In this guide
💡 The Short Version: Tallinn is 80 kilometres south of Helsinki across the Gulf of Finland. Its medieval Hansa trading town is ringed by about two kilometres of limestone walls and watchtowers. Three operators sail all year: Tallink Silja (MyStar and Megastar, 2-hour crossing, up to six times daily from West Terminal 2); Eckerö Line from West Terminal 2 (2 hours 15 minutes); and Viking Line from Katajanokka. Fares are on the operators’ sites. Bring a valid passport or EU ID card, walk 15 minutes from the quay into the Old Town (Vanalinn), see Toompea Hill and Town Hall Square, and be back in Helsinki by bedtime. Or book a tour: a guided Tallinn day tour with the ferry crossingad from €123 includes the ferry and the old town sights, and a return ferry ticketad alone is €39.
⚠️ Bring a passport or EU/EEA identity card. There is no border control between Finland and Estonia, but the ferry companies check identity documents. A driving licence is not accepted.
Ferry operators compared
Ferry leaving Helsinki. Photo: Ximonic (Simo Räsänen), Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
| Operator | Vessels | Crossing time | Helsinki terminal | Tallinn terminal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tallink Silja | MyStar, Megastar | 2 hours | West Terminal 2 (Jätkäsaari) | Terminal D |
| Eckerö Line | MS Finlandia | 2 hours 15 min | West Terminal 2 (Jätkäsaari) | Terminal A |
| Viking Line | Viking XPRS | See the Viking Line timetable | Katajanokka Terminal | Terminal A |
Tallink Silja (the quickest crossing)
Tallink runs two LNG-powered fast ferries, Megastar and MyStar:
- Speed and frequency: They cruise at 27 knots and cover the 80 km in two hours. Departures run roughly every three hours from 07:30 to 22:30.
- Onboard: Duty-free shops on two decks, a Burger King, restaurants, children’s play areas and quiet lounges.
- Upgrades: Standard passage has open seating. The Comfort Lounge adds workspace, snacks, coffee and quiet Wi-Fi; the Business Lounge adds a hot buffet, wine, beer and priority boarding.
Eckerö Line
The Finnish-flagged MS Finlandia has its own day-trip fares:
- Onboard: Live acoustic Finnish music, pub snacks and a Nordic buffet.
- Schedules: Typically leaves Helsinki at 09:00 and 15:15 and returns from Tallinn at 12:00 and 18:30.
Viking Line (central Helsinki departure)
Viking Line’s Viking XPRS sails from the Katajanokka Terminal in central Helsinki:
- Convenience: Katajanokka is within walking distance of Market Square and Uspenski Cathedral, so there is no tram out to Jätkäsaari.
- Crossing: Slower than Tallink’s two hours, with open sun decks and buffet dining.
Tallinn tours and ferry tickets
Guided day tour with the ferry
From €123 · 4.6 stars from 838 reviews · 12 hours
Helsinki: Tallinn Guided Day Tour with Ferry Crossingad crosses by ferry and visits sites including Toompea Castle and Nevski Cathedral.
Guided tour with cruise ticket and pick-up
From €145 · 4.7 stars from 28 reviews · 13 hours
Helsinki to Tallinn Guided Tour with Cruise Ticket & Pick-upad includes a Baltic cruise, an Old Town walking tour and free time to explore.
Return ferry ticket
From €39 · 4.8 stars from 2,920 reviews · 11 to 14 hours
From Helsinki: Return Day Trip Ferry Ticket to Tallinnad takes about 2 hours each way and leaves up to 9½ hours in Tallinn.
Terminal logistics in Helsinki and Tallinn
Helsinki departure terminals
- West Terminal 2 (Länsiterminaali T2, Tyynenmerenkatu 14): Used by Tallink and Eckerö Line. Located in Jätkäsaari, approximately 2.5 km southwest of Central Station. Take HSL tram line 7 or 9 directly to the terminal entrance (10–12 minutes from Central Station). Automated self-check-in kiosks are located on the first floor; passenger boarding bridges close strictly 20 minutes before sailing.
- Katajanokka Terminal (Katajanokan terminaali, Katajanokanlaituri 8): Used by Viking Line. Located on the eastern harbour peninsula. Take HSL tram line 5 directly to the terminal doors (or walk 10 minutes east from Market Square).
Tallinn arrival terminals
Tallinn’s Old City Harbour (Vanasadam) is split into two quays:
- Terminal D: Used by Tallink Silja.
- Terminal A: Used by Viking Line and Eckerö Line.
- Walking to Old Town: From either terminal, follow the pedestrian pathways south along Sadama and Mere puiestee. Crossing the main road brings you directly to the Great Coastal Gate (Suur Rannavärav) and the 16th-century cannon tower Fat Margaret (Paks Margareeta), the historic northern entrance to the Old Town (12 to 15 minutes on foot). Alternatively, tram line 2 stops outside Terminal A.
One-day Tallinn walking route: Lower Town and Toompea
Tallinn’s Old Town (Vanalinn) has two levels: the Lower Town, where merchants and guilds traded, and Toompea Hill, the fortified upper town of rulers and bishops.
Town Hall Square, Tallinn. Photo: Pudelek (Marcin Szala), Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 ee.
