Take in stunning views, tour a medieval city and experience Baltic culture with a day trip to Tallinn. Read this guide about our day trip from Helsinki to Tallinn, Estonia, where we’ll share our itinerary, tips for booking the ferry and Helsinki hotel recommendations.
Your first 10 minutes in Tallinn will tell you a lot about the city. As you leave the ferry terminal and walk to the city centre, you’ll pass sleek, modern office buildings and company headquarters. The streets are clean and the atmosphere is relaxed, with a slight Nordic feel. When entering the Old Town, you’ll be met with cobbled streets and medieval-era towers. Carefully preserved and proudly on display.
Tallinn is a look into Estonia’s future and past, all at the same time.
Why Should you Visit?
Other than being a beautiful, UNESCO heritage designated city, Tallinn is also a convenient and affordable travel destination. In just 2 hours by ferry from Helsinki, you can be exploring the city centre of Tallinn. Perfect for those visiting Helsinki on a tight travel schedule. And, most of the major attractions are free, so if you’re a student on a budget, visiting Tallinn from Helsinki for the day will be relatively cheap.
Traveling to Tallinn from Helsinki by ferry is also stress-free. There’s no security checkpoints or baggage checks at the ports. Plus, since you’re in the Schengen, you won’t have to go through border patrol either. And because it’s quite a compact city, you can see all the major sights in a day without feeling rushed. You’ll have more time and freedom to do and see what you want – and there’s lots to see!
In this post, I’ll talk about what we did, where we ate, and things we didn’t have time for (but you might!). Learn how you can spend the day in Tallinn and what you can see in just 7 hours. I’ll also share some practical info about the ferries and some Helsinki hotel recommendations that are close to the ports. You are really missing out if you don’t make time to stop in Tallinn while you’re in Helsinki – get planning now!
Planning our Day Trip from Helsinki to Tallinn, Estonia
For a little background, I put this day trip together about a month in advance. My family came to visit me in Finland and wanted to spend the day in Tallinn while they were staying in Helsinki. I managed to get a great deal from Eckerö Line’s summer sale and nabbed 5 adult return tickets for 100€. If you want to learn more about the ferry lines and booking process, click here to skip down.
In Helsinki, we decided on a hotel that was within walking distance to the Eckerö Line terminal and we chose the Radisson Blu Seaside (you can read more about hotel recommendations here). This ended up being a perfect location. It’s an easy 20 min walk to the port, while also being near enough to the centre of the city.
We travelled in July during peak summertime travel in Finland. The terminal was super busy, as July is THE month to go on summer holiday in Finland. If you’re curious about what the ferry was like and the overall experience, click here for more information.
We left Helsinki at 9am and in about 2 hours we arrived at the Port of Tallinn at 11:15am.
Once we arrived, our plan was to see as much of the Old Town as possible in the 6 hours that we had to spare, and preferably grab something to eat as well. Here’s what we did in that time without breaking too much of a sweat.
Towers’ Square: A Green Space In The Shadow of Medieval Fortress Walls
Residential garden with Plate Tower and the St. Olaf’s church in the background.
We started our day at Tornide Väljak (Towers’ Square) to give our legs a good stretch and to create some space between us and all the tour groups and tourists. This area sits just outside the western wall of Old Town and offers unobstructed views of the Köismäe, Nunnadetagune, Sauna and the Nun Towers.
It’s a relatively quiet area and a relaxed way to start the day. Plus, there’s a small residential garden to check out.
Residential garden in Towers’ Square.
View of Patkuli stairs from Nunne street.
From here, you can take the Patkuli stairs and go immediately to Patkuli viewing platform on Toompea Hill. We chose the easier, less intensive route.
We made our way into the city via Nunne street which looks like something out of a fairy tale. The best way I can describe it, is that it looks like a Hayao Miyazaki interpretation of Europe come to life. A scene straight out of Howl’s Moving Castle or Kiki’s Delivery Service.
Shops on 4 Lai off of Nunne street.
