The Ultimate Helsinki and Tallinn Itinerary: A DIY Guide

We feel the best trips have room for serendipity, so we sometimes travel without a detailed plan. This was our approach for a recent exploration of the vibrant Finnish capital, Helsinki, and the medieval charm of Tallinn, Estonia.

While we didn't follow a strict schedule, our wanderings allowed us to discover fun routes, must-see sights, and logistical tips. We’ve distilled our experience into a flexible itinerary you can adapt for your own 2-3 days adventure. Think of this as a blueprint for your own DIY trip, packed with all the tips we discovered along the way.

Getting from Helsinki Airport to the City & Navigating Public Transport

Helsinki’s public transport system, managed by HSL, is efficient, clean, and easy to use once you understand a few basics.

The easiest way to reach the city center from HEL airport is by taking the I or P commuter trains directly from the airport's train station. Since the airport is in Zone C and the city center is in Zone A, you will need to purchase an ABC zone ticket for this 40mins trip.

Understanding the HSL Fare Zones

Helsinki's public transport fares are based on zones: A, B, C, and D. For Helsinki City explorations, you will be within the AB zones. A single AB ticket is valid for 80 minutes, while the ABC ticket for the airport journey lasts for 90 minutes. This gives you plenty of time for transfers. And don't worry if your ticket expires during your final ride. As long as you boarded while it was valid, your journey is covered.

How to Pay for Public Transport in Helsinki: Go Contactless

Helsinki is phasing out physical tickets and moving towards seamless digital options. The easiest method for tourists is using contactless payment.

Here is how it works:

1. When you board a tram or bus, look for the blue card reader.

2. Use the screen to select your travel zone (e.g., AB).

3. Tap your contactless credit card, debit card, or phone (Apple Pay and Google Pay can be used) to pay. We charged it to our Wise card.

Your payment card now acts as your ticket and the ticket expiration clock starts. Note that the reader will not request your PIN code.

For any transfers within the travel window, there is no need to select the zone again. Simply tap your card on the reader of the next vehicle. If your ticket has expired by then, an error message will pop up asking you to select a zone.

If you plan to travel extensively, you might find a multi-day HSL ticket offers great value. However, these tickets can only be bought via the HSL app, HSL ticket machines or sales points and are valid at time of purchase. We didn’t buy a multi-day ticket, and found a better way to explore the city - on two wheels.

A Guide to Helsinki City Bikes: Exploring Helsinki on Two Wheels

Cycling is the best way to soak in Helsinki’s coastal beauty. We found Helskini to be incredibly bike friendly. The city bikes are on the heavier side, but have 3-gears and a front basket you can secure your belongings in.

We loved the freedom of using the bright yellow Helsinki city bikes, and getting started is simple. You have a few options, but for a short trip, the day pass is perfect. One HSL account allows you to purchase a day pass for four bikes at once, so one person can handle the payment for the whole group. If you opt for a weekly pass, each rider will need their own account.

The instructions for Helsinki City Bike website are clear, and here are our additional notes:

1. We were able to register for our HSL account using non-local numbers. However, we faced issues receiving the registration OTP when our mobile network was not routed through Europe (our eSIM routed data through Asia). If you face OTP issues, try to register while being connected to a local Wifi.

2. A day pass is 24 hours from the time of purchase. The pass expiration date and time is shown after payment is complete.

3. Everything is in Finnish, from the emails we received HSL (@citybikefinland.fi) to the keypad on the bike. Just a small annoyance.

4. You can make as many 60 mins bike rides as you like. Their video instructions are outdated (it showed 30 mins). We returned our bikes under 60 mins rides without issues.

5. The online map to check for City Bikes & Stations availability was reliable, but you will need to refresh the webpage to get the latest. This alternative map might work better for you.

6. It is possible to lock your bike temporarily with the built in bicycle lock. Watch their video instructions on how to do so.

7. When returning the bike, push it firmly into an empty dock at any station and wait for it to be locked. You should hear a beep and an “OK” or 🏁 on the keypad screen.

8. You can still return the bike at full bike station. Watch their video instructions on how to do so.

Where to Cycle in Helsinki - Waterfront Trails

Helsinki has a number of waterfront trails you can cycle to explore. We enjoyed ourselves riding the inner city waterfront trail (Kantakaupungin) for nearly 3 hours and passed these attractions:

• Uspenski Cathedral

• Kaupunginpuutarha (Rose Garden)

• Sibelius Monument and Park

• Hietaniemi Cemetery

• Statue of Peace

• Old Market Hall

• Helsinki Central Library Oodi

We also cycled to our hotel Clarion Hotel Mestari. Mestari was perfect for a 2 nights stay. We loved it for its modern, spacious room and delicious breakfast spread.