1. The Lower Town and Town Hall Square (Raekoja plats)
- Pikk Street (Long Street): Enter through the Fat Margaret tower and follow Pikk south past Gothic guild halls, including the Great Guild Hall (now the Estonian History Museum) and the House of the Blackheads, with its Renaissance carved door.
- Town Hall Square (Raekoja plats): The centre of medieval Tallinn since the 13th century, lined with pastel merchant houses. Tallinn Town Hall (Tallinna raekoda) was completed in 1404.
- Raeapteek (Town Hall Pharmacy): On the northeast corner of the square, it has operated in the same room since at least 1422. Inside are old herbal remedies, medicine jars and dried specimens.
Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Toompea Hill. Photo: Diego Delso, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.
2. Ascending Toompea Hill (Upper Town)
Climb from the Lower Town via Lühike jalg (“Short Leg”), a steep stone staircase passing through a medieval fortified gate tower:
- Alexander Nevsky Cathedral: Built between 1894 and 1900, when Russia was pressing Russification on its empire, this Russian Revival Orthodox cathedral stands at the top of Toompea. Entry is free; look for the mosaics and the church bells.
- Toompea Castle (Toompea loss) and Pikk Hermann: Opposite the cathedral, the fortress has been a seat of Estonian government for eight centuries and now houses the Riigikogu (Estonian Parliament).
- Viewpoints (Kohtuotsa and Patkuli): Walk north along Rahukohtu to the Kohtuotsa viewing platform, with a view over red-tiled roofs, wall turrets, distant skyscrapers and the Baltic.
Towers on Tallinn’s town wall. Photo: Pudelek (Marcin Szala), Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 ee.
3. St Catherine’s Passage and Town Wall
Descend back to the Lower Town via Pikk jalg (“Long Leg”) to explore:
- St Catherine’s Passage (Katariina käik): A narrow medieval alley between Vene and Müürivahe streets, framed by arches and tomb slabs from the Dominican Monastery, with working studios for glassblowers, weavers and ceramists.
- The town wall and towers: Nearly two kilometres of the 14th-century limestone walls and 20 watchtowers survive. You can climb onto the wall walkway at Hellemann Tower or Nunna Tower for a small admission fee.
4. Telliskivi Creative City and Balti Jaama Market
With two hours to spare before the return ferry, walk 500 metres west of the Old Town through the railway underpass to Telliskivi Creative City (Telliskivi Loomelinnak):
- The area: A former Soviet electrical engineering factory, now design studios, craft breweries, street food stalls and Fotografiska Tallinn, a photography museum.
- Balti Jaama Turg: A three-storey market hall selling Estonian berries, smoked meats, cheeses and vintage clothing.
Where to eat in Tallinn
- Rataskaevu 16 (Old Town): Modern Estonian cooking: braised elk roast, Baltic herring and warm dark pumpkin-seed bread. Reservations are required.
- III Draakon (Town Hall): A medieval-style tavern under the Town Hall arches, lit only by candles, serving elk broth, game pasties and draught ale.
- F-Hoone (Telliskivi): A large industrial hall serving Baltic-fusion dishes, salmon bowls and Estonian craft beer.
Day trip checklist
- Book early: Reserve ferry tickets a few days ahead, as same-day tickets can cost more.
- Arrive 45 minutes before departure: Boarding closes 20 minutes before sailing and ferries do not wait.
- Carry the physical document: Keep your passport or ID card in your day pack; a phone photo of an ID is not accepted.
- Time: No difference. Finland and Estonia are both on Eastern European Time (UTC+2 in winter, UTC+3 in summer).
- Getting back: Trams 7 and 9 run from West Terminal 2 to Helsinki Central Railway Station until about 01:00.
What to explore next
- Other day trips: Day trips from Helsinki, Porvoo and Nuuksio National Park.
- Fitting it in: the 3 days in Helsinki itinerary.
- A shorter boat trip: the Suomenlinna sea fortress ferry.
Common questions
How long does the ferry take between Helsinki and Tallinn?
About two hours. Tallink's shuttle ferries (MyStar and Megastar) cover the 80 kilometres in 2 hours, Eckerö Line's MS Finlandia takes 2 hours 15 minutes, and Viking Line sails from Katajanokka on its own timetable.
Do you need a passport to travel from Helsinki to Tallinn?
Yes. Finland and Estonia are both in the Schengen Area, but the ferry operators check identification at check-in. EU and EEA citizens need a passport or national identity card (a driving licence is not accepted). Non-EU citizens need a valid passport and a Schengen visa if applicable.
How far is Tallinn Old Town from the ferry port?
The Old City Harbour (Vanasadam) is 1 to 1.5 kilometres north of the Old Town walls. From Terminal D (Tallink) or Terminal A (Viking Line and Eckerö Line) to the Fat Margaret tower entrance is a 12 to 15 minute walk.
Which ferry terminal in Helsinki do you depart from?
Tallink Silja and Eckerö Line leave from West Terminal 2 (Länsiterminaali T2) in Jätkäsaari, reached by HSL tram 7 or 9. Viking Line leaves from Katajanokka Terminal in the city centre, reached by tram 5.
What currency is used in Tallinn?
The euro (€), as in Finland. Cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay are accepted in shops, museums, cafes and taxis.
