If you have time to spare in Tallinn why not to take the Ferry from Tallinn to Helsinki across the Gulf of Finland? It’s an opportunity to be in two different countries in one day.
The Tallinn-Helsinki Ferries are huge cruise comfortable ships, with various facilities. The journey takes only 2 hours and the ticket costs about €20-30 and can be booked online or at the terminal.
I recommend taking the earliest cruise to Helsinki and the latest cruise back, so you can comfortably explore Helsinki for a full day. Numerous ferries cover this distance throughout the day, so it’s easy to organize it.
Visiting Helsinki in 1 day
Although Helsinki is one of Scandinavia’s most popular destinations, one day was enough to scratch the surface of the city, especially because I didn’t really feel seduced by the city. Helsinki doesn’t have the charm of an old city neither the excitement of an extra modern one…
What to do in Helsinki
The best thing about the city is its friendly and relaxed atmosphere. Helsinki is a small capital city, the centre is compact, and in one day, you can cover most of the highlights.
The city has plenty of museums and some interesting architecture but is quite pricey. Nevertheless, there are plenty of free things to do.
If you visit during the summertime Helsinki is full of free performances, from concerts to stand-up comedy shows.
If you’re looking to add more context to what you see you might consider doing a free walking tour. They give you a glimpse of the history and talk about Finn’s everyday life and culture.
Top things to do for free:
- View the city from Uspenski Cathedral
- There are some free museums, the one I visited and recommend was the- Helsinki City Museum
- Walk around Töölönlahti Bay
- The Helsinki Cathedral and the Senate Square
- Wander through the National Library of Finland
- Window shop in Helsinki’s Design District
- Relax on Hietaranta beach
- Visit Sibelius Park and the Sibelius Monument
- Retreat to Kamppi Chapel
- Contemplate the architecture of the Helsinki Central Station
- Walk around the Market Square
- Visit the Kaisaniemi Botanic Garden
The best time to visit Helsinki is definitely during the summer season from June to September because the days are longer and the temperatures are mild.
Have you visited Helsinki? How did you like visiting the capital of Finland?
photography – all rights reserved – Ana Rocha