It’s been a long time since we’ve vacationed in a Zimmer in Israel. Honestly, ever since we started flying aboard every month (Three years ago), we didn’t have much time left for vacations in Israel. My advanced pregnancy forced me to stop flying, but on the other hand it made me come back to traveling in our country, which is luckily stunning. This time, we decided to go to Moshav Amirim in Galilee for the weekend. I was debating where we should go, but as soon as I came across this Zimmer I felt it was exactly the place for a beautiful and relaxed weekend.

In short about our weekend in Amirim, Vacation in North Israel

• We stated in Or Bereshit zimmer – You can book it through Update: this apartment is no longer available on airbnb (search for other accommodations )
• We went during the last week of October, 2019
• We came by car
• Moshav Amirim is a vegetarian moshav
• There’s plenty to do around the moshav (Good for both those looking for a restful weekend and those interested in nature and trekking)

Amirim Moshav, a vegetarian moshav in northern Israel

Before I tell you about the Zimmer itself, I’ll start with moshav of Amirim. This is the first time I’ve ever been to it, but I’ve heard a lot about it (especially from my vegan friends) and now I understand why. It’s hard to believe, but Amirim was founded in 1958 from an ideology for a healthier, more environmental place (in my opinion the founders were pioneers in their approach). The entire moshav is based on vegetarianism and all crops are organic (because the community decided not to spray them with any chemicals).

The moshav has excellent vegetarian restaurants and a great selection of high quality Zimmers. Some of the Zimmer owners have other businesses, such as carpentry and glasswork workshops, spas and more.
We really enjoyed the moshav’s atmosphere and felt it was just the calm and peaceful vacation we had needed.

Where did we stay in Amirim? Or Bereshit Zimmer

The zimmer we went to is Or Bereshit, a stunning zimmer with a view of Galilee.

What I liked about it especially is that it’s got a heated private pool, year-round (About 29 degrees Celsius), so it was nice even late into October. Additionally, the zimmer itself is beautiful. The zimmer is made of wood, with a round jacuzzi inside and a twin bed, kitchen with appliances, small living room and a bathroom. The zimmer was exceptionally clean and with great attention to detail, in both design and refreshments. We had a bottle of wine, chocolates, fruit, milk in the fridge and a tea extract. There’s also an espresso machine, a small fridge and a microwave.

The zimmer had an extra room with two single beds (So it can easily accommodate families, as well). The owners, Shalom and Debbie, were very lovely. They recommended restaurants to us and Shalom even helped us repair an issue with our car on Saturday night.

The stay doesn’t include breakfast, but you can get an excellent one delivered to you for an extra 120 shekels per couple (Let Shalom know at what time you’d like to have it a day in advance).

Where to eat at the moshav Amirim?

Yishay’s place

A must visit restaurant for hummus and shakshuka lovers (directions) . The only downside to it is that it’s closed from Friday afternoon until Sunday. Otherwise, we’d go more than once!
It has got a green view and fresh air. The owner was very nice and made everything on the spot. We ordered shakshuka and hummus with sprouted legumes and an Israeli salad with falafel. Everything was delicious and filling, but that didn’t stop us from getting the chocolate souffle with coconut and cream cheese. It’s called “Heaven” and it’s true to its name. Chocolate lovers mustn’t miss this dessert.

El Galil restaurant

The El Galil restaurant is an Arabic vegan restaurant (directions) with a structured menu including spreads as a starter (Around eight of them, if I recall). Each one was better than the last (There were white beans, hummus, pepper spreads and more), alongside delicious buns. We didn’t want to fill up on the spreads but we couldn’t stop eating them.

Next, we were served a small root vegetable and lentils soup, then four different dishes were brought out tableside: Mujadara, Siniya, an eggplant and tomato dish and Maqluba with a vegetable salad. Everything was vegan and extremely delicious. Let’s say you mostly likely won’t be able to finish everything, it’s a very filling meal. After the meal we got tea and two small baklavas.

Helen’s café

Upon first arrival, we felt like having a coffee, and found Helen’s café (directions). The place belongs to a lovely woman, with some seating outside. There’s a food menu, but we mostly wanted coffee, though we were tempted to have some of the apple pie that she said had just come out of the oven. The pie was excellent, served with vanilla ice-cream. This is definitely a great place for coffee and cake.

What is there to do in Amirim Moshav?

There are many things to do in Amirim, we didn’t get to do many of the attractions, but we’ll surely try them out next time. You can take a carpentry or glass working class there (Debbie, our Zimmer owner, owns the workshop as well). You can get a spa treatment or book one at your zimmer. You can do pretty much any pampering activity you want at the moshav (Including manicures and pedicures).

In the summer and over the holidays, every Friday there are different concerts at the open amphitheater.

Attractions near Moshav Amirim

Amirim is in an excellent location. It’s near Tzfat, Rosh Pina, Carmiel, Ma’alot and many other settlements in the area. It’s close to different treks, such as Tzalmon, Parud and Amud rivers.

A great attraction nearby is the Hula nature reserve (directions). We were at the lake in the past and rented a bike there, using them to travel, which was really nice. It’s also possible to trek there or rent a vehicle for a short trip to the lake.
You can also visit Monfort fort and lake in Ma’alot.
Within 40 minutes you can even reach Acre or the Kineret on the other side.
In the summer you can visit Jordan and go Kayaking.
In short, there are always more attractions and things to do in the area.

Shirat Roim – House Of Cheese, Yeshuv Lotem

A 20-minute drive from Amirim is Lotem. In it can be found a cheeses dairy farm, where you can buy worldwide award-winning cheeses and on Friday there is also a brunch served there. On Fridays and Saturdays, you can simply arrive, while during midweek you have to make a reservation in advance. Beyond the cheeses there is also olive oil, various spreads, honey and jams for sale. A little tip: After buying cheeses and olive oil, we ordered a home-made cold cider and went out for a drink outside in the lovely view.

Lotem winery

Opposite the dairy farm is the Lotem winery, which is a perfect place for wine and food in front of a great view.

In the winery you can go on a tour or wine tastings, or you could just sit on the terrace and order excellent wine and food. Roman had an excellent dish of meat there. He also ordered a slice of butcher’s cut, which was successful and baked sweet potato and Greek salad. In my opinion, the sweet potato was really delicious. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to taste the wine but Roman ordered two glasses of Cabernet Sauvignon Solo (red wine) so he was probably pleased with it.

It is advisable to book in advance, but the balcony cannot be reserved. So, if you want to sit outside, we recommend getting there around opening hours (around 11 am) especially if you are a group of several people.

A stop on the way to Amirim – Dalit El Carmel

We drove to Amirim from Tel Aviv and decided to stop on the way at Dalit El Carmel. Up the road to the local council, there are several places selling Druze pita and other Arabic delicacies. We decided to stop at the first opportunity and It was excellent. We had Druze pita, stuffed vine leaves and grilled eggplant. If you have the time, it’s of course recommended to go onto Dalit El Carmel itself and travel the area a bit (There are many interesting shops there) and you can have some Knafeh there.

Shopping in the Galilee – Yarka area

On the way back from Amirim we decided to stop at Yarka, a Druze settlement in west Galilee (A half hour drive from Amirim), there’s a huge shopping center there for adults, as well as baby things. There’s also a large trampoline park and more attractions.

In conclusion, Moshav Amirim is an excellent spot for a calm vacation, especially the Zimmer we visited. Due to my advanced pregnancy, we came there to eat and rest, and not so much for the walking trails and attractions, but the moshav area is filled with things to do, and anyone can find the attractions befitting his style there.

We always enjoy getting to know new destinations, and were always drawn to the Baltic states. When we received an invitation from Vilnius tourism board to travel there, we felt that this was an excellent opportunity to explore a new city, as well as expose a less known destination to the Israeli public.

About Vilnius

The capital city of Lithuania. It is a city that feels like a small town because everything is green there, there is almost no vehicular traffic, it is very peaceful and you can reach anywhere on foot. It is full of impressive architecture, interesting history, parks, museums, markets and much to do and see.

Is also a surprisingly culinary destination, because there we ate at restaurants that were among the best we had eaten at in the world (a detailed post about all the restaurants we visited in Vilnius)! And not only that, if you decide to visit it during the summer months like we did, then you can enjoy the almost endless daylight. The sunset was at 22:40 at night and the sunrise at five in the morning!! We found ourselves leaving a restaurant at ten in the evening and there was still light outside and it was a pleasure. Oh, and the taxis there are really cheap inside the city, we paid between 1.5 euros to 3 euros.

In short, the city of Vilnius turned out to be an amazing city that we were happy to reach. Next time we will also rent a car and explore all of Lithuania (the city of Kaunas is an hour away, I got to explore it in October 2018 and had a great time there).

Tips before traveling to Vilnius

How to get to Vilnius

Now it is possible to reach Vilnius by a direct flight from Tel Aviv. We flew with WizzAir. A flight of about three and a half hours. The flight was on time and we arrived at the city at five in the afternoon. As usual, I used the flight time to work on the blog and read a book.

