We’ve already written about how to spend a day in Tallinn, but here’s a secret we kind of buried in that post: we actually arrived in Tallinn by ferry from Helsinki and loved it.
Instead of faffing around with airports, queues and tiny plastic cups of orange juice, we wandered down to the harbour, rolled onto a ferry and two hours later we were in a whole new country, looking for creepy dolls and orange rooftops.
So if you’re planning a Finland-Estonia combo trip and you’re wondering how this whole ferry thing works, this guide is for you.
We’ll talk about how long the crossing really takes, how much it costs, whether it’s eco-friendlier than flying, and how to book it without opening seventeen tabs and losing the will to live.
Are you ready?
Then let’s get into it!
Just so you have the basics before we dive into the details:
It’s essentially a big, floating bus between two capitals - just with better views and more cinnamon buns.
From an eco point of view, ferries generally beat short-haul flights, especially on a distance this tiny - and you’re not burning extra emissions on airport transfers out of town. That already makes the ferry more “Weasels” than flying.
But even if you don’t care about carbon footprints and just want an easier life, the ferry still wins:
For us it also fit perfectly with our Tallinn plan: we took the ferry from Helsinki, spent a night in an Airbnb with a log fire (pre-vegan burger years, yikes), then headed on to Germany from Tallinn’s airport.
Officially, the average sailing time is about 2 hours 15 minutes.
In real life, it depends on:
Tallink’s MyStar and Megastar, for example, are marketed as two-hour crossings between Helsinki and Tallinn. Eckerö and Viking typically sit in the 2-2.5 hour range too, with some departures taking a bit longer.
Our experience? Long enough to have a coffee, wander around, maybe get a snack and read a chapter of a book - but not so long that you start wondering if you now live on the boat.
So if you’re planning a Finland-Estonia combo trip and you’re wondering how this whole ferry thing works, this guide is for you.
We’ll talk about how long the crossing really takes, how much it costs, whether it’s eco-friendlier than flying, and how to book it without opening seventeen tabs and losing the will to live.
Are you ready?
Then let’s get into it!
Tallinn to Helsinki by Ferry: The Short Version
Just so you have the basics before we dive into the details:
- Three companies run the route: Tallink Silja Line, Viking Line and Eckerö Line.
- The crossing usually takes around 2-2.5 hours, with some slower sailings up to about 3 hours+ depending on the ship and schedule.
- The distance is roughly 76-87 km across the Gulf of Finland, so you’re not stuck at sea all day.
- Ferries run all year, with more departures in summer and up to 13 sailings a day in total across all operators.
It’s essentially a big, floating bus between two capitals - just with better views and more cinnamon buns.
Why We Prefer the Ferry Over Flying
From an eco point of view, ferries generally beat short-haul flights, especially on a distance this tiny - and you’re not burning extra emissions on airport transfers out of town. That already makes the ferry more “Weasels” than flying.
But even if you don’t care about carbon footprints and just want an easier life, the ferry still wins:
- The harbours in both Tallinn and Helsinki are close to the centre, so you can walk or hop on a short tram ride instead of trekking to the middle of nowhere.
- There are no strict liquids rules and no one trying to weigh your backpack and shame you. You just… walk onboard.
- You get fresh air, sea views and time to chill, read, journal or just stare into the middle distance and question your life choices.
For us it also fit perfectly with our Tallinn plan: we took the ferry from Helsinki, spent a night in an Airbnb with a log fire (pre-vegan burger years, yikes), then headed on to Germany from Tallinn’s airport.
How Long Does the Tallinn to Helsinki Ferry Really Take?
Officially, the average sailing time is about 2 hours 15 minutes.
In real life, it depends on:
- Which ship you’re on (the newer, faster ones shave time off)
- Weather conditions (this is the Baltic after all)
- Whether you’re doing a straight crossing or a slightly slower “cruise-y” vibe
Tallink’s MyStar and Megastar, for example, are marketed as two-hour crossings between Helsinki and Tallinn. Eckerö and Viking typically sit in the 2-2.5 hour range too, with some departures taking a bit longer.
Our experience? Long enough to have a coffee, wander around, maybe get a snack and read a chapter of a book - but not so long that you start wondering if you now live on the boat.
Where the Ferries Leave From (Without Overcomplicating It)
Tallinn
You’ll sail from Tallinn’s Old City Harbour (Vanasadam). That sounds grand, but it’s actually very walkable: when we arrived from Helsinki, we literally just looked for St Olaf’s Tower and walked towards it to reach the Old Town.- Tallink usually uses Terminal D
- Viking Line and Eckerö typically use Terminal A/B
Everything is close together, so if you accidentally go to the wrong bit, it’s mildly annoying rather than catastrophic.
From there it’s about a 10-15 minute tram ride into the centre, or a longer walk if the weather isn’t trying to freeze your eyelashes off.
If you’re picturing a tiny, rusty boat with a sad vending machine, don’t.
These ferries are big - more like mini cruise ships designed to handle thousands of passengers and cars. Onboard you can usually expect:
On some sailings you can add:
For such a short journey, you don’t need any of the extras, but if you get peopled-out easily (hi, same) a lounge or tiny cabin can make it feel like you’ve booked a very small, very affordable spa day.
Prices vary a lot depending on the day, time of year and how far in advance you book, but we can at least give you some rough numbers.
According to recent comparison sites, foot passenger tickets typically start at about €19-€20 one way in low season, with average prices creeping higher in summer and on popular departures.
Add a car and you’re looking at more like €40+ just for the vehicle, plus your passenger tickets, and cabins or premium seating are extra again.
