Helsinki Travel Forum

Hello...I am considering a cruise next year out of Stockholm that makes an enroute stop at Tallinn. The cruise does NOT stop at Helsinki but I would like to visit there. The ship is in port in Tallin from 9am to 5pm. Is it concievable to be able to take a ferry from Tallinn to Helsinki and back in time to get to the ship again? What is the best ferry line to take, and about how much is a round trip ticket between Tallinn and Helsinki?

I'm going to Tallinn in a couple of weeks, so have been researching day cruises.

http://www-eng.njl.fi/day_cruises

will give you timetables/fares. You could manage 3 hours in Helsinki, I think.

Thanks for your response...if you do visit Tallinn, please feel free to email me upon your return with your impressions of the city, and even whether or not you make a day trip to Helsinki while you're there. My email address is RJCASSIE@aol.com. Thanks!

I shall be there in a fortnight, d.v. so check your notices console in a week or so's time: I'll email you on VT, not through your outside email.

Pupulainen: Estonia (Latvia and Lithuania too) is part of Schengen :) just an FYI.

I have stayed in Helsinki and caught the ferry to Tallin. To be honest with the short time you have you would not get to see much and you would miss seeing the beautiful Old Town of Tallin which would be a terrible waste. I think the suggestion of leaving a few days early and seeing Helsinki then is the best idea. The previous
VT post regarding having to be at the Ferry terminal early and go through customs is correct, you then sit on a ferry for a long time each way and that is a terrible waste when you only have a limited time. You can catch a helicopter but it is rather pricy. Also, say the weather changes and you are in Helsinki and the Ferry can't sail, you are stuck.

I've always found the ferries to be very punctual. You could go by Nordic Jet Line (http://www.njl.fi) or Silja Line's faster boats. There is also a company called Linda Line which goes across in about an hour and a half.

You might consider going by helicopter though (http://www.copterline.com). The 18 minute crossing from city centre to city centre sometimes costs about 50 euro including all taxes.

I'm always in favour of people visiting Helsinki. :)