SIM card

In Lithuania buying a SIM card is really cheap and very simple to find so I recommend buying a local SIM card instead of paying for an internet package from home. The local prepaid sim card costs about 4 Euros for 4gb of data and we bought it at a convenience store in the city center. Every time you encounter a convenience store called Narvesen, know that you can find a SIM card there.

Since I visited Vilnius, I have discovered ESIM, which is an electronic SIM. You can buy it online before you travel and don’t need to spend the time abroad looking for a SIM. I was very satisfied with their user experience (simple tutorial videos for operating the SIM card) and everything worked without any special problems. I wrote more about them in an extended post on the subject of taking a SIM card abroad and also about other options such as buying a local SIM card.

Blog followers have a 15% discount code for the Airalo company to purchase an ESIM – to redeem the discount, click on this link. The discount code is already included in the link. See it at checkout.

The biggest drawback at the moment is that some devices do not support an electronic SIM. How can you know if your device supports the electronic card? Very simple: go to this link and you can see. Link to which devices support ESIM.

Transportation in Vilnius

The truth is that most of the time we walked in the city, because it’s very fun to walk around and everything is close by. When we were a bit exhausted from walking then we took a taxi, because prices are really cheap. We ordered the taxi on the Yango app and there is also a local app called ETaksi (Though we booked using Yango every time and we were very satisfied).

In addition, we took the Hop on and Off bus twice, which is a great way to hear about the history of the city by bus and also to reach places you might not have reached. We discovered the Beltamons this way, which is an amazing area of ​​nature, waterfalls, bridges and walking and cycling routes (10 Minutes from the city). There is also public transportation by buses that can be used within the city.

Car rental in Vilnius

I think this is the most convenient and fun way to travel outside the city. Car prices are low and the roads are easy to drive. You can rent at the airport, there’s a big car rental center.

You can search for a car in the search engine Papam Papam. Personally, I really like to search through them because they save me time (instead of going to several websites) and they also have the option of filtering out non-recommended rental companies.

Vilnius pass

The city has many museums and things to do, and if you’re planning on getting a lot of them done – you might want to purchase the Vilnius card for either one, two or three days. The card will give you discounted or free entrance to many attractions.

For example, a gondola ride cost us a euro instead of eight, and the Hop on and off bus was free for two routes with a third route for 3 euros. In short, it’s very advantageous to get the card if you want to explore the city in depth. You may also purchase the card that includes free public transport.

Attractions in Vilnius

You can get ideas for other cool things you can do on the various attraction sites and even order through them (sometimes at a discounted price). The first attractions site is tiqets the second is Get your guide and Viator.

Where to stay in Vilnius

We stayed at Hotel Vilna a new four-star hotel in a central and quiet location. We really loved the hotel and the room we were in was excellent as well, pampering and spacious with a balcony overlooking the park.
For more information about our experience at the hotel.

You can search for places to stay in Vilnius via Booking.

Here’s my detailed route in Vilnius – Recommendations for things to do in the city

Day 1: Tour of the city, Georgian restaurant, walking around town, orange juice at the hotel, Chef’s restaurant

We started the day with breakfast at Hotel Vilnia

City tour

Then we went on a tour of the city, this was the first time we had a tour in Hebrew abroad, because we usually join free tours, which are based on tips, but this time we took a private tour of two hours with the guide Danny. The tour was fascinating and we learned a lot about Judaism in Vilnius and about the lesser aspects of Lithuania during World War 2.

If you want a tour in Hebrew in the city then you can book a private tour through his company Jerulita and if you are looking to join a group tour then there are companies offering free tours in the city such as FreeTour.

Lunch at Georgian restaurant

After the tour we wanted to have lunch, and had consulted Danny on where we should go. He recommended Georgian house and said it was the best Georgian restaurant in town, so of course we listen to his advice. The restaurant was great and I especially enjoyed the Khinkali with mushrooms.

Walking around town

After the restaurant we decided to walk around town by foot for a bit. It was great fun to see the city and just roam it aimlessly.

Orange juice

We decided to go back to the hotel to rest and noticed an orange juice stand next to it. We decided to get some and bring it back with us. We asked the hotel restaurant for a glass with ice and enjoyed our orange juice on our room’s balcony.

Dinner at chef’s restaurant

On our trip we visited two incredible chef’s restaurants. The first was Amandus and the second was Sweet Root. Both offered delicious meals. If you’re looking for a high class restaurant to celebrate an specific event or just treat yourself, I highly recommend either of these (Or both if you can manage it), as they’re considered among the best restaurants in town and you’ll enjoy a unique culinary experience there.

Day 2: Bike ride in the part, Gondola ride, a Portuguese and Indian restaurant, Illusions museum, coffee break, street food complex

We started the day as usual with breakfast at the hotel

Bike ride in the park

After the meal we decided to rent bikes from the hotel for 3 euros an hour and went to Bernardine park, in front of the hotel. The park is really beautiful and we had a great time there. If you don’t enjoy biking as much, just go there for a walk.

Gondola ride

We went over the benefits awarded by the Vilnius pass card and saw a 50-minute gondola ride in the city. We decided to buy cherries at the grocery store on the way there and went to the starting point for the ride.

The ride is a single euro with the Vilnius pass, instead of the usual 8 euros (It’s important to bring the coupon pamphlet that comes with the card as well). We were four people in the gondola, and enjoyed some excellent weather and delicious cherries. If you’re looking for a fun, light attraction this is a great choice.

Lunch – Portuguese restaurant with Indian influences

Before the trip I saw some recommendations for a restaurant called Gaspars and decided to give it a chance. It turned out to be one of the best restaurants of the trip. Those who love seafood will enjoy it very much and even those who do not, will find really good dishes.

Illusions Museum

Before the trip I did some research on the city and saw that there are many recommendations regarding the Museum of Illusions. The cost of admission is 11 Euros or only 5 euros with a Vilnius card. We were in the museum for about two hours and really enjoyed it. It is suitable for adults and children, and there are lots of illusions that will astonish you. I really recommend this museum and think it’s a must when you visit the city.

Coffee break

Then we went around the city and stopped in a cafe to have a cold coffee. We sat at Post Scriptum. I do not have a special recommendation about coffee in it, but it was fun to sit outside and the coffee was great.

Street Food

After a rest at the hotel we continued to the area of street food trucks called Open Kitchen. It’s only open on Fridays and Saturdays so if you happen to be there during the weekend, don’t miss out on this food court. It’s great for lunches or dinners. There are music and seating, as well as various food trucks like Vietnamese, Turkish, hamburgers and more. There is also a beer stall and a juice stand.

Day 3: Bus tour, Trip in Belmontas, grill restaurant, another bus tour, local restaurant

We started the day with breakfast at the hotel

Hop on and Off Bus Tour

We saw that there was a possibility using the Vilnius ticket to take a free bus tour and we decided it was a good option, because it was another good way to see the city and I was also a bit tired (that’s what happens when traveling whilst pregnant). We went to the station where the bus leaves and it turned out that we missed the bus we wanted. There are three routes and we wanted to take the red route, but because it was already out, we settled on the green track. It turned out that our delay was excellent because thanks to the Green Line we reached a magical place.

Belmontas area

We rode the bus for about half an hour and listened to the audio and heard information about the places we saw. Then we arrived at Belmontas. From the description of the place on the audio guide, we realized that we wanted to stay there a while, rather than continue the bus ride.

For those who want to continue on the bus then there is a possibility to go out for a 10-minute break for a picture and then continue the bus tour. We decided to stay there and just return by taxi (the distance is 10 minutes to the city center).

The area itself is really beautiful and there are waterfalls, bridges and walking and bicycle paths. At first, we took photographs and just explored the area.

Walking path

After that, we took a walking route of about an hour walking and saw people picnicking along the way (there are lots of trees and plants so it’s shaded and pleasant to sit there) and also families who took their small children to the shallow waters of the river. There is also the possibility of a slightly longer walk.

Grill Restaurant

When we had finished walking, we decided to sit down for lunch. There are four restaurants in the area, and we chose to sit at the one opposite the river and the waterfalls and there was a professional grill there. The Belmontas Waterfalls restaurant is a grill and local cuisine restaurant. Roman ordered a great ribs dish there and we also ordered Greek salad and sausages.

Red route Hop on and Off Bus Tour

After lunch, we booked a taxi with the Yango app and returned to the hotel (costing about 4 euros). After a rest at the hotel, we decided to take another bus tour and this time we took the red route. We took a tour of about an hour where we stayed on the bus and just listened to the audio and heard about the points of interest we went through.

Dinner and local restaurant

This time for dinner we went to the local restaurant Leiciai. Roman made a mistake having ribs that day because we had a full tasting meal with plenty of local and satisfying food and Roman had no place for it anymore. The restaurant had a medieval design and there was also a band that played Lithuanian music. There was a great atmosphere and if you come for a tasting dinner there which costs 25 euro per person you should come with plenty of room in your stomach. The meal also includes tasting of 5 different local beers.