If you want to get an early start on museums, there are 3 located in this area:
Toompea Hill and Castle
From here, we took a right and walked up 3 Pikk Jalg an old alleyway that takes you up to the Toompea Hill and Castle area. As the name implies, Toompea Castle is located here, as well as Estonian Parliament building, various foreign embassies and St. Mary’s Cathedral and Alexander Nevsky Cathedral.
Pikk Jalg (left). Alexander Nevsky Cathedral (right).
The highlight of this hilltop is the viewing platforms. Piiskopi Viewing Platform (Bishop’s Garden) is part greenspace, part viewing platform. You can look out over Toompark and the Telliskivi area. There’s plenty of benches if you want to take a quick break and also a public bathroom (that does not give change).
Toompea Castle
At the entrance, there’s Mathilda on the Hill bakery which serves delicious Swedish pastries. I highly recommend grabbing a vanilla cinnamon bun or the poppyseed and chocolate bun (if you’ve spent any time in Finland, these cinnamon buns look and taste similar to Finnish korvapuusti). I wish I had a picture to share, but I gobbled it up too quickly. I’ve linked their Instagram so you can see what I’m talking about.
A couple minutes walk from here is the Patkuli Viewing Platform which is offers some of the best views of the city. From here you can see St. Olaf’s Church, the famous red roofs of Tallinn and the coastline in the distance. It’s also really spacious, so you wont’ have to fight to get a good picture.
View from Patkuli viewing platform.
There’s also a couple souvenir shops and a restaurant. Access to the viewing platforms is free of charge.
If you’re hungry for a late breakfast or lunch, check out Pub Kompressor for their sweet and savoury crepes/ pancakes. Located a street over from Pikk Jalg. The pancakes are delicious, filling and reasonably priced.
Town Hall Square
After enjoying the views, we headed back down to the centre to see the Town Hall Square. Dating back to the 13-14th century, this was the city’s original marketplace. Around the square, you can also see the Town Hall, Town Hall Tower and the Town Hall Pharmacy, which has a small museum next door.
Town Hall from the front and from the side via Vanaturu kael.
In the summer, this area is filled with outdoor seating for local eateries and breweries. In winter, this is the site of the Fairy Tale Christmas market. I’ll share an article in the next couple of months, so keep an eye out if you’re planning to visit this Christmas.
We stayed here for a few minutes to snap some pics and take in the surroundings.
Behind the Town Hall, you’ll find the Olde Hansa, a popular medieval themed restaurant (similar to Medieval Times in USA). And then a couple steps to the left there’s Peppersack, another popular restaurant offering Eastern European food. Make reservations in advance if you want to eat at either of these restaurants. They get really busy!
The Olde Hansa restaurant, located behind the Town Hall.
This area is also a great place to look for souvenirs, I would suggest checking out Eesti Esindus Tallinnas on Viru street. They sell handmade, local Estonian goods.
We didn’t make any reservations for lunch, so we chose to eat at BWB Gastro Bar on Vana-Viru street. This is a Belgian themed gastro pub with shaded outdoor seating, with a selection of Belgian topped waffles, soups, salads, and more. The food was delicious, well-plated with interesting flavor combinations and pairings. 5 meals and drinks came to 90€.
Summer salad with shrimp and seaweed in a condensed milk-mango sauce from BWB Gastro Pub.
Katriina Kaik: Passage to Medieval Tallin vai Müürivahe
A street over from the gastro bar, along Müürivahe, is one of the entrances to Katriina Kaik (St. Catherine’s Passage). Probably one of the more famous streets in Old Town and popular with tourists, this medieval alleyway is about 700 years old and offers a unique look back in time.
Katriina Kaik alleyway.
A great spot for pictures, but make sure you also check out one of the many art and craft studios for a homemade gift.
If you leave Katriina Kaik from the opposite end, onto Vene street just a couple steps away is the Meistrite Hoov (Master’s Courtyard), a small courtyard home to local craftspeople and art galleries where you can find more special, homemade goods.
If you exit back onto Müürivahe, the Hellemann Tower and Town Wall Walkway is just across from Katriina Kaik.
Hellemann Tower and Town Wall Walkway on Müürivahe.
For a 4€ entrance fee you can walk the length of the 200m defence wall while enjoying views of the city’s red rooftops and Old Town’s layout. We didn’t do this (which I regret), but it could be a good way to spend 20-30mins.