The good news:
Helsinki
On the Finnish side, Tallinn ferries mostly arrive at West Harbour (Länsisatama), either West Terminal 1 or 2. They’re the clean, shiny, glass-heavy terminals that look exactly like you imagine a Scandinavian ferry terminal would look.From there it’s about a 10-15 minute tram ride into the centre, or a longer walk if the weather isn’t trying to freeze your eyelashes off.
What the Ferry Is Actually Like Onboard
If you’re picturing a tiny, rusty boat with a sad vending machine, don’t.
These ferries are big - more like mini cruise ships designed to handle thousands of passengers and cars. Onboard you can usually expect:
- Lots of different seating areas (cafés, more “loungey” corners, family zones)
- A selection of restaurants, buffets and snack bars
- Duty free shopping - which Finns and Estonians take very seriously!
- Wi-Fi and charging points on newer ships like MyStar and Megastar
On some sailings you can add:
- Premium or business lounges with quieter spaces, comfy seats and included snacks
- Cabins, from simple inside rooms to sea-view options if you want a lie-down or you’re doing a very early/late crossing
For such a short journey, you don’t need any of the extras, but if you get peopled-out easily (hi, same) a lounge or tiny cabin can make it feel like you’ve booked a very small, very affordable spa day.
How Much Does the Tallinn-Helsinki Ferry Cost?
Prices vary a lot depending on the day, time of year and how far in advance you book, but we can at least give you some rough numbers.
According to recent comparison sites, foot passenger tickets typically start at about €19-€20 one way in low season, with average prices creeping higher in summer and on popular departures.
Add a car and you’re looking at more like €40+ just for the vehicle, plus your passenger tickets, and cabins or premium seating are extra again.
The good news:
- You can usually find something that works, even on a relatively tight budget.
- Because the ports are central, you’re not also having to pay for long airport transfers.
If your dates are fixed, book as early as you can. If you’re flexible, play around with different days and times - very early or very late sailings can be noticeably cheaper.
Yes, totally. In fact, lots of people do day trips in both directions.
With the fastest ferries taking around 2 hours and plenty of departures from early morning to evening, you can:
Travel sites and bloggers who’ve done exactly that say it’s very doable, as long as you pick sensible ferry times at either end of the day.
And if you’re doing it the other way around - Helsinki to Tallinn - you can swap Helsinki’s sleek Scandi vibe for cobblestones, medieval towers and, yes, those creepy dolls we mentioned in our Tallinn post.
You can book directly on the ferry companies’ websites - which is great if you already know you want a specific operator or ship.
If you don’t care whose boat you’re on and just want the best combo of price, time and duration, it’s easier to use a route comparison tool that pulls everything together on one page.
That’s where Openferry’s Tallinn to Helsinki ferry page comes in. Instead of hopping between Tallink, Viking and Eckerö sites, you can see different departure times, journey lengths and ferry tickets side by side for this exact route, then line them up with your hotel check-out or your onward flight.
It’s basically how we like to book all travel: less faff, more time for snacks.
A few random things we wish someone had told us before our first Baltic ferry:
For us, the ferry between Tallinn and Helsinki felt like the perfect fit:
Plus, there was something very satisfying about watching one skyline fade behind us while another one slowly appeared on the horizon - like changing chapters in a book, but with more seagulls.
Can You Do Tallinn to Helsinki as a Day Trip?
Yes, totally. In fact, lots of people do day trips in both directions.
With the fastest ferries taking around 2 hours and plenty of departures from early morning to evening, you can:
- Leave Tallinn after breakfast
- Spend 8-10 hours wandering around Helsinki’s saunas, markets and design stores
- Sail back in time for bed
Travel sites and bloggers who’ve done exactly that say it’s very doable, as long as you pick sensible ferry times at either end of the day.
And if you’re doing it the other way around - Helsinki to Tallinn - you can swap Helsinki’s sleek Scandi vibe for cobblestones, medieval towers and, yes, those creepy dolls we mentioned in our Tallinn post.
How to Book the Ferry (Without Opening 12 Tabs)
You can book directly on the ferry companies’ websites - which is great if you already know you want a specific operator or ship.
If you don’t care whose boat you’re on and just want the best combo of price, time and duration, it’s easier to use a route comparison tool that pulls everything together on one page.
That’s where Openferry’s Tallinn to Helsinki ferry page comes in. Instead of hopping between Tallink, Viking and Eckerö sites, you can see different departure times, journey lengths and ferry tickets side by side for this exact route, then line them up with your hotel check-out or your onward flight.
It’s basically how we like to book all travel: less faff, more time for snacks.
Practical Tips for the Crossing
A few random things we wish someone had told us before our first Baltic ferry:
- Arrive about an hour early as a foot passenger: Check-in often closes 30 minutes before departure and there’s always that one enormous group that rocks up at the last possible second and clogs the queue.
- Bring ID: Estonia and Finland are in the Schengen area, so you probably won’t be checked, but you’re still supposed to have a passport or ID card with you.
- Prepare for wind on deck: The Baltic has strong “I will mess up your hair” energy, even on sunny days. Layers are your friend.
- If you get seasick, sit near the middle of the ship, look out of the window and avoid scrolling on your phone the whole time - winter crossings can be a bit bouncy.
Wrap Up: Our Thoughts on the Tallinn-Helsinki Ferry
For us, the ferry between Tallinn and Helsinki felt like the perfect fit:
- More sustainable than a quick flight
- Genuinely easy and pleasant
- A nice little story in itself, not just “transport”
Plus, there was something very satisfying about watching one skyline fade behind us while another one slowly appeared on the horizon - like changing chapters in a book, but with more seagulls.