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Day 4: Tour to Trakai city with included a castle tour, a restaurant by the lake, a pedal boat and on the way back – a Chinese restaurant in Vilnius

Legendary café

That morning we decided to skip breakfast at the hotel and go to Augustas ir Barbora café, which was recommended to me on Instagram. This is a perfect café for taking pictures, as well as delicious food. I had a healthy breakfast there with Muesli, fresh juice and coffee and Roman only had juice as he was still full from the previous day.

Tour of the city of Trakai

After breakfast we went to the station from which the tour bus leaves for Trakai (there is a tour with only audio, without a tour of the castle, for 20 euros and tour with a tour guide which also includes a tour of the castle for 35 euros, there is a discount for both types of tours with the Vilnius pass).

We did the tour with the guide. This is a half-day tour to the former capital city of Lithuania (a journey of about 30 minutes to the city). Our tour included a ride to the city with a tour guide who told us in English about the city. After that there was a tour of the castle itself with the tour guide for about an hour and then there was an hour or so of free time in the city. We quickly realized that an hour and a half would not be enough for us, so we informed the instructor that we would not join the return ride and would return independently.

There is also a possibility to arrive by car or by public transport (there is a bus coming from Vilnius to Trakai but it stops at a station 2 km from the city center, then you can walk to the center or take a taxi).

Tour of the castle

After reaching Trakai we went for a tour of the castle, which was built in the 15th century and has since been reconstructed several times. The castle is quite large and it’s recommended to have a tour guide with you, otherwise it’s difficult to understand what you see in each room. If you come to Trakai independently, try calling the castle in advance and seeing if it’s possible to arrange a guided tour in advance.

Lunch

After the castle tour, we walked around town for a bit and visited the Bona restaurant. We sat right by the lake and ordered Kibinai, a local dish, a type of pastry with different fillings, as a starter. I had the cheese and dried tomato filling which was really good. For mains I had fish and Roman had clams, we enjoyed ourselves a lot, especially with the view of the lake and castle.

Pedal boat

After the meal we decided to rent a pedal boat. The rental costs 10 euros an hour and is a really fun activity. It was hot outside and we were bummed not to have brought swimsuits, as many people had swimsuits on in the boats and went into the waters outside the castle, where it’s shallow. It’s recommended in general to bring swimsuits, so you can go in the lake on the hot summer days.

In the afternoon we wanted to go back to the hotel and preferred getting a taxi rather than waiting for the bus, but couldn’t find any available taxis on the app, so we ended up coming back with an Italian tour for the elderly.

Dinner at Chinese restaurant

We came back quite exhausted from our day In Trakai, as it was really hot as well and we decided to have dinner at a restaurant near the hotel. A Chinese restaurant named Mian. I ordered noodles and Roman had soup, we were both pleased.

The next day we came back to Israel.

You could summarize this trip as a very enjoyable experience! We discovered a peaceful and beautiful city with many things to do. Before the trip we were asked if five nights wasn’t too long and we honestly felt like it wasn’t long enough for everything we wanted to do. We wanted to visit some churches which looked very impressive from the outside, to visit a large park in town, go to other museums and a few markets.

There are also two vantage points which require climbing stairs which we skipped due to my pregnancy. In short, I recommend at least four days in the city, and the more the better.

In June 2019 we traveled to Vilnius, Lithuania. We were invited by the Vilnius office of tourism for a five-day tour of the city and were thrilled, as Lithuania has recently become a popular destination for Israelis, due to low-cost flights by WizzAir.

Before we arrived in Vilnius, we received our invitation to Hotel Vilnia. When I read the reviews about it and viewed the pictures, I was really excited. The reviews were excellent and the hotel looked really charming. When we arrived at the hotel, it turned out that there was a reason for such good reviews, because this was indeed an excellent option for sleeping in Vilna.

About Hotel Vinlia

A new four-star hotel which is already a credit in its favor because everything there is clean, modern and great looking. The hotel was built in a 19th-century building and is really beautiful on the outside. The hotel also has a bar restaurant and guests receive a 10% discount there. Bicycles can be rented from the hotel at a cost of EUR 3 per hour. There are also various rooms and a breakfast restaurant. There is also room service that operates according to the restaurant’s working hours.

Rooms at the hotel

We received the upgraded room with a balcony facing the park. I strongly recommend taking this room type because the difference in prices compared to the classic room is minute, and the room was really pampering. Let’s start with the room being clean and spacious. There is an armchair, a dresser with a coffee and tea set and glasses. There is a mini bar and a chair for those who want to work, and above there is a TV hanging on the wall. The shower room had a bath and two sinks (I love bathrooms with two sinks, it always gives me a luxurious feeling) and a toilet.

There is a super comfortable bed (you have been warned that it will be hard for you to get out of it in the morning) and on the bed are bathrobes and spa shoes (among my favorite hotel items). And of course, the crowning glory was the wonderful terrace that was really fun to sit in. It had a green view and although the road that passes there is a main road, there is almost no traffic, so the atmosphere still felt quiet and soothing there. In general, there is almost no traffic in Vilnius, and this makes it a very peaceful city. By the way the sunset from the balcony was amazing and the fun part was that it was at 22:40 at night!!

The location of the hotel

One of the good things about the hotel is its location. It is centrally located, very quiet and comfortable.

Where is it located? It is in the old town opposite Bernardine Park and this means you can cross the road and find yourself in a beautiful park. We rented bicycles from the hotel and rode around the park with them. At the entrance to the park there is also a stand of freshly squeezed orange juice and an ice cream parlor, and these were great options on the hot days of the summer. A few minutes’ walk from the hotel there are some good restaurants like a vegan bistro and a great Chinese restaurant. If you continue walking for another two minutes, you can reach the square of the central cathedral and a central boulevard where you can find restaurants, cafes, bars and shops.

If you go to the other side of the hotel then you will reach the famous church in the city that looks like a castle. St. Anne’s Church

And if you walk a little further, you will reach the second area of ​​the old city that crosses the river Vilnia and there you will find restaurants, bars and cafes as well.

You can essentially reach anywhere by foot from the hotel, but If you are tired of walking, there are bus stops right next to the hotel and you can also book a taxi because the taxis in Vilna are super cheap (average cost in the city between 1.5 euros and three euros).

Breakfast

Our stay at the hotel included breakfast, which is a great start by itself. The meal is a buffet, you’ll find vegetables, fruits, cheeses, hams, different breads, a healthy corner with dried fruit, granola and cornflakes and a section with hot food such as steamed vegetables, sausages and different stews. There was also a daily quiche and some baked goods and a few types of egg dishes. There’s no egg station, but you can have the staff ask the kitchen to make an egg any way you want. There’s also a coffee machine for instant coffee, Americano, cappuccinos and more. There are also several jugs of juice. I think it was a good breakfast, with everything you need in the morning. It’s not unique, but definitely satisfying.

We stayed at the hotel for five nights and were bummed we had to leave. Everything was great and I highly recommend anyway coming to Vilnius to get a room there. The price is great for what you get and the location is a true winner.

Some of our trips I consider to be very successful thanks to their culinary aspect. Sometimes we even chose our destination based on the local cuisine… For example, one of the reasons we love visiting Asia is the amazing Asian cuisine. Our trip to Vilnius was by invitation from Vilnius’s tourism board, and prior to our flight (We flew with WizzAir company) they sent us an itinerary which included meals at two chef’s restaurants, as well as one local restaurant.

When I looked up the reviews for these restaurants, I found them to be exceptional, and so I was intrigued as to what our experience there will be. I can already tell you that Vilnius turned out to be a surprising culinary gem.

The reason I decided to write a post about these restaurants is that each one of them was high class and amazingly delicious! Let’s just say we came back happy and satiated from this trip, and I can’t wait to go back there and try more restaurants.

Our recommendations for restaurants in Vilnius

Amandus restaurant

In a single word – Wow, and in two words – Huge wow!! This is one of the best restaurants in Lithuania and with good reason. Every bite there will surprise you and excite you with unique, special flavors. We went there for a tasting’s menu. We’re big fans of tasting meals, and we don’t like browsing the menu beforehand, as we enjoy being surprised by each new dish. There wasn’t a single disappointing dish there, everything was really high quality. The presentation was unusual and one of the things I liked was that the chef himself brought out some of the dishes and told us about them. The service there is an easy five stars.

I don’t want to tell you much about the dishes we had, as I’d rather not spoil the surprise and I can say we had fish soup I’m still thinking back to even now. It was the winning dish that day, and not an easy choice. If you’re looking for a restaurant to bring a celebration to your palate, I highly recommend this one.

The meal starts at seven o’clock and lasts at least two hours. It costs 55 euros a person, or 85 euros when served with matching wines. It includes five small appetizers to start, three courses and a unique dessert. Restaurant’s website and Directions map.

Sweet Root restaurant

This restaurant is a three-hour culinary experience of colors, special presentations and local flavors. The restaurant is on the top restaurants in Vilnius list.
It’s known for dishes made of exclusively local produce, meaning the menu changes to reflect the season and the available ingredients. Each dish is a bite or two, and every new dish is different from the last.  You’ll find small dishes made of many different components, and thus you’ll experience a unique combination of flavors.

