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Helsinki to Tallinn Ferry
What’s the easiest and quickest way to get between Helsinki in Finland and Tallinn in Estonia? That’s right, it’s the Helsinki to Tallinn Ferry (well, ferries)! The distance between the two cities is only 90km across the Gulf of Finland.
It takes just two hours so it’s quicker than flying as the “check-in” is much quicker than at the airport and the ports are within walking distance from their respective town centres.
Update October 2021: Masks are mandatory within the ferry terminals in Tallinn.
The fastest crossing takes just two hours.
There are over ten sailings per day.
Prices start from as little as €12 per person for a foot passenger.
Why take the Helsinki to Tallinn Ferry?
- Fast (just 2 hours)!
- Cheap (from just €12)!
- Amazing views of the Gulf of Finland!
- Take advantage of Estonia’s cheap prices!
- Discover one of Europe’s most charming old towns!
There are many reasons for a day trip (or longer) to Tallinn while in Helsinki. The medieval old town is beautiful, with expansive views across the gulf. There are plenty of attractions in the city including many wonderful traditional restaurants.
It’s no secret that Scandinavia and Finland in particular are expensive, so taking the trip to Estonia is a great way to have a day out for a fraction of the cost (and stock up on cheap booze if you feel so inclined).
About the Helsinki Tallinn Ferry
There are three companies that operate Helsinki to Tallinn ferries; Tallink Silja Line, Viking Line and Eckero Line. There are around 13 sailings per day currently. See below for the current timetable.
- Tallink has eight sailings each day and is the fastest crossing at exactly 2 hours
- Eckero has three sailings per day.
- Viking Line has only two sailings per day.
How long does the Helsinki to Tallinn Ferry take?
- Tallink Silja – 2h00m
- Eckero – 2h15m
- Viking – 2h30m
How to buy tickets for the Helsinki to Tallinn Ferry
You can purchase tickets at the port in Helsinki, however, as the route sells out it’s best to book in advance and this can be done online through companies like Direct Ferries.
Prices start from as little as €12 one-way for a foot passenger. Prices increase in summer and around holiday periods.
Helsinki to Tallinn Ferry Timetable 2021
Tallink Silja Line
Helsinki to Tallinn Ferry
| Departure | Arrival |
| 07:30 | 09:30 |
| 10:30 | 12:30 |
| 13:30 | 15:30 |
| 16:30 | 18:30 |
| 18:30 | 22:00 |
| 18:30 | 08:00 (overnight) |
| 19:30 | 21:30 |
| 22:30 | 00:30 |
Tallinn to Helsinki Ferry
| Departure | Arrival |
| 07:30 | 09:30 |
| 10:30 | 12:30 |
| 12:30 | 16:00 |
| 13:30 | 15:30 |
| 16:30 | 18:30 |
| 19:30 | 21:30 |
| 22:30 | 00:30 |
| 22:30 | 06:00 (overnight) |
Viking Line
Helsinki to Tallinn
| Departure | Arrival |
| 04:45 | 06:45 |
| 07:00 | 09:30 |
| 10:45 | 13:15 |
| 15:30 | 18:00 |
| 17:00 | 19:30 |
| 17:30 | 20:00 |
| 22:15 | 00:30 |
Tallinn to Helsinki
| Departure | Arrival |
| 07:45 | 10:00 |
| 10:30 | 13:00 |
| 14:15 | 16:30 |
| 19:00 | 21:30 |
| 20:30 | 23:00 |
| 21:00 | 23:30 |
Eckero Line
Helsinki to Tallinn
| Departure | Arrival |
| 09:00 | 11:15 |
| 15:15 | 17:30 |
| 21:40 | 23:50 |
Tallinn to Helsinki
| Departure | Arrival |
| 06:00 | 08:15 |
| 12:00 | 14:15 |
| 18:30 | 21:00 |
How to get to the Helsinki Ferry Terminal
Tallink Silja & Eckero Line ferries depart from Helsinki West Harbour, Terminal
Address: Tyynenmerenkatu 14, 00220 Helsinki
Open from 06:00 to 22:30 6 days per week (Tuesday 06:15 to 23:30)
How to get there: The West Harbour is within walking distance from the centre of Helsinki. You can also take Tram 6T and 7 to the Terminal (final stop).
Viking Line ferries depart from Terminal A right in front of the market square in central Helsinki.
Address: Katajanokanlaituri 8 (Mastokatu 1), 00160 Helsinki
How to get there: The West Harbour is within walking distance from the centre of Helsinki. You can also take Tram 5 to the Terminal (final stop).
Check-in opens 2 hours prior to departure.
How to get from the port in Tallinn to the Old Town
Tallink Silja Line ferries arrive at Terminal D in Tallinn which is a 15-minute walk southwest of the old town. Bus 2 leaves from Reisisadam at Terminal D.
Eckero and Viking Line ferries arrive at Terminal A which is closer to the old town and train station. Bus 2 leaves from Reisisadam at Terminal A. Trams 1 & 2 leave from stop Linnahall.
Things to see in Tallinn
Now you’ve worked out how to take the Helsinki to Tallinn ferry, check out my One Day in Tallinn article for a quick itinerary. Below are some of the top attractions:
- Medieval Old Town
- Town Hall Square
- Viru Gate
- Toompea Hill
- Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
- City Walls
- KGB Headquarters
Here at thetripgoeson, we love sea crossings. If you are looking for something a little more adventurous than the Helsinki Tallinn ferry, why not check out these other routes:
Baku to Turkmenbashi – crossing the Caspian Sea from Azerbaijan to Turkmenistan by cargo ship.
Qingdao to Incheon – crossing from Qingdao in China to Seoul in South Korea by ferry.
Busan to Fukuoka – hydrofoil between Busan in South Korea and Fukuoka in Japan.
Yakushima Island – travelling by container ship to one of Japan’s remote islands in the Pacific.
About the author: Steve Rohan, originally from England, has lived in China for over six years. He has lived in the frozen city of Harbin, the ancient capital of Luoyang and now resides in the tropical paradise of Sanya on Hainan Island.
He has travelled extensively across Europe and Asia, mostly by train, and has written about his travels for this blog as well as self-publishing his first book, Siberian Odyssey.
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