Helsinki to Tallinn Ferry: Complete Guide + My Personal Experience
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Traveling from Helsinki to Tallinn couldn’t be easier. You don’t need to spend hours queuing at an airport or sitting behind the wheel. You need only hop aboard a ferry and hang tight for a couple of hours, and bingo-bango, you’re in the Estonian capital. See – easy-peasy!
In this guide, I’ll go over everything you need to know in order to book yourself passage on one of the ferries that services the Helsinki-Tallinn route, and I’ll also share my own ferry-riding experience.
The Basics
So, you’ve decided that you’re ready to book your ticket to Tallinn, but how do you do that? And how does boarding work? And what if you have a car? And more importantly, what if you get hangry – is there food? I’ll answer all of these questions and then some in this section.
Where Do I Book a Ticket?
Before we go over how to book a ticket, we first need to discuss where, or rather, with whom to book it, as there are three ferry companies that service the Helsinki-Tallinn route: Eckerö Line, Viking Line, and Tallink Silja.
So, which should you pick? Well, that’s entirely up to you. Tallink Silja is generally the fastest, completing the Baltic Sea crossing in two hours, which is 15 to 30 minutes faster than Eckerö Line and Viking Line, respectively. Tallink Silja also offers more crossings per day, and as of the writing of this article, its ships are newer (and, judging by the photos, nicer-looking on the inside as well). As you might expect, however, those niceties come at a cost. I randomly selected a date in the future and found that a basic (i.e., no add-ons) round-trip ticket from Helsinki to Tallinn on Tallink Silja was €27 - €30* more expensive than a comparable ticket on Eckerö Line and Viking Line.
Personally, I was willing to put up with a slightly slower trip aboard a less fancy ship to save €30, so I opted for Eckerö. That said, Tallink Silja might be a better option for you if you are pressed for time or if the other companies’ limited sailing times don’t work for your schedule.
*Please note that ticket prices are subject to change. Always consult each ferry company’s respective website for the most up-to-date prices.
How Do I Book a Ticket?
Now that you’ve selected a carrier and know where to book your ticket, let’s go over how to book that ticket. First things first, I recommend booking directly with the ferry company via their website (Eckerö Line, Viking Line, or Tallink Silja). Each ferry company’s website has a similar interface, namely, you select your departure location (i.e., Helsinki) and where you are headed (i.e., Tallinn). In the case of Eckerö, Helsinki and Tallinn will be preselected, and you need only indicate which is your departure vs. arrival port. You will also be asked whether you want a one-way or return ticket, and you will need to provide the following information as well: number of passengers, number of vehicles (if any), and the date(s) of your ferry ride (note: Eckerö and Viking ask for this information on the initial page; Tallink Silja asks for it on the second page after you click the “Book a Trip” button).*
* Please note that the user interface (UI), including the order in which information is collected, for each ferry company’s website is subject to change.
Booking a Ticket: What’s a Cruise?
While booking a ticket, you’ll likely see an option for “cruise.” So, what’s a cruise? Depending on the ferry company, a cruise could involve simply sailing around the Baltic Sea for an hour or two, or it could involve docking at Tallinn for a predetermined period of time. For more information, please consult each company’s website (Eckerö Line, Viking Line, and Tallink Silja).
If you are just looking to go from Helsinki to Tallinn, you do not want to book a cruise; you want to book a non-cruise ferry ticket, also called a route ferry ticket.
Booking a Ticket: Should I Select Any of the Add-ons or Upgrades?
Much like selecting the ferry company, whether or not you want to select any add-ons or upgrades is entirely up to you. On Eckerö Line, for instance, you’ll have the option to add food or reserve a seat or private cabin, and on Tallink Silja, you’ll be able to purchase access to one of several private lounges, reserve a cabin, or pre-pay for your meals.
As it was a relatively short ferry ride, I decided against purchasing any add-ons. I figured I’d find a seat somewhere aboard the ship, and as for food, I’d simply purchase something on board if I got hungry.
Booking a Ticket: What If I Have a Car?
As noted earlier, when booking your ticket, you’ll be asked if you’re traveling with a vehicle. For Eckerö Line and Viking Line, you’ll see the option to indicate if you have a vehicle on the first page; for Tallink Silja, this option will be available on the second page.* If you are traveling with a vehicle, it is extremely important that you remember to indicate that you have a vehicle because, for some of the ferry companies, this will impact which ferry you can take (i.e., some ferries are for foot traffic only). Also, if you show up with a car but it’s not listed on your ticket, you risk being denied service.
Please be aware that adding a vehicle will incur an additional charge, which varies by ferry company and your vehicle’s dimensions. Generally speaking, though, the more space your vehicle takes up, the higher the fee. Also, please be aware that passengers traveling with a car will be subject to different check-in procedures and requirements. Learn more about traveling with a vehicle here: Eckerö Line, Viking Line, and Tallink Silja.
* Please note that the user interface (UI), including the order in which information is collected, for each ferry company’s website is subject to change.
Helpful Tidbit
If you’re spending some time in Helsinki before catching the ferry to Tallinn and are looking for some ideas about what to see and do in the Finnish capital, check out my Helsinki guide.
Where Do I Board the Ferry?
The ferries do not all depart from the same dock. Your booking confirmation email and/or ticket should tell you what dock your ferry will depart from.
How Early Should I Arrive at the Dock?
This varies slightly by ferry company.
Eckerö: Check-in opens 2 hours before the scheduled departure time and closes 45 minutes prior to departure. More information.