This restaurant had perfect service, as well, and the atmosphere was great. We sat there for over three hours and were intrigued by every new dish, what it looked like and what it was made of. A dish I really liked was an onion stuffed with buckwheat and many other ingredients, which when mixed together created a lightly sweet and very enjoyable taste. Another great dish was the eel.

While dishes are small, but there are so many of them – you’ll definitely not leave hungry.
If you’re looking for a restaurant for a modern, local culinary experience, this is the place for you. The meal costs 75 euros a person, with an additional 55 euros for matching wines.
The meal had 7 dishes, but the counted 15 different “tastings” (As there are some dishes comprised of several small portions).
Restaurant’s website and Directions map.

Both restaurants require reservations in advance, and should be informed two days in advance if you have any food allergies or ingredients you avoid.

Local bar – restaurant Leiciai

As soon as you walk into this restaurant, you’ll feel the local atmosphere, as if you’ve gone back to the middle ages. You’ll be able to enjoy authentic, as well as modern, Lithuanian cuisine and a wide variety of local beers. We had a tasting’s meal there as well, and I start by saying you should come here hungry, as you’ll need a lot of room for all the food and beer.

The meal started with a plate of local cheeses and sausages, and herring salad. We then received cold beet soup (A very famous Lithuanian dish on hot days), and then a few main dishes like baked potatoes with different feelings (Another famous local dish).

The meal included 5 beer tastings and a local dessert at the end of it. During the dessert stage we were already too full, but I saw on their menu that they have a pie they make in house; on that day it was a berry and yoghurt pie. I couldn’t skip trying it. So, we asked for it in addition to the dessert. I must say it’s one of the best pies I’ve ever had. I’d recommend it even if you’re quite full. The meal costs 25 euros a person. Definitely a restaurant worth coming to and trying the Lithuanian cuisine. Restaurant’s website and Directions map.

Gaspars – A Portuguese restaurant with Indian touches

This was one of our favorite restaurants this trip and we actually wanted to go there a second time, but unfortunately didn’t get the chance. If you’re seafood fans, I highly recommend this one. They have super tasty dishes with fresh ingredients and reasonable prices.

We took three entrees and a main course to share. For entrees, we ordered crab soup which was amazing with delicate flavors, a shrimp dish that ended too quickly because it was so delicious, it was a little spicy and sour, and a chicken tikka with yoghurt that was excellent, but the other two were more special.

For a main course we ordered an octopus dish that was the best octopus I ever ate. The octopus was soft and the sauce excellent! In short, this restaurant has left us a taste for more and I think it is a restaurant that must be visited by anyone in Vilnius.

The price range of the first courses was between 4-11 euros and the main dishes were between 11-46 euros. They also had a portion of curry, which is the flagship dish, which unfortunately we did not taste because we were already full. Restaurant’s website and Directions map.

Georgian House restaurant

We received a recommendation from our guide, Danny, who gave us a tour of the city. We wanted a recommendation for a Georgian restaurant because we saw there were a lot of them in town and he said this one was the best. The truth is, we did not try any other Georgian restaurants there, but this one was so good that there was no need to look for any others.

We ordered a salad with Georgian goat cheese that was refreshing and successful. After that, I ordered Khinkali (Georgian dumplings) filled with mushrooms and Roman ordered them with meat stuffing. I think the mushroom stuffing was extraordinary. I recommend you go to this restaurant especially for this dish. Roman also ordered a huge lamb skewer and he was very pleased with it, but he had to work hard to finish it because the Khinkali was filling all by itself (five big dumplings).

We also ordered Georgian lemonade which had a phosphorescent green color and its flavor reminded licorice. I was less excited by its taste but others may enjoy it. The Khinkali dish cost around 7 euros, salad cost around 7 euro and the skewer around 15 Euros. Restaurant’s website and Directions map.

Mian Chinese restaurant

This restaurant was about 50 meters from our Hotel, Hotel Vilnia. On our last night we passed there on our way to the hotel, the smell was so good we decided to have dinner there on the spot. The menu had many good sounding dishes, but I decided to go for noodles with beef and Roman had noodle beef soup.

Both dishes were really good and satisfying, the noodles themselves were really high quality. The price for each dish was about 7 euros. For those looking for quality Chinese food instead of fast-food, this place is recommended. They also have Bao buns on the menu (Steamed buns with different fillings) and spring rolls. Restaurant’s website and Directions map.

Belmontas Waterfalls grill restaurant

This restaurant is in a magical place called Belmonto. A 10-minute drive from the city center you will find a perfect place with waterfalls, hiking trails, bridges, lots of nature and various restaurants. We spent half a day there and did a short walk and lunch at a restaurant with a waterfall view. This restaurant specializes in grilling and Lithuanian dishes. Roman ordered ribs that were excellently spiced (I usually do not like ribs but these ones I really liked).

We also ordered a Greek salad that was good and I ordered a sausage dish (it was a children’s dish but it was large and tasty). If you are in the area then this could be a great option for lunch or dinner. The price range of the main courses was around 10 euros. Restaurant’s website and Directions map.

Open Kitchen – a food truck court

On Fridays and Saturdays from about four to ten o’clock there is a compound of street food. The complex also has music and lots of seating. You will find burgers, beers, Vietnamese food, Turkish food and more. There is not too much selection there but there aren’t many people either and it is definitely a fun place to visit for dinner or just to get a snack and pass the time with nice music and a fun atmosphere. The prices are cheap there, for example you can find a dish of French fries for two euros or a Vietnamese Pho soup for 5 euros. Website link and Directions map.

Augustas ir Barbora – a fairy-tale cafe

A coffee shop that we came to following a recommendation we received on Instagram. After viewing pictures of the café and reading reviews I knew we had to visit it for both the photos and for the food. The recommendation turned out to be great, as the coffee house was lovely.

We arrived there for a light breakfast and I chose a healthy breakfast of natural juice, coffee and muesli with yogurt, fruit and granola. I really liked the meal; the fruit was fresh and the crunchy granola was not overly sweet. I think it’s a great place for breakfast or coffee and an afternoon snack. There are cakes, pastries and sandwiches. It is definitely worth a visit, especially for those who are looking for Instagram-able dishes. Link to Café and Directions map.

As you can see we managed to check out a great deal of restaurants in the four and a half days we were in Vilnius, that’s what happens when traveling with a pregnant woman in her second trimester and a tall man who likes to eat endlessly 🙂 Every restaurant we were in was a hit and therefore we declared Vilnius one of the most surprising culinary destinations.

If you are looking for a special occasion meal or just to be pampered, then the chef’s restaurants were amazing! If you want a restaurant of a very high standard that’s not too expensive at the same time, then Gaspars will be perfect for that. I also highly recommend going to have the Khinkali at the Georgian restaurant and go to the open kitchen if you are there on Friday or Saturday.

In the last two years, I’ve been to Cyprus three times, and so I’ve decided to write an orderly itinerary based on all my trips on the island (On the Greek side of it).

I think Cyprus is a great destination for those looking for something close to Israel (A 45-minute flight away), as well as those looking for either a relaxed vacation to catch a tan during or for treks and scenery.

A bit about Cyprus

Cyprus is an island nation located in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Turkey and west of Syria. It’s considered the third largest island in the Mediterranean. Its capital is Nicosia and the spoken language is Greek. The currency is the Euro.

How to get to Cyprus

Today, it is very simple and cheap to fly to Cyprus (cheaper than flying to Eilat). You can take a direct flight to Larnaca or Paphos. The flight is about 45 minutes.

On one occasion, we decided to fly to Paphos for 48 hours, just because we found a two-way flight at 10 euros per person.

Recommended hotels in Cyprus

During our trips we stayed at hotels at various levels – from basic ones in central locations to 4-5-star hotels. The hotels we stayed at were in Larnaca, Paphos, and Limassol

Hotels in Larnaca

We stayed in a super-central location in Elenora hotel apartments (you may wish to request a back room that does not face the main street, to avoid noise late at night).

We also got to stay at the five-star Golden Bay beach hotel. The design of the hotel is a little old fashioned but the service is good, it’s close to a quiet beach, there’s a good breakfast and spacious rooms.

Hotels in Limassol

One of the hotels we loved most in Cyprus and in general during our vacations. The Mediterranean beach hotel is a four-star hotel that feels like five stars, modern design, with five great restaurants, good service and many facilities like a gym, spa and more. It is located on the promenade and 9 km from the Old City.

Hotels in Paphos

We stayed at the 4-star hotel Capital coast. A cozy hotel with spacious rooms and a varied breakfast. The location is fine but not central. There is a bus stop nearby and we were there with a car. There is no beach near the hotel but there is a fun outdoor pool. The hotel gets the job done, but I would not say it is particularly indulgent. We also stayed at a basic 2-star hotel in an excellent location near the harbor (close to restaurants, bars and the promenade). Pyramos hotel . If you are looking for a cheap alternative and a good location, then it is definitely recommended.

Transportation in Cyprus

We preferred to rent a car every time we were in Cyprus. The cost of renting isn’t high and because we wanted to travel, we preferred to be mobile with the car. If you are worried of renting a car there because driving is reversed, you should know that there is almost no traffic and after a few minutes of driving you get used to everything being in reverse. Tips on how to lower car rental costs.

