On my first trip to Tallinn I had some regrets about not taking advantage of the excellent cruise/ferry options to visit nearby cities. The Tallink/Silja Lines operate a variety of connection opportunities including Stockholm, Helsinki, and Turku. We were in luck to find that a day trip to Helsinki would only cost 64 euro for two...not bad! From D-Terminal in Tallinn, it's only a 2 hour trip to get to Finland.
We got up early and took an Uber down to the Terminal and boarding started shortly after we walked in. The main sitting area of the boat is open for anyone with no reserved seating; we found a table by a window that also had outlets.
Helsinki is a very easy city to visit. The city tram line runs right to the arrival terminal and in about 20 minutes you're in the central city - use the app and purchase a day pass for only 8 euro. Our first stop was Helsinki Cathedral - statues of Martin Luther and Melancton are inside:
The City Museum is just a short walk away from the Cathedral though was not very impressive. Turning left down the street, though, we came to the Market Square with many outdoor vendors and food choices.
After lunch we decided to take a tram ride northeast of the square to find the Sibelius Monument. Created with some controversy, this was an interesting creation in a nearby park:
We also chose to stop and see another well-known landmark, the Temppeliaukion Church. Built into the surrounding rockface, the acoustics in the sanctuary are impressive and we were lucky to have a pianist playing when we stopped.
Soon it was time to head back to the ship and transit back. Our ferry back was uneventful and the main seating area was fairly full. Arriving back in Tallinn, we stopped in at Restauran Contravento just off of the Pile Gate for dinner. Excellent wine and entrees!
We got up early and took an Uber down to the Terminal and boarding started shortly after we walked in. The main sitting area of the boat is open for anyone with no reserved seating; we found a table by a window that also had outlets.
Helsinki is a very easy city to visit. The city tram line runs right to the arrival terminal and in about 20 minutes you're in the central city - use the app and purchase a day pass for only 8 euro. Our first stop was Helsinki Cathedral - statues of Martin Luther and Melancton are inside:
The City Museum is just a short walk away from the Cathedral though was not very impressive. Turning left down the street, though, we came to the Market Square with many outdoor vendors and food choices.
After lunch we decided to take a tram ride northeast of the square to find the Sibelius Monument. Created with some controversy, this was an interesting creation in a nearby park:
We also chose to stop and see another well-known landmark, the Temppeliaukion Church. Built into the surrounding rockface, the acoustics in the sanctuary are impressive and we were lucky to have a pianist playing when we stopped.
Soon it was time to head back to the ship and transit back. Our ferry back was uneventful and the main seating area was fairly full. Arriving back in Tallinn, we stopped in at Restauran Contravento just off of the Pile Gate for dinner. Excellent wine and entrees!
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