Or, if you continue down this same street, there’s also the Dominiiklaste klooster 1246 muuseum (Dominican Monastery Museum) dating back to 1246, you can stop for a quick peek in the courtyard or visit the museum. The monastery isn’t always open, so make sure you check their current opening hours before you visit.
Back towards Viru street, is the Viru Gate, one of the iconic landmarks in Tallinn and once the old entranceway into Old Town.
Side street that we walked through while walking towards Victory Square from Katriina Kaik.
There’s lots to do in this area, so make sure to carve out an hour or so to see everything!
Vabaduse Väljak & The War of Independence Victory Column
From here, we followed Valli street all the way to the Vabaduse Väljak (Freedom Square) to see the War of Independence Column. A towering structure created to mark Estonia’s independence from Soviet Russia.
The War of Independence Victory column during the day.
If possible, I recommend seeing this at night – the statue is covered in glass plates and at night when it’s lit up it has a haunting, icy effect. There’s also a small park behind the statue to explore.
The Victory column lit up at night time.
We kind of meandered around this area for a bit, as our day in Tallinn was coming to an end. Suur-Karja street, which is behind the square, is nice to walk along and you’ll find loads of cafes and restaurants here.
Müürivahe (left) a street over from Victory Square. St. Nicholas Church (right) as seen from Harju street.
We stopped at NorthernGrip Vintage Clothing for a quick visit. Definitely recommend for fellow vintage clothing lovers, everything was well organized and displayed.
Rooftops on Harju street toward Town Hall Square.
Back to Port
At 5:15pm we started making our way back to the ferry terminal. Along the way, we stopped at a Rimi Express (local convenience store chain) to pick up some Estonian chocolate and chips. If you want to bring any food, snacks or drinks back, I suggest stopping at a convenience store or grocery store before you leave for the day. It’s much cheaper than the duty-free shop on the boat and there’s more to choose from.
If you have time, Nautica Keskus is 10 mins walk from the port and has a Rimi hyper store which will have everything you need and more.
Town Hall from Pikk street.
Our route took us past St.Olaf’s Church and through the Fat Margaret Tower (another iconic landmark in Tallinn).
Fat Margaret also doubles as the Estonian Maritime Museum. We didn’t get a chance to visit this time around, but I’ve only heard good things about it. If you have time, make sure you check it out!
Fat Margaret from Pikk street.
Or if you have little ones or you’re still a kid at heart, the Estonian Children’s Literature Centre is just across from Fat Margaret.
A 15min walk back to port and a 2.5hr ferry ride later we were back in Helsinki at 9pm. Though we returned much more tired, sweaty and sore than we were when we arrived.
Our Helsinki to Tallinn day trip ticked every box. We were able to see all the major sights, stop for food and enjoy the city at a leisurely pace. And it was super-easy to get there and back from Helsinki.
Where Can You Book Ferry Tickets from Helsinki to Tallinn for a Day Trip?
Booking a ferry from Helsinki to Tallinn for a day trip is easy and straightforward. I recommend starting your search with Direct Ferries so you can get an idea of the timetables and prices that each ferry company offers. From there you can book with Direct Ferries or you can go to the company site – you may get a better deal or find a discount this way.
Here are some popular ferry companies:
We booked tickets with Eckerö Line directly through their site. The tickets cost 100€ for 5 adult return tickets.
Tickets and Add-ons
We booked regular ferry tickets with no add-ons or extras. If you are bringing a car, a pet or booking a cabin these are a separate fee. Or if you want to eat at the buffet this is an extra fee. Personally, for a 2 hour ferry ride, I don’t think a cabin or eating at the buffet is worth it. But do what works for you!
Your tickets will be sent over email or you can download the relevant ferry app and have them ready to scan there.
What to Bring the Day of the Ferry
Make sure you have your tickets ready or at least screenshot the tickets with QR codes so you can get through the barriers. If you’re having issues retrieving your tickets, you can print tickets at the Eckerö Terminal. There may be printers at the other terminals, but do check beforehand.