If you decide not to rent a car then the options for traveling are buses or taxis or by taking daily tours. There are busses inside the cities, as well as between cities.

Sim Card in Cyprus

The easiest thing is to do is purchase a Sim card at the airport but if you land late and there is no place to buy it, then the next day you can rent one in the city. You can search for Cytamobile-Vodafone or MTN stores. The cost of a Sim card is about 15 Euros.

Cyprus itinerary

The route is a combination of the trips we made to Cyprus. Our first time, we spent ten days there so we combined all the different destinations, while on the next few trips we only came for a few days and were at a single destination, with day trips thrown in.

Our route includes Larnaca (with day trips to Ayia Napa for a nature reserve and a day trip to the village of Lepakra) from there on to a vacation in Limassol and then to Paphos (day trip to Nicosia, day trip to the Trudos Mountains, day trip to the Acamas reservation and day trip to the winery and local villages in the region).

Larnaca

Recommended duration of stay: Two to three days

Recommended things to do in Larnaca

Spend time in the city center – An area with many stores, restaurants and bars (Also suitable for those looking to shop). There is also a small, local market and good cocktail bars in town.

Visit the Salt Lake, where during the autumn you can see flamingos.

Visit the Muslim mosque of Hala sultan tekke, which is located by the lake.

Walk the road from Kamares Aqueduct to the Salt Lake, or only a part of it (A 4km walking trail).

Walk the Larnaca promenade.

Day trips outside Larnaca

A recommended place to visit is Cape Greco reserve. A charming reserve located in Ayia Napa (about an hour drive from Larnaca). There are walking trails of varying degrees of difficulty, there is a beautiful natural bridge and many places for a picnic. It’s definitely worth a day or half a day.

Another place to visit is the village of Lepakra

A picturesque village with local restaurants and nice cafes and lots of lace shops. You can find a local wine shop with a selection of wines and liqueurs. It is a tourist village but if you arrive in the middle of a week it may be less crowded there.

For all the recommendations on Larnaca

Beaches

If you want beaches, you’ll find them at Ayia Napa, or for a less touristic place with beautiful calm beaches you can travel to the town of Protaras (an hour’s drive from Larnaca)

Limassol

Recommended duration of stay: two or three days

How to get there: a journey of about 45 minutes from Larnaca (by car)

Recommended things to do in Limassol

We arrived in Limassol to stay at the Mediterranean beach hotel and not to do too much. We felt like being on vacation and it was the perfect hotel for that. We spent most of our days at the hotel, but one day we rented a bicycle and rode along the boardwalk to the Old Town. The old town is full of bars and restaurants and it’s fun to walk around. It also has a nice castle worth visiting.

On another day we rode the bicycle to the Amathus, which is an archaeological site of one of the oldest royal cities of Cyprus.

Learn about the resort in Limassol

Paphos

Recommended duration of stay? Three to six days (depending on whether you plan to combine bedrest and trips)

How to get there: From Limassol about 1 hour by car

Things to do in Paphos

We really enjoyed the Segway tour we did in Paphos.

It is also recommended to visit the archeological site at the port. We visited there in the spring and there was just a beautiful flowering. The site itself is impressive. There are ruins and mosaics worth visiting. Another well-known place is the tombs of the kings that have underground tombs from the 4th century.

It is recommended to visit the covered market as well (a relatively small market) with local produce and souvenirs. It is open from Saturday to Monday.

For all the recommendations for things to do in Paphos.

Day trips from Paphos

A trip to the Akamas Reservation

We went there for a walking track. The hiking route was on a medium level and included a mountain climb with an amazing view of the sea and Paphos. On the way back we chose a longer route to pass through the Blue Lagoon. Jeep tours and lagoon excursions are available.

The reserve has different walking paths of varying degrees of difficulty and lengths. If you are looking for nature as well as some walking, this is a very recommended place.

A trip to the Venetian bridges and Trudos

The Trudos Mountains are known for skiing in the winter, but when we were there in February it was rather pleasant weather and not snowy at all, we went there to travel in different villages in the mountains. Before arriving at the mountains, we also stopped at Bridge Tzelefos in the Paphos forest. You can stop there just to see the bridges or you can do different walking routes. You can walk among the bridges by car or by foot. At the first bridge there is a possibility to go up the mountain to an observation point.

Trip to Nicosia

Nicosia is the capital city of Cyprus and one day we decided to go visit it. It is reminiscent of a combination of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. It has an ancient atmosphere combined with a modern atmosphere with many shops, with high-class bars and quality restaurants. For those looking for city life and shopping, it’s worth a visit.

For more information about day trips from Paphos

A trip to the winery and villages in the Paphos area

On a 30-minute drive from the center of Paphos there is a charming winery that offers wine tastings for visitors. Tsangarides Winery is a 10-minute drive from the nice village of Letymbou. On the way there, there are many villages you can combine with your winery trip (there are other wineries a little farther away if you want to make a trip between wineries).

Our trip to Ireland was a while back (October of last year), but I didn’t get to write a post summarizing the route, and it was about time to do that.

We flew to Ireland following a bloggers’ conference that I wanted to attend, and I did not plan much when it came to activities there, the planning was done during the trip and turned out to be one of our most successful trips. I can’t wait to visit this country again, because there is a lot more to see and do there. We decided not to rent a car there, but to take public transportation and book tours, instead.

Our itinerary in Ireland: Killarney -> Dublin (with day trips out of town) -> Belfast

Tips before traveling to Ireland

SIM card

I personally recommend using an ESIM, which is an electronic SIM, and recommend Airalo. I was very satisfied with their user experience (simple tutorial videos for operating the SIM card) and everything worked without any special problems. I wrote more about them in an extended post on the subject of taking a SIM card abroad and also about other options such as buying a local SIM card.

Blog followers have a 15% discount code for the Airalo company to purchase an ESIM – to redeem the discount, click on this link. The discount code is already included in the link. See it at checkout.

The biggest drawback at the moment is that some devices do not support an electronic SIM. How can you know if your device supports the electronic card? Very simple: go to this link and you can see. Link to which devices support ESIM.

Car rental in Ireland

You can rent a car (a post with tips on how to rent a car abroad), the truth is that we love to rent a car in the countries we travel, so we can explore more areas and have the flexibility of staying for as long as we want. However, since we had relatively little time to travel and due to Ireland’s left-sided driving and narrow roads, we decided not to rent one this time.

Public transport in Ireland has proved to be very convenient and inexpensive and there are also day trips to many places, so you can do a lot without renting a car.

You can search for a car in the search engine Papam Papam. Personally, I really like to search through them because they save me time (instead of going to several websites) and they also have the option of filtering out non-recommended rental companies.

Attractions in Ireland

You can get ideas for other cool things you can do on the various attraction sites and even order through them (sometimes at a discounted price). The first attractions site is tiqets the second is Get your guide and Viator.

Where to stay in Ireland

At Killarney, I slept in a small family hotel that was basic but at a good price and in a good location (a short walk from the city center). Harmoni inn Glena house.

In Dublin we stayed at a 3-star hotel with a prime location, Blooms hotel.

In Belfast we stayed at a charming Airbnb apartment (which is no longer available) in the city center.

You can search for places to stay in Ireland via Booking.

How to get to Ireland

Our itinerary started in Killarney because of the bloggers conference.

I took a flight to Dublin with a stopover in Amsterdam (no direct flights from Tel Aviv to Dublin). I booked the flights a few months in advance and it cost about $ 400 both ways. I started the trip alone (at the conference) and Roman joined me later on in Dublin.

From Dublin, I took a train to Killarney, which took about four hours.

When is it best to visit Ireland?

The biggest drawback in Ireland (and, in my opinion, the only one) is that it is rainy most of the year, but if you’re lucky (like we were) you can enjoy a rainless week. The recommended months for a trip to Ireland are April-June and September-October. We were there in October and it had rained three times during our stay, never for longer than half an hour – after which, everything became very beautiful.

Killarney

How long did I stay there? Five nights (two of which were for the conference).

How did I get there? By train from Dublin

Recommended things to do in Killarney

I really enjoyed the trip to the Gap of Dunloe. The excursion in the area includes an hour and a half long boat ride in the most stunning place and a three-hour walk through mesmerizing landscapes. The walking route is at an easy-medium level. There are ups and downs but this is not too difficult a route.

Other things to do are: the Muckross House, built in 1840, and situated opposite a beautiful lake surrounded by magical gardens. The Killarney National Park has lots of hiking trails and you can also take a bike ride there (unfortunately I did not have time to explore it) and there is also the Ladies View point, which requires a car to visit (I got there with another blogger who rented a car).

In addition, you can stroll around the town itself which has good restaurants, cafes, bars and shops. This is a small town and it’s really fun to explore.

An extended post on Killarney and recommended things to do in town

Dublin

How long did we stay there? Four nights

How did we get there? By train from Killarney

Things to do in Dublin

From Killarney I took the train back to Dublin where I met Roman. We had a full schedule for Dublin and the truth is that I loved the city and all the tours we took in and out of town.

