might even have been more comfortable than some European hotels.

A Marimekko sweater from the onboard shop

The Marimekko shop on board was so cute that I ended up buying a sweater. Shopping on board is duty-free.

The deep green and white Unikko-pattern sweater from the onboard Marimekko shop

Off the ship and straight onto the tram

Before we knew it, we arrived in Helsinki right on time. The tram stop is right by the exit, and you’re in central Helsinki in less than ten minutes.

The verdict

Compared with staying at a hotel, I think it’s great value, considering it includes the trip itself. We stayed in a window cabin, but there’s a bar with a great view, so you’d have plenty of fun even in a cabin without a window!

This is for you if you’re:

Traveling between European cities and want to enjoy the journey too
Hoping to cover your hotel and transportation in one go
Someone who’d rather sleep properly than take an overnight bus

Next time, I’m definitely booking the breakfast buffet too! Hope this helps :)