mauld

I was planning on doing a short day trip from Helsinki to Tallin via one of the faster ferries which (I was told) take a little over an hour to cross. I just received word that due to 'excessive ice on the Finnish gulf' all 'fast ferries' are cancelled until April 25, but that the conventional ferries would still be running.
My question is, how long do they take, and is Tallin someplace I should 'see', as opposed to just remaining in Helsinki for that day.

GeoffHamer

Nordic Jet Line's website says their service starts on the 25th. A good day trip is offered by Eckerö Line (www.eckeroline.fi) using a ship. Tallinn is certainly worth visiting and the old city centre is within walking distance of the ferry terminal.

pipsil

My husband and I have taken both ferries and the faster one is certainly preferable but whatever you do don't miss visiting Tallin. If you can arrange it stay overnight. We thought it a really interesting place with, would you believe, THE best croissants we have ever had, Including Paris .Patisserie le Bonaparte in the Old Town. Didn't think much of the new part of town. Hotels in the Old Town very expensive as there are only a few. Food in restaurants very reasonable. Have fun!

elina

The ferries take 4 - 4,5 hours. Of course you could take the first ferry in the morning to Tallinn, and then last one in the evening back, but best would be to spend a night in Tallinn. It is cheapest to buy a hotel-package from the ship company. Sometomes you get BOTH the crossings and the hotel cheaper than just ferry tickets.

Geoff already gave the site of Eckerö Line. In to-day´s newspaper they have offers:

- crossings + 1 night in ****Olumpia 49 euros

- crossings + 1 night in ****Grand 55 euros

Another company is Tallink: www.tallink.fi

Click "In English", and then OFFERS. You can get a decent hotel in the old town and crossings with 66 euros.

What to see in Tallinn: in just one day the old town. Don´t forget to climb up to the Toompea Hill. On the way back down you get a great wiev over the roofs of the old town.

elina

About the catamarans and ice: Usually they traffic from the beginning of April till Christmas. This year has been exceptional. They had to stop traffic at the end of November, and now they cannot start again before the end of April or the first week of May.

The ice is so thick that we have an ice-road, and we can drive all the way to Åland islands near Sweden. If Russia would not have oil tankers that traffic the Gulf of Finland we could also drive to Tallinn. Now icebreakers keep an open space for tankers to go.

GeoffHamer

The crossing time on Eckerö Line's ship is 3 hrs 30 mins, though ice could cause delays.

mauld

Considering I've only got a total of 2 days (actually 1 3/4) for Helsinki, I think I'm going to have to miss Tallin on this trip. I fly in from CPH on Fri mid day and return back to the US on Sun. I had a reservation on the fast ferry to Tallin at 8am with a return at 1pm on Sat. Looks unlikely now!