On our first day we took a free tour of the city (based on tips) and learned about the city and its history, from there we went on a tour of the whiskey museum with whiskey tastings and finished the day with an amazing Michelin star restaurant.

On the second day we took a half-day tour of Dublin itself, to the castle and the harbor area and ended the evening with a traditional Irish meal and a local bar.

On the third day we took a full day tour to the Moher Cliffs (a must visit, especially on a day with good weather) which also included a stop in Galway and a visit to Burren.

On the fourth day we did some shopping, walked around the city, went to two beautiful parks and finished with a modern Irish meal.

For our full route in Dublin with recommendations for places, restaurants, attractions and tours.

Belfast

How long did we stay there? one night

How did we get there? By express bus from Dublin

Things to do in Belfast

The truth is that we hadn’t planned to visit Belfast at first, but then we heard about the Game of thrones tour originating there, and that was something we knew we had to do (as fans of the series). We went especially for the tour, for one night. The ride there was on an express bus and within two hours we arrived in the city.

We arrived in town in the evening and returned the next day after the tour, so we did not have time to explore the city itself. One of the things we did not get to do and wanted was the Titanic Museum (one of the city’s most famous attractions). But there was no doubt that the arrival to Belfast was worth it, even just for the tour, because it was amazing!!! And we got to visit the ​​Giant’s Causeway after the tour, an area of ​​about 40,000 basalt columns combined, the result of an ancient volcanic eruption (not related to the series, but it’s in the area and is highly recommended). For details about the Game of thrones tour and our experience.

The tour is also recommended for those who have not seen the series because the places they visit are amazing.

The trip to Finland was, to me, one of the most special trips I have ever experienced in my life. It was also the most challenging because of the freezing cold there, but I enjoyed it very much despite the cold.

I decided to write a detailed post about our whole trip there because we did it independently and not through an organized trip. It is important to me that whoever wants to fly there on his own will understand the advantages and disadvantages of it and will make the considerations according to what he thinks will be more suitable for him.

I will already say that this is not a cheap trip, both as an organized trip and as an independent trip, and the costs of the trip can also vary by thousands of shekels depending on the attractions and accommodation that you choose for your trip.

We did a combination of cheaper and more expensive things, some of which were through collaborations. I will describe the route according to what we did exactly. At the end of the post I’ve organized all the costs neatly. Of course, the prices of flights fluctuate, which also affects the price.

Tips before traveling to Finland

SIM card

This trip was on 2019 I didn’t had an ESIM supported phone. Each of us purchased a Sim card for 7 euros per week at the airport in Helsinki (with unlimited data package). Since then, I personally recommend using an ESIM, which is an electronic SIM, and recommend Airalo. I was very satisfied with their user experience (simple tutorial videos for operating the SIM card) and everything worked without any special problems. I wrote more about them in an extended post on the subject of taking a SIM card abroad and also about other options such as buying a local SIM card.

Blog followers have a 15% discount code for the Airalo company to purchase an ESIM – to redeem the discount, click on this link. The discount code is already included in the link. See it at checkout.

The biggest drawback at the moment is that some devices do not support an electronic SIM. How can you know if your device supports the electronic card? Very simple: go to this link and you can see. Link to which devices support ESIM.

Car rental in Finland

Personally I think this is the most convenient and fun way to travel. Car prices are low and the roads are easy to drive. We didn’t rent a car for this trip, because we had a fully pre-arranged package which included a transportation.

You can search for a car in the search engine Papam Papam. Personally, I really like to search through them because they save me time (instead of going to several websites) and they also have the option of filtering out non-recommended rental companies.

Attractions in Finland

You can get ideas for other cool things you can do on the various attraction sites and even order through them (sometimes at a discounted price). The first attractions site is tiqets the second is Get your guide and  Viator.

Where to stay in Finland

You can search for places to stay in Finland via Booking.

Information about our trip to Finland

Our trip was in late January and early February 2019.

We had an 8-day itinerary and traveled as a couple, Roman and I.

Our route was Helsinki – Saariselka (Lapland) – Rovaniemi (Lapland) – Helsinki

Methods of transport – internal flights, taxis, trains and buses

Helsinki

How did we get to Helsinki?

On a flight from Tel Aviv with a stopover in Amsterdam with KLM

Where we stay in Helsinki?

We slept in a charming Update: this apartment is no longer available on airbnb in a relatively central location (15-minute walk to the train station and the city center). Search for other accommodations.

The cost of the apartment was cheaper than a hotel but if you prefer a hotel then I recommend using the price comparison website.

Tip to reduce the cost of accommodation: After booking a hotel via the internet (with a free cancellation option) I recommend you send the invitation you receive to Provo (link to Provo). If the room rate at the hotel you booked with goes down, they will send you an alert which’ll allow you to cancel the order and re-order at a lower price. And what’s cool is that this service is free.

How long were we in Helsinki?

A day and a half at the beginning of the trip and another half day on the way back (I’d recommend spending 2-3 days there, if possible)

What did we do in Helsinki?

We went on a free tour of the city (Tip based), to a local market, to the rock church, an orthodox cathedral, we were in a gourmet restaurant, in a charming cafe, and worked a little at the library. Here is a detailed post about all the things we did in Helsinki.

For transport: We’ve mostly used the Uber app.

Saariselka

How did we get to Saariselka?

On an internal flight from Helsinki to Ivalo airport in Northern Finland’s Lapland region.

Where did we stay in Saariselka?

The reason for our visit was an invitation to stay at the Northern Lights village, how the most unique places I’ve ever seen in my life.

How long were we there for?

Two nights (3 full days)

What did we do in Saariselka?

We received a two-night package, including a pickup at the airport (There and back), full pension, Husky dogs and deer sleds. Additionally, we visited the saunas and got to see the northern lights!!
I’ve written a full post about our experience at the Northern Lights Village.

Rovaniemi

How did we get to Rovaniemi?

By express bus (A three-and-a-half-hour drive from Saariselka). We ordered tickets through the Matkahuolto busses website.

Where did we stay in Rovaniemi?

At an Update: this apartment is no longer available on airbnb in the town center.
Search for other accommodations.

How long did we stay there?

Three nights

What did we do in Rovaniemi?

On the first day, we arrived in the afternoon and we were just in the mall and shopping at the supermarket, the next day we rode snowmobiles in the mountains, then we went to a good Indian restaurant, Curry Masala, which was close to the snowmobile office. In the evening we planned to do a night tour following the northern glow, but on that day the temperature dropped to minus 30 degrees and we decided to give up. The tour was supposed to be with the Wild about Lapland company.

On the third day we took the train to Kemi to do a cruise on an ice-breaking ship (one of the coolest, most insane attractions we’ve done). I wrote a post with all the information about the icebreaker ship.

There are many other attractions in Rovaniemi such as the Rauna zoo and the Santa Claus village, but due to lack of time, we did not manage to do them as well.

Tip for Rovaniemi: Compared to Helsinki, in Rovaniemi it is very difficult to find taxis and there is no Uber service, so if you need a taxi, make sure to book it in advance. Call the taxi company in advance and tell them where and when to pick you up.

Other Attractions in Rovaniemi

Santa Claus Village Tours and Tickets
Ranua Wildlife Park Tickets
Tours and Tickets to Experience Arktikum

Helsinki

On the last day, in the morning we took a domestic flight to Helsinki. We had a few hours to spend until our flight back to Israel in the evening, so we left our suitcases at item storage (6 euros) at the airport and took a train to the city center.

Trip costs to Finland for an independent trip

Flights

Two-way International flights with KLM from Israel to Helsinki (non-direct flights with stopovers in Amsterdam) Cost of 353 Euros (including one suitcase of 23 kg)

Domestic flights – flight to Saariselka from Helsinki 101 Euros (including one suitcase of 20 kg) with Norwegian Air

Flight from Rovaniemi to Helsinki – 80 Euros (including one suitcase of 20 kg) with Norwegian Air.

Public transportation

A bus from Saariselka to Rovaniemi – 100 Euros

A train from Rovaniemi to Kemi – 52 euros for a two-way ticket

Lodging

Update: this apartment is no longer available on airbnb in Helsinki – Two nights 122 euros

Update: this apartment is no longer available on airbnb in Rovaniemi – Three nights 170 euros

Northern Lights Village – two nights 1500 euros

Attractions

Deer and husky dog sleds – are included in the cost of the Northern Lights Village package

Snowmobiles – 200 Euros

Ice-breaker ship – 720 Euros

Total 3397 euros per couple

With food and taxis included an estimated cost of 5000 Euro~.

I hope my post helped you. If so, I would very much like you to respond here in the comments, and if you have any more questions, then you are also welcome to ask them in the comments or on the blog’s social networks: Facebook and Instagram.

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A month prior to our trip to Finland, I just finished planning our route when I ran into our neighbor. I told her about our trip to Finland and she said they were there last year on an organized trip, and that one of the trip’s highlights was swimming in ice water on an Icebreaker ship.

I got excited right away and decided we had to do that too, if it’s such a great, unique experience. I’ve began researching for a way to book the cruise and found the Experience365 website, belonging to the office of tourism for the town of Kemi. I mailed them and said we’d be glad to join the cruise and share the ice-breaker experience with our followers. To our joy, they loved the idea and so we got to partake in one of the craziest attractions in Finland.

