Tallinn to Helsinki Ferry: Everything You Need to Know

The stretch of sea between Tallinn and Helsinki might look dramatic on the map, but in reality, hopping between Estonia and Finland is one of the easiest (and most fun) border crossings in Europe.

Rather than faffing around with airports, you can wander down to the port, roll your suitcase on board and be in another capital city in around two to two and a half hours.

I’ve had my fair share of chaotic European transport moments (night buses that never arrive, trains that split in half for no apparent reason), but the Tallinn to Helsinki ferry is…not that. It’s simple, surprisingly comfy, and, if you do it right, feels more like a mini-cruise than a boring transfer.

Are you ready?

Then let’s get into it.

Table of Contents

Tallinn to Helsinki Ferry: At a Glance

Here’s the super quick overview before we dive into the details.

The two cities are about 80 km apart, and ferries cross the Gulf of Finland in roughly 2-3.5 hours, with multiple departures every day, all year round.

Three companies share the route, and they all take foot passengers, cars and (importantly) your snacks.

Why Take the Ferry Instead of Flying?

Yes, you can fly between Tallinn and Helsinki, but it’s not really worth the hassle.

Door-to-door, the ferry makes a lot more sense. The ports in both cities are close to the centre, so by the time you’ve trekked out to the airport, gone through security, waited around, flown, landed and then got back into town, you’ve lost as much time (if not more) than you would have just sitting on a ferry with a coffee and a cinnamon bun.

There’s also no cramming your luggage into Ryanair’s tiny bag sizers, no liquids-in-a-bag nonsense, and no one weighing your suitcase and declaring it illegal.

How Long the Crossing Actually Takes

The most common question: how long does the Tallinn to Helsinki ferry take?

Well, it depends on the ship and timetable, but in general you’re looking at:

Fastest crossings: around 2 hours
Average time: roughly 2 h 15 – 2 h 40
Slowest regular sailings: up to about 3 h 30 on certain services

The sea can be a bit moody in winter, but the route is well-established and schedules are usually pretty reliable.

Ferry Companies on the Tallinn-Helsinki Route

Three companies operate between Tallinn and Helsinki: Tallink Silja, Viking Line and Eckerö Line.

All three:

Run year-round
Carry cars and foot passengers
Offer food, bars, duty free and at least some cabins

Tallink tends to have the most frequent departures and some of the newer ships, Viking Line leans into that classic ‘cruise ferry’ feel, and Eckerö is often competitively priced.

Honestly, you won’t go horribly wrong with any of them – choose based on time, price and how fast you want to cross.

Ports and Terminals: Where You Need to Be

In Tallinn

You’ll leave from Tallinn’s Old City Harbour (Vanasadam). There are a couple of terminals there, but they’re all close to the city centre – around a 15-20 minute walk from the Old Town, or a short tram/taxi ride if you’re hauling a big backpack.

Tallink usually uses Terminal D, while Viking and Eckerö tend to use the A/B side – make sure to double-check your ticket so you don’t end up going in the wrong direction!

In Helsinki

On the Finnish side, most Tallinn ferries arrive at West Harbour (Länsisatama), specifically West Terminal 1 or 2.

From there it’s about 10-15 minutes into central Helsinki by tram, or roughly half an hour on foot if the weather is cooperating and you don’t have a lot of luggage to carry.

How Much the Ferry Costs

Prices change constantly depending on the time of year, day of the week and how far in advance you book.

Single foot-passenger tickets often start from under 20 – 30 EUR one way if you’re travelling off-peak and book ahead, with typical averages sitting higher, especially in summer.

Add a car, a cabin or a lounge seat and the price obviously climbs, but when you factor in airport transfers and baggage fees, the ferry still often works out cheaper (and much less stressful) than flying.

If your travel dates are set in stone, book early. If they’re flexible, play around with midweek dates and less popular departure times for better deals.

How to Book Tickets (Without Losing Your Mind)

You’ve got two main options:

You can book directly on the ferry companies’ websites, which works nicely if you already know exactly which operator you want.

If you’re more bothered about finding the best price and time and don’t care whose boat it is, a route comparison tool is easier. This is where aggregate platforms come in handy, because they pull different operators and departure times into one place so you don’t have twelve tabs open and a mild breakdown.

If you’re specifically planning this route, Openferry’s Tallinn to Helsinki ferry page lets you compare journey times, sailing times and ticket types just for this corridor.

What the Ferry Is Like Onboard

The Tallinn to Helsinki ferry is more ‘mini cruise ship’ than basic transport.

On most ships you’ll find cafés, bars, buffets or restaurants, duty-free shops and huge seating areas in different styles. Wi-Fi and charging points are standard on the newer ferries, and there are usually quieter corners if you want to get away from the crowds.

You can also usually book:

Premium lounges, which are calmer, comfier, and come with snacks and drinks
Cabins, from simple inside rooms to sea-view options, especially handy for early-morning or late-night departures

Can You Do a Day Trip Between Tallinn and Helsinki?

Yes, and lots of people do exactly that in both directions.

With the fastest crossings taking about two hours and departures scattered from early morning to late evening, you can comfortably leave Tallinn after breakfast, have a full day wandering around Helsinki’s design stores, saunas and waterfront cafés, and then sail back after dinner.

Alternatively, treat Tallinn’s fairytale Old Town as your day-trip destination instead (bonus: your money goes further on the Estonian side, especially when it comes to food and drink).

If you have more time, you could even book a train from Tallinn to Riga and add a third country to your trip!

Practical Tips for a Smooth Crossing

Arrive about an hour before departure if you’re a foot passenger – check-in typically closes 30 minutes before, and there’s always at least one enormous group that appears at the last minute and clogs the queue!

Bring your passport or ID card even if nobody ends up checking it – Estonia and Finland are both in the Schengen zone, but you’re still supposed to have a valid ID on you.

If you get seasick, aim for the middle of the ship (less movement), and try to avoid staring at your phone as much as possible. Bear in mind that winter crossings can be a bit bouncier, but the route is short and the ships are large, so it’s usually manageable.

Lastly, the Gulf of Finland can have some incredibly strong winds, and it can get pretty cold on deck. Be sure to bring lots of layers.

Tallinn to Helsinki Ferry | Final Thoughts

So, is the Tallinn to Helsinki ferry worth doing?

Absolutely.

It’s cheap (for Scandinavia), it’s easy, and it turns what could be an annoying flight into a mini-cruise where your biggest decisions are ‘buffet or café?’ and ‘do I really need another bar of Finnish chocolate from duty free?‘

It also means that you get to visit two very different capital cities in one trip – medieval, enchanting Tallinn on one side and cool, design-obsessed Helsinki on the other, with a little Baltic Sea interlude in between.

If you have any questions about taking the ferry between Tallinn and Helsinki that I haven’t covered here, feel free to drop them in the comments and I’ll be sure to get back to you.

Until next time,

XOXO

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