Debs

thursdaysd - Another vote not to skip Helsinki! We stayed at Hotelli Helka, about a 15 minute walk to the waterfront/market area and just a few minutes from the main railway/bus stations. Check out www.helka.fi. If you decide to fly from Tallinn, you can catch the Finnair bus outside the International arrivals T2 (stand 10), which will take you to the main railway station in about 45 minutes or so, depending on traffic. Believe the bus runs every 20-30 minutes and costs around $7.50US one way (credit cards are accepted). Bus is very spacious and quite clean. If the weather is clear, the flight is beautiful, as you'll see the numerous islands in the Gulf of Finland dotted everywhere.
There's also a large Stockmann department store in Helsinki.

As for Tallinn, we stayed at the Hotel Imperial, which is literally in Old Town, about a 2 minute walk to the town square. www.baltichotelgroup.com The old town wall literally runs thru the hotel, which has a decidely medieval feel. Breakfast at both hotels was pretty good and quite filling, with several items (hot/cold) to pick from.

Elena - Thanks for the correction on that Helsinki tram line!

thursdaysd

Thanks for the bus info/warning, spaarne! After checking the award rules (One World now has this nifty ap where you can validate an itinerary) I can fly into Helsinki, fly to Tallinn, and then fly to Riga - even though the Riga flight goes via Helsinki it doesn't count as a stopover. I'm usually a big proponent of overland travel, but this is just the aperitif before the meal...

Really appreciate the hotel suggestions. I've just read that hotel prices are cheaper in Helsinki Fri and Sat nights, and that Tallinn is full of partying Fins on the weekend, so I'm thinking of spending Fri & Sat nights in Helsinki, and moving on on Sunday afternoon.

lanejohann

we did a great day trup from helsinki to tallinn
amazing day
we packed it in all right!
caught the bus from the ferry to the wooden building district
saw the rusalka monument...beautiful and then walked back to the old town
we hooked up with a guide...he picked us out and we stayed with him for three hours or so
easy
really nice old town and some excellent photo opportunities await

RainyDay09

Hi thursdaysd, are you following what is going on in Kyrgyzstan right now? I couldn't figure out how to send a private message on Fodors forums.

thursdaysd

Hi RainyDay - yes, definitely following! You can DM me on Twitter - mytimetotravel

Subway_Scoundrel

Go to Tallinn and Riga. Take the ferry to Tallinn and then bus it ti Riga. I hear it is a nice bus trup from Tallinn to Riga but have not taken it. 2 days in Tallinn is nice