Icebreaker ship in Finland, Lapland

This is a luxury attraction, but something worth doing once in your lifetime.
There’s a three-hour cruise, including swimming in ice water, at the cost of 220-260 euros a person, and then there’s a four-hour cruise which also includes a guided tour of the ship, a buffet meal and swimming in ice water (Or rather, floating on ice water), for the price 340-400 euros a person.

How to reach the icebreaker ship from Rovaniemi, Lapland

Sometimes there are organized rides from Rovaniemi to the ship, but that wasn’t the case when we were there. However, the way is very simple. We took a train from Rovaniemi to the town of Kemi, through the VR website. The train ride was 13 euros a person and lasted about an hour and twenty minutes.
Riding the train was really fun, as we sat in the train’s restaurant the whole ride and had coffee there (There are reserved seats, but we preferred to sit in the restaurant that was both spacious and with hardly any people there).

From the train station we booked a ride to the ship that cost us 40 Euros for both, for a two-way ticket (i.e. from the train to the ship and after the cruise from the ship back to the train).

We arrived an hour early to the train station in Kemi and were happy to discover there was a really good cafe there, where we sat there until our ride arrived.

The Icebreaker ship experience

Our cruise was at one o’clock, it was the four-hour cruise. The bus picked us up at 11:50 from the train station. The ride to the ship was around 15 minutes. On the ride, one of the tour guides told us a little about the town of Kemi and the Lapland area, and then told us a bit about the cruise itself. When we reached the ship area, we went to the reception office to check in. We got the tickets for the ship and the ship’s schedule.

At first, we went into the ship and one of the guides accompanied us to the lounge area. She said that at one-twenty she would come back to give us and two other couples an English-speaking tour of the ship (it turned out that apart from us and the two couples, there were three other organized tours from China and they had a tour in Chinese). We went out to take some pictures (and it was very cold outside, but we were mentally prepared for it) and we waited for the guided tour.

Guided tour of the ship

At first, she told us about the ship itself. For example, how does it break the ice? It turns out this is due to its structure and weight. The ship weighs 5000 ton and actually rises above the ice with the front part and because it weighs a lot, its weight pushes it down and that’s how it breaks the ice. After a bit of history and technical explanations about the ship, we went on a tour. We went through different rooms on the ship like the control room, the engine room, a radio room (which is no longer in use) and the guide showed us where to stand in order to get the best view of how the ship breaks ice and makes its way through it.

The tour lasted about half an hour and it was really interesting. This is a good way to learn more about this special ship. After the tour the guide led us to the dining room.

Buffet lunch on the ship

Lunch was a bit crowded, since the ship was at full capacity, but the crowds let up within a few minutes. On the menu were two soups, one was vegan with carrots and coconut, which was excellent, and the other was a Salmon soup Roman really liked. For mains there was the option of a vegan or meat stew, steamed vegetables, as well as several salads and breads.
The meal was excellent and delicious.

Swimming in ice water

After the meal we had free time on the ship, and we went to get some more pictures and videos, then proceeded to the lounge. At three twenty the shop stopped, and we could go experience swimming. I must admit I was apprehensive from what I was sure would be really tough and that the special suit they give you won’t do much good. But, somehow, it truly gets the job done!!
We went down to put on the special suits. There are employees that help you.

We recorded it all on our go pro, a souvenir from an embarrassing moment in our life, since with the suits on you look like giant, red frogs. They let a couple of people in at a time, but the team there worked quickly and in an organized fashion and so there wasn’t a long line.

We climbed the stairs of the ship and then got off the deck. To get down to the water you sit on the ice and one of the employees there pushes you in. You can be in the water for between 2-4 minutes. I do not know how long I lasted but it felt long enough to me :). I swam a little when I wanted to turn around and go back to the ice so the worker would help me out. This attraction is suitable for anyone above 1.45 m. It’s not scary and the truth is that it’s not that cold and it’s really funny and fun. I was a little stressed before I entered the water but very quickly the fear disappeared because I felt that the suit really well sealed and I didn’t feel cold on my body, except for my hands.

Walking over the sea

After our refreshing swim, we went back to the dressing room and switched back to our regular clothes, then got off the deck again – this time to walk over the sea!! It’s a really exciting feeling to know you’re walking on the sea. Everything is frozen and white (Even the sky) and the ship is the only thing in sight. It was an amazing experience. We had some fun with snow sleds and took a few pictures, until finally the cold prevailed and we went back inside the ship.

Hot drink in the lounge

After we had finished freezing outside, we decided that the best thing to do was go to the bar of the ship to buy a hot alcoholic drink and go enjoy it in the lounge. It was an excellent plan and that’s exactly what we did. I bought hot raspberry juice along with alcohol and Roman bought hot blueberry juice with alcohol and we went to rest in the lounge and relax.

Docking

At five o’clock we docked back at the Kemi port and headed outside. It was snowing hard and before we boarded the ride to the train, we received certificates of appreciation for swimming in the ice.

We had an hour and a half to spend before the train back to Rovaniemi, so we used it at a nice coffee shop at the train station and ordered coffee and toast.

I highly recommend going to this café, as it is really great.

In conclusion,

The icebreaker experience is an extraordinary experience and definitely enjoyable. This is something I never thought I would do, and I feel lucky to have experienced something so special on a trip as magical as this one was.

There is no doubt that the cold we’d experienced on the trip was tough at times and I had moments when I missed the warmth of Israel, but I will always be happy to return to this country full of unusual attractions, super nice people and beauty seemingly out of legends.

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Our trip to Finland was an independent trip. We built the track ourselves and searched for special attractions at every destination.

Prior to the trip we realized that it was worth visiting the city of Rovaniemi (located in Lapland) because it has many winter attractions such as snowmobiles, a zoo, night tours following the northern glow, sledding with husky dogs and more …

Since we knew we were going sledding with deer and dogs at the Northern lights village, we decided to look for a snowmobile attraction.

I searched the Internet for companies that offer snowmobiles and finally chose Arctic Life , which had good reviews online. This company also offers a wide range of attractions for both the winter and the summer.

https://youtu.be/-5DyzkfDUxU

Snowmobiles in the mountains experience

On the day we did the snowmobiles the temperature was of -30 degrees. It was our coldest day on the trip, which made the experience quite extreme for me.

On the day of the attraction we arrived at the company office, located in the city center. We got there at 9:30 and our guide came with a van to pick us up. We were joined by a couple from Switzerland who were also in Finland for the first time. We drove by car up to the mountains, while the guide told us a little about their company and about riding the snowmobiles.

Equipment for snowmobiles

About 20 minutes later we reached the company’s compound in the mountains. We entered a large area with a lot of equipment for snowmobiles. Each of us was given a winter overall, snow boots, wool socks, a wool mask, gloves and a helmet.

After we wore all the clothes and took a few photos, the guide had us sign a statement saying that in the event of an accident that we are responsible for, there is a deductible sum of 1000 euros for the damage caused. There is the possibility of getting insurance if you want (For an additional payment).

Only the one driving the snowmobile must sign. At that point, I was still optimistic and naïve, and thought there would be a stage where I would also be driving, so I also signed the statement.

The route itself

We then went out into the cold and our guide told us about driving the snowmobiles. Basically, operating the snowmobiles is simple and there is no need for prior experience or a special license. Anyone who has a car license can drive them. The challenging part is turning, as you need to make the turn slowly to stay on the snow trail and not stray towards the trees.

I told Roman that he would drive first and then we would switch (hint: it did not happen at any point and the truth was that the girl from Switzerland did not switch with her husband either :)) and I sat behind him. We began the trip through the snowy mountains, among the trees.

The experience itself was special and white. At first, we drove in the snowy forest, and after about half an hour of driving we reached the frozen lake and drove on it.

The view at the lake was incredible, but unfortunately, we couldn’t get a picture of it while driving. Everything was white, it’s an enormous area and it was cool knowing we were driving over a frozen lake. It’s not something you see every day, and definitely a great reason to go for this attraction.

In the middle of driving we took a short break to take some pictures and then we drove a little slower and the guide stopped occasionally to tell us about special trees on the way. At a certain point I got was really cold, and felt as if my face was frozen, and my palms froze despite the gloves we were given.

I have to say that the equipment was really very good and Roman and the couple who were with us did not complain about the cold, but for me personally it was not enough. The guide was also really nice and when he saw how cold I was, he tried to give me tips such as holding the bike handles tightly, as that causes more blood to flow to the hands, which should warm them a bit and he also tried to fix my hat to cover more of my forehead.  The route was circular and finally we reached the starting point where we changed our clothes and returned all of the equipment.

Snowmobile experience summary

The snowmobile attraction is definitely one worth doing in Finland and is a combination of extreme and beautiful views. The Arctic Life company also offers ice-karting.
I’m sure that if it was slightly less cold, I’d have enjoyed it much more, but Roman liked the experience a lo, as did the other couple.