When traveling from Helsinki to Tallinn by ferry, you’re in what’s called the Schengen Zone. You won’t pass through any border patrols or security when you arrive in either country. Although you don’t have to show your passport or visa to get on the boat, I highly recommend you bring your travel documents with you just in case. If you have an emergency or have any issues, it’s safer to have your passport with you than leave it back at the hotel.
General Info
The ferry companies typically advise you to arrive to port at least an hour before the ferry departs. Follow this advice, as the ports fill up quickly and you don’t want to miss the ferry – it won’t wait for you.
Also make sure your tickets reflect your travel plans. If you’re planning on staying over in Tallinn, make sure you book your return for the following day. If you just want to stay on the ferry and not get off – make sure your tickets show that. Ensure everything matches to avoid any issues at the terminal or surprise fees for last minute changes.
Where to stay in Helsinki near the Ferry Terminal for Your Trip to Tallinn.
If this is also your first time visiting Helsinki – don’t stress. Helsinki is compact and easy to navigate, just like Tallinn. The main ferry terminals that will take you to Tallinn for your day trip are located on the south western and south eastern sides of the main city centre. Each ferry company has their own terminal.
To get your day trip to Tallinn off to a relaxed start, I recommend staying in a hotel in Helsinki close to your chosen ferry. Be aware though, that the ferry timetables can run early in the morning. Plus you’ll need to arrive at the terminal at least an hour before departure time. To avoid rushing around early in the morning, I recommend you stay at a hotel within 20 – 25 minutes walk to the port. (You can take a tram or bus too, but I think it’s easier to walk when you’re in a new city).
In our case, because we booked with Eckerö tickets, we chose to stay at a hotel in the southwestern part of the city and 20 mins walk to the terminal. We chose the Radisson Blu Seaside, which was the absolute perfect location.
It was an easy and straightforward walk to port. 10-15 minute walk to the city centre, with a tram stop just outside the hotel. The hotel itself was nice and comfortable with a massive breakfast buffet – great for the morning after your day in Tallinn.
View from our hotel room at the Radisson Blu Seaside.
To help you decide where to stay, I’ve put together a list of hotels near the different terminals. I’ve also included how far they are by walking and how far they are from the train station.
If you’re taking a Viking Line cruise to Tallinn, consider staying at one of these hotels:
Scandic Grand Central Helsinki – 28 min walk to ferry / 5 min walk from train station
Hotel Arthur – 26 min walk to ferry / 10 min walk from train station
Radisson Blu Plaza Helsinki – 27 min walk to ferry / 8 min walk from train station
Marski by Scandic – 24 min walk to ferry / 8 min walk from train station
Scandic Simonkenttä – 30 min walk to ferry / 7 min walk from train station
If you’ve booked a ticket with Eckerö Line, check out one of these nearby hotels:
Clarion Hotel Helsinki – 15 min walk to ferry / 30 min walk from train station
Radisson Blu Seaside Hotel – 23 min walk to ferry / 24 min walk from train station
Radisson Blu Aleksanteri Hotel, Helsinki – 30 min walk to ferry / 18 min walk from train station
Or if you’ve booked with Tallink Silja OY, these hotels are all in walking distance:
Hotel Anna – 12 min walk to ferry / 18 min walk from train station
Hotel Indigo Helsinki-Boulevard by IHG – 18 min walk to ferry / 15 min walk from train station
Radisson Blu Aleksanteri Hotel, Helsinki – 20 min walk to ferry / 18 min walk from train station
Don’t worry if you‘ve already booked your hotel in Helsinki. Check out the Helsinki tram map or Bolt services to make sure you get to the terminal on time.
As you’ll see once you start planning your trip, visiting Tallinn from Helsinki and vice-versa is really simple. The ferry terminals and port areas are really close to the main city centres. And as long as you don’t stay in a faraway suburb, getting to and from the terminals is quick and easy.
What’s the ferry from Helsinki to Tallinn like? What should first-timers know should know.
Taking a ferry from Helsinki to Tallinn for a day trip is a pretty relaxed mode of transport, especially when the sea is calm. That said, there are a couple of things that can make the experience a little stressful, especially for first-timers. I’ll go over my recent experience traveling to Tallinn from Helsinki for a day trip during peak summer season just so you have an idea.