A Half-Day Trip to Suomenlinna, Helsinki's UNESCO Fortress Island

No trip to Helsinki is complete without visiting Suomenlinna, an island fortress of historical significance. This UNESCO World Heritage site is a short ferry ride from the city center and offers a glimpse into Finland’s history. We recommend setting aside at least 3 hours for this visit.

Getting to Suomenlinna

Reaching the island is part of the fun. You have two options departing from Helsinki's Market Square:

1. HSL Ferry: This is the public transport option and the most cost-effective. The journey is covered by a standard HSL AB-zone ticket.

2. FRS Finland Waterbus: This is a private service that offers island hopping routes. A round trip ticket costs around €9. While a bit more expensive, it makes 3 different stops that includes Lonna.

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Exploring the Fortress

Once you arrive, you can explore the sprawling grounds at your own pace with their digital guide book for mobile phones. The crowd comes in after 11am. We encourage you buy tickets to Suomenlinna Museum online.

For a deeper understanding of the island's history, the official guided tour costs 15€ per person, but we missed the timing for it. Instead, we bought the self-guided audio tour for 5€. It was a fantastic way to explore independently while still learning the stories behind the sights. Good thing we brought our earphones along!

Chasing the Aurora in Helsinki: A Realistic Guide to Seeing the Northern Lights

The magic of the Northern Lights is a huge draw for Finland, but can you actually see them from the capital? The honest answer is: it’s rare, but not impossible. Helsinki's southern location and city lights make sightings a special event.

We learnt during our Iceland trip that 2025 and 2026 will have high aurora probabilities, and just reached Helsinki when many people reported seeing auroras in Reykjavík.

Your best tool is the official forecast from the Finnish Meteorological Institute's space weather service. It shows a real-time map of auroral probability. For your best chance to see it in Helsinki, you need two things - the map showing red over Nurmijärvi and a clear, dark sky. If the forecast looks promising, get away from the city center. Find a park or a coastal area with an unobstructed view to the north. While a sighting isn't guaranteed, no harm check if auroras might show up!

Helsinki to Tallinn Ferry: Choosing Between Eckerö Line, Viking Line, and Tallink

The almost 3hrs ferry to Tallinn is an essential part of the adventure. The main operators are Tallink, Viking Line, and Eckerö Line, and the best choice often comes down to your schedule and budget. Make sure to book your ferry tickets online well in advance. We saw prices for Eckerö jump significantly when we tried to buy them on the day of travel.

We sailed with M/s Viking Cinderella to Tallinn at 1030am and returned with Eckerö’s M/s Finlandia. We preferred the Viking Line experience. The atmosphere felt more international with an English-speaking band, a better duty-free shop, and fun Bingo game at Etage. Eckerö’s entertainment was geared towards a local crowd with Finnish karaoke at Pub Telakka.

A couple of crucial things to know:

• Check Your Port: The companies use different terminals in Helsinki, so confirm your departure location.

• Arrive and Check-in Early: You need to check-in at the terminal kiosk 45 mins before departure time. Our Eckerö ferry departed 15 minutes before its scheduled time of 630pm!

Ultimately, both ferries are reliable options. We recommend checking the times and prices for all three to find the best fit for your trip. You can easily compare ferry schedules and book your tickets online.

Tallinn in a Day from Helsinki: Exploring the Medieval Old Town

Tallinn’s UNESCO-listed Old Town is just a pleasant 15-minute walk from the ferry terminal by passing through Rotermann Quarter. Our best advice is to simply get lost in the maze of cobblestone streets. For the best free views, head up Toompea Hill to the Patkuli and Kohtuotsa viewing platforms for panoramic view of the town.

Tallinn Old Town is also a great place to slow down and people watch. We found a fantastic coffee spot, Kofeman. They even had a "Singapore Latte" on the menu! For a delightful and authentic meal, we loved the Russian dumplings at Pelmen Kohvik.

On the left to Old Town is Telliskivi Creative City, and to the right is Rotermann Quarter. Both are great places to experience modern Tallin with different vibes. We would have opted for different ferry timings to allow for more time to explore Tallinn.

👉🏻 Get Your Helsinki-Tallinn Ferry Tickets Online.

Tallinn’s compact nature makes it the ideal destination for a day trip. If you want to dive deeper into its history on a tight schedule, a short, guided walking tour of the Old Town can be a fantastic way to see the sights.

Helsinki and Tallinn offer the perfect Baltic contrast, where modern design meets medieval history. This trip taught us that you don't need a detailed itinerary to have an amazing time. We encourage you to be spontaneous on your own journey and leave plenty of room for serendipity.

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