Viking: Check-in opens 1 hour and 30 minutes prior to the scheduled departure time and closes 20 minutes before departure. More information.
Tallink: Check-in is available on the day of departure during the terminal’s opening hours and closes 30 minutes before departure. More information.
For all three ferry companies, boarding is no longer possible once check-in closes. At a bare minimum, you should aim to check in no later than 1 hour before departure, but if you’re traveling with a car, you should allow additional time for check-in and boarding (see “More information” links above for information on vehicle check-in).
How Does Boarding Work?
I can only speak to the boarding process for Eckerö, which was fairly straightforward. After checking in, your ticket is scanned, and you are allowed to move up to the boarding area on the third floor. If you arrive before boarding has begun (which was the case for me), you wait until an announcement is made signaling the start of boarding. You then board the ferry.
Cars lining up to board the ferry
Helpful Tidbit
While we’re on the topic of luggage, if you’re planning a quick day trip to Tallinn and need somewhere to store your luggage once you’re there, I recommend using Bounce. It’s an app that allows you to search for luggage storage options near you. My husband and I have used it on several of our trips, and it’s been a lifesaver (because is there anything more annoying than having to wheel around your suitcase in a new city, especially one with cobblestone streets?).
What about Food and Restrooms?
Fear not, there are both bathrooms and dining options aboard the ferries.
My Experience on Eckerö Line’s Helsinki-Tallinn Route Ferry
I traveled from Helsinki to Tallinn via Eckerö Line’s route ferry, the M/S Finlandia. So, how did it go? All shall be revealed below.
Cost
Before I talk about my experience on the M/S Finlandia, let’s first go over the cost. I traveled from Helsinki to Tallinn on June 6, 2023 with a departure time of 9:00am. My ticket cost €19. I returned to Helsinki on June 9, 2023, leaving Tallinn at 12:00pm. My ticket back to Helsinki cost €22. So, all in, my round-trip ticket was €41.
Now, given that this was almost three years ago, ticket prices have undoubtedly increased. So, please consult Eckerö’s website for the most up-to-date pricing.
Check-In and Boarding
I arrived at West Terminal 2, the place from which my ferry would depart, around 7:45am. I had downloaded Eckerö’s app the night before, which allowed me to bypass the check-in counter and head straight to the departure gate on the third floor. Before boarding the elevator up to the gate, an employee scanned my mobile ticket.
The third floor consisted of a waiting area, a café, and the boarding area (or rather, the door that led to the walkways that led up to the ferry). The waiting area was quite pleasant, with a large window, plenty of seating, and modern decor. As for the café and its coffee, well, let’s just say beggars can’t be choosers.
A little after 8:00am, an announcement was made indicating that boarding had begun, so I headed to the boarding area and made my way onto the ferry. And that’s when things took a turn for the chaotic. As soon as I entered the ferry, I was met with a wall of people, all of whom were attempting to do the same thing: go up the stairs. It was like being in a mosh pit, minus the music and any sense of fun. Somehow, I eventually made my way to the stairs, and as I just wanted to get away from all of the people, I headed up to the tippity top, a.k.a., the sun deck.
Departure
Boarding ended around 8:30am, and at 8:50am, the ferry pulled out of the harbor, 10 minutes ahead of schedule.
Seats
As noted earlier, I chose not to reserve a seat, so I simply grabbed one of the many available spots on the sun deck. I opted for one of the picnic tables under the covered section of the deck, as I have the type of skin that skips tanning and goes straight to burning. It would have been the perfect spot – shade and a view of the Baltic Sea – had it not also been favored by smokers. Nothing detracts from an experience like the near-constant smell of cigarette smoke.
The sun deck
Food
I ate an early breakfast at my Airbnb before heading to the ferry terminal, so I wasn’t super hungry on the ferry. Around 10:00am, though, I did purchase a packaged cinnamon apple muffin from the concession booth on the sundeck. It cost €3 and was exactly what you’d expect from a packaged muffin.
On-Board Experience: Bathrooms, Wi-Fi, and Ride Feel, Oh My!
My time on the M/S Finlandia was largely uneventful. The waters were calm, resulting in a smooth journey. I passed the two hours writing in my travel journal, as well as reading and talking to my husband. Consequently, I can’t speak directly to the quality of the Wi-Fi aboard the ship, but it is free for all passengers.
As for the bathrooms, I found the one on the sun deck to be clean. There were multiple stalls within it, so I never had to wait in line to use the toilet (always a plus in my book). Other restrooms were also available on decks 7 and 8.
Arrival in Tallinn
Much like boarding, disembarking was pandemonium. People began clogging up the stairs and crowding the exit as soon as the announcement was made that we’d be docking soon. I was pushed and shoved while making my way down the stairs to the sixth deck (i.e., the exit), which was made all the worse by the fact that I was carrying my heavy suitcase down said stairs. I’ve never been so happy to set foot on land as I was that day when I got off the ferry — okay, maybe that’s a slight exaggeration. I was definitely happier to set foot on land after being on a plane that had a fire break out in the cockpit, but that’s a story for another day.
Helpful Tidbit
Need some accommodation recommendations? For Helsinki, check out Scandic Helsinki Hub, and for Tallinn, I recommend Hotel Telegraaf.
Overall
If you’re planning a trip to Tallinn from Helsinki, you simply can’t beat the ferry. It’s easier than flying — and generally cheaper too. Plus, it comes with views of the Baltic Sea.
As always, if you have any questions, feel free to ask them in the comments section below. Otherwise, I hope you have a marvelous time in Tallinn (be sure to try some mini pancakes)!
-Julia
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