Tips for handling the cold

• If you’re not used to the cold and it’s minus 30 degrees outside, you might not want to go snowmobiling.
• I recommend bringing heating bags and keeping them in your gloves and socks (I’m sure that if I had some, it would have helped out a lot).

*The attraction was as part of a cooperation with the company

Over the last months, I’ve come across incredible pictures of snowy cabins with a transparent roof in Finland on Instagram, and so as soon as we were able to cooperate with Northern Lights village, we booked a ticket to Finland right away – That’s basically how we’ve decided on a winter trip to Finland.

On top of the village, we were in Helsinki and Rovaniemi, but our experience at the village was definitely a once in a lifetime experience, so let’s start at the beginning…

Tips before traveling to the Northern Lights village

SIM card

I personally recommend using an ESIM, which is an electronic SIM, and recommend Airalo. I was very satisfied with their user experience (simple tutorial videos for operating the SIM card) and everything worked without any special problems. I wrote more about them in an extended post on the subject of taking a SIM card abroad and also about other options such as buying a local SIM card.

Blog followers have a 15% discount code for the Airalo company to purchase an ESIM – to redeem the discount, click on this link. The discount code is already included in the link. See it at checkout.

The biggest drawback at the moment is that some devices do not support an electronic SIM. How can you know if your device supports the electronic card? Very simple: go to this link and you can see. Link to which devices support ESIM.

How to reach the Northern Lights village

We flew to Helsinki (With a stop over at Amsterdam) with the KLM company. We stayed in Helsinki for a day and a half, then took a flight to Ivalo airport, in northern Finland’s Lapland region. As part of the cooperation with the village, we received a two-night package which included a pickup at the airport, as well. Upon landing, two guys were already waiting for us with a sign, and we rode to the village in an organized ride (About a 20-minute drive).

Northern Lights Village, Finland, Lapland

As we arrived at the village, we checked in and received a keycard to our room. We were then driven to our cabin. Our cabin was in the first row, on one hand – further away from the dinning room and the reception (It’s only a 5 minute walk, but at -20 degrees Celsius, every second counts), but on the other hand – I think the first row is great, as there are no cabins in front of you, which allows complete privacy (When the transparent roof isn’t covered by snow, it’s possible to see the inside of the cabin from outside).

Anyhow, we arrived at the cabin with our suitcases and felt like we were in a dream! The cabin is basic in terms of furnishing, but honestly you don’t need much more at a place like this. The roof was covered with snow at first, so we didn’t see what was going on outside, but after melting the snow (Using a special button), a magical, white landscape was revealed to us.

The cabin itself

The cabin is heated and very pleasant. Let’s just say that after putting on all your hot clothes, before leaving the cabin, you feel like you’re about to faint. The cabin has a twin bed, two dressers with drawers for equipment, a kettle with cups and a bathroom (The hot water lasts for 10 minutes, then you have to wait for them to heat up again, so don’t plan on any long showers). Otherwise, the feeling you get, seeing the snowy trees and the bright sky while laying on the bed is hard to put into words.

Things to do in the cabin area

So, beyond the fact that the experience of sleeping in the cabin is an attraction in and of itself, the Northern Lights cabins offer a variety of winter attractions such as snowmobiles, sledding with husky dogs, sledding with reindeer, ice fishing, hot saunas and if you’re lucky (as we were) you get to watch the northern lights!!

The two-night package includes a 25-minute sledding experience with reindeers and two hours of sledding with huskies.

The Northern Lights

One of the unforgettable experiences we had in the cabins was that we had the privilege of seeing the northern glow!! I have to say that the chance of seeing the northern glow is not that great, so it’s important not to have too high expectations to see it.

On the first night we did not get to see it (We got a clock from the reception for € 10. The clock rings if the northern glow appears, as it might happen in the middle of the night). On the second evening we went to the dining room for dinner and suddenly it was in front of us. We were ecstatic and despite the cold I took off the gloves, brought the tripod, connected it to the camera and we began filming with great enthusiasm.

Note: You cannot take pictures of the northern glow on a cell phone (It’s possible with certain apps, but the quality wasn’t great). It is necessary to use a good camera on a tripod and take a long exposure picture. Luckily, we had the right equipment to create images that showed the glow as even brighter than it was (in reality the green is less glamorous than what the pictures show, but you can certainly see it, especially if the sky is clear without any clouds.) One of the employees told us we were lucky and saw the clearest glow they had during that season).

Even without the northern glow, our stay at the cabins was amazing, but it was certainly the cherry on top that made the experience something we will remember for life.

Snow sledding with reindeer

The reception has a screen where you can see all the attractions there are every day, which also indicates how many people are listed for each attraction. You need to arrive a quarter hour early for every attraction and wait for pickup at the reception desk (except for the husky dog experience for which you need to arrive half an hour in advance). It turns out the two of us were the only one to sign up for this attraction that day. We waited at reception and a nice man came and took us to the sleds with the reindeer. According to him, the speed of the reindeer can reach 55 miles per hour, but they carried us at a brisk walk, so this attraction is suitable for any age.

The ride was calm and cold, so I recommend bringing really hot clothes when you go to such attractions because sitting without doing something active causes the body to cool more quickly and there is also some wind while riding. The reindeer were so cute, and we patted and fed them. We felt just like Santa Claus, like we were in a fairy tale.

Snow sledding with husky dogs

The place where the Husky dogs are located is relatively far from the cabins and we drove there in about 20 minutes. We were with another, Australian couple. When we got to the dog farm, they ran straight to us and jumped on us and were really cute. We and the other couple split into two sleds. In our sled, I sat while Roman stood in the back as the driver and in the second sled the couple both sat.

Halfway down we changed sleds so that they could drive the sled too. I personally did not want to drive, because I was too cold but in retrospect it may be better to stand up and do some activity to warm up and not just sit down. While riding, I was covered by snow, including even my eyelashes, and it was really cold. My recommendation is to come extra dressed for this attraction because the Husky dogs run faster than the reindeer and there is wind and it is also in an open area.

This is a crazy experience with a landscape that seems to be taken from a movie scene and I really recommend doing it. After about an hour of riding, we went back to the farm, and then our guide lit a fire to warm us up and the employees brought us cookies and hot juice. It took me a while to thaw, but the fire definitely helped, and it was a really cool adventure.

Saunas

There is a dry sauna in the cabin compound and a pool of frozen water outside. Roman somehow collected the courage to go into the icy water after the sauna. I did not dare to do so for fear of dying 🙂 There is a dressing room near the saunas. Entrance to the sauna is at an additional cost (around EUR 10 per person) and there is also the possibility of renting the complex for an hour at a fee of EUR 100.

Food

The two-night package also included full pension. That means that pretty much all day, there is free food, since each meal lasts for a few hours. The meals are served in the form of a buffet and each time there was a different and varied menu and it was really tasty, as well. This is not a chef’s restaurant and the variety isn’t incredible, but I personally prefer a limited variety good food that’s not too greasy, and that’s exactly what there was. In the morning there is a stand for making Belgian waffles, there are vegetables, fruits, yogurts, eggs, sausages, breads, and of course salmon, cheeses, cookies and desserts.

At noon and in the evening, there were two soups each time and alternating dishes such as venison, risotto, fish, stir-fried noodles and more.

There is always a coffee and tea stand and there is also a bar where you can buy alcohol and good coffee, such as a cappuccino or espresso.
In addition, the area itself is very large and there are tables with chairs, as well as seating areas facing a fireplace, where we sat for hours with coffee and wine and it was simply a treat.

What clothes to bring to the cabins in the winter

Our trip took place in late January – early February and in the cabin area the temperature was around -20 degrees. Basically, you do not have to bring too much hot equipment to the cabins themselves, because you can get massive overalls there that are suitable for winter, boots and I think even gloves. But since we arrived as part of a trip to a number of other places besides the village, we came prepared with good boots, thermal shirts and pants, gloves (thin ones for mobile use and thick gloves), a neck warmer, scarf, wool hat and thermal socks. In addition, my tip is to bring heating bags because it really helps. I did wear the overall as well, because I needed another layer, but Roman, for example, did not use the equipment they offered on location.

Additional notes about the Northern Lights Village

At the food compound there is also an ice bar that we personally did not get to visit, because I felt I was cold enough. The area of ​​the cabins is quite isolated but if you want a supermarket or other restaurants, you’ll find them about 15 minutes away by foot (We haven’t gone there).

Accommodation in the cabins is not cheap but I think it’s something that gives you value for money (the package for the dates we were there on was 1500 euros for two nights for a couple,

Including transfers from the airport, full pension, sledding with deer and husky dogs). You can also book accommodation without a package, they sometimes have specials like booking 2 nights + one free night. It’s worth checking what’s more worthwhile – a package deal or a separate booking.

The cabins are new and cozy, and the whole complex of cabins is nicely decorated and of a high standard. This is not a five-star resort but rather a place that gives you an experience you will have anywhere else.

I hope my post helped you. If so, I would very much like you to respond here in the comments, and if you have any more questions, then you are also welcome to ask them in the comments or on the blog’s social networks: Facebook and Instagram. Looking for more information about Lapland ? I have in the blog more posts about Lapland and posts about Finland.

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