We currently have 3 nights in Helsinki. We were going to take a day trip to Tallinn but I am thinking that maybe we should stay 1 night in Tallinn and 2 nights in Helsinki. If we do a 1 day trip, based on times we would spend about 6 hours in Tallinn. If we stay overnight, we would have one entire evening and a bit of morning as we would need to catch the 10:30am ferry back to Helsinki to catch a flight at 17:35. Thoughts?
Posted by
Uppsala, Sweden
7679 posts
You might get better answers in the Estonia-forum. But yes, Tallinn is worth more than a day trip. And to be honest I think 2 nights in Tallinn is a better use of your time. But it depends a bit on what your trip looks like and where you are coming from and going next.
Posted by
Virginia, USA
6196 posts
Could you take a ferry that gives you more than 6 hours in Tallinn? Tallink has ferries that leave Helsinki at 7:30 am and you could return at 19:30. That gives you nearly 10 hours in Tallinn.
While it would be great to stay overnight, packing and checking in and out of a hotel takes some of your time. With your limited time, I think a longer day trip might make more efficient use of your time. It also means that you could just leave your luggage at your hotel on the day of your flight; this just seems more convenient to me.
Posted by
OP
California
77 posts
You each gave me something to think about. We are arriving by Ferry to Helsinki at 10:30am and have 3 nights in Helsinki and we leave on the 4th day at 17:30 so we are planning 1 full day trip to Tallinn and then we have 2 complete day in Helsinki and 1/2 day when we leave. I could change the sequence and continue on the ferry to Tallinn and spend 2 nights in Tallin and 1 1/2 days at Tallin and 1 night in Helsinki which will give us 2 - 1/2 days.
Posted by
Vancouver, WA
561 posts
I think the idea of going to Tallinn first for one or two nights would work well. Then you would be back in Helsinki before your flight from there. Less packing/unpacking, more time to enjoy both cities.
Posted by
Washington DC
29208 posts
Although I like Helsinki and spent 8 days there across two trips in 2022 and 2023, I think the vast majority of foreign visitors would find Tallinn more interesting. I'd recommend spending more time in Tallinn than in Helsinki, but you'll have more than enough to keep you busy no matter how you divvy up your time.
Posted by
Virginia, USA
6196 posts
I do think going to Tallinn first and spending a couple nights there makes a lot of sense.
Posted by
Uppsala, Sweden
7679 posts
That's why it can be a good thing to post about your plans when you are in the planning stage, so we can find ways to improve your itinerary.
I'm guessing you're arriving by ferry from Stockholm? My suggestion would be to instead take a ferry from Stockholm to Tallinn instead. Or, rebook your flight and fly home from Tallinn. But I don't know how easy it would be.