Getting On The Boat
Getting to the Eckerö terminal from our hotel and getting through the barriers was simple and straightforward. When we got to the waiting area, an informal queue had formed which we joined. However, once the boat arrived and people were allowed to get on, the queue completely disbanded and turned into a big crowd of people pushing to get through the second set of gates (you just scan your ticket again).
If you’re claustrophobic like me, this can be unpleasant. The waiting area is one big open room and there are about 10 gates that everyone needs to get through. There aren’t any belts or lanes to guide people to the barriers, so it creates a funnel effect when it’s busy.
Just keep in mind, the crowds are entirely dependent on when you travel. If you go to Tallinn during an off-peak day or season there probably won’t be so many people.
Finding a Seat
The second stressful bit was finding a seat. As you can imagine with so many people getting on, it was a mad dash to find a good spot. People who knew where they were going were rushing through. And the people who had never been on the ferry before, didn’t know where to go which created another queue.
For reference, when we got on the boat, we entered on the cabin floor. To get to the seating areas we had to climb 2 sets of stairs.
If you want to avoid this and get good seating, I recommend looking up a map of the boat prior to your trip to figure out where you want to sit. That way you know exactly where to go and don’t waste time looking while spots fill up. Once we found seats and got on our way, people seemed to calm down.
What’s The Ferry Like?
For those who have never taken a Nordic ferry before, it’s quite different from your typical commuter ferries.
The boat is basically a floating airport terminal. There’s duty-free shops, bars, cafes, restaurants, a nightclub, karaoke, spa, slot machines and gambling and a kids play area.
Clearly, the cheap tickets are an incentive for you to spend money on board. I mean, what else are supposed to do for 2 hours? But don’t feel pressured to spend money. You are allowed to bring your own food and drinks. Just be mindful of where you sit if you’re eating, as some areas are reserved for customers only – there are signs pointing this out so don’t worry if you’re unsure.
There is WiFi onboard and there may be some charging stations for your phone/ laptop, but this depends on where you’re seated. If you smoke, there is an indoor smoking room that you can use during colder months or just check the signs to see where you can smoke on deck.
Getting Off The Boat
When we arrived at the Port of Tallinn, getting off the boat was a little slow. To exit, we had to go back down to the cabin floor and the stairwell was filled with people from about 2 floors up.
Since you’re in Schengen there is no border patrol, so don’t stress about having to stop to get your passport checked or getting into another long queue. You’re free to leave the terminal and be on your way.
Returning to Helsinki was a bit of the same; crowds of people and another mad dash to find seats, but we were more prepared this time so it wasn’t as jarring.
This was just my experience though, and again, it entirely depends on when you travel to Tallinn. If you go during the school semester or in the colder, wetter months it may be less busy.
Also, my criticisms have nothing to do with Eckerö. The ferry was clean and comfortable and I would definitely book with them again. Dealing with fellow tourists was the most exhausting bit, but if you’ve travelled before you know this already.
Ready to Plan Your Day Trip to Tallinn, Estonia from Helsinki?
Even though we only visited Tallinn for a day, we managed to see a lot in just 6 hours. And that’s really what makes Tallinn such a great day trip destination from Helsinki. The city is compact and it’s easy to see a lot of the main attractions in batches. It’s relatively quick to get to the city by ferry. Plus, most of the major sights in Old Town are free, making a day in Tallinn affordable.
Overall, it’s a beautiful, old city. It’s a must-see for sightseers and it’s the perfect backdrop for photographers, amateur and professional. When I think of pretty cities, Tallinn immediately springs to mind.
If you’re thinking of planning a trip, but want to venture outside of Old Town or want to take in a few museums consider staying overnight or for the weekend. If you’re looking for a 2 day itinerary, we’ll be uploading an article about our 2 night stay from our trip last December in the next few months. We visited the famous Fairytale Christmas Market in the Town Hall Square, so if you’re looking to book a similar trip, keep an eye out for that post.
If you have any questions about our itinerary or if there’s anything we missed, please drop a comment below! I hope our itinerary gives you an idea of what you can achieve during your trip to Tallinn from Helsinki!
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