How to Plan A Day Trip From Helsinki to Tallinn, Estonia: A Local’s Guide

When I think of the Baltic Sea, I think of gorgeous archipelagos, islands – and liberal, fun Nordic cities. Places such as the cosmopolitan Stockholm, sweet but enthralling Copenhagen, or Riga with its stunning old city centre. Did you know, though, that there are two Baltic Sea capitals that you can visit in one day?

Helsinki and Tallinn are separated by a mere 2-hour ferry trip across the Gulf of Finland. Tallinn makes for a fabulous day trip destination from Helsinki – or vice versa, but in this article I’m shedding the spotlight on Tallinn.

Estonia’s capital is a lovely destination for many reasons: it has a most charming, medieval Old Town, pretty seaside promenades, and tasteful restaurants. Albeit known historically as a Hanseatic city, Tallinn is these days also a modern hub of business, art, and culture. It is greatly favored by digital nomads due to comfort of living, great public transport system, and superb internet networks. I’m also always humbled by the directness and politeness of the people of Tallinn. They’re welcoming and helpful to the many visitors who come to appreciate this beautiful city with a rich history.

Because ferries between Helsinki and Tallinn run throughout the day, you can easily leave in the morning, spend a whole day in Tallinn, and still get back to your place in Helsinki for the night. This article is a guide to help plan the ultimate day trip from Helsinki to Tallinn, Estonia.

I’ve done this trip more times than I can count, so I’ve added in my own insider tips for the best things to do and experience in wonderful Tallinn.

Day trip from Helsinki to Tallinn: Transport and logistics

Ferry or cruise ship from Helsinki to Tallinn and back

There are three ferry and cruise ship operators between Helsinki and Tallinn, and they leave from two different harbors in Helsinki. Earliest ferries depart at around 7 am; you can compare ferry prices and book early to get the cheapest return tickets. It’s good to be at the terminal at least half an hour before departure. Although there are usually no document checks between Helsinki and Tallinn, it’s still required to carry a passport while crossing to another country.

The trip takes 2-3 hours, and you can spend this time by visiting some of the cafés, restaurants, shops, or bars on board, or by just sitting on the benches and observing the views. In winter, it can be dark and cold outside, although still beautiful. But in the summer, you can enjoy the breeze on the deck and take in the views of the Finnish archipelago and the two cities.

It goes without saying, if this all sounds like too much hassle for you then I’d recommend just hopping on an organised day trip from Helsinki to Tallinn!

Ways to get around Tallinn

Tallinn’s city centre is very walkable. It’s just a gentle 15-minute walk from the harbor to the Old Town, and Tallinn’s more modern city centre circles around the Old Town.

You’ll also find a great public transportation system in Tallinn, and the trams, buses, and electric scooters are very affordable. Getting a day card is a great option. And, if you buy the Tallinn Card, along with public transportation you also get free access to many of Tallinn’s best attractions.

Morning: Exploring the Old Town and surrounds

If you haven’t had breakfast yet once you arrive in Tallinn, I recommend heading to Kohvik Vaffel for a breakfast or brunch. It is a fun place just outside of Tallinn Old Town and close to the harbor. At Kohvik Vaffel you can order any kind of waffle you can imagine, savory or sweet. And they’re gluten-free, as well.

Another popular place for brunch in Tallinn is the stylish Grenka restaurant where food is presented with great love and attention to detail.

Otherwise, I’d recommend spending the morning in the Old Town. It is one of the most beautiful in the whole of Europe, and it contains an amazing array of medieval buildings, structures, and stories. I like just wandering the alleyways and cobbled streets of the Old Town on my own.

If you want to maximize your time in Tallinn, join a guided walking tour to learn more about the fascinating history of this beautiful area.

Charming museums, shops, churches, and Toompea Castle

The medieval city centre consists of two parts, the lower part and the Toompea Hill section. At the lower part, you’ll find the famous Viru Gate; the best known medieval entry to the Old Town. There are also lots of charismatic shops and galleries there, along with the city hall and beautiful squares.

Toompea Hill consists of Tallinn’s old Toompea Castle, along with its many towers and fortifications. I love this historic castle; the air of history that still lingers here.

