Tallinn to Helsinki: Crossing the Sea in Style on the Tallink Ferry
Well this is something I wasn’t expecting on a trip to Finland and Estonia: the ferry across the Baltic Sea is more of a fancy cruise ship than a mode of mass transit!
🛳️ Click to Book: Tallink Ferry
I love taking ferries in cities around the world, from New York to Istanbul, because they offer cost-effective tours. The Stockholm ferries are some of my favorites, just based on efficiency. The ferry from Vienna to Bratislava is a unique river cruise.
While a ferry ride usually features hard plastic seats, diesel fumes, and vending machines…. the Tallink Silja Line between Tallinn, Estonia, and Helsinki, Finland, had me completely rethinking that assumption.
Stepping aboard felt less like boarding a boat and more like walking into a floating hotel, with a variety of restaurants, upscale duty-free shops, cozy lounges, and an open-air deck with panoramic views.
The two hour crossing barely seemed like enough time to explore the ship!
Booking the Tallink Ferry
You can book ferry tickets on a variety of apps and websites.
I’ve found it easy to use Viator to book:
The Logistics: Everything to Know Before You Go
Let’s cover a few basics before we get to the fancy stuff.
The Route
The Tallink Silja Line operates between Tallinn, Estonia (Terminal D, Uus-Sadama 24) and Helsinki, Finland (West Harbour Terminal 2, Tyynenmerenkatu 14).
The crossing takes approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes.
The Ships
The two ships on the route are similar, both providing multiple seating, dining, and shopping options:
- MyStar
- Megastar
Schedule & Frequency
Tallink Silja Line provides 8 sailings daily, 54 sailings weekly on the Tallinn–Helsinki route.
Departures run from early morning through late evening, making it easy to do as a day trip.
Ticket Prices
Prices range from around $30 to $200, depending on what you include. Expect to pay around $50 or $60. There’s really no need to upgrade to a higher perk level.
Traveling with a Car
Cars are permitted on the ferry, with the average vehicle ticket running around $170. Book well in advance, especially in summer.
Check-in & Arrive EARLY
Check-in can be completed online or on the Tallink Silja app, 24 hours before departure.
Arrive at the terminal early (at least 45 minutes prior to departure).
At the terminal, go to the self-check-in kiosks.
Having a human at the service desk will involve an unnecessary €5-10 fee.
The gate closes 20 minutes before departure.
Boarding the Ship
You’ll gather in a huge waiting room prior to boarding. There are a few food vendors and seating areas, but it’s nothing fancy.
The boarding gates open 40 minutes before your departure. Plus, remember: boarding ends 20 minutes prior to departure.
The Restaurants Onboard
Walking onboard the Silja ships, don’t grab the first seating area you see. Explore the boat to find the restaurant or lounge area you want to spend time in.
There are buffets, sit-down restaurants, and bars to choose from.
I’ve seen this same design at vineyards in the US:
The best might be the Garden Bar, off the back of the ship. It’s an open-air bar/lounge area with great views.
Photo Gallery of the Ferry Restaurants
Here are a few more photos to show you the variety of options you have to choose from:
Duty Free Shopping on the Ferry
The ferries have multiple floors of shopping.
They have cosmetics and basic travel needs, along with clothing, alcohol, and an entire toy store.
Other Ferries from Tallinn to Helsinki
There are other ferry companies operating the popular route from Helsinki to Tallinn, like Eckero and the Viking Line.
I’ve seen fares as low as $12 (one way). But a much lower fare means: it’s likely a slower boat, which isn’t as nice.
🛳️ Click to Book: Tallink Ferry
