Navigation: Previous Day | Home | Next Day
Helsinki - Tallinn - Helsinki Day 19 - 30-June

A day trip to Estonia
Tomorrow is my last day, but I decide not to think about that. I have a full day left today and I want to make the most that day. I have read well before I got to Finland that a day trip to Tallinn is recommended and I decide this morning to buy me a ticket. A retour fare can cost as few as €25,- but last minute I only manage to get one for €40,-. Well that's worth they money, and I get the chance to visit a new country and a new capital.

Finding a ticket-office is not difficult, there are several companies sailing everyday from Helsinki to Tallinn and back. Most boats are express boats which only take 1,5 hours to make the cross over the sea. I have a look at 3 of the companies and at the Tourist office. The Tourist office arranges crossings for several companies but charge more as well. So I end-up buying a ticket at the Tallink office which is just at the end of the street.

Travel details: Helsinki - Tallinn Boat: Tallink Express Departure:12:00 - Arrival:13:40 Distance: Approximately 80km

I also have my Helsinki card valid until 12:00h but I can't manage to visit any extra museums after my search for a boat ticket, and so I decide to take some trips with the tram and the subway. I take another tramline towards the ferry terminal and check-in for the boat. I check-in and pass customs easily. Tourists and Finnish people are easily recognizable. The Finns have carts and suitcases with them, the tourists don't.

The boat passes a big cruise ship of the Holland-America line where the crew is doing some tests with the lifeboats. Several boats are in the water circling little rounds before they get raised on to the ship again. I fall asleep in the boat and wake up shortly before we reach Tallinn The first thing I see is a busy harbor with a lot of passenger ships and big freight ships. The second thing I see is pouring rain.

Tallinn in the rain
Though it is raining heavily, Tallinn is a very enjoyable city and quite different from what you would expect from a city which used to be a part of the Soviet Union. The capital of Estonia is developing incredibly fast into a modern western city and it looks like they don't mind that they are neglecting their own culture. A lot of the buildings outside the city centre are modern and high rise. People drive modern cars and the only communistic influences come from the old Trams and Trolley busses.

The first sight of Tallinn, modern buildings and old trams.

The city centre itself is different, it's a completely preserved medieval town with cobblestone streets, old buildings and lot of towers. Everything is bilingual here, which is easy because Estonian is as difficult to understand as Finnish. Though it's also a pity because you don't really feel like being abroad. I have got for €10,- Estonian money which is 150 Estonian Krones. Though for these 150 Estonian krones I can buy twice as much as I do in Finland. So I buy some big bars of chocolate as a souvenir for my family, something to drink and I climb an old tower on the main square of the city.
Because the rain keeps falling I am looking for a big store or other building to dry-up a bit. The Tourist Info is the most proximate option and inside I meet 2 traveler I met at the hostel in Turku. They are staying in the Baltic countries for a while.

Tallinn is a maze of small streets with old buildings.


A view over the old city centre, with a lot of towers.

I am drying up fast and continue my walk around the town. The time flies pretty fast and after some stops in tourist shops I have to hurry myself getting to the ferry terminal. The weather is now quite stormy and I my bag is pretty wet from all the rain. Next time I need to bring a raincoat because an umbrella is very useless in windy weather and you have to keep it in your hand all the time (try taking pictures that way). But nonetheless I really like Tallinn, it was well worth the effort.

High waves

Travel details: Tallinn - Helsinki Boat: Tallink Express Departure:18:00 - Arrival:19:55 Distance: Approximately 80km

On the way back all suitcases and carts are filled with Vodka, Beer and other alcoholic beverages. The tax-free shop in the boat is doing good business as well. Though it's more expensive than Tallinn, it is still cheaper than in Helsinki and people take advantage of that.


The orthodox church of Tallinn

I sit next to a finish woman who actually knows why they have a bonfire at midsummernight in Finland. A long time ago they used to burn witches before the summer started, and fire also makes the ground fertile. That should both cause a good summer. The boat is going up and down on the high waves, but as soon as Helsinki comes in sight the rain has gone and I can walk around without getting wet.

In the evening Portugal defeats the Netherlands in a very boring football match. And so I manage to avoid the European Championship in my own country where everybody probably is quite depressed of being defeated. Most people in the hostel are happy that Portugal won, and quickly apologize when they find out I am Dutch. But I don't mind, I am happy with the outcome as well.