I love the Kiek in de Kök Fortifications Museum which portrays the castle’s history (it is free to enter with the Tallinn Card). You can also catch the best views over Tallinn and the sea from the fortifications. In the Upper Town, you can also find lovely little courtyards, old bookshops, street musicians, and churches. One of the most stunning of them is the gorgeous Alexander Nevski Orthodox Cathedral.

Old Town’s atmospheric cafés

Meandering through the streets of the Old Town, you’ll find lots of cute and charismatic cafés and restaurants. During the busiest summer months many of these places get quite crammed. But there are lots of wonderful choices for a relaxing coffee break.

For example, there are lovely ice cream cafés in the Old Town where you can enjoy a warm drink, an ice cream, or a gelato. One of my favorites is the Italian-owned Cortile ice cream café, in the heart of the Old Town. And I would highly recommend stopping by at the Master’s Courtyard. This fascinating place consists of crafts people’s workshops and a cafeteria, Pierre’s Chocolaterie. This place transports you back to another era, so definitely stop past and enjoy a snack or some melt-in-your-mouth, hand-crafted chocolates.

Afternoon: Walk on the seaside, Kadriorg Park, and Tallinn’s skyscrapers

In the afternoon, I recommend taking a stroll towards Kadriorg – or you can use public transport to get here. If you follow the Reidi Tee seaside promenade east from the harbor, you’ll get to Kadriorg beach park. Just to the south from there it connects with Kadriorg Park, where you’ll find the most amazing gardens and flower arrangements. It is a beautiful, peaceful place worth seeing. And at the centre of it lies Kadriorg Palace, a stunning building in itself that is also home to Kadriorg Art Museum.

As an alternative to Kadriorg, consider a visit to Tallinn TV Tower. It is a bit further to the east, close to the prosperous Pirita neighborhood, and you could get there by public transport. There’s a history exhibition as well as a restaurant at the tower. Of course you’ll also have stunning panoramic views over Tallinn and the Baltic Sea. It is said you can even see Finland from here when the weather is good – at least with a bit of imagination. If you have a Tallinn Card for the day, entry to both the Kadriorg Palace and the TV Tower is free.

Whichever activity you choose for your afternoon, I’d also recommend visiting Tallinn’s modern city centre on your way back to the Old Town. The area around Maakri street, for example, is great for viewing Tallinn’s impressive skyscrapers. Some of the most impressive shopping quarters of the capital city are also found here.

When you’re done, you could continue and walk past the Freedom Square which is a favorite place for gatherings in Tallinn. From there, climb to Harjumägi hill just next to Toompea castle to find your way back to the Old Town for dinner.

If you’re still looking for more things to do in Tallinn, we’ve prepared a list of some of the more popular things to do in Tallinn.

Dinner: Traditional Estonian Food

If you’re catching one of the later ferries back to Helsinki, I’d recommend enjoying a dinner at one of the unique restaurants of the Old Town. There are some places not to be missed during a Tallinn visit.

In the heart of the Old Town is Olde Hansa, a restaurant that offers visitors a charming medieval experience. The setting and interior decorations of the place all transport the visitor to the olden ages, and sometimes there are actual troubadours playing music for dinner guests. The dishes are prepared following recipes from the 16th century. Some of my favorites which I always recommend include the oven-baked juniper cheese and flamed salmon. You can also try other Nordic delicacies, including game such as bear meat.

However, if you already had enough of a medieval experience by exploring the Old Town, another superb place for dinner is Kaerajaan restaurant. They serve high quality, traditional Estonian dishes, but with a modern twist.

Keen to get under the belt of Estonian cuisine, don’t miss our ultimate guide to 10 Estonian dishes you must try.

After your dinner out, you can still enjoy the stroll down to the harbor, to catch your ferry back to Helsinki.

Beyond one day in Tallinn

Heading back to Helsinki? We’ve prepared the ultimate one day guide to Helsinki (written by a Helsinki local!). We adore Helsinki for its adorable cafes and high-quality restaurants. If you have the time up your sleeve, it’s time to start planning the ultimate 7 day Finland itinerary.

If you enjoyed this day trip from Helsinki to Tallinn, don’t miss our guide to Helsinki’s other great day trips. And for those continuing on in the Baltics, don’t miss our expert guides to Latvia and